Chola rulers were active patrons of art. Chola temples were centre of craft production. Amongst the arts associated with temples, the making of bronze images was the most distinctive. The beautiful Nataraja figure was first conceived during the Chola empire. Chola bronze images are considered amongst the finest in the world. While most images made by the craftsmen were of deities, sometimes images of devotees were also made by them. Chola craftsmen created large bronze images to be carried outside the temple to participate in daily rituals, processions and temple festivals.