Understanding Vellanvagai in Chola Inscriptions

Chola inscriptions are valuable sources of information about the Chola administration, society, and economy. These inscriptions frequently mention various categories of land, indicating how land was held and used during the Chola period. One such category often found is Vellanvagai.

What was Vellanvagai Land?

In the context of Chola inscriptions, Vellanvagai referred to the land held by non-Brahmin peasant proprietors. These were typically the cultivators or landowners who were not part of the Brahmin community.

Let's look at some of the common land categories mentioned in Chola inscriptions to understand the distinction:

• Vellanvagai: Land of non-Brahmin peasant proprietors. This was a significant category of land ownership.
• Brahmadeya: Land gifted to Brahmins, often as tax-free grants.
• Shalabhoga: Land for the maintenance of a school or educational institution.
• Devadana (or Tirunamattukkani): Land gifted to temples.
• Pallichchhandam: Land granted to Jaina institutions.

Comparing these categories helps us understand the nature of Vellanvagai. It was distinct from land grants given to religious institutions (temples, Jaina institutions), educational institutions (schools), or specific communities like Brahmins.

Significance of Vellanvagai

The prevalence of Vellanvagai land indicates the importance of the non-Brahmin peasant class in the agrarian economy of the Chola kingdom. These peasant proprietors formed a large part of the agricultural population and contributed significantly to the state's revenue through land taxes.

Therefore, based on the study of Chola inscriptions, the term Vellanvagai is consistently identified with land owned by non-Brahmin peasant proprietors. This aligns directly with one of the options provided.