Position of Women

Women were mastered in education, music, drama and poetry from the time of Sangam Age. They were experts in literature and grammar. They enjoyed a respectable position in society and honorable place at home. However there is some evidence to prove that the women took active part in public and political activities. They also played a pious role in the temple renovation, construction and other gifts to the temple. There are inscriptions which referred to the active role of both the royal women, wives of Merchants and common women in his period. It is interesting to note that the servant maid of royal palace also donated. Apart from the members of the royal family, women from other walks of life was also donated.

Royal Women

The women of royal palace i.e., the queens, mothers or sisters of Kings and Yuvarajas were called as royal women. There are inscriptions that referred to the royal women. A lithic record recorded gift of gold by royal women, koyilperral alias Gunavanmadeviyar, daughter of Bhupalasekhariyar, for the expenses connected with the burning of a perpetual lamp and providing midday offering to the God and for a Bhatta too. She might be the daughter of feudatory ruler.^[1] A lithic record referred to a royal woman, Pudi-AdichchaPidariyar, daughter of Tennaavan Ilangovellar who donated two gardens.^[2]

Another inscription viewed that she made gift of gold.^[3] A lithic record from Madurnatakam mentioned the gift of gold for a lamp by royal woman^[4] A lithic record mentioned three woman donors namely Gunavan Adigal gifted two perpetual lamps, another woman Viramadeviyar donated 25 Kalanju of gold and yet another woman was the daughter of Devanar of Orriyur gifted 20 Kalanju of gold.^[5] A damaged inscription mentioned only the name of a royal women Vallavangkothaiyar.^[6] Yet another lithic record registered a gift made by the royal women to the God Vishnu and his consort, Rukmini.^[7] An undated inscription referred to the gift made by Nangaiyar Varanavalliyar The recorded names like Adigal, deviyar, Devanar ensured that they were the royal women.^[8]

Women of Merchant Family

There are inscriptions related to the women of merchant family. A lithic record mentioned the Raman Nangai Venni (Kariya), wife of Pannaiyyur Udaiyan Arayan Thali, a merchant of the Tribhuvanamadevi–Perangadi, was donated 20 Kasu (=10 Kalanju) of gold.^[9] Yet another lithic record described that Nilan Tyagi, wife (kariya) of Kaliyur Udaiyan Araiyan nakkan, a merchant had gifted 20 Kasu equivalent to 10 Kalanju of gold for burning a lamp in the temple at Madurantakam.^[10]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A.R.E., 594 of 1920.

[2]:

A.R.E., 319 of 1903.

[3]:

A.R.E., 316 of 1903.

[4]:

A.R.E., 470 of 1902.

[5]:

A.R.E., 213 of 1907.

[6]:

A.R.E., 536 of 1905.

[7]:

A.R.E., 534 of 1905.

[8]:

A.R.E.,251 of 1990-1991.

[9]:

A.R.E., 246 of 1923.

[10]:

A.R.E., 241 of 1923.