The medieval temple in Kerala functioned as a central institution that shaped social organization, ritual practices, economic relations, and caste formation. The formation of temple functionaries was the unique feature of the early medieval temple society. Most of the temples were maintained various service groups. The major share of the temple wealth was redistributed for the maintenance of the service groups attached to the temple. The service factions including Brahmin and non-Brahmin elite of the temples received rewards for their service. This article examines the evolution of temple rites and servant communities in medieval Kerala with reference to the temple sankethams of pre modern Kerala. It argues that temple institutions simultaneously enabled social mobility for certain occupational groups while reinforcing hierarchical dependence and caste stratification.
Sumina M.S. (Thu,) studied this question.