Culture Jaffna Kingdom

1 culture

1.1 religion
1.2 society
1.3 literature
1.4 architecture

culture
religion

saivism (a sect of hinduism) in sri lanka has had continuous history period of settlers india. hindu worship accepted part of buddhist religious practices. during chola period in sri lanka, around 9th , 10th century, hinduism gained status official religion in island kingdom. kalinga magha, rule followed of cholas remembered hindu revivalist native literature of period.

nallur kandaswamy temple - 1 of royal temples of nallur, capital.

as state religion, saivism enjoyed prerogatives of establishment during period of jaffna kingdom. aryacakravarti dynasty conscious of duties patron towards saivism because of patronage given ancestors rameswaram temple, well-known pilgrimage center of indian hinduism. noted, 1 of titles assumed kings setukavalan or protector of setu name rameswaram. setu used in coins in inscriptions marker of dynasty.

sapumal kumaraya (also known chempaha perumal in tamil), ruled jaffna kingdom on behalf of kotte kingdom credited either building or renovating nallur kandaswamy temple. singai pararasasegaram credited building sattanathar temple, vaikuntha pillaiyar temple , veerakaliamman temple. built pond called yamuneri , filled water yamuna river of north india, considered holy hindus. frequent visitor of koneswaram temple, son , successor king cankili i. king jeyaveera cinkaiariyan had traditional history of temple compiled chronicle in verse, entitled dakshina kailasa puranam, known today sthala puranam of koneshwaram temple. major temples maintained kings , salary paid royal treasury worked in temple, unlike in india , rest of sri lanka, religious establishments autonomous entities large endowments of land , related revenue.

most accepted lord shiva primary deity , lingam, universal symbol of shiva, consecrated in shrines dedicated him. other hindu gods of pantheon such murugan, pillaiyar, kali worshipped. @ village level, village deities popular along worship of kannaki veneration common amongst sinhalese in south well. belief in charm , evil spirits existed, in rest of south asia.

there many hindu temples within kingdom. of great historic importance, such koneswaram temple in trincomalee, ketheeswaram temple in mannar, naguleswaram temple in keerimalai along hundreds of other temples scattered on region. ceremonies , festivals similar in modern south india, slight changes in emphasis. tamil devotional literature of saiva saints used in worship. hindu new year falling on middle of april more eloborately celebrated , festivals, such navarattiri, deepavali, sivarattiri, , thaiponkal, along marriages, deaths , coming of age ceremonies part of daily life.

until ca. 1550 a.d., when cankili expelled buddhists of jaffna, sinhalese, , destroyed many places of worship, buddhism prevailed in jaffna kingdom, among sinhalese had remained in territory. important places of buddhist worship in jaffna kingdom, mentioned in nampota are: naga-divayina (nagadipa, modern nainativu), telipola, mallagama, minuvangomu-viharaya , kadurugoda (modern kantharodai), of these buddhist temple @ nagadipa survive today.

society

caste structure



the position of jaffna kingdom respect other regional powers circa 1520 s

the social organization of people of jaffna kingdom based on caste system dominated agricultural , landed elite, similar caste structure of south india. in way, resembled social organization of sinhalese kingdoms south well, govigama caste dominant , considered lower in status ruling family. aryacakravarti kings , immediate family claimed brahma-kshatriya status, meaning brahmins took martial life. below them agriculturists; vellalar , madapalli castes provided of mudaliyars village headman owned of arable land. below vellalar koviar involved in agriculture. people of fishing castes, collectively known karaiyar, independent of social structure landed communities bound. chettys known traders , owners of hindu temples , pallar , nalavar castes composed of landless labourers tilled land. other castes composed of traditional barbers, washers, potters , general service providers. people of parayar caste lived in segregated settlements , untouchables, in modern tamil nadu , kerala regions of south india.

mercenaries & traders

mercenaries of various ethnic , caste backgrounds india, such telugus (known locally vadugas) , malayalees kerala region employed king soldiers. muslim traders , sea pirates of mapilla , moor ethnicities sinhalese in kingdom. kingdom functioned refuge rebels south seeking shelter after failed political coups. according earliest historiographical literature of kingdom of jaffna, vaiyaapaadal, datable 14th-15th century ce., in verse 77 lists community of papparavar (berbers , africans in general) along kuchchiliyar (gujaratis) , choanar (arabs) , places them under caste category of pa’l’luvili believed cavalrymen of muslim faith . caste of pa’l’luvili or pa’l’livili peculiar jaffna. dutch census taken in 1790 ce in jaffna records 196 male adults belonging pa’l’livili caste taxpayers. means identity , profession existed until dutch times. but, choanakar, 492 male adults , time meaning muslims, found mentioned separate community in census.

laws

during rule of aryacakravarti rulers, laws governing society based on compromise between matriarchal system of society seemed have had deeper roots overlaid patriarchal system of governance. these laws seemed have existed side side customary laws interpreted local mudaliars. in aspects such in inheritance similarity marumakattayam law of present-day kerala , aliyasanatana of modern tulunadu noted later scholars. further islamic jurisprudence , hindu laws of neighboring india seemed have affected customary laws. these customary laws later codified , put print during dutch colonial rule thesavalamai in 1707. rule under earlier customs seemed have been females succeeded females. when structure of society came based on patriarchal system, corresponding rule recognized, males succeeded males. thus, see devolution of muthusam (paternal inheritance) on sons, , devolution of chidenam (dowry or maternal inheritance) on females. 1 dowried sister succeeded another, had corresponding rule if one’s brother died instate, properties devolved upon brothers exclusion of sisters. reason being in patriarchal family each brother formed family unit, brothers being agnates, when 1 of them died property devolved upon agnates.

literature

cankilian thoppu - facade of palace belonging last king cankili ii.

the kings of dynasty provided patronage literature , education. temple schools , traditional gurukulam classes in verandahs (known thinnai pallikoodam in tamil language) spread basic education in languages such tamil language , sanskrit , religion upper classes. during reign of jayaveera singaiariyan rule, work on medical science (segarajasekaram), on astrology (segarajasekaramalai) , on mathematics (kanakathikaram) authored karivaiya. during rule of kunaveera singaiariyan, work on medical sciences, known pararajasekaram, completed. during singai pararasasekaran s rule, academy tamil language propagation on model of ancient tamil sangam s established in nallur. academy performed useful service in collecting , preserving ancient tamil works in manuscripts form in library called saraswathy mahal. singai pararasasekaran s cousin arasakesari credited translating sanskrit classic raghuvamsa tamil. among other literary works of historic importance compiled before arrival of european colonizers, vaiyapatal, written vaiyapuri aiyar, known.

architecture

there periodic waves of south indian influence on sri lankan art , architecture, though prolific age of monumental art , architecture seemed have declined 13th century. temples built tamils of indian origin 10th century belonged madurai variant of vijayanagar period. prominent feature of madurai style ornate , heavily sculptured tower or gopuram on entrance of temple. none of important religious constructions of style within territory formed jaffna kingdom survived destructive hostility of portuguese.

nallur, capital built 4 entrances gates. there 2 main roadways , 4 temples @ 4 gateways. rebuilt temples exist not match original locations instead occupied churches erected portuguese. center of city muthirai santhai (market place) , surrounded square fortification around it. there courtly buildings kings, brahmin priests, soldiers , other service providers. old nallur kandaswamy temple functioned defensive fort high walls. in general, city laid out traditional temple town according hindu traditions.