Ramesam, J.

1. These appeals arise out of a suit for a scheme and consequential reliefs under Section 69, Madras Act 1 of 1925 (The Religious Endowments Act) in respect of the endowments of a temple dedicated to Sri Varadaraja Perumal Swami in the village of Mullipallam, Nilakottai Taluk, Madura District. The plaintiffs case is that the lands which were constituted as an endowment were originally granted as an inam by the ancient Carnatic rulers of the country to the diety. The defendants belong to the family of the archakas of the temple. They pleaded that the archakas were in occupation of the lands from time out of memory. They also, say that they bona fide believe that the grant of the inam was to the service holder burdened with the obligation of the service of doing puja and putting light in the nights, and the allegation in the plaint that the inam was an inam to the deity was denied. Issue 5 in the case is whether the grant was to the temple itself or to the archaka burdened with service to the idol and Issue 4 is whether the plaint lands themselves constitute the inam or only the teerva thereof (the word "teerva" being used synonymous with assessment). The District