The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c21.37

v1.c21.37

But Fr. B. Coutinho, one of the Jesuits at Venkata's court, who personally knew Se Tatachare, as he calls the famous guru, testifies in one of his letters that 'he is unworthy of his post because of his vices'. It seems that he was specially lacking in continence, as "he had many wives at home", says Fr. Coutinho, "and is one of those who swallow camels and shy at mosquitoes" ¹. According to Fr. Coutinho, Tatacharya was a hypocrite of the Tartuffe type, who duped the people with scrupulous practice of infinite petty unsubstantial ceremonies, and forgot the essentials of the natural law. I cannot reject the testimony of such an eye-witness, who mentions the fact of the guru's many wives and who was not likely to derive any advantage from calumniating the King's preceptor in one of his letters to his Superiors in Europe.