Temples of Munnur (Historical Study)
by R. Muthuraman | 2016 | 67,784 words
This essay represents a historical study of the Temples in and around Munnur, situated in the Dakshina Kannada district in the state Karnataka (India). Munnur is regarded as an important religious city for the followers of both Shaivism and Vaishnavism. The ancient history of Munnur traces to the reign of the Chola, from whom the city derives it's ...
Functionaries of Management
The temples afforded opportunities to the people of various communities of the village.[1] The temple, as an institution, provided work for a large number of people. In the temple various categories of artists were appointed to maintain temple administration.[2] The temple servants can be divided into three divisions.
Religious Functionaries
Priests[3] were employed to conduct worship and to perform daily pujas.[4] Those who engaged themselves in performing -the spiritual functions are known as spiritual functionaries.[5]
They had preserve the sanctity of the temples by carrying out the rites and rituals[6] as referred to in the agamas. They had also mastery over the agamic prescriptions about pujas.[7] Therefore great care was taken by them when they performed worship. The Brahmins alone were employed to perform the divine service in the sanctum sanctorum.[8]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
A.R.E., 80 of 1919, S.I.I. Vol. 12, No.176.
[3]:
[4]:
A.R.E.,55 of 1919.
[5]:
T.N. Ramachandiran, “Historic India and Her Temples”, Bulletin of Madras, Government Museum, New Series, Vol. III, Part I, 1977, Preface p. VI.
[6]:
Ibid.,
[7]:
A.R.E., 86 of 1919.
[8]:
Ibid.,