Pattern of temple grants in medieval South Western India

Abstract

In the medieval inscriptions of South Western India, there are numerous references to land grants and money grants bestowed to the temples of the region. These grants were made by kings, traders, trade guilds, artisans and other social groups. The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the sequence of these grants and to inquire into raison d'être of these grants and the people concerned. It is argued that grants were made due to justifiable devotion and to attain legitimacy and religious sanction. An endeavor is made here to interpret the land grants and monetary grants made to the temples in South Western India.