The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c18.70

v1.c18.70

7. In the meanwhile the Sultan of Golkonda, Ibrahim Qutb Shah, had broken the alliance made lately with Ranga; and having joined the Hande chief Malakappa Nayadu, who, as we have already noted, had been a traitor to the Empire, invaded and occupied the Ahobalam district. A local inscription dated 1584-5, from which we get this information, adds that the religious teacher, Sri Van Sathagopa Swami, then went to the Emperor Ranga; and "reporting to him the sad condition of the temple of Ahobalam and the surrounding country, requested him to recover the district from the Muhammadans and to restore the temples to their ancient glory. Thereupon the Emperor Sri Ranga Raya himself prepared to lead an army into the district in person and to drive out the enemy. But the High Priest said that he need not lead the expedition in person, but might entrust it to his subordinates, Kondaraju Venkataraju and Kondaraju Tirumalaraju who were designated by the god of Ahobalam in a dream, as the fittest persons to lead the attack and to restore the temples. The Emperor was struck with this; and having presented the chiefs with jewels and titles, ordered them to march against the enemy. Then the chiefs started with their army along with the priest; and having defeated the Hande chiefs and the other allies of Ibrahim, made vast additions to the temples and bestowed on the temples more than their former prosperity" ¹. This action is probably the one referred to in the Lakshmivilasam, which states that Ranga I "defeated the large armies of Qutb Shah and captured his royal inisgnia" ². And again the Narapati-vijayamu says that 'his sword split the bodies of the Golkonda warriors' ³.