In an age where attractive varieties of modern utensils are being sold in shops and fairs, it is unimaginable that our forefathers convened an August conference on making and supplying earthen utensils!
Coimbatore: When the agriculturists from the Chozha country cleared the forests of Kongunadu and divided the region into 24 nadus or settlements, they felt the need of potters to make utensils for their families. So, they went to the Pandya country and brought a large team of potters to Kongunadu. They also convened a meeting with them at Madhukarai, near Kulithalai, the eastern border of Kongunadu, and discussed their business transactions.
At the end of the conference, both the parties signed a contract promising each other to perform their duties and recorded the agreement in a palm leaf and a copper plate.
The contract, popularly called as “Madhukarai Vetkovar Pattayam†is an important social document of Kongunadu, which throws light on the harmony between the agrarian Kongu Vellalars and the pot making Kulalas. Since the potters came to the Kongu region leaving their kin in the distant lands of Pandya country, the Kongu Vellalars provided them great privileges and treated them equally as their brothers.
The Pattayam highlights the equal rights provided to the potters as “Kolvathu Kodupathu Veru, Mattra Ellam Ondruâ€
Many living in the contemporary Coimbatore could not have seen the earthen utensils, which were used by their ancestors several decades ago. However, going through the Madhukarai Vetkovar Pattayam, they can know their names.
The contract details a great list of utensils, which the potters had to make for the wedding occasions in Kongu Vellalar community:
“Four Midas ( Large water pots), Two Parupputhaazhis ( Jars for storing cereals) one Thanneer Saal ( Vessel for storing water)One Periya Saal ( Cauldron) Six Urichattis( Small earthen pots to store curd) Two Neikalayams ( Cups to store ghee) one Periya Vadachatti ( A large frying pan) Four Thanneer Kudams ( Water pots) and Four Thanner Kalayams ( Small earthen pots to store water)â€
As per the contract, when a potter made these items and delivered them on the wedding occasion, the Kongu Vellalar shall provide him the following items as his remuneration:
“Irandu Vallam Arisi (Two measures of rice) Oru Vallam Paruppu (One measure of pulses) Yettuvatta Karupatti (Eight Cubes of Jaggery), Neipadi arai (Half a measure of ghee) and Panam onnu (Four Annas)
Though there was no exclusive law to award punishments for breach of contracts, the people of those days believed in punishments from Gods. The contract says that the person, who broke this agreement, would undergo a divine punishment, which was equal to the one for committing treachery to his mother or teacher or his family deity.
At the end of the conference, both the parties signed a contract promising each other to perform their duties and recorded the agreement in a palm leaf and a copper plate.
The contract, popularly called as “Madhukarai Vetkovar Pattayam†is an important social document of Kongunadu, which throws light on the harmony between the agrarian Kongu Vellalars and the pot making Kulalas. Since the potters came to the Kongu region leaving their kin in the distant lands of Pandya country, the Kongu Vellalars provided them great privileges and treated them equally as their brothers.
The Pattayam highlights the equal rights provided to the potters as “Kolvathu Kodupathu Veru, Mattra Ellam Ondruâ€
Many living in the contemporary Coimbatore could not have seen the earthen utensils, which were used by their ancestors several decades ago. However, going through the Madhukarai Vetkovar Pattayam, they can know their names.
The contract details a great list of utensils, which the potters had to make for the wedding occasions in Kongu Vellalar community:
“Four Midas ( Large water pots), Two Parupputhaazhis ( Jars for storing cereals) one Thanneer Saal ( Vessel for storing water)One Periya Saal ( Cauldron) Six Urichattis( Small earthen pots to store curd) Two Neikalayams ( Cups to store ghee) one Periya Vadachatti ( A large frying pan) Four Thanneer Kudams ( Water pots) and Four Thanner Kalayams ( Small earthen pots to store water)â€
As per the contract, when a potter made these items and delivered them on the wedding occasion, the Kongu Vellalar shall provide him the following items as his remuneration:
“Irandu Vallam Arisi (Two measures of rice) Oru Vallam Paruppu (One measure of pulses) Yettuvatta Karupatti (Eight Cubes of Jaggery), Neipadi arai (Half a measure of ghee) and Panam onnu (Four Annas)
Though there was no exclusive law to award punishments for breach of contracts, the people of those days believed in punishments from Gods. The contract says that the person, who broke this agreement, would undergo a divine punishment, which was equal to the one for committing treachery to his mother or teacher or his family deity.