Meaning of the term Upper Perundanam and Lower Sirudanam used during Chola Empire
During the Chola Empire in medieval South India, the terms “Upper Perundanam” and “Lower Sirudanam” were used to refer to two administrative divisions within the empire.
“Upper Perundanam” referred to the region that lay to the north of the Kaveri River, which included the districts of Kanchi, Kumbakonam, and Tanjore. This region was considered to be the heartland of the Chola Empire, and it was the center of the empire’s political, economic, and cultural activities.
“Lower Sirudanam” referred to the region that lay to the south of the Kaveri River, which included the districts of Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, and Tirunelveli. This region was considered to be a strategically important frontier region of the Chola Empire, and it was often the site of military campaigns and conflicts with neighboring kingdoms.
The division of the empire into Upper Perundanam and Lower Sirudanam was based on geographic and administrative considerations, and it helped the Chola kings to govern and manage their vast empire more effectively. The two regions had different economic and cultural characteristics, and they were governed by separate officials who were responsible for their administration and development.
Today, the terms “Upper Perundanam” and “Lower Sirudanam” are remembered as important historical legacies of the Chola Empire, and they continue to be used in modern Tamil literature and culture as symbols of the cultural and geographic diversity of the Tamil-speaking regions of South India.