Tag: kerala, from eighth to eighteenth century

The Kudis were the families of occupational groups engaged in agriculture. Many Kudis constituted the Ur. The chief of Ur was called Uralar.

After the end of the Perumal rule in the beginning of the 12th century, the Naduvazhis came in to force. Basically Naduvazhis means the territorial divisions which consisted of nadus further ruled by naduvazhis, which were divided into desams ruled by desavazhis who were directly under naduvazhis and subject to their dictation.

Perumals had representatives called Koyiladhikarikal. In the matters of administration the Perumals were assisted by Naluthali, the council of Bramhins. Perumals had a militia called Ayiram (Thousand). Perumals levied taxes from the Nadus, Nagaras (towns), Brahmin Gramas, temples, etc.

The nadus were the places where the people established their agricultural settlement and consisted of numerous kudis and Urs. The Kudis were the families of occupational groups engaged in agriculture. Many kudis constituted the Ur.

The Kudis were the families of occupational groups engaged in agriculture. The chief of Kudi was Kudipathi.

Kerala was a part of the ancient Tamilakam, ruled by the Moovendars. A kingdom based at Mahodayapuram was established by the 9th century CE. The rulers of the kingdom were known as Perumals.  The present Kodungallur and the surrounding areas in Kerala were known as Mahodayapuram in those days. The Perumals were also known as Cheras and Cheramans. Some of these rulers adopted the title Kulasekara. Most regions in present Kerala were under the rule of the Perumals.

Devaswam - The land under the control of temples. Owners of devaswam land were called Ooralar.

The Nadus were the places where the people established their agricultural settlement and consisted of numerous Kudis and Urs. Many Urs constituted a Nadu and many Urs constituted a Nadu.

The rights over the land passed on from one generation to another and became a birthright. This kind of land came to be known as Janmam Land and the people who had the ownership right over those lands as Janmis.