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Chola Empire's Temple Donors: The Inscriptions of Rajaraja
This episode explores the thousands of inscriptions carved into the walls of the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, commissioned by Rajaraja Chola I around 1010 CE. These records list the names, villages, and endowments of hundreds of donors—kings, queens, military officers, merchants, and even temple servants. We uncover what these inscriptions reveal about Chola society, economy, and religion: the devadana system of tax-free temple lands, the role of local assemblies (sabhas) in managing resources, and the social mobility possible through generous giving. We also look at the precision of…
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