Local Government in Ancient India c15.7

c15.7

Another most remarkable example of secular charities, of the establishment of a school, a hospital, and a feeding-house, is recorded in a huge pillar inscription at Malkāpuram in the Guntūr taluk of the Guntūr district, which 'is of very great interest both for the historical information it supplies regarding the Kākatīya kings and for the detailed account which it gives of the famous Pāśupata teachers who preceded Viśveśvara-Śivācārya of the Gauḍa country, who was himself the royal preceptor and a highly learned scholar' (*Mad. Ep. Rep.*, 1917, p. 122). This celebrated religious leader used one of the many royal gifts bestowed upon him to found at Mandaram (the present Mandadam) all the institutions necessary for the commonweal, viz. temple, monastery, feeding-house, settlement of families of (Drāviḍa) Brāhmaṇas, schools of students of Śaiva Purāṇas, together with a maternity home and a hospital. Three teachers were appointed for teaching the three Vedas, and five for logic, literature, and the *āgamas*. There were also appointed one doctor and one accountant (Kāyastha). For the Maṭha and feeding-house were provided six Brāhmaṇa servants. Village-guards called *Vīrabhadras* were also appointed, together with village craftsmen called *Vīramuṣṭis*, who had to perform the duties of goldsmith, coppersmith, mason, bamboo-worker, blacksmith, potter, architect, carpenter, barber, and artisan. In the feeding-house arrangements were made for the feeding at all times of men of *all* castes from the Brāhmaṇa down to the Caṇḍāla—a remarkable instance of toleration and catholicity worthy of the creed followed by the donor. It was also directed that the presiding teacher appointed to supervise these charities should be liable to removal for neglect of duty or misconduct by the entire Śaiva community (*sāntānikā*). There are other inscriptions to show that the same strict regulations applied to Śaiva teachers appointed as heads of Maṭhas (ibid., and *Ep. Ind.*, vol. XII, p. 290 f.).