3. Write brief note on 'temple towns'.
Answers
Answer:
Use of Money by Temples: Temples used their money to finance trade and banking. Gradually many priests, artisans, workers, traders, Etc. settled near the temple to cater to the needs of the temple as well as pilgrims. This is how temple towns grew.
Explanation:
Towns, Traders, Craftspersons
Learning Goals:
Administrative towns
Temple towns
Money in temple towns
A medieval town may be a Temple town, Administrative centre, Commercial town or Port town. Many towns had combined characteristics of all the above types of towns. For example, many towns were administrative centres, commercial and craft production centres as well as temple towns – all at the same time.
Towns
Administrative Centres: Thanjavur was the capital of the Cholas. It was an administrative town. This is situated on the banks of Kaveri. Rajarajeshvara temple (built by Rajaraja Chola) is in this town. Kunjaramallam Rajaraja was the architect of this temple. Apart from the temple; palaces with mandapas (pavilions) are present in this town. The kings held court in these mandapas. Barracks for the army were also present in the town.
Important aspects of the town
There were bustling markets; selling grain, spices, cloth and jewellery.
Wells and tanks provided water supply to the town.
The Saliya weavers of Thanjavur and Uraiyur made clothes. Fine cottons were made for the king and nobility and coarse cottons were made for the masses. These clothes were also used for making flags to be used in temple festivals.
The sculptors or sthapatis at Svamimalai used to make exquisite bronze idols and tall, ornamental bell lamps.
Temple Towns
Thanjavur was also a temple town. Temples used to be the hub of economy and society.
Sources of Money for Temples: Rulers used to build temples to demonstrate their devotion. Additionally; they also endowed the temples with grants of land and money for rituals, feeding pilgrims and priests, and festivities. Donations were also made by pilgrims.
Use of Money by Temples: Temples used their money to finance trade and banking. Gradually many priests, artisans, workers, traders, Etc. settled near the temple to cater to the needs of the temple as well as pilgrims. This is how temple towns grew.
Some of the important temple towns which developed in this period are; Bhillasvamin (Bhisla or Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh), Somnath (Gujarat), Kanchipuram and Madurai (Tamil Nadu) and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh). Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh are examples of pilgrimage centres which developed as a town.