With reference to the role of temples in the Chola period, consider the following statements: 1. They were solely places of religious worship and had no economic functions. 2. They were endowed with land by rulers as well as by others. 3. They became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them. 4. Specialists like cooks and musicians were strictly prohibited from living near the temple premises. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Option The correct option is (b) 2 and 3 only. Explanation In the Chola period, temples were not merely religious structures but functioned as comprehensive social, economic, and cultural institutions. They played a central role in the agrarian economy and urbanisation of medieval South India. Statement-wise Analysis: - Statement 1 is Incorrect. Chola temples were not solely places of worship; they were significant economic entities. They functioned as banks, lending money to village assemblies for development, organized agricultural activities, and served as consumers of goods and services, thereby stimulating local trade and craft production. - Statement 2 is Correct. Temples were wealthy institutions endowed with vast tracts of land, known as Devadana (land gifted to gods). These endowments came from rulers, merchants, and wealthy individuals to ensure the temple's maintenance and the sustenance of those working for it. - Statement 3 is Correct. Temples often became the nuclei of settlements. As centers of economic redistribution and social gathering, they attracted artisans, traders, and service providers, leading to the growth of towns and urban centers around the temple premises. - Statement 4 is Incorrect. Specialists required for temple maintenance and rituals-such as priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, and dancers-lived near the temple. The temple provided them with livelihood, often through land grants or shares in the temple produce, necessitating their residence in the vicinity. Key Takeaway: Chola temples acted as the pivot of socio-economic life, managing land resources, functioning as financial institutions, and fostering settlement growth, far exceeding a purely religious mandate.

With reference to the role of temples in… - NCERT Class 7 History MCQ

NCERT Class 7 History — Chapter 2: Kings and Kingdoms

mcqmedium

With reference to the role of temples in the Chola period, consider the following statements:

They were solely places of religious worship and had no economic functions.
They were endowed with land by rulers as well as by others.
They became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them.
Specialists like cooks and musicians were strictly prohibited from living near the temple premises.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Our Past -2 · Page 23

Options

A1 and 2 only
B2 and 3 only
C3 and 4 only
D1, 2, 3 and 4

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is (b) 2 and 3 only.

Explanation

In the Chola period, temples were not merely religious structures but functioned as comprehensive social, economic, and cultural institutions. They played a central role in the agrarian economy and urbanisation of medieval South India.

Statement-wise Analysis:

Statement 1 is Incorrect. Chola temples were not solely places of worship; they were significant economic entities. They functioned as banks, lending money to village assemblies for development, organized agricultural activities, and served as consumers of goods and services, thereby stimulating local trade and craft production.
Statement 2 is Correct. Temples were wealthy institutions endowed with vast tracts of land, known as Devadana (land gifted to gods). These endowments came from rulers, merchants, and wealthy individuals to ensure the temple's maintenance and the sustenance of those working for it.
Statement 3 is Correct. Temples often became the nuclei of settlements. As centers of economic redistribution and social gathering, they attracted artisans, traders, and service providers, leading to the growth of towns and urban centers around the temple premises.
Statement 4 is Incorrect. Specialists required for temple maintenance and rituals-such as priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, and dancers-lived near the temple. The temple provided them with livelihood, often through land grants or shares in the temple produce, necessitating their residence in the vicinity.

Key Takeaway:
Chola temples acted as the pivot of socio-economic life, managing land resources, functioning as financial institutions, and fostering settlement growth, far exceeding a purely religious mandate.

Your note

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