Vythilinga Pandara Sannadhi And Ors. vs Somasundara Mudaliar And Ors. on 26 October, 1893
2. In explanation of the nature of the dispute in this case, it may be stated at the outset, that in the temple (as in similar other temples in South India) there are inter alia, four or five well-defined periods of daily worship, for the due performance of each of which an endowment or kattalai exists, the name of the particular kattalai being indicative of the period of worship with which it is associated. Thus at the temple there is an early morning worship, a midday worship, an evening worship and a midnight worship, called ardhajama kattalai. The dispute in this case relates to the last-named kattalai. As is explained in the judgment of the High Court in this appeal, the term "kattalai" as applied to temple endowments in Southern India signifies a special endowment for certain specific religious services in the temple. In this sense the word "kattalai" is used in contradistinction to the endowment designed generally for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple itself. In the case of some important temples the sources of their income are classified into distinct endowments according to their importance and each endowment is placed under a special trustee and specific items of expenditure are assigned to it as legitimate charges to be paid therefrom. Each of such endowments is called a "kattalai", and the trustee who administers it is called a "kattalaigar" (see Vythilinga Pandara Sannadhi v. Somasundara Mudaliar (1893) I.L.R. 17 Mad. 199 and 200).