CHOLA ADMINISTRATION

CHOLA ADMINISTRATION

The dominant form of government under the Cholas was hereditary monarchy. The coronation was an important and impressive ceremony and an occasion of great liberality. Succession disputes were not unknown, but generally the rule of succession in the eldest male line was respected, and the choice of the yuvaraja during the lifetime of the reigning monarch din ished the chances of dispute.

Rajaraja I initiated the system of prefacing the sb inscriptions of the reign with an account in set terIru its chief events kept up-to-date by additions from timE time. The relations between an emperor and his feudatol varied with time and circumstances. The administratior the Chola empire was stricter and more centralised tI that of the Chalukyas. Princes of the royal family were of employed as viceroys over important sections of the emp The royal household comprised numerous servanu
varied descriptions including bodyguards of sorts coronation hall and kitchen establishments comprised mo! women. The palace servants of the Cholas were orgcuili into velams and settled in separate quarters in the capito The monarch disposed off business by oral orders 1 an elaborate procedure was observed both before securi them and in putting them into execution. The Ch monarch had an udankuttam, immediate attendants, a gro of ministers representing all the chief departments administration to advise him on the disposal of businE besides a chancery (olai). (There were corresponding 0 cials in the Chalukya court.)

The Chola administrative machinery was an elabori and complicated bureaucracy comprising officials of v~ ous grades. The officials tended to form a separate cl;
in society, organised in two ranks, an upper perundanam a a lower sirudanam. Offices tended to become hereditary a there was no clear distinction between civil and milit~ employment. The officials were often remunerated by . signments of land (jivitas) suited to their station. Titles honour and shares in booty taken in war formed oft rewards of public service.

For purposes of administration the empire was divid into convenient areas with lower subdivisions, the divisio in descending order being valanadu or mandalam, nadu aJ ku"am. Large townships formed a separate ku"am j themselves, being known as taniyur or tanku"am.

All land was carefully surveyed and classified into ta bearing and non-taxable lands. The village as a whole w responsible for the payment of the entire revenue due fro it to the king's officers. The revenue was collected in ca:
or kind according to convenience. Besides land revenu there were tolls on goods in transit, taxes on professiol and houses, dues levied on ceremonial occasions 1iI marriages, and judicial fines.

Justice was administered by regularly constituted roy courts in addition to village courts and caste panchayal Usage, documents and witnesses were admitted as ev dence. Trial by ordeal was also resorted to.