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1. Administrative System:
Under the Cholas
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Center for Advanced Studies
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University

2. Administrative System:
Under the Cholas

3. Introduction
• Important dynasty of South India
• One of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of South India.
• First reference from Ashokan edict.
• The heartland of the Cholas was the fertile valley of the Kaveri river.
• Cholas were able to establish control over Pallava territories and subdued
the Pandya power.
• Cholas were the first who bring the entire South India under a common
rule.
• Uttaramerur inscriptions throws light on the administration of the
Cholas.

4. • Earlier capital was Ureryur
• Later capital was Tanjaur
• Then Gaingaikond Cholpuram
• Kanchi was sub-capital

5. Kingship
• The Chola government was hereditary monarchy.
• The king was the head of the administration.
• The king was referred to as Chakravartigal (Emperor) and the lord of the
three worlds (Tribhuvanachakravarti).
• The king was the supreme commander.
• The Chola kings and Queens were considered as representatives of God.
• Their idols were kept in temples.
• The eldest son succeed the king to the Chola throne.
• The heir apparent was called Yuvaraja.
• The Chola monarchs enjoyed enormous powers and privileges.
• The Chola kings took up titles which marked their achievements.
• They lived in very big royal palaces.
• Kings were assisted by ministers and officials in their administration.

6. Role of King King
Supreme
executive
Legislative
Ministers Officers
Judicial
powers Military

7. Council of Ministers
• No clear evidence of a council of ministers.
1. Purohita (Dharmopadesta),
2. Rajagurus,
3. Tirumandira olai,
4. Adhikari,
5. Vayilketpar (officer who noted the king's directives) etc.
6. Udan kuttan was like king's companion of honour.

8. High Officials
• King was living in high palaces
• Chau-Ju-Kua: At special occasions ministers and crown prices give high
respect to the King
• Priest was enjoyed high position
• Olley (ओलै) : Special officer to help the king he was drafting his order
• Olleynayagam (ओलैनायगम): was inspect these order
• High officials were known as Sherutartam (शे+तरम)
• Lower officers were called as Velam (वेलम)
• Chola inscriptions mentioned Kakani (ककाणी): Audit and revenue officer
• The higher officials were called Peruntaram and
• The lower rank officials were called Siruntaram.

9. Government Division
Administration
Central
Government
Provincial
Government
Local
Government

10. Central Government
• The Central Government was under the headship of the King.
• State or Provinces was second administration
• Provinces was divided into Mandalas
• Generally mandalams were named after the original names or the titles of
the Chola kings.
• Each Mandalam was divided into number of Kottams or Valanadus.
• Each kottam was sub divided into Nadu.
• Each nadu was further divided into (Urs) villages which form part of the
last unit of the administration.
• Uttaramerur inscriptions speak about the administration of the Cholas.

11. Cholas Administration
Central
Administration
Provincial
Administration
Mandal
Administration
Valnadu
Administrations
Kurram/Nadu
Administration
Village
Administration

12. Provincial administration:
• The Chola Empire was divided into nine provinces.
• They were also called Mandalams.
• The head of the province was called Viceroy.
• Close relatives of kings were appointed as Viceroy.
• The Viceroys were in constant touch with the Central Government.
• Viceroys received orders from the king.
• They sent regular reply to the king.
• The viceroys had a large number of officials to assist them in the work of
administration.
• They also had army
• They were collection revenues
• Maintain law and order

13. Division of Local Administration
१ 2ाम Village
२ नाड़%/क
ु र)म
Nadu (Blocks?)
३ वलनाड़%
Valnadu (District ?)
४ मं डल
Commissionaires

14. Nadu
• Nadu was one of the important administrative units of the Cholas.
• Nadus had representative assemblies.
• The council of nadu was called Nattavai.
• The heads of the nadus were called Nattars.
• Nadus were mainly associated with Revenue
• Representatives of the Nattavais and Nattars promoted agriculture.
• They also took care of the protection of the people and tax collection.
• Probably, village administrative members were took part in Nadu

15. Local Administration Ur
Sabha
Nagaram
Village
• Local Administration
was important setup
of Chola Government
• 8-9th Century local
administration was
quite evolved
• Uttaramerur
inscriptions speak
much about the
Chola administration.
• Village autonomy was
the most unique
feature of Chola
administrative
system

16. Urban centers (Nagaram)
• Nagaram are mentions as trade centers (urban centers) in inscriptions
• Mainly traders lived in the Nagaram
• Mammalapuram incriptions mentions four Nagaram; each of it has 100 house sites
• Traders were look after the administrations of Nagaram
• Rajrajeshwara Temple inscriptions suggest that Nagaram has power to collect taxes
• Nagaram was collecting taxes from:
a) Fruits
b) Nuts
c) Saffron
d) Sugarcane
e) Gold smiths
f) Shops
g) Salt
h) Elephants
i) Horse stables

17. Nagaram
• Nagaram settlement was a tract where traders and others (including artisans)
lived.
• "An inscription of 1036 CE. from Chidambarama distinguishes between non-
brahrnan inhabitants of superior status (kudigal) and those of inferior status
(kil kalanai).
• Kudigal included two merchant groups Sankarappadiyar (lower group) and
Vyaparin (higher group)
• Other group or residents
1. Vellas (cultivators),
2. Saliyar (cloth merchants)
3. Pattinavm (fishermen).
4. Taccar (carpenters),
5. Kollar (blacksmiths),
6. Tattar (goldsmiths) and
7. Koliyar (weavers)

18. Ur
• Ur term was used for Villages and Cities
• Probably administration set up for big villages or small cities
• Ur means Pur
• Ur was a General Assembly
• The committee of council was known as Aalunganam (आलुँ गणम)
• Members of the Ur were documented the order and wrote it
• Members were paid in cash
• A few villages had two Ur
• 1227 CE Shantamangalam, 1245 CE Kumarmanglam, Amankundi
village had 2 Ur
• Not much information

19. Village Administration
• The lowest unit of the Chola administration was the village unit.
• The entire responsibility of the village administration was in the hands of
the village assembly called Grama Sabha.
• The village assemblies looked after the maintenance of peace, tanks,
roads, public ponds revenue collection, judiciary, education and temples.
• The village assemblies were in charge of the payment of taxes due from
the villages to the treasury.
• They regulated public markets and helped people at times of famine and
flood.
• Assemblies provided provisions for education.
• The village assemblies possessed absolute authority over the affairs of
villages.
• They maintained law and order.

20. Assembly: sabha or Mahasabha
• Important administration of Village (अ2हार: 8ा9ण ब;ी)
• Council was called as Perugati
• Member of Council known as Perumakkal
• This was specially “Brahman” Council
• Chola inscriptions often mentions Council (Todamandalam &
Cholamandam)
• These “Brahman” Council was mainly ruled in Kanchi area
• They has a complex administrative system
• Mainly ruled by various Executives committee called as Variyams

21. Variyams
• Two of Parantaka I found at Uttiramerur provide details of the formation and functions of village councils.
• That village was divided into thirty wards and
• each was to nominate its members to the village council.
• The qualifications to become a ward member were:
1. Ownership of at least one fourth veli of land.
2. Own residence.
3. Above thirty years and below seventy years of age.
4. Knowledge of Vedas.
Norms of disqualification
1. Those who had been members of the committees for the past three years.
2. Those who had failed to submit accounts as committee members.
3. Those who had committed sins.
4. Those who had stolen the property of others.
Work:
1. From the persons duly nominated, one was to be chosen for each ward by kudavolai system for a year.
2. The names of eligible persons were written on palm-leaves and put into a pot.
3. A young boy or girl would take out thirty names each for one ward.
4. The committee members were called variyapperumakkal.
5. They usually met in the temple or under a tree and passed resolutions.
6. The number of committees and ward members varied from village to village.

22. Variyams (Executives committee )
• Composition of these variyams, qualification and durations of membership
differed from village to village.
• There were many variyams in every village.
1. Niyaya variyam: Administered justice,
2. Thotta variyam: Looked after flower gardens.
3. The Dharma variyam: Charities and temples.
4. Eri variyam: In charge of tanks and water supply.
5. The pon variyam: Was in charge of the finance.
6. The Gramakariya variyam: Looked after the works of all committees.
• The members of these varivams were known as “Varivaperumakkal They
rendered honorary service.
• The village officials were paid salary either in cash or in kind.
• Good functioning of these variams increased the efficiency of the local
administration of the Cholas.

23. Nature of Mahasabha
• “The Mahasabha possessed the propriety rights over communal lands and
controlled the private lands within its jurisdiction.
• The assembly was to see that the cultivators were not harassed.
• The Mahasabha was also concerned with the reclamation of forest and
water lands.
• It also collected the revenue.
• Disputes concerning lands and irrigation rights were settled
• In special cases, assembly’s form the neighbourhoods were requested to
cooperate in arriving at a decision.
• It also enjoyed powers of taxation and of remission of such taxation for
specific purposes.
• Instead of paying land revenue every year, a land owner could compound
all his future dues to the local and central authority, by paying a fixed sum
to the assembly.

24. Revenue
• Land revenue
• Agriculture: main source, land survey 1/3
• Toll tax
• Forest
• Mines
• War-booties
• Taxes from bride and grooms
• Taxes from funeral ground
• Other taxes
1. Trees
2. Animals
3. Security
4. Nuts
5. Houses
6. Smiths
7. Shops
8. Carpenters

25. Military Administration
• Chola had great military power.
• The Cholas undertook military expedition to Sri Lanka (during the time of
Rajaraja I) and Sri-Vijaya (during the time of Rajendra I).
• This shows the military strength of the Chola state.
• It seems that the cavalrymen (Kudiraiccevagar),
• Anaiyatkal (those who fought on elephant),
• Archers (villigal, anukkar) were name of the categories constituting the military
force.
• Strong Navy
• Soldiers were also recruited from the artisans group. These were basically
mercenary soldiers.
• Chola Meykkirttis refer to Kantalur Salai which has been interpreted as an
educational institution in the Chera kingdom which imparted military
education

26. Judiciary System
• Justice was carried out by the village assemblies through the committees
comprising of Nyayattar.
• The central court of justice was the Dharmasana which conducted its
affairs through Dharamasana bhattas (Brahmans proficient in law).
• It appears that civil and criminal offences were not dealt separately.
• The penalty for crime committed by a person affecting the king or ruling
dynasty was decided by the king himself.
• Several methods of punishment prevailed viz. imposition of fines, capital
punishment etc.

27. Conclusion
• Chola system of administration was highly organised and efficient.
• Proper division of government
• De-centralised of the Administration
• Well developed village administration
• Autonomous administrations
• The administration of Chola was best all round development in
socio-economic, cultural and such other conditions.