Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2322

c7.2322

From these edicts it is clear that the administration of the temples was carried out by representatives elected by people. For each village temple there was an administrative council. These councils were controlled by Nāḍuvāzhis and Deśavāzhis (Divisional and Sub Divisional rulers who had Nair infantry (big or small as the case may be) at their disposal. The administrative assembly met either in the open hall at the main gate of the temple or on the stage for performances. The rights and authorities were in the hands of the general assembly of the people called Nāṭṭukkūṭṭa and the council of the temple officials. When the Namboothiris became powerful they became members of the council. With this change the Kings and Koil adhikāris became puppets in the hands of the Namboothiris. In the Rāmeśvaram edict of M.E. 278 it is mentioned that King Rāmavarma Kulaśekhara was punished with retribution for his ‘hatred’ of the Āryas. Finally the Namboothiris (Malayāla Brahmins) became the landlords of the country.