 The king , resolving upon a " treacherous massacre " , used the stratagem of inviting over 400 monks to a grand feast at the famous Shaiva center of <unk> and , upon its conclusion , presenting them with gifts and directing them to exit one at a time through a narrow lane where they were each strangled and beheaded by waiting royal wrestlers . According to Mark Wilks , quoted in Rice <unk> , " Circular orders had been sent for the destruction , on the same day , of all the <unk> matha ( places of residence and worship ) in his dominions ; and the number reported to have been in consequence destroyed was upwards of seven hundred . " This " sanguinary measure " had the effect of stopping cold all protests to the new taxes . 
