A state with a maximum number of temples in India means responsibility. Temple needs maintenance and management. Bhakti movement had added flavour to a temple, its mood and purpose. New slogans were proposed such as 'don't live in a place where there is no temple'. Nobody knows the origins, is it the kings who constructed temples as a place of assembly? or people themselves wanted to celebrate their Gods in a grandeur? The ancient Tamils were happy with a stone memorabilia and worshiped with reverence. That was OK until Tamilnadu was ruled by clan leaders of various sorts. When kingdoms emerged Kings needed assembly halls where they could recruit people for various purposes including military recruitments. Hence, the temple size increased tremendously in Tamilnadu

Bhakti movement had mobilized people of all caste and creed to temples. The kings found utilitarianism in it. The temple construction in some places suggest a ground for military parade such the Tanjore Brahadeswara temple. Kanchi varadharaja temple is a fort! Why? The vast space inside the temple might have been used for other than simple worship. Of course the 'big temples' accommodateed large festivals and social events as well. Temple became a museum of arts and culture other than worship.The king rules a country but God rules the universe and so, rituals were designed considering God as a king. They found Jenma nakshatra (birth star) for Gods and celebrated their birth days, for example, Sriman Narayan was born in Thiruvonam and Siva on Tiruvathirai....