Latest / The Chola Empire: How South India Dominated the Indian Ocean — Fexingo History / The Chola Empire's Tamil Military Guilds: The Velakkara and the Kaikkolar
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Fexingo History. I'm Lucas, and with me as always is Luna. Today we're doing something a little different for the Chola series. We've talked a lot about merchants, temples, and kings, but we haven't focused on the people who fought the wars and kept the empire secure: the military guilds. Luna: Military guilds — you mean like the Ayyavole but for warriors? Lucas: Exactly. While the Ayyavole and Manigramam merchant guilds controlled trade across the Indian Ocean, the Cholas had parallel organizations for soldiers. The two most important were the Velakkara and the Kaikkolar. These weren't just armies — they were hereditary, self-governing communities with their own codes, endowments, and even temples. Lucas: Let's start with the Velakkara. The term appears in inscriptions from the 9th century onward. They were essentially a corps of bodyguards — elite soldiers who swore loyalty to the king. But they were more than that. Velakkara units were also deployed in Chola overseas campaigns, especially in Sri Lanka. Luna: I remember we talked about the Sri Lanka campaign in episode 47. Did the Velakkara play a role there? Lucas: Absolutely. In fact, one of the most fascinating sources we have is a Velakkara inscription from Polonnaruwa — that's the capital of the Chola province in Sri Lanka after they conquered Anuradhapura. The inscription is in Tamil, and it records a land grant made by the Velakkara soldiers themselves to a temple. But the context is tragic. Lucas: The inscription dates to around the reign of Rajendra Chola I, or maybe a little later. And it describes how the Velakkara stationed there were attacked and massacred by Sinhalese forces under Vijayabahu I, who was trying to overthrow Chola rule. The inscription is a kind of memorial — it lists the names of the fallen and the grants they had made. Luna: So the Velakkara were more than just soldiers — they were also patrons of temples, like the merchant guilds. Lucas: Exactly. They had their own corporate identity. They made endowments to temples, which were recorded on stone. And the Polonnaruwa inscription shows that they were settled in Sri Lanka with families — they weren't just temporary garrisons. They were colonists in a way, and they became targets when the Sinhalese rebellion gained steam. Lucas: Now, the Kaikkolar were different. They were a weaver caste — specifically, they were weavers of silk and fine cotton. But in the Chola period, many Kaikkolar also served as soldiers. In fact, they formed a significant part of the Chola infantry and were known for their discipline. Luna: Weavers who fought? That's an unusual combination. Lucas: It is, but it wasn't unique. In medieval South India, caste and profession weren't always rigid. The Kaikkolar had a tradition of both weaving and warfare. They were organized into guilds called nadu or periyanadu, and they had their own leaders. Inscriptions show that Kaikkolar units were stationed at temples as guards — they were both temple servants and soldiers. Lucas: There's a famous inscription from the Brihadeeswarar Temple itself, from the time of Rajaraja I, that records a grant to Kaikkolar weavers who also served as guards. They were given land and privileges in exchange for their service. So they were a key part of the temple economy we talked about in earlier episodes. Luna: So both guilds had a foot in the military and the temple world. How were they organized? Were they like mercenaries? Lucas: Not exactly mercenaries — they were hereditary and bound by oath. The Velakkara, in particular, swore a loyalty oath to the king. They had a code called the Velakkara dharma, which emphasized honor and loyalty unto death. They were also given land grants, which made them tied to the state. Lucas: The Kaikkolar were more like a militia. They were part-time soldiers — they wove cloth part of the year and served in the army when called. But during campaigns, they were fully mobilized. Inscriptions mention 'Kaikkolar padai' — the Kaikkolar army — and they were deployed in major battles. Luna: Did these guilds survive after the Chola empire declined? Lucas: They did, but they transformed. After the Cholas fell in the 13th century, the Velakkara seem to have merged into other warrior groups or become local landlords. The Kaikkolar continued as weavers and temple servants, but their military role faded. However, their legacy is preserved in inscriptions and in the names of some villages in Tamil Nadu. Lucas: One more thing that's interesting: the Kaikkolar were also involved in the devadasi system. Some Kaikkolar women served as temple dancers and musicians. So the guild had a complex social role — weaving, fighting, and temple service all intertwined. Luna: It really shows how integrated Chola society was. The same people could be soldiers, weavers, and temple patrons. Lucas: Exactly. And that integration is what made the Chola empire so resilient. The military wasn't a separate, alien force — it was part of the social fabric. The Velakkara and Kaikkolar weren't just soldiers; they were community members with roots in the land and the temple. That gave them a stake in the empire's success. Lucas: So when we think about Chola power, we shouldn't just think of kings and merchants. We should think of these guilds — the men who fought, the women who wove, and the temples that tied it all together. That's the real story of the Chola empire. Luna: I never thought of weavers as soldiers. This really changes how I see the Chola military. Lucas: It's a reminder that history is full of unexpected connections. The Kaikkolar show that in the Chola world, a loom and a sword could belong to the same hands. And that's the kind of detail that makes history so fascinating. Lucas: If you want to dig deeper, check out the book 'The Cholas' by K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, which has a chapter on military organization. Also, the South Indian Inscriptions volumes from the Archaeological Survey of India are online and contain many of the records we discussed. Luna: Thanks, Lucas. I'll look those up.