For the sake of administration, the Chola kings divided the country into Mandalams, Valanadus, Nadus, and Kottams. A group of autonomous villages formed a Kottam. All the responsibilities and authorities relating to the administration of the villages were vested with the people of the villages. Two councils known as the Ur and the Sabha functioned for the purpose of village administration.
The people of the whole village was included in the Ur, whereas the Sabha was only a Council of the Brahmins. This system of administration has some similarities with the local self-government system of present Kerala. The center of authority in our system is Grama Sabha.
