South Indian Bronzes: A Historical Survey of South Indian Sculpture with Iconographical Notes Based on Original Sources c7.23

c7.23

Devadanas, ‘Gifts to the gods.’ To study the growth of Saivaite art during the Chola ascendency it is important to consider the various forms of *Devadānas* (lit., gift to the gods) or religious endowments which the Chola princes inaugurated and, in some cases, revived with a passionate ardour for which it is impossible to find a parallel in any other part of India. Every battle that they won or every piece of land that they added to their kingdom was followed by magnificent gifts to the temples. Raja-Raja the builder of the famous Brihadeswar temple at Tanjore endowed villages after villages from the revenues of which the various services and festivals in the temple were appointed to be conducted. "No one who reads the long list of villages and lands or images and utensils, of gold and costly jewels presented to the Rajrajeswar's temple, which are inscribed on its walls, can fail to admire the solicitude of the king to provide for every want of the temple on a most lavish scale. Superb diadems and rubies; priceless necklaces of lustrous pearls and bright coral beads, bracelets, arm-rings, girdles, anklets, toe-rings all of gold set forth in precious stones and various other ornaments too numerous to mention were supplied to adorn the idols. Likewise dishes, cups, plates, bowls, pitchers, salvers, kettles, water-pots, flywhisks, and betel-leaf boxes wrought in pure gold were furnished for the daily service. Even the trumpets and parasols were made of gold; and although every kind of ornament and utensils made of the most costly materials have been supplied, the pious king was not satisfied until he had showered at the feet of the god flowers made of gold. A complete staff of servants and officials was appointed for the temples, such as goldsmiths, carpenters, musicians, dancing girls, astrologers, accountants and treasurers and lands were granted for their maintenance; sheep, cows, and buffaloes were given to supply milk and ghee; grants of money were made for the purchase of articles required for the daily service and whole villages were assigned to furnish annually the rice required for the sacred offerings. Of the many titles assumed by Raj Raj Chola none was more appropriate or more truly expressive of his purpose and sincere piety than the epithet *Siva-pāda Sekhara*, i.e., "he whose crown is the feet of Siva."'