TEMPLE MANAGEMENT IN THE ?GAMA-S

For at least 1500 years, temple design, construction and worship have followed the canon of the ?gama-s. Shouldnít temple management also follow the ?gama-s? Steeped in a history of more than two millennia, the real bequest of Indiaís ancient temples is that they are still living sacred spaces. The gods that were invoked in these temples more than a thousand years ago, continue to reside in the sanctums and gaze benevolently upon their devotees. The bells ring for morning service as they did a thousand years ago. The ?c?rya waves the ?rati just as another ?c?rya did a thousand years ago. No other organization in the world can boast of such amazing continuity. The secret to this longevity lies in the ?gama-s. ?gama-s are the traditional canon believed to be as old as the Vedas, with detailed manuals on temple-building, consecration and ritual worship. While the world outside the temples ñ a world of kings and kingdoms ñ has changed, temples continue to follow the ?gama-s in letter and spirit in their everyday religious function, notwithstanding the many changes in administrative formats. By studying the activities of the temple, material and manpower required, qualifications and roles prescribed for the temple professionals, this thesis attempts to reconstruct an ?gamic temple management framework, using the K?mik?gama as primary text with other ?gama-s, secondary literature and inscriptional evidence as required.