Royal Visit to Temples

The royal visits richly contributed to the growth of temple culture. Kings visited temples frequently for various reasons and at times, in disguise also. A well established tradition adds that the rulers engaged themselves in religious and spiritual exercises every day. They came to the temples primarily to offer their obeisance and to worship the deities. On certain occasions, they participated in religious functions and instituted special services known as sandhi^[1] in their own names. For instance visited the temple and made gift for festivals in the temple.^[2]

To win royal admiration and favour, the various temple staff performed their duties with devotion and dedication. On the day of the royal visit, the temples and their premises were swept, decorations made and pujas conducted regularly. The royal visits thus created a sense of fear and responsibility among the temple authorities concerned. Order^[3] was reflected in every act of the temple authorities.^[4]

The Cholas,^[5] the Sambuvarayas^[6] and the Pandyas^[7] granted many taxfree devadanas to the temples for their maintenance. Tax-exemptions^[8] and remissions were granted to the temple lands. In addition, tax-exemptions and remissions were also made to the temples. The rulers even directed the village assemblies to grant tax-exemptions and reductions on temple lands.They helped the management to raise funds for conducting pujas,^[9] festivals^[10] and renovation of temples.^[11]

These orders were engraved both on copper plates and stone walls.^[12] When the temples needed funds to adjust the deficit amount for various temple activities, the rulers used to assign additional grants. Besides, the Siva Brahmanas or the Sthamathar assign additional grants in the name of the Kings. It was a common practice that the Kings^[13] issued orders to the temple authorities. These indicate the royal interest evinced in the smooth functioning of temple administration^[14] and the importance attached in recording royal orders. The rulers listened to even the minor matters of the temples and found solutions to them during the royal tours.

Ministers, State officials^[15] and temple authorities assisted the King in exercising the supervisory powers over the temple administration. The vastness of the kingdom, numerical strength of the temples and their multifarious activities necessitated the services of royal officials. The Kings exercised their powers through these officers. They acted as a connecting link between the King and various departments of the state. The Kings heard the advice of these officers as they possessed real knowledge about the day-today developments in temples.^[16] In discharging royal duties, they were assisted by Thirumandira Olai^[17] and other officials.^[18] They communicated their orders to him first.^[19] He signed these orders and sent them to his subordinates.^[20] The officers were also made donations to this temple.^[21]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A.R.E.,76 of 1919.

[2]:

S.I.I., Vol. V, 742, 987; S.I.I., Vol. VII, No. 1018.

[3]:

A.R.E.,50 of 1919.

[4]:

Ibid.,

[5]:

A.R.E., 65 of 1919.

[6]:

A.R.E.,73 of 1919.

[7]:

A.R.E.,54 of 1919.

[8]:

A.R.E.,75 of 1919.

[9]:

A.R.E.,93 of 1919.

[10]:

A.R.E.,52 of 1919.

[11]:

Ibid.,

[12]:

S.I.I., Vol. V, 742, 987; S.I.I., Vol. VII, No. 1018.

[13]:

A.R.E.,76 of 1919.

[14]:

Ibid.,

[15]:

Ibid.,

[16]:

A.R.E.,423 of 1903.

[17]:

Unpublished Inscription. See Appendix, No. 4.

[18]:

Ibid.,

[19]:

Ibid.,

[20]:

Ibid.,

[21]:

Ibid.,