Design of the Household Materials in the Sangam period

DESIGN OF THE HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS IN THE SANGAM PERIOD

There are evidences of the existence of household items in the Sangam period. How the items were used, and they were designed are found in the evidences.

1. Aryakkal (or) Enthiram

A tool which is called enthiram (apparatus) is the grinding tool that is found in every house in the villages of Tamil Nadu. Aariyam is a stone tool used to grind ragi into powder. Whole grains can be broken into two. Plant crop, gram, green gram can easily be broken.

Shape

The lower part of the Aryakkal is a fixed round stone. There is a sprout in the middle of it. A round stone is found with a hole in the middle at the top. It revolves around the sprout. There is also a sprout to hold the top stone in order to move it around. When the stone rotates, the grain or the crop placed in the circular hole of the upper stone is ground in between and is broken and falls out.

This instrument is found in all parts of India. There are many epigraphical evidences that this instrument was used in every house even during the Sangam period.

2. Ural - Plunger

Ural is a very simple tool. This tool is used to remove the husk of paddy, to remove the skin of rye and to clean the corn.

Shape

The shape of the ural is like a udukkai. It is made of wood and black stone. It is also called Kunthani which is made of wood. The upper part of the ural is like a flat ring with a circular pit in the middle.

A plunger is a cylinder-like elongated wooden block with an iron rod attached at both ends.

Application

During the Sangam period, to remove the paddy husk, it was pounded with a plunger. Ural has been used to measure the rainfall in rural areas. If the ural has got rainwater in full, it is called a 'plough rain'. A village ural pit was filled with water and measured. The researchers found that it was equivalent to nearly an inch of rain. Other than the urals at houses, here and there it can be seen that ural holes were carved in stone rocks in the forest areas.

Proof: Samana Hermit Cave is located at Jampaik Garat, Thirukovilur Circle, Villupuram district. It has an inscription of Athiyaman Neduman Anji. Ural is carved in front of this cave.

3. Grinding Stone (or) Aatural (or) Sekku

Grinding stone is a device used during the Sangam period for grinding rice flour for making Idly, Dosa and Chilli mortar.

Shape

A hole dug in stone; a handle for holding and turning the stone suitable for the pit is the structure of the grinding stone.

Application

Sangam people used to prepare pongal in forest temples away from the town. Sacrifice of chicken, goats and pigs is customary. They cook and enjoy eating them. A grinding stone is required for grinding the necessary chilli paste. The philanthropists provided such grinding stones and their names are engraved on them.

Evidences

1. In the forest temple on the Kalvarayan hill in Salem district there is a grinding stone engraved on the rock. On analyzing it, it is understood that it is dated back to the first Paranthaga Chola.

2. A grinding stone is cut on a stone near a temple under a tree at Manaloorpet in Tirukoilur circle. It belongs to 7th Century AD. In it, the words 'Srisalavan Perinaranath'. This may be the oldest written inscription.

3. An inscription is cut on a large boulder in a forest at Rasipuram in Salem. In it, in the 12th Century letters, a statement is found.

4. Ammi

The Ammi and Kuzhavi are used to grind chilli paste.

Shape

The base part is flat. On the top of it is the rolling Kuzhavi. Turmeric and ginger are first placed on the base stone and crushed with the Kuzhavi. Then, the content is ground by rolling and pulling the Kuzhavi.

Evidence

There is an Ayyanar temple in Chingee, Villupuram district. There, a long Ammi has beautiful carvings on all four sides. It may be the period of Sambuvarayar.

5. Oil Sekku

Sekku is a tool used to press sesame, groundnut and coconut oil and extract oil.

Structure

Sekku is mostly made of wood. The kuzhavi is made of iron or wood. Sometimes, the kuzhavi is made of black stone.

The compressive force is supplied by the kuzhavi. Two cattle are locked to go round the sekku. The process of rotating the sekku is called 'Kaanam'.

Evidences

1. There is a stone sekku in the town called Ennairam, in Villupuram circle.

2. There is also a town named Marakkanam.

6. Sugar Factory

Sugar Factory is the place where devices are found to squeeze out sugarcane juice.

Structure

About 50 years ago, wooden rollers were installed and even the toothed wheels that transferred the force were made of wood. The rollers were rotated by being pulled by cattle. The sugarcane is inserted in the middle of the cylinder and the juice is squeezed out and comes out as solid residue.

During the Sangam period, it was called a locking device. Poets sing that the sound of lock-clang is always heard.

Proofs

1. A song about Veliyarkone Veethividangan, the ruler of Tirukoilur contains lyrics about Sugar Factories.

2. A scene in Perumbaanaatruppadai mentions that one can always hear the sound of the sugarcane juicer on the mountainside similar to the trumpeting of an elephant attacked by yaali.

7. Telescope

The Bosala Kings ruled the state of Karnataka. Uralepeedu is the best among the Bosal cities. The twin temples here have many beautiful sculptures. Many Mahabharatha scenes are also found. It was built in the 9th Century AD. In one of the sculpture scenes, his charioteer 'Sanjayan' holding a telescope in his hand, looking at the battlefield and narrates the scene to Thirutharashtiran. That telescope is a long tube.