ஐயபொழில்
ஐநூற்றுவர் – The Chamber
of Commerce of Ancient times
Robust Commercial activities bring
prosperity to a country and Tamilnadu had a great tradition of trading - both inland
as well as exports.
Trade, Commerce and generation
of wealth are not solitary activities. It takes groups of people working effectively
in tandem.
So, the Trader communities in
Tamilnadu created Trade Bodies that had separate insignia, common goals, and
private armies to guard them during their travels.
Apart from the primary goal of generating
wealth, they also had a commitment to make donations for the benefit of the
society.
There is an inscription at Pozhichalur
belonging to the 12 / 13th century, found in the publication of the
TamilNadu State Archaeology Department No 1/1998
Pozhichalur - A Rock opposite to the crematorium
contains an inscription by a member of an ancient Trade Body, ஐயபொழில் ஐநூற்றுவர் who existed in the Southern
part of Bharat.
Creating a குளம் was one of the important
noble deeds of this organisation.
Their insignia consisted of குத்துவிளக்குகள், கலப்பை, குறுவாள், பசும்பை (a type of bag carried by the traders) which have been
engraved in the stone.
A member of this trade body had got this குளம் to be
dug and had named it ஐநூற்றுவன் குளம்.
Senkanmaal – Era of Maravarman Veera Pandya Deva - ARIE No 227 /
1916
It states that Vaisya and
Vaaniya Merchants ( நகரத்தோம் ) of 18
countries subdivisions of
those times all of which could be within Tamilnadu) constructed the Alankara
Matha for Danmadaavala Kuttar in the temple of Senkanmaaliswaramudaiya
Naayanaar. at Thaiyur also known as Rajakesarinallur in Kumuzhi Nadu, a
subdivision of Amur Kottam, JayankondaCholamandalam and set apart certain tolls
to it for other connected works.
Kovalam -
ARIE No 10 / 1934 – 35 at Kovalam Kailasanatha Swami Temple - Registers the
grant of a portion of the cess due to the donor as Pattanasvami - suvandiram on
arecanuts, tamarind and other commodities Karppulukku Nalla Settiyar son of Nallulaar
Pattanasvami Nachchamma Settiyar for worship and offerings in the temple of
Kailasanatha at Kovalam - Pattanam, which was under the jurisdiction of
Obaachchi Amman.
Pattanaswami is the name by which
the leader of a trade body was known.
சித்திரமேழி பெரியநாட்டார் - A Guild of Agriculturists
1. At Madambakkam, AR No 202/1961-62 – Era 15th Century - Fragmentary inscription, Mentions the Thirukkaavanam named Chitrameli…. Another piece refers to
the grants made to the God Poyyiliieswaramudaiya Nayanar and the
Bhattas.
A காவணம் according to the Tamil
dictionary could mean a Grove or a shed with a flat roof.
சித்திரமேழி என்பது, புனிதமாக, அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட அழகிய ஏர்கலப்பை.
There was a Guild of Large Landowners and Agriculturists who were engaged in many Charitable works in ancient Tamilnadu.
Here the inscription refers to
a grant made to பொய்யிலீசுரமுடைய நாயனார், the deity of Ponmar.
Periya
Irumbedu Village – ARIE 100 / 1932-33 – A Slab on the Street – Era Vijayanagar Empire
States that
the village of Irumpedu alias Chitrameli Chaturvedimangalam was a tax-free gift
of the Naattars
This slab had survived all the earlier destructions until 1932.
Thirukkachchur ARIE No 261 / 1909 - Era – Chola Rajadhiraja
II
A gift was made by the assembly consisting of the
oil mongers of Sri Kaanchi Maanagar and the people of 24 Nagarams of Kanchi
Mandalam, who had gathered in full strength, with no absentees, in the temple
of Tirukkaattupilliyudaiya Naayannar of Kanchi Maanagar. This endowment is stated to be a jati dharmam.
This Inscription establishes,
that people engaged in a similar vocation had formed a unit, and that members
assembled to conduct meetings and collective decisions were made.
The inscription records a gift
of tax, paid in oil as well as one pazhankaasu per oil press , from the oil
presses established in the temple of the God Tiruvaalakkoyiludaiya Mahadevar of
Tirukkachur alias Nittavinodha Nallur, to provide for the expenses of the
temple connected with the burning of 2 nanda lamps and 10 sandhi lamps, for
food offerings on every Amavasya Day, and for oil for the torches used on the
occasion of taking out, the images in procession.
One Samayanaraya Tamilavelaan is stated to have written this on the orders of the Nayara (members of the above-mentioned assembly).
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