During the Chola period, titles such as 'muvendavelan' and 'araiyar' were given to:

In the Chola period, titles such as "muvendavelan" and "araiyar" were given by the Chola kings to rich peasants and landowners, as a mark of respect.

About these titles:

• "Muvendavelan": literally, "a velan (peasant) serving three kings"; it was a title given to important landowners who served the Chola kings.
• "Araiyar": a title meaning "chief"; it was given to important persons and landholders.
• According to NCERT, some rich landowners were given these titles as markers of respect, and they were entrusted with important offices of the state at the centre.

The Vellalas:

• The "vellalas" were a large and important community of peasants and landowners in the Chola period.
• They controlled much of the agricultural land in the Kaveri delta.
• Many of them became wealthy and powerful, and were part of the local assemblies.

Agrarian society under the Cholas:

• The Kaveri delta was a very fertile region, and agriculture flourished there with the help of irrigation works, such as tanks, wells and canals.
• The Chola kings encouraged the clearing of forests and the extension of cultivation.
• Groups of villages formed larger units called "nadu".

Land grants:

• The Chola kings gave land grants to Brahmanas, temples, Jain institutions and others, and these grants were recorded in inscriptions.
• Different types of land had different names in Chola inscriptions.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Temple priests were usually Brahmanas.
• ✗Foreign merchants were not given these titles.
• ✗Soldiers of the infantry were not given these titles.