Question

why are chola inscriptions important?

Answer 1

Chola inscriptions are important because they provide us detailed information about:

1. Way of organisation of the ‘court sabhas’.
   1. It tells us that the ‘Sabha’ had separate committees to look after irrigation works, gardens, temples, etc.
   2. There was a proper system of choosing members of such committees. Names of eligible ‘would be’ members of these committees would be written on pieces of palm leaf and kept in an earthenware pot, from which a young boy would pick the tickets, one by one for each committee.
2. Like other inscriptions, they also tell us about kings and powerful men.
3. It informs us about the lives of ordinary men and women.
4. An important thing Chola inscriptions mention, are, the several categories of land ;
   1. Vellanvagai - land of non-Brahmans peasant proprietors.
   2. Brahmadeya - land gifted to Brahmans.
   3. Shalabhoga - land for the maintenance of a school.
   4. Devadana and tirunamattukkani - land gifted to temples.
   5. Pallichchhandam - land donated to Jaina institutions.