According to the categories of land mentioned in Chola inscriptions, which term was used for land owned and cultivated by non-Brahmana peasant proprietors?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about the agrarian structure of South India under the Cholas, as revealed through their inscriptions. Chola records classify land into different categories depending on who owned it and how it was used. Knowing what Vellanvagai, Brahmadeya, Shalabhoga, Devadana and similar terms mean helps you understand land ownership, taxation, and the social roles of Brahmanas, peasants and religious institutions in early medieval South India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is Chola period inscriptions and their land categories.
• The question asks specifically about land held by non-Brahmana peasant proprietors.
• Vellanvagai, Brahmadeya, Shalabhoga, Devadana and Pallichchandam are all technical terms used in South Indian epigraphy.
• We assume standard textbook meanings for each of these categories.

Concept / Approach:
Chola inscriptions differentiate between land gifted to Brahmanas or temples and land held by ordinary peasants. Brahmadeya refers to land granted tax free or on special terms to Brahmanas. Devadana usually denotes land donated to temples or deities. Shalabhoga and Pallichchandam are linked to feeding Brahmanas or supporting Jain monasteries. Vellanvagai, by contrast, is associated with land held and cultivated by non-Brahmana peasant proprietors, often called Vellalas. The approach is to match each term with its owner and purpose and identify which one fits non-Brahmana peasant proprietors.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Brahmadeya land is given to Brahmanas, so it cannot be land of non-Brahmana peasants. Step 2: Remember that Devadana means land donated to a temple or deity, not ordinary peasants. Step 3: Recognise that Shalabhoga and Pallichchandam are associated with religious institutions and feeding or supporting particular groups. Step 4: Identify Vellanvagai as land that belonged to non-Brahmana peasants, especially Vellala cultivators, who were peasant proprietors. Step 5: Select Vellanvagai as the only option that exactly matches the description in the question.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check this by remembering that many exam oriented summaries of Chola administration explicitly pair the terms with their meanings: Brahmadeya for Brahmana land grants, Devadana for temple land, and Vellanvagai for land of non-Brahmana peasants. Some textbooks even state that Vellanvagai literally refers to the land of Vellalas, the dominant peasant group. Since the question mentions non-Brahmana peasant proprietors, this lines up precisely with Vellanvagai and not with the other categories, which are closely tied to Brahmanas, temples or Jain establishments.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Brahmadeya: Refers to tax free or specially favoured land grants to Brahmanas, not to non-Brahmana peasants.
Shalabhoga: Typically associated with land revenues set apart to feed Brahmanas or support specific rituals, not peasant proprietors.

Devadana: Literally land gifted to a deity or temple and controlled by temple authorities, not private peasant owners.
Pallichchandam: Land grants given to Jain monasteries (pallis), again linked to religious institutions rather than ordinary non-Brahmana peasant proprietors.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to assume that any land category ending with vagai or dana is just a generic word and to guess randomly between them. Another pitfall is confusing Brahmadeya with all types of land grants, forgetting that it is specifically for Brahmanas. To avoid these errors, try to remember at least one clear association: Vellanvagai equals land of non-Brahmana peasants, Brahmadeya equals land of Brahmanas, and Devadana equals temple land. Once that mental map is clear, questions like this become straightforward.

Final Answer:
The land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors was called Vellanvagai.