Chola Education and Literature
Medieval History › Early Medieval Period · Topic 1.12
Education under the Cholas was largely temple-centred, with Vedic colleges such as Ennayiram in the reign of Rajendra I. Tamil literature reached a high point with the Shaiva Tirumurai, Kamban's Ramayana, the Periya Puranam and the poetry of Jayamkondar, while Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu also grew under neighbouring dynasties.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Early Medieval Period
At a Glance
- Education centres Temple colleges such as Ennayiram
- Saivite canon Tirumurai in eleven volumes
- Epic Kamban’s Ramayana in Tamil
- Other works Periya Puranam, Kalingattuparani, Jivaka Chintamani
- Languages Tamil, Sanskrit, with Kannada and Telugu nearby
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Early Medieval Period
Where Does It Fit?
This is the twelfth topic of the category on the early medieval period. The previous topic described Chola life and economy, and this topic covers learning and literature, which completes the group on the Cholas. The next topic returns to dynasties and covers the Cheras of Kerala. Previous topic: Chola Socio-Economic Life.
How Was Education Organised in Chola Times?
In short: Chola education was not mass education; it was given in temples, with teachers, in guilds and in families, and Vedic colleges attached to temples were the main higher institutions.
The system of education developed in the earlier period continued with little change. Reading and writing were confined to a small section, mostly Brahmans and some upper groups. Temples sometimes arranged higher education. Craft and profession were taught by guilds or in families. A Tamil inscription of the reign of Rajendra I at the Narasimha temple at Ennayiram records a Vedic college attached to the temple, with its teachers, students and subjects. The subjects included the Vedas, grammar and Vedanta, and several hundred students are recorded in the accounts. Later records mention similar colleges at Tribhuvani and Tirumukkudal.
Which Tamil Works Mark the Chola Age?
| Work | Author or type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tirumurai | Collected hymns of the Nayanars | Collected into eleven volumes and treated as sacred, even called the fifth Veda |
| Ramayana of Kamban | Kamban | Considered a classic of Tamil literature; Kamban is believed to have lived at a Chola court |
| Periya Puranam | Sekkizhar | Life stories of the Shaiva saints; described as a national epic of the Tamils |
| Kalingattuparani | Jayamkondar | A poem on the Chola war in Kalinga |
| Jivaka Chintamani | Tirutakkatevar | A Jain epic poem |
| Virasoliyam | Buddhamitra | A Tamil grammar |
Chola literature is mostly in Tamil. The Nayanmars and Alvars, devotees of Shiva and Vishnu, flourished in the Tamil kingdoms between the sixth and ninth centuries and composed in Tamil. The age of Kamban, placed in the second half of the eleventh and early twelfth century by one account, is regarded as the golden age of Tamil literature. Another account places Kamban under Kulothunga III, so exam answers should say only that he belongs to the Chola age.
How Did Other Languages Grow Alongside Tamil?
Sanskrit stayed the language of high culture, and kings, scholars and court poets wrote in it. A remarkable feature of the age was the growth of literature in regional languages. Kannada became a literary language under the Rashtrakuta, Chalukya and Hoysala rulers. Amoghavarsha wrote a book on poetics in Kannada, and Pampa, Ponna and Ranna are regarded as the three gems of Kannada poetry. They were influenced by Jainism but also wrote on themes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Nanniah, who lived at the court of a Chalukyan king, began the Telugu Mahabharata, which Tikkanna completed in the thirteenth century.
What Role Did Religion Play in Chola Culture?
Chola rule saw the growth and climax of the bhakti movement, closely linked to temples. The Cholas patronised Shaivism, but Jain and Buddhist writers also produced important works. Jivaka Chintamani is the work of a Jain author, and Virasoliyam of a Buddhist. The Dravida temple, with its mandapa hall for dance and chanting, served as a school, a theatre and a library of inscriptions. Bronze icons of Shiva as Nataraja are considered masterpieces of the age.
Why Were Some Sciences Stagnant?
The growth of science slowed in India in this period. Surgery declined because dissection was seen as fit only for people of low caste, and astronomy gave way to astrology. Some advance was made in mathematics, as with the Lilavati of Bhaskara II, and in medicine through the use of minerals such as mercury. As an analytical point, the Chola courts preferred religious and literary patronage to scientific work, which fits the general trend of the period.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Temple colleges Show the link between religion and education
- Tamil classics Frequently asked authors and works
- Regional languages Mark the shift from Sanskrit to local tongues
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Cheras of Kerala in the early medieval period. Next topic: Chera Dynasty of South India (9th–12th Century).
Key People and Terms
- Ennayiram Temple college of Rajendra I’s reign
- Tirumurai Shaiva sacred collection
- Kamban Author of the Tamil Ramayana
- Sekkizhar Author of the Periya Puranam
- Jayamkondar Author of Kalingattuparani
- Tikkanna Completed the Telugu Mahabharata
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Ennayiram college belongs to the reign of Rajendra I.
- Tirumurai has eleven volumes.
- Kamban wrote the Tamil Ramayana.
- Pampa, Ponna and Ranna: gems of Kannada poetry.
- Nanniah began, Tikkanna completed, the Telugu Mahabharata.
Do Not Confuse With
- Alvars and Nayanars Vaishnava saints versus Shaiva saints
- Kamban and Sekkizhar Tamil Ramayana versus Periya Puranam on Shaiva saints
- Nanniah and Tikkanna Began versus completed the Telugu Mahabharata
Memory Hook
Temples teach, Kamban sings Rama, Sekkizhar lists saints, Tikkanna finishes Telugu.
Mains Angle
Questions on Chola culture combine literature and temple institutions. These points add depth.
- Literature Tamil classics and regional languages
- Education Temple colleges and guild training
- Limits Narrow reach and stagnant science
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the contribution of the Chola age to Tamil literature and education.”
How to Answer
- Education Temple colleges like Ennayiram.
- Literature Tirumurai, Kamban and Periya Puranam.
- Languages Kannada and Telugu in the same age.
- Limit Narrow reach.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Ennayiram college?
The Ennayiram college was a Vedic college attached to the Narasimha temple at Ennayiram, recorded in a Tamil inscription of the reign of Rajendra I. It had teachers and several hundred students studying the Vedas, grammar and Vedanta, and it shows how temples ran higher education.
What is the Tirumurai?
The Tirumurai is the collection of writings of the Shaiva Nayanar saints, gathered into eleven volumes. It is treated as sacred and is sometimes called the fifth Veda, and the collection was complete by the early twelfth century.
Who was Kamban?
Kamban was a Tamil poet who wrote the Ramayana in Tamil, considered a classic of Tamil literature. He is believed to have lived at the court of a Chola king, and his age is regarded as a golden age of Tamil literature.
Which Kannada poets are called the three gems?
Pampa, Ponna and Ranna are regarded as the three gems of Kannada poetry. They were under the influence of Jainism but also wrote on themes taken from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta and Chalukya courts.
Why did science slow down in this period?
Science slowed because society grew rigid and narrow, urban life and communications suffered a setback and orthodoxy grew. Surgery declined as dissection was seen as fit for low castes, and astronomy gave way to astrology, though mathematics advanced with the Lilavati of Bhaskara II.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Tirumurai is a collection of the writings of the Shaiva saints.
It has eleven volumes.
2 Kamban wrote the Ramayana in Telugu.
He wrote it in Tamil.
3 Pampa, Ponna and Ranna were Kannada poets.
They are called the three gems of Kannada poetry.
4 The Ennayiram college was attached to a temple in the time of Rajendra I.
A Tamil inscription records it.
Related Topics
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