The Rashtrakutas and their Times c20.111

c20.111

We get some idea of the details of the daily temple life from the epigraphical records of our period. Daily worship was done three times a day,⁸² and many of the Chola records specify the quantity of rice and other articles, to be used at the time of the naivedya at each of these worships. The richer establishments used to have a set of musicians, who used to play music at the temples at the time of worship. The provision for their maintenance figures in the Hebbal inscription of 975 A.D.⁸³ and in several Chola records. The worship offered was sumptuous; scented water for the bath, costly clothes, and rich naivedya were provided for. These and some similar items were included under the term angabhoga of the deity for which provision is made in some of our records. Flowers and garlands were of course indispensable; a number of our records mention grants made for flower garlands which were very often attached to the temples. Some of our records mention provision made for the rangabhoga of gods. The precise meaning of the term is difficult to determine, as it is not known even to Sanskrit Koshas. But since the term ranga can mean a play-house, it is permissible to conjecture that the expression rangabhoga may refer to periodical celebrations of Pauranic dramas, which may have been exhibited at the time of the annual fair at the temple. An inscription at the Rājarājeśvara temple, belonging to the beginning of the 11th century, records a provision made for the actors, who used to take part in a drama called Rājarāja