Question

With reference to the sources of information about the Cholas, give the significance of the following:

Chola Inscriptions.

Answer 1

Chola inscriptions - The inscription provide the following information about the Cholas.

1. They give information about the Chola administration. For example, the Uttaramerur inscription gives information on village administration, taxation, and land revenue.
2. They record gifts and endowments to temples and Brahmanas. Copper-plate inscriptions are the records of grants of villages, plots of land, or other privileges to individuals or institutions by the Cholas. For example, the Leyden grant (so-called as they are preserved in the Museum of Leyden in Holland) of Parantaka Chola and those of Parakesari Uttama Chola are among the most important.
3. They tell us about the construction of a temple or the setting up of a new image of the deity.
4. Some inscriptions have preserved the decisions and agreements on matters of public importance. These include royal orders on taxation and land revenue resolutions of village assemblies, judgment delivered against persons guilty of theft, murder, and other crimes.
5. Inscriptions on temple walls served the purpose of public registrations by conserving a record of sales, mortgages, and other forms of transfers of property rights in village lands.