In the Chola Dynasty, the Chola artists and artisans drew their influences from other contemporary art and architectural schools and elevated the Dravidian temple design to greater heights. While the stone sculpture and the inner sanctum image empowering the temple remained immovable, changing religious concepts during the period around the 10th century demanded that the deities take part in a variety of public roles similar to those of a human monarch. As a result, large bronze images were created to be carried outside the temple to participate in daily rituals, processions, and temple festivals.