The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c17.68

v1.c17.68

"The next brother, Rama", says the *Vasucharitramu*, "was governing in peace the whole country from the Kaveri to the Sea (Arabian Sea), with his capital at the island town of Seringapatam" ⁹. The country under Rama is specified in greater detail in the *Chikkadevaraya Vamsavali*. "His brother Rama Raya ruled the whole Kanarese country from his capital Seringapatam" ¹⁰. During the reign of Sadasiva, immediately before the battle of Raksas-Tagdi, Rama Raya seems to have been governor of the fortress of Penukonda ¹, and about that time he made a gift of the village of Kolagala to a certain Ramaraja Nayaka ². He is said to have previously defeated the Nizam Shah ³; but his rule at Seringapatam has been noted as weak ⁴. The times however were not favourable to the Kanarese Viceroy. I feel sure that many of the petty chieftains of the Kanarese country were in revolt against Tirumala and the new dynasty; several rebellions occurred there, too, after the accession of Sadasiva ⁵. Rama's task was not at all easy, and his life was not to last long. During the time of his viceroyalty, he constructed the math of Satyabhodarayalasvami at Penukonda, as recorded in a Kanarese inscription in the same place ⁶. By his wife Narasingama ⁷ he had two sons, Tirumala and Sri Ranga ⁸, whose great influence in the history of the Aravidu family will be traced in due course.