Other obligations of the tenants

The tenant was held responsible for the proper cultivation and maintenance of the leased land. He had also to bear miscellaneous expenses such as the incidental charges connected with the transport of the crops. The tenants holding temple lands on lease were bound by an agreement to bring to the courtyard of the temple the estimated quantity of paddy or rice free from dust, chaff and unripe grain and give them in heaped measures.^[1] Inscriptions make it clear that the tenants had to pay the wages of those who carried the grain to the temple and also the toll.^[2] This condition was generally phrased thus: "The charge for taking out the paddy for being measured shall be borne by the cultivators and incidental charges such as the wages of those who carried were borne by themselves."^[3] This seems to have been a special privilege of the temples and was not enjoyed by all landlords.

The agents deputed by the temple apparently ensured that the temple reserved its due share of the produce. In addition to the agreed quantity of paddy, an extra quantity to meet wastage had also to be given by the tenants. If they failed to comply with the conditions of assignment, sometimes cultivators were deprived of their tenancy rights.^[4] The tenants of the temple were subjected to some burdens from which the other tenants were free. During the harvest time, the temple deputed its agents to supervise. The agricultural operations in the lands and their wages had to be paid by the tenant.