The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c14.156

v1.c14.156

Turning now southwards, we come to the present North Arcot, and here we find the Rajas of Vellore. The ruling family was one of the most influential in the whole of the Empire, and one of its members was destined to create a great deal of trouble in the reign of Venkata II⁴. The chief contemporary of Sadasiva was Chinna Bomma Nayaka, whose earliest known inscription is dated 1549 ¹. We do not know at what time his father Chinna Virappa Nayaka died ². He was very likely ruling some time along with one of his brothers; for an inscription of Sadasiva of the year 1550 mentions Kumara Krishnappa Nayaka and Chinna Bomma Nayaka, as the chiefs of Vellore ³. His influence at the court of Vijayanagara is beyond question. The grant of the village of Arambaritti to Jvarakandesvara, the Lord of Vellore, made by Rama Raya at the request of Chinma Bomma, proves it conclusively ⁴. He was still ruling after the battle of Raksas-Tagdi, because on February 5th, 1567 ⁵ he obtained three grants from the Mahamandalesvara Tirumala who was then the governor of the Empire on behalf of Sadasiva ⁶: we know from these inscriptions that Bomma Nayaka’s jurisdiction extended over the villages of Arapakkam, Ariyur and Sadupperi, all in the vicinity of Vellore. From other inscriptions of the time of Ranga I, we learn that he exercised jurisdiction also over Sattuvachcheri, Samanginellur and Perumai ⁷. During the reign of Venkata II we shall deal at length with his son Lingappa Nayaka: after those events Vellore became the capital of the Empire.