The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c10.s2.46

v1.c10.s2.46

Hindu temples of this period had become centres of the diffusion of Hindu culture.⁶ People flocked to them not only to worship, but also to listen to religious sermons, which instructed them regarding the principles of Hindu religion, ethics, and philosophy. During our period Hindu temples had also begun to maintain schools for higher education and many of them were provided with free feeding houses where poor students, destitute persons, and *sannyasins* could obtain food without payment. The temple cult also helped art and architecture by employing a large number of artists and artisans to build their noble fanes and to carve their beautiful sculptures. Dancing and music also received their share of temple patronage, for dancing-girls were often employed to give musical performances at the times of worship. Temples were able to undertake these various activities because they were richly endowed both by the state and by private persons. Govinda IV is known to have given altogether 400 villages and 32 lakhs of coins to a number of temples on the occasion of his coronation.