How did a temple communicate the importance of a king?
Answers
The temples communicated the importance of a king in the following manner:
1. Name of the temples and the king were almost similar
o Examples: King: Rajarajadeva.
o Temple: Rajarajeshvara.
o God: Rajarajeshvaram
2. The main Gods were identical in name with the kings.
3. Lesser deities were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler.
4. Temple was the miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies.
Answer:
Temples were constructed as places of worship and are meant to demonstrate the power, wealth and devotion of the patron. The temples were miniature models of the world ruled by the king and his allies. For example, the Rajarajeshvara temple was built by King Rajarajadeva for the worship of his god, Rajarajeshvaram. Generally, the names of the rulers and the gods were very similar. The king took the god’s name because it was auspicious and he wanted to appear like a God. Through the rituals of worship in the temple, one god (Rajarajadeva) honored another (Rajarajeshvaram).