ICSE Class 9 · The Cholas

Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art (ICSE Class 9 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Cholas ruled through the king and officials, with the empire divided into mandalams, valanadus, nadus and villages. Villages ran themselves through the ur, the sabha and the nagaram; the Uttaramerur inscriptions describe how committee members were chosen. Chola art includes the Brihadishwara temple at Thanjavur and fine bronzes.

Notice how power flows from the king down to the village, where the ur, nagaram and sabha ran local affairs and sabha members were chosen by lot.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art

1. Sources. Thousands of Tamil and Sanskrit inscriptions on temple walls and copper plates record orders, gifts and assemblies; the Brihadishwara temple built by Rajaraja I is both a monument and a source.

2. Kings. Vijayalaya (mid-9th century) founded the imperial line at Thanjavur; Aditya I; Parantaka I; *Rajaraja I* (A.D. 985-1014), who built the Brihadishwara temple; *Rajendra I*, who built Gangaikonda Cholapuram; then later Cholas.

3. Central and provincial administration. The king was supreme and hereditary, helped by ministers and officials; the heir was often made co-ruler. The empire was divided into *mandalams* (provinces, often under princes), each into *valanadus*, then *nadus* (groups of villages) and villages (*ur*). Land revenue was the main income.

4. Village administration. The *ur* was the assembly of landholders in ordinary villages; the *sabha* (mahasabha) governed Brahmana villages (brahmadeyas); the *nagaram* was the association of merchants in trade centres. The *Uttaramerur inscriptions* from the time of Parantaka I describe the sabha's committees: members had to own tax-paying land and a house and be of good character and conduct, and they were chosen by lot from names written on palm leaves placed in a pot, for a fixed term.

5. Art. The Dravidian temple style: a pyramid-shaped *vimana* over the sanctum, a pillared *mandapa*, courtyard and gateways (gopurams). The Brihadishwara temple at Thanjavur (completed about A.D. 1010) has a vimana about 66 m high and a large Nandi. Chola *bronze sculpture*, made by the lost-wax method, includes the dancing Shiva (Nataraja).

Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art: key facts

Divisions: Mandalam
Valanadu
Nadu
Ur (village)
Assemblies: Ur landholders
Sabha Brahmana villages
Nagaram merchants
Kings: Rajaraja I A.D. 985-1014
Rajendra I
Parantaka I
Art: Brihadishwara temple about A.D. 1010
Vimana about 66 m
Bronze Nataraja

Ur	landholders
Sabha	Brahmana villages
Nagaram	merchants

Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Lucky draw for a committee

Suppose a class chooses its committee by writing names of eligible students on slips, putting them in a pot and drawing slips.

Which Chola practice is it like?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Names on palm leaf slips were drawn from a pot.
It reduced favouritism and gave all eligible persons a chance.

Answer: The Uttaramerur system of selection by lot.

Memory hook: Draw from the pot.

Tricks to remember Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

M-V-N-U
Mandalam, Valanadu, Nadu, Ur.
Use it when: Hierarchy.
U-S-N
Ur, Sabha, Nagaram.
Use it when: Assemblies.

Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Divisions · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Name the units into which a Chola mandalam was divided. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Valanadus.
Nadus and villages (ur).

Answer: Valanadu, nadu and village (ur).

Example 2: Uttaramerur · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

What do the Uttaramerur inscriptions tell us about the working of village assemblies? [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

They set qualifications: land, house, good character.
Members were chosen by lot from names in a pot.
They served for a fixed term.
They worked through committees, showing local self-government.

Answer: Qualifications, selection by lot, fixed terms and committee work.

Example 3: Compare assemblies · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Distinguish between the ur and the sabha. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Ur: assembly of landholders in ordinary villages.
Sabha: assembly of Brahmana villages.

Answer: The ur served ordinary villages; the sabha governed Brahmana villages.

Example 4: Brihadishwara · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe the architecture of the Brihadishwara temple and state its importance as a historical source. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Built by Rajaraja I and completed about A.D. 1010 at Thanjavur.
Vimana about 66 m high with a large cupola.
Large monolithic Nandi.
Walls carry inscriptions recording gifts and administration.

Answer: A Dravidian temple with a tall vimana, Nandi and inscriptions that record Chola life.

Example 5: Source: inscription · 6 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Source. An inscription of Parantaka I lays down rules for choosing members by lot for a village committee. (i) Name the village. [1] (ii) Name the assembly. [1] (iii) State two qualifications. [2] (iv) What does this show about the Chola state? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Uttaramerur.
(ii) The sabha.
(iii) Ownership of tax-paying land and a house, and good character.
(iv) It allowed local self-government within the empire.

Answer: (i) Uttaramerur (ii) Sabha (iii) Land, house, good character (iv) Local self-government.

Where students lose marks in Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Mixing sabha and ur
Assembly types.
Do this: Sabha: Brahmana villages; ur: ordinary.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Writing Rajendra as the builder of Thanjavur temple
Names swapped.
Do this: Rajaraja I built Thanjavur temple.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Omitting selection details
Only names.
Do this: Mention lot and qualifications.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Give the administrative hierarchy in order.
Use Uttaramerur for village self-government.
Include dates for the temple.
State the ruler with each monument.

Practice questions on Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Gangaikonda Cholapuram was built by:
(a) Rajaraja I
(b) Rajendra I
(c) Aditya I
(d) Parantaka I
Hint
Son of Rajaraja.
Answer
(b) Rajendra I.
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
What was the nagaram? [2]
Hint
Merchants.
Answer
An association of merchants in trading centres.
Q3 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Name two features of Dravidian temples. [2]
Hint
Vimana.
Answer
The vimana over the sanctum and the mandapa (also gopuram and courtyard).
Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): Chola villages enjoyed local self-government.
Reason (R): Assemblies like the ur and sabha managed local affairs.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Hint
Assemblies.
Answer
(a).
Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
What was the role of the king in the Chola administration? [3]
Hint
Supreme.
Answer
He was supreme, hereditary, helped by ministers and officials, and often made the heir co-ruler.
Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Explain why inscriptions are the main source of Chola history. [3]
Hint
Temples.
Answer
Thousands of temple and copper-plate inscriptions record gifts, orders, land grants and assemblies in detail.
Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Describe the bronze sculpture of the Cholas. [3]
Hint
Lost wax.
Answer
Cast by the lost-wax method; figures like Nataraja show fine proportion and movement.
Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
How did the Cholas raise revenue and what was it used for? [3]
Hint
Land.
Answer
Land revenue was the main income, plus taxes on trade, used for the army, administration and temples.
Q9 · 4 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency
Source. A copper plate begins with a poetic praise of the king before recording a gift of land to a temple. (i) Name this opening praise. [1] (ii) Why must historians treat it carefully? [1] (iii) What does the land grant tell us? [2]
Hint
Meykkirti.
Answer
(i) Meykkirti. (ii) It exaggerates the king's glory. (iii) The king supported temples and land was a source of wealth.
Q10 · 3 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Evaluate the statement that the Chola village assemblies were democratic. Give one argument for and one against. [3]
Hint
Limits.
Answer
For: members were chosen by lot and held office for a fixed term; against: eligibility rules limited participation to landholders.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Province in Chola rule?Show answer
Mandalam.
2.Founder of the imperial Cholas?Show answer
Vijayalaya.
3.Temple at Thanjavur?Show answer
Brihadishwara.
4.Merchants' association?Show answer
Nagaram.
5.Famous bronze?Show answer
Nataraja.

Chola Administration, Village Assemblies and Art: frequently asked questions

What is a vimana?

The tower over the sanctum.

What was a brahmadeya?

A village granted to Brahmanas.

Who was Rajaraja I?

The builder of the Thanjavur temple, A.D. 985-1014.