The Colas c30.6

c30.6

A conspicuous example of particular industries obtaining special recognition in court or in a big temple is furnished by the weavers of Kāñcīpuram. There were four wards (*pāḍis*) of the city inhabited by the class of weavers known as Paṭṭaśālins; they had the distinction of being appointed weavers of royal garments, and Uttama Cōḷa appointed them to the management of the financial affairs of the temple of Ūragam in Kāñcīpuram. The poor residents of Śōḷāniyamam were exempt from the payment of all royal dues in return for their undertaking to maintain the temple accounts properly and submit them to monthly audit by the weavers who had the management of the temple, an arrangement ratified by the *nagaram* of Kāñcīpuram as well.⁶