Temple economy
Topic: Southern Dynasties: Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 2 "Reshaping India's Political Map"
Meaning
"Temple economy" is the idea that big temples in medieval south India were economic centres as well as places of worship. Kings, queens, merchants and villagers gave them land, gold and cattle as dana (a religious gift). With this wealth, temples employed many people, ran markets and lent money. They also helped build tanks (large water reservoirs) and irrigation channels, and ran dharmashalas and chhatrams (rest houses and feeding houses for pilgrims). Under the Cholas (c. 9th–13th centuries), towns often grew up around temples, so the temple acted as a town's centre for trade and public life.
Example
Rajaraja Chola built the Brihadishvara (Rajarajeshvaram) temple at Thanjavur in the early 11th century. It became the centre of a busy temple town. Royal women such as Sembiyan Mahadevi also gave gifts to build and support temples and religious institutions.
Don't confuse with
- Brahmadeya: a grant of land, often a whole tax-free village, to Brahmins. Land given to a temple was a different type of grant, called devadana.
Related concepts
- Vellanvagai
- Hero stones
- Chola patronage of bhakti
- Periya Puranam
- Kamban
- South Indian merchant guilds