Inscriptions, Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
The emperor Rajaraja I was not only powerful but was also a visionary with exemplary administrative skills - as he not only recorded how the temple was built - or its regular structural maintenance -but he also recorded laborious details on forms of worship of primary and secondary deities - apart from the regular pooja rituals - nritta-geeta-vadya was an essential part of daily worship. The emperor had made provisions of material and manpower for the regular rituals of worship and its many festivals not just for the temples present requistes but also for its future.
400 dancers were enrolled for nritta worship and inscribed details include their form of expertise and accomplishments - they were paid in land and gold - 240 musicians supported the vadya form (instrumental) of worship - and their qualifications were also duly noted - the emperor also appointed 50 musicians to sing poems of the Shaiva saints who lived between the 6th and 10th centuries - especially from Thevaram of Thirupatigam.
Each department at the temple had supervision that was entrusted to commanders and commander-in-chiefs.
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