| The life of the
community was centered round the temples. Labor in a temple was equally divided among the
inhabitants. In several mantapas of the temples, expositions on the Puranas and Itihasas
were given. The Dharma Sastras were also explained there. Recitation of scriptures was
also done. In some temples there were Ranga mantapas, where dances and music were
inaugurated. Kings performed Tulabhara and Hiranyadana in the temples. Temples were also
educational institutions where devotional songs and scriptures were sung. Moreover all the twelve moths of the year were interspersed with various
festivals, like the ‘rathotsava’, the ‘vasantotsava’ etc., and these
festive occasions provided an opportunity to the people to congregate and do communal
work. In some temples, the Lord is looked upon as a reigning king, and due regal honors is
done to him. In the Tirupati temple for example, the almanac is read out every day before
the Lord and a statement of accounts also submitted as in a royal court. Thus the temples
in our land are a unique institution, the like of which is not seen anywhere else in the
world. |
