TEMPLE AND THE VILLAGE ASSEMBLY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SIDDHALINGAMADAM

Abstract

The temple occupied a place of vital importance in the history of South India. It constituted a powerful social and economic entity. There is no doubt that the temple served not only as a place of worship but also as the focus of the material life of the people. In this chapter the inscriptions of Siddhalingamadam temple mention the different social groups and economic milieu of the village connected and concerned with the temple and the village. The donations made to the temple were in cash and kind and such donations have been properly studied. People belonging to the various castes live together in this village. In those days the temple must have been the common place where all the people forgot their minor differences.