The Colas c26.46.2

c26.46.2

Most of these centred round the village temple which, from somewhat obscure religious origins, had grown by the time of the Cōḷas to dominate every aspect of social life all over the country. The role of the temple in the secular life of its neighbourhood can hardly be exaggerated, and the temple and its affairs were among the chief preoccupations of the local assemblies; and the temples, and sometimes individual shrines in them, had separate groups who were in charge of their management; but these authorities were subject to the double control of the local assemblies who exercised a general supervision and of the officer of the king who audited the accounts. The temple was the centre of all the institutions of popular culture and amusement. A detailed account of these institutions is given elsewhere. Here the part of the village assemblies in their upkeep may be briefly noticed. The assemblies often set apart land for the maintenance of persons who expounded, in the halls of the temples, the national epics of the *Rāmāyaṇa* and the *Mahābhārata*, and and the *purāṇas*; such land was called *Bhāratap-pangu* (share for Bhārata),¹⁰⁴ and was usually made tax-free. Music and dancing, and theatrical presentations of popular tales and legends, formed part of the ordinary routine of the temple, and received special attention on festive occasions;