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The festival of the temple served as an annual review of the administration ' Complaints were invited at beginning and at the close of the festival and the grievances, if any had to be redressed before proceeding further.The Peruvanam festival had to be suspended for a year because one of the people assembled came forward saying that he could not get a
suitable bride groom for his daughter; and the festival was celebrated only after a bridegroom was found and the giri married The arattu procession at Guruvayur stops even
now at a certain spot and does not move forward till a descendant of the temple servant once murdered here com forward and says, "we have no grievance".
Similarly, during the annual festival. Normal activities
like thatching of roof, hulling of rice, etc, were forbidden to enable everyone to take part in the rejoicings. Those who had gone out of the village had to come back an if they did not return they were deemed dead and their obsequies performed.
Apart from promoting learning, culture and
devotion as other temples, temple states had been of great importance in Kerala. Their
administration was more enlightened and humane. Corruption was unknown. Anyone indulging
in, unscrupulous activities were severely punished. These temples also served as
sanctuaries where the oppressed and the vanquished could take refuge. The Rani of Attingal
saved herself in 1730 from the Raja of Kayamkulam by, resorting to the sanctuary of
Netumpuram Tali.
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