Society under the Kalabhras
We can find a
lot of difference between the society and culture of the Sangam
Age and those of the Kalabhra rule. There was a political chaos
during the Kalabhra rule. The secular outlook of the Sangam period
gave way to the religious outlook of the Kalabhras. Both Buddhism
and Jainism became dominant religions during the Kalabhra period.
Particularly, the Jain monks had preached Jainism in the Tamil country.
They were patronized by the Kalabhra rulers. At the same time, efforts
were made to remove the evils from the society. The Tamil Siddhars
like Thirumoolar had preached their philosophical ideas. Morals
and ethics had been preached through education and literature.
|Education and Literature
The Kalabhra rule in the
Tamil country had witnessed the growth of education and literature.
Sanskrit and Prakrit languages had been introduced in the Tamil
region. This had resulted in the development of a new script called
Vattezhththu. The Tamil literature had also taken new forms, and
the Tamil grammar had also undergone a few changes during this period.
Many works under Pathineen Keezhkanakku were composed during this
period. Epics like Seevaka Chinthamani and Kundalakesi were written.
Nigandus were also composed during the Kalabhra period.
The Buddhist and Jain monks had contributed
much to the growth of education. The Buddhist educational institutions
were called Ghatikas. Scholars like Buddhadatta, Buddhaghosha and Bodhidharma
lived during this period. The Jain Palli had remained important educational
centers during the Kalabhra rule. The Jain Palli (School) at Thirupathirippuliyur
remained an important educational centre during this period. Sarva Nandhi
and Vajra Nandhi were the two great Jain scholars, who lived in this period.
During the end of the Kalabhra rule,
the religion Saivism began to emerge as a great religion. Some of the
Kalabhra rulers had embraced Saivism. However, it was only after the end
of the Kalabhra rule, the Bakthi-cult flourished in the Tamil country
through which both Saivism and Vaishnavism began to flourish.