The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c21.143

v1.c21.143

12. Venkata remained at Vellore till the following month of May. Then, “after having extorted from Lingama Naichen a large number of precious stones and pearls,” he “took him prisoner to grace his own triumph from the fortress of Velur to Chandegri ” ². Fr. B. Coutinho, who was himself an eye-witness of this magnificent state procession, wrote an account of it in the aforesaid Jesuit letter which we shall quote here: “On May 27”, he writes, “four hours after sunrise (viz. at about ten o’clock in the morning) this procession entered the town. The road through the middle of the city by which he had to pass was decorated with a big arch in the centre, and with very many carpets and hangings made of green boughs. But what added more dignity to the king was the fact that a large number of attendants in groups of three, dressed in gorgeous uniforms, were stationed at different intervals by the roadside; there were besides military bands with brass instruments and others with the vina and other classical instruments; these were followed by many other insignia, and finally by the royal standard itself, in which a golden lion and a golden fish were painted, thus showing Venkata’s soverignity over land and sea. This made the opening of the procession. Many horsemen came next among whom there was Obraias himself (Oba Raya) the King's father-in-law, and with him many other grandees adorned with gold ornaments and precious stones; at the end the King himself, accompanied by Connanaiche (Chenna Nayaka) riding a beautiful elephant, the body and the head of which were painted yellow and adorned with feathers and silk drapery¹: the silk pillow on which the King sat was embroidered with gold thread, and he was himself covered with pearls and precious stones......Being thus triumphantly carried, he was looking graciously on the crowd below...and having finally reached his palace, sat on the golden throne, where he received a present from the Adelaraya, the governor of the city, as it is customary. Then all the nobles presented their homage and left. We also (says Fr. Coutinho,) went there, and Fr. Francis Ricio offered the King a gilt drinking-cup of glass which he had kept for this occasion"².