hindu beliefs

under Chola rule were interwoven

with the royal family?s authority.

Shiva was the Cholas? divine state

authority. However, local traditions

in the Tamil-speaking region and

other Chola territories honored a

myriad of other deities?including

Brahma, Vishnu, and the goddess

Devi?reflecting the diversity of

beliefs that are understood as

Hinduism today.

The central act of Hindu worship is

puja, a ritual to engage the senses

of both the devotee and the gods.

Puja can be performed on an

elaborate scale in a temple setting

by priests, or on a smaller scale in a

family home. A Hindu god is treated

like a member of royalty, with all of

the accompanying delights. A

representation of the deity is

bathed in milk, curds, honey,

butter, and water; dressed in rich

fabrics; adorned with jewelry and

flowers; anointed with sandalwood;

and offered flowers, food, and

water.The ritual also involves the

scent of incense; the sound of

music, bells, and chants; and the

light and warmth of lamps.

Preparing the gods for temple

processions in this way has been an

important part of worship in south

India since the sixth centuryDarshan, the act of seeing and

being seen by the deity to attain

grace, is one of the central aspects

of Hindu worship. The eyes of the

deity, cut in a special ceremony, are

critically important to the devotee?s

ability to make direct visual contact.

With continued bathing, anointing,

and other aspects of worship the

eyes are gradually worn down and

therefore must sometimes be cut

again.