Brahmanas as Government Officials

Brahmanas were also appointed as Government officials in Temple administration, and priests in the temples. In addition to this a record^[1] of Rajaraja III issued in his 18^th regnal year (A.D.1235) refers to Thiruvunnazhigai sabhaiyor a special priest who were alone performed the holy rituals by the holy waters from the temple tank and sacred grass for archana to the Presiding deity of the Munnjur temple.

Kulottunga II in his eleventh regnal (A.D.1146) left one more epigraph^[2] which is found on the north wall of the Mahamandapa of the temple refers to one Gnana Murthy Bhattan who belongs to Munnjur one of the Alunganam donated a land for burning a perpetual lamp to the Presiding deity. The inscription also speaks about the land sale deed and the responsibility to light the perpetual lamp entrusted to Saiva Brahmanas headed by Bharathvaj and his assistants as well. The same record also mentions the well organised irrigation system that existed in Munnjur. The inscription also states that the land which was donated would have been irrigated by the near water reservoir through a canal known as Abhimana Meru Canal^[3].

The same water canal has several shutters and this shutter is known Kannu, or Madagu even now. The expression Kannarru appears in the inscriptional record is identified with Madagu or shutter. The record makes mention that each shutter is capable to irrigate more than sixteen saduram of lands. One saduram is equallent to modern one hector of lands. Therefore the Canal Abhimanameru has been existed with minimum five to six shutters. The above mentioned record clearly reveals the fact that the temple authorities in addition to the duties connected with temple rituals they also look after the irrigation facilities in a systematic manner. The temple was a centre for its well organized self–governance^[4] of the village and the same has been concentrated on agricultural production and cultivation. Agricultural production, irrigation are the basic livelihood of Munnjur.

They were also served as Senathipathi, the chief commanders and other administrative officials. The Brahmana army commanders were known as a Brahmmadhirajan and those who were government administrative officials were called Brahmarayan. In addition to the Brahmanas the other, non-Brahmin communities had also served as Government Administrative officials and commanders. For instance a record of Rajendra I mentions the deed of a donation recorded after getting permission from Thirumandira Olai of the Chola official. Besides an inscription dated during the regnal year of reveals that was a Government official. Another inscription dated during the regnal year of says that was the regent of the government in region. One more record dated during the eleventh regnal year (A.D.1146) of Kulottunga II mentions a Chola Perundaram official one Balakannan of Iraiyur of Urrukattu Kottam, built Udaya Pillaiyar sub-shrine and a gift of certain amount of land for its daily offerings.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A.R.E., 65 of 1911.

[2]:

A.R.E., 69 of 1919

[3]:

Ibid.,

[4]:

Ibid.,