The Colas c28.5

c28.5

Caste and group life formed no hindrance to social co-operation for common ends. The manner in which the burden of maintaining the services in a temple and the cost of feeding ten Brahmins regularly were shared by all the groups residing at Talaiccangāḍu³ at the instance of the *mūlaparuḍai* (of the temple) is typical of their readiness to recognise a public interest and co-operate in its pursuit. Signs of exclusiveness and class-rivalry are not altogether wanting, but these tendencies were apparently well under control. Brahmins evinced a desire not only to live in separate rural communities with *sabhās* of their own, but as far as possible to exclude other castes from ownership of land in their villages; in both these respects, their attitude seems to have had the general approval of the government and the people.⁴