imported>Qualiesin at 02:47, 13 January 2021

2021-01-13T02:47:13Z

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{{For|the village|Manigramam, Tamil Nadu}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| image =
| caption =
| map =
| motto =
| formation = c. 5th century CE
| extinction =
| type = Merchant guild
| purpose =
* Hinter-land trade
* Indian Ocean trade
| language =
| main_organ =
| parent_organization = [[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|Ainurruvar]] (in and after the 12th century)
| abbreviation =
| location =
| region = South India (primarily)
| membership = Itinerant ethnic Indian traders
| num_staff =
| num_volunteers =
}}
'''Manigiramam,''' or '''manigramam,''' typically refers to a medieval merchant guild, organised by itinerant ethnic Indian traders, primarily active in south India.<ref name=":0">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 136-144.</ref>'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153">{{Cite journal|last=Y. Subbarayalu|date=2015-06-01|title=Trade guilds of south India up to the tenth century|journal=Studies in People's History|language=en|volume=2|issue=1|pages=21–26|issn=2348-4489}}</ref>''' Along with the [[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|ainurruvar (the Ayyavole Five Hundred)]] and the [[Anjuvannam|anjuvannam (the anjuman)]], the manigiramam played a major role in the commercial activities of the region.<ref name=":02">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 136.</ref> Unlike the anjuvannam which was confined to the port-towns of south India, the manigramam is found both in the port-towns and in the hinter-land trade centres.'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153" />'''

A body of merchants known as "the Vaniggrama" or "Vaniyagrama" attest its presence in north India as early as first century BC.'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153" />''' They appear in a Karle inscription (first century BCE), a charter of king Vishnusena from [[Kathiawar|Kathiawad]] (6th century CE) and in a [[Sanjeli]] charter of king [[Toramana]] (6th century CE).'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153" />'''

Records of activities of manigramam in South India are visible from the 5th century CE. The first reference to manigiramam is found in two copper plate grants from south Karnataka (from Melekote, Tumkur and from Hassan district), both datable to the 5th century CE.'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153" />''' The Melekote charter records a grant of land to a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] shrine.'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153" />''' The [[Quilon Syrian copper plates]], of 9th century CE, also attests the presence of the manigiramam representatives.'''<ref name=":03">Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala.'' Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 277, 278 and 295.</ref>''' It seems that by the 9th century the manigramam had become interested in ocean trade too and collaborated with the [[Anjuvannam|anjuvannam (the anjuman)]] on the western coast.'''<ref name="journal_sage_20153" />''' A Tamil inscription from [[Takua Pa District|Takua Pa]] (9th century CE) in [[Thailand]] refers to a manigiramam guild.<ref>Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 136-138.</ref>

From the early 10th century the [[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|ainurruvar (the Ayyavole Five Hundred)]] expanded as the superior guild of merchants of south India. The manigiramam and [[anjuvannam]] were incorporated later into the [[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|ainurruvar]]. The ainurruvar, in and after the 12th century CE, acted as an "umbrella organization" to cover all other merchant guilds.<ref name=":0" />'''<ref name="journal_sage_20152">{{Cite journal|last=Y. Subbarayalu|date=2015-06-01|title=Trade guilds of south India up to the tenth century|journal=Studies in People's History|language=en|volume=2|issue=1|pages=21–26|issn=2348-4489}}</ref>'''

==See also==
*[[Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu|Ainurruvar (the Ayyavole Five Hundred)]]
*[[Anjuvannam|Anjuvannam (the Anjuman)]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Indian society]]
[[Category:Guilds in India]]
[[Category:Economic history of India]]
[[Category:Indian merchants]]

Manigramam - Revision history

imported>Qualiesin at 02:47, 13 January 2021