Women in the Sangam Age held a respectable but unequal status within a patriarchal society, characterized by significant social flexibility, educational access, and literary contributions. While chastity (Karpu) was considered their highest virtue and women were generally not permitted to remarry or inherit property, they enjoyed the freedom to choose their life partners and participated actively in economic and cultural spheres.
Key aspects of their status include:
Education and Literature: Women received education in literature (Iyal), music (Isai), and drama (Natakam). Notable female poets such as Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished, contributing significantly to Sangam literature, which proves the value placed on women's intellectual pursuits.
Social and Economic Roles: Women managed households, participated in agriculture, weaving, and trade, and were sometimes referred to as Mudukkuravai if proficient in arts. They were also known for their courage, with mothers (Mudin Magalir) proudly sending sons to battle.
Marriage and Family: Love marriages were common, and women could select their husbands. However, the status of widows was often miserable, and the practice of Sati was prevalent among higher strata, although not universal.
Limitations: Despite their respect, women were not equal to men in all aspects; they were generally excluded from political roles like king's ministers, and their education was often confined to the home rather than public institutions.
The status of women in Sangam society was not equal to that of men. The Sangam society consisted of different kinds of women.
There were married women who had settled down as dutiful housewives looking after their husbands and children. There were female ascetics belonging to Buddhist or Jain traditions like Kaundi Adigal and Manimegalai. There were a large number of courtesans.
However, women enjoyed the freedom of movement in society and the number of women poets of the age is proof that the women were provided with a good education. Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in this period.
Arundhati, a character in Sanskrit literature, become a model for South Indian Women in the Sangam age The worship of Kannagi or Pattini ('the Chaste Lady) was perhaps a very early institution and was an extension of the worship of the Goddess of Chastity.
Marriage
Tolkappiyam and the Kalaviyal describe that the Aryans introduced the rituals and ceremonies of marriage (karanam). Secret marriages were distinguished from open alliance marriage with the consent of parents. The literature refer to the eight forms of marriage known to the Sanskrit Dharmashastras.
Economy and Trade
This was an age of a simple and self-sufficient economy. The economy was initially based on barter. People exchanged their commodities with the neighboring regions. The Sangam literature points to the existence of both the wealthy and the poor people in society. The wealthy people included the kings and those who surrounded them. The poor were either the farm and casual laborers or the wandering minstrels.
External trade was carried out between South India and the Greeks. Cotton, spices, pearl, and precious stones were the major items of export.
Do you know what was the important craft of Sangam Period?
Weaving and spinning were the most important crafts of the Sangam period. Uraiyur and Madurai were the main centers for the manufacture of cotton fabrics. The weavers produced and exported fine cotton clothes.
Local markets were called 'anagadis' that came up along with day markets (called 'nalangadi') and evening markets (called 'allangadi') in the port towns, where there was a lot of commercial activity. Goods from distant places were brought to these markets. The main exports were spices, ivory, pearls, precious stones, muslin and silk. The expansion of trade consequently led to the growth of towns.