South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c8.s1.15

c8.s1.15

Another record of the fortieth year of Kulottunga III from Tiruvaraṅguḷam in the Pudukoṭṭa State declares certain *dēvadāna* (gift to gods) lands given to the temple, rent-free. In the course of their deliberations regarding this question the assembly came to some other items of understanding among themselves. The assembled people of Vallanāḍu (one of the five divisions of the present state of Pudukoṭṭa), ‘declared that thenceforward they would afford protection to the cultivators (kuḍimakkaḷ) residing within the four boundaries of the sacred village of Tiruvaraṅguḷam and its dēvadāna village. In the course of their protection if any one of the assembly was found to rob, capture the cows of, or do other mischief to the cultivators, the assembly agreed to assign two mā (one-twentieth of the unit of about six acres) of wet land to the temple by way of fine for the offence committed. Also the seṭṭis, the kaikkoḷars, dancing girls (temple-servants would be better for dēvaraḍiyār), smiths, shepherds, and others inhabiting this sacred village who had acquired lands wet or dry from the assembly (nāḍu) were allowed to enjoy them on permanent lease and pay their dues direct to the temple.’ This certainly means the placing of the charities to the temple, and its full appurtenances, under the protection of the particular community; but as to how far it can be held to indicate slackening of the central authority, it would be hazardous to venture an opinion, unless we could be certain what exactly was the distribution of powers between the central and the local authorities. From what we know of this division of functions, the arrangement described in the document cannot be held to indicate lessening of the central authority. Such agreements seem to have been of frequent occurrence in this part of the country.