Three new stone inscriptions about Emperor Raja Raja Cholan’s grandson found
Three new stone inscriptions belonging to the Chola period, which shed light on the family and administration of Emperor Raja Raja Chola I's descendants, have been discovered. These epigraphical records are crucial for understanding the local governance, land grants, and temple patronage of the Chola dynasty. Such archaeological findings enrich our knowledge of medieval South Indian history and administrative systems.
Read source at The Hindu — National →Mains Practice Question
Epigraphical sources are indispensable for reconstructing the history of the Chola administration, especially their local self-governance. Evaluate this statement in the light of historical inscriptions found in South India.
150 words
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With reference to the history of the Chola Empire, consider the following statements: 1. The Uttaramerur inscriptions provide a detailed account of the democratic process of choosing local assembly members. 2. Inscriptions often recorded land grants to temples, which were known as 'Devadana'. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Both statements are correct. The Uttaramerur inscriptions of the Chola king Parantaka I detail the system of local self-government (Sabha) and how members were selected via a lottery system (Kudavolai). Land gifted to temples was known as Devadana (or Tirunamattukkani), which is well-recorded in various Chola epigraphs.
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