Local Government in Ancient India c14.10

c14.10

(4) The *Pallis* referred to in no. 35 of 1913 (in *Madras Epigraphy*, 1912-13). They rescued the images of gods and 63 devotees (*nāyanmārs*) which were being carried away to Dvārasamudra (Halebīd), and agreed to provide for the necessary upkeep for their worship, viz. 100 *kalam* of rice and 5,000 *kāśu*. They collected this amount by levying on each family a tax of 1 *kuruṇi* of rice and 50 *kāśu*, which they realized, if necessary, by 'taking away vessels, breaking pots and beating them'. For this voluntary act of self-sacrifice for and service to the temple the Pallis were honoured in the temple by special privileges and presentation of silk cloths. These coercive measures were of course permitted by the king. No. 368 of 1914 (*Madras Epigraphy*, 1914-15) also refers to three classes of Pallis included in an assembly representing various groups of people.