Previous Year Question
In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:
Term | Description |
1. Eripatti | Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank |
2. Taniyurs | Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins |
3. Ghatikas | Colleges generally attached to the temples |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Pair 1 is correct. Eripatti in South India referred to land whose income or revenue was earmarked for the maintenance of the village irrigation tank. The Government of Tamil Nadu history textbook specifically describes it as “tank land” and states that its revenue was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank.
Pair 2 is incorrect. A village donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins was called a Brahmadeya, not a Taniyur. The Government of Tamil Nadu textbook explicitly states that Brahmadeya villages were donated to a single Brahman or a group of Brahmans. Thus, the description placed against Taniyur in the question actually belongs to Brahmadeya.
Taniyur was associated with the status of a distinct or independent revenue/administrative unit under the Cholas. Some important Brahmadeyas could later acquire taniyur status, but “a village donated to Brahmins” was not its defining meaning. Therefore, Pair 2 is incorrect.
Pair 3 is correct. Ghatikas or Ghatikasthanas were important centres of higher learning in South India. The Ghatika at Kanchi was particularly famous. University-level historical material refers to temple-associated schools and the educational role of the Ghatika, while inscriptional traditions also connect Ghatikas with Vedic and other advanced learning.