Home > Indian History > History of India > Role of Nattavars in Vijayanagar Administration
Role of Nattavars in Vijayanagar Administration
Role of Nattavars in Vijaynagar administration was mostly in the area of local administration. They were subservient to the Nayakas in the matters of administration.

Share this Article:

Role of Nattavars in Vijayanagar rule is obtained from certain inscriptions concerning the Nattavars of the Vellar valley in the South Arcot, Salem district and Tiruchirapalli district in Tamil Nadu. The Nayaks, who had almost become like feudal landlords in the 16th century, shared a close administrative relationship with the Nattavars. In some cases Nayakas promise Nattavars relief from the heavy tax burden; in some other cases, Nayakas and Nattavars collaborate in granting lands to temples or remitting certain taxes from temples. These instances reveal the position of Nattavars in the ruling structure.

The efforts by Vijayanagar commanders in the fifteenth century to consolidate their power were closely connected to the rise in power by the Nayakas. Consolidation of power seems to have been related to the establishment of Nayakkatlanam (land granted to Nayakas by kings) by the Vijayanagar rulers. The Nayaka`s authority was superior to the Nattavars. Although the subordination of Nattavars to Nayakas in the sixteenth century cannot be questioned, they are shown in these inscriptions as collaborators with the Nayakas or their agents in controlling local affairs. Nattavars seem to have had the right to impose certain taxes on the people of their locality. The Nattavars had also been in control of local production. They must have been the leading landholders and in that capacity, they occupied the key position in the political structure linking the Nayakas and the common people of the locality.

Composition of Nattavars
Men comprising the Nattavars included members of various communities such as Pillai, Mudali, Reddi, Vanniya, etc. and also Kachchirayars. Some of them have the title Arayan. Arayan was a title taken by many big landholders in the later Chola period. Many Reddis are found among the big landholders whose names are recorded in the British revenue documents of this area in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Though there is no other clear evidence, one may say from the above that the Nattavars were mainly representatives of the big landholders (Kaniyalar) of the locality.

The Kachchirayars, who were powerful in the fifteenth century, were deprived of their political power by the Vijayanagar commanders and seem to have been downgraded and absorbed in the social stratum represented by the Nattavars.

Function of Nattavars
The Nattavars are known to have collected certain dues such as Nattu-Kanikkai and Nattu-Viniydgam from various communities for their local administration. It is stated in some inscriptions that the Nattavars imposed forced labour on all the people of their locality, and reported this to the higher authority. The Nattavars in the upper valley of the Vellar River in the fifteenth century, however, are known to have defended themselves from the exactions of Vijayanagar commanders and soldiers. The Nattavars of that area were successful in having the Nayakas accept their practice of controlling local production. It is also known from sixteenth-century inscriptions of the same locality and from inscriptions in other localities as well, that they collaborated with local rulers (Nayakas or chiefs) in granting lands or tax remissions to temples. Judging from this, they must have been the actual controllers of local production, having under them small landholders, cultivators, and perhaps artisans and merchants also, and providing a link with local rulers such as Nayakas, or chiefs like the Kachchirayar.

Decline of Nattavars
The position of the Nattavars seems to have become precarious in the course of the sixteenth century. This situation must have been related to the consolidation of Nayaka rule in most parts of the region, as the Nayakas started to administer their territory employing their own agents by the beginning of the sixteenth century. During the Vijayanagar period, the importance of the Nadu as the territorial unit for local production seems to have decreased in many localities for some reason. Establishment of a new trade centre (Pettai), might have been the cause, or the re-organization of the local production system after the establishment of the Nayakkattanams.

Although the term Nattavars (literally, people of the Nadu) continued to be used, the actual unit of local administration shifted from the Nadu to the area called Parru in many localities during the Vijayanagar period. The fact that the number of Nattavars of one Parru varies from one to seven in the five inscriptions referred to above may indicate the appearance of very big landholders who might have controlled more than one Nadu or Parru, becoming the agents of a certain Nayaka. In that event, the original character of the Nattavar as a corporate body of landholders in a locality must have been lost, even if the name was retained for some time.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.