Beyond Sacred Space: Temple Economy, Land Grants, and the Economic Life of Badami Chalukya Towns

Temples of the Badami Chalukya period (6th–8th centuries CE) were not merely symbols of religious devotion but active economic institutions that organized and redistributed resources within local societies. A study analyzing epigraphic records from sites like Pattadakal, Badami, Aihole, and Mahakuta reveals that temples received extensive land grants, villages, and revenues, linking them to agricultural production and urban settlements. Archaeological evidence further demonstrates their role in supporting specialized construction, craft production, and water-management systems, suggesting sustained royal investment and economic integration. Contrary to the traditional view of temples as passive recipients of royal patronage, this research argues that they functioned as dynamic institutions, leveraging agrarian surplus and political authority to shape the economic life of Chalukyan towns.

Hullur, B. (2026). BEYOND SACRED SPACE: TEMPLE ECONOMY, LAND GRANTS, AND THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF BADAMI CHALUKYA TOWNS. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR), 328. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra31223