A UNIQUE TRADE GUILD OF MEDIEVAL TAMIL COUNTRY
– A STUDY
1
Dr.P Selvi, 2 Dr. M.Nageswari
1
Associate professor in History
2
Sri Meenakshi Govt Arts College (w) Autonomous,Madurai
Guest Lecturer, M.V.M Govt Arts College
Introduction
In medieval Tamil country the corporate trading merchants’ guild were not confined to
communities were called Guilds. The term economic matters alone. They also played a
‘guild’ itself conjures up the image of an prominent role in matters concerning social,
association of professionals with a well-defined religious, administrative and judicial affairs of
structure. The term ‘guild’ has been used to the territory
denote the association of merchants. This guild Early references and overseas interest of the
conception is based upon the well-recognized manigramam:
association of the right division with agriculture Manigramam was a merchant guild. One of the
and related activities, including trade and some earliest records of this guild appeared in the port
processing of agricultural commodities, as well of Quilon on the Kerala coast. This region has
as artisan-trader activities. Kautilya uses the got inscriptions of Manigramam in the
word “Sreni “ in the sense of a guild of workers. Sthanuu Ravi copper plates .There were many
Encyclopedia Britannica gives the meaning theories regarding the nature of the
payment or offerings. In Medieval Tamil Manigramam association. According to one
Country the guilds were formed on the basis of theory Manigramam could have been a group of
caste and occupations. So the guilds comprised Christians following the heresy of the School of
those who earned their livelihoods by the same Manes. Sthanu Ravi Plates suggested them as
kind of work though belonging to different Christians. Another theory was that the
castes or to the same caste. These guilds created Manigramam consisted of Christians who were
a sense of collectiveness and co-operation. T reconverted to Hinduism by Manikkavasakar
hey acted as trustees of both the rulers and the The inscriptional record of this merchant group
ruled. They received endowments of money or by name is of great value. It became the
land from the rulers. They built and maintained evidence of commerce between West Asia and
charity houses, temples and tanks for the the west coast of India in the ninth century. It
welfare of the public. The functions of the also mentioned the trading stations and
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commodities of trade, which were referred to in courtralam in Tirunelveli district, Srinivasa
Arab sailing guides and topographies. In these nallur in Tiruchirappalli district, Tiruvellarai in
trading activities the manigramam played a Trichirappalli district. Of these the Ramantali
vital role. and Coiurtralam inscriptions belonged to the
There was a fragmentary ninth century Tamil early tenth century. The others are of later
inscription found in Takupa, Thailand give the period. These inscriptions attest to the religious
impression that Manigramattar involved in endowment activities of the manigramam
overseas trade in ninth century. According to guilds.
K.A.N.Sastri it belonged to reign of Pallava At Talakkad in the Mukundapuram taluk a long
king Nandhivaram III (826 – 850) It referred inscription was found in which the
to a tank protected by the Manigramam and to manigramam was mentioned. The inscription
a group of armed warriors probably militia consists of two sections, which would have
associated in medieval times with the protection been inscribed at different times. The first
of trade. portion of the inscription could have belonged
The sculptures in Takupa also resembles the to the ninth or early tenth century on
Pallava style of architecture Both the statues paleographic grounds but the content suggest an
and the inscription point to the existence of a eleventh century date. Section one of the
Hindu colony at Takupa. The tamil traders who inscription describes the founding of a market.
came to Takupa in Pallava times included some The urar or responsible citizens of the village
armed soldiers since the inscription speaks of defined the boundary of the market area.
protection extended to a tank . The colony The inscription also suggest the area in which
might have been founded by manigramam the merchants were permitted
guild. At the mouth of Takupa river ceramic to put up shops. The urar also been the members
and glass deposits and beads were found. Some of the assembly of the village levied tax in kind
of them would have come from West Asia and on the stalls but gave the merchants a free hand
the rest form China and possibly some from in running the market. The second half of the
India. These findings indicate that the Takupa inscription was inscribed in the first half of the
area was used by the manigramam traders who eleventh century. The second portion of the
dealt in merchandise from both ends of the inscription mentions the two members of the
maritime route in the ancient times. . . manigramam who were given the right to set up
Manigramam under the Cholas and shops in the market and were exempted from
Pandyas: certain specific taxes. The taxes that were paid
Many inscriptions of Manigramam were found by all merchants included ulgu, the tax on
at various places of Tamil Country speak the goods coming in by sea. It was also stated in the
glory of the guild. Some places in South East inscription that local people were free to buy in
Asia, Srilanka also the bear the inscriptions of the market. This inscription also attests to the
this guild. These attest the trading activities of existence of overseas trade contacts of the
the manigramam. In the coastal area of South manigramam guild.
East Asia was located the state of Tambralinga The Manigramam merchants enjoyed a special
which was probably denote Madamahalingam position as compared to the other merchants.
of the Tanjore inscription of Rajendra Chola I Goods form outside came into the locality and
The manigrmam inscriptions were found at there was a local demand for these goods. On
Ramantali in former Malabar district, the other hand the movement of trade is
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indicated as well as the opening up of village Moreover the location of this region also helped
communities to itinerant traders. There was the traders to easily reach their destination point
buying capacity and a market in rural areas for like Tondi and other ports in Pandimandalam.
goods other than those produced locally It is located in the equidistant between the
including overseas wares. capitals of Pandya and Chola. Thus the
The manigramam merchants had regional base incoming foreign trade considerably had
of operation is clearly stated in the Chola brought great prosperity to this region
inscriptions. Manigramam of Uraiyur, A eleventh century inscription in Natham in
manigramam of Kodumbalur were frequently Dindigul region also attests to the activities of
mentioned in the Chola inscriptions. The Syrian the guild. A twelfth century inscription refers
Christian tradition about the Manigrmam is that to Vaisyapalan
they were a group who had originally come a trader enjoyed certain concessions in the
from Chola Country manigramam of hands of urar of Menaveli in Urtturkurram The
valikantapuram Thus they had regional base in name vaisyapalan indicates that the vaisyas
Tamil Country and had overseas contacts. continued their identity as traders. A 13th
Another eleventh century inscription in century inscription attested the activities of
Sukhavaneswara temple, Salem described a manigramattar in kovilpatti region Another
donation made to a temple by a merchant who inscription is found at Tanjore district. This
belonged to manigramam of Kodumbalur. inscription describes a donation to a temple
Koodumbalur is located in the Pudukottai tracts near kombakonam Another inscription in
about equidistant between Madurai and Tanjore Copper plates at kottayam Church is also
the Pandya and Chola capitals. Another belonged to thirteenth century. This inscription
inscription is found at Piranmalai on the borders listed out the rights given to a manigramam
of the present Pudukottai district was issued by merchant. From the port of Craganore the
the Ayyavole guild and the Citrameli merchant traded cardamom, pepper, betel nuts
association. This inscription also refers to the and ginger to Arab countries. The inscription
manigramam of kodumbalur This inscription also describes the right of the manigramam
shows that the merchants of manigramam of guild. According to this, the manigramam had
Kodumbalur as one of the many groups which the right of levying tax on goods, which were
met to discuss the taxes to be levied on the arrived at the port. It had monopoly right on
goods passing through this area. This many commodities including musk, salt and
inscription listed out the commodities of sugar. Thus Manigramam guild was associated
overseas trade. with the distribution of commodities of internal
Another inscription found in Tiruchirappali and overseas trade.
also referred the manigramam of Kodumbalur Sarkarpriyapalayam inscription also refers to
region. .The frequent mentioning of this region this manigamama guild. This inscription refers
in the inscriptions attested the commercial to the joint action of the guilds. It also refers to
importance of the region. Irukkuvels of this the tax collected by the guild. Valikandapuram
region were the important feudatories of the was a centre of the commercial activities of the
Cholas and they supported the rulers in wars manigramattar. Another inscription at
and battles. Since the Chola rulers encouraged Tittadanapuram in Ramnad district also
the itinerant traders, they also encouraged the mentioned about manigramam guild. In this
traders who passed through this region. inscription the manigramam members had
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collaboration with Kaikolas ,valanjiyar and welfare, judicial, temple endowment etc. They
Anjuvannam. The merchants of manigramam contributed much for the development of
purchased the cotton fabric form Kaikolas and economy in the medieval period Tamil
exported the same to the foreign countries. Country. The commercial activities of the
Since this place is very near to the port Tondi, guild were also continued during the time of the
the manigramam members might have involved Vijayanagar period also.
in overseas trade from this port.
A thirteenth century inscription found at References:
Melmangalam in Theni district refers to trader 1. Burton Stein, Peasant State and Society in
namely Kodumbalur manigramattuadalvallan Medieval South India, Delhi, 1980. P.177i
chockan. 2. clyclopaedia Britanica Vol X William Bedon
This inscription mentions the donation made by publishers, Chicago,1972 pp104-105
the trader to the temple. 3.Meera Abraham, Two Medieval Merchant
A fourteenth century inscription found at Guilds of South India, New Delhi, 1988, p.20.
4. K.A.N.Sastri,”Takupa and its Tamil
Rajaraja Cholisvaramudaiyar temple.
Inscription” JMBRAS 22(1949) 25-30
Another fourteenth century inscription attested
5. Ibid
the commercial activity of the manigramam in 6. K.A.N.Sastri,The Colas ,p217
Kovilpatti region. This inscription also 7.A.R.E.474 of 1926,A.R.E.439 of
enumerates all the commodities of overseas 1917,A.R.E.597 of 1904,A.R.E.519 of 1905
trade, which passed through this little town. 8.A.R.E.358 of 1927
Thus kodumbalur was obviously a major centre 9. Idem
of manigramam and overseas trade upto 10. Idem.
fourteenth century. Thus manigramam guild 11. A.R.E.519 of 1905
engaged in overseas trade from the 6th century 12. A.R.E.288 of 1964-65
to the fourteenth century. 13. A.R.E.247 of 1943-44.
Conclusion: 14. S.I.I.Vol.No.IV,147
It was because of the activities of the merchant 15.S.I.I.Vol.No.VIII,442
16. A.R.E.288 of 1964-65
guilds, there was a marked increase in
17. S.Rajagopal ,V.Vedachalam, “Natham
commercial activities of the guilds from the kalvettugal”in Avanam 4, 1993 pp35-37
sixth century to the fourteenth century. They 18. A.R.E.283 of 1964-65
established their sway even in foreign 19.A.R.E. 286 of 1964-65
countries. All these resulted in the increase of 20. A.R.E. 46 of 1930-31
the overseas trade in Tamil Country. The guilds 21. S.I.I Vol.No.V,41.
enjoyed their powers in Tamil Country and 22. M.Ganesan,Op.Cit,p.36
exercised their commercial supremacy in many 23.S.I.I.Vol.No.VI,20
trade and market centres in Tamil country 24.S.Santhalingam, “Melmangalam
Besides trade, they also involved in Kalvettugal(T)( Melmangalam inscriptions)in
multidimensional works like charity, Social Avanam 9 1998,p.64.
25. A.R.E. 598 of 1926 B
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