The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c21.44

v1.c21.44

4. Along with Tatacharya, the names of several ministers of Venkata have reached us, mainly through the contemporary poems. A Sidhout inscription of 1605 states that the chief Matla Ananta 'was like the right-hand of the Emperor of Karnataka (Vijayanagara)' ²; he was no doubt one of Venkata's chief officers, as is shown by this appellation and his achievements, which will be narrated further on. Tarigoppula Mallana, in his *Chandrabhanu Charitram*, says that his elder brother Tarigoppula Datta Mantri "was a minister of the Emperor Venkatapati Raya, son of Tirumala Raya......All the members of the Emperor's court used to extol him for his patronage and helpfulness to them on various occasions" ³. Another one, Tammaya Mantri, who, according to the *Charu chandrodayam*, had been the right hand of Sri Ranga, 'was also the minister of the Emperor Venkatapati Raya' ⁴. From literature we gather likewise that Pemmasani Pedda-Timmaraja, who had also been a minister of Ranga I, continued to hold the same office under Venkata II ¹. The chief military officer of this Emperor was Gubburi Obarajaya ², who may perhaps be identified with Obaraja, the brother-in-law of Venkata, as mentioned in Barrada's account ³, or his father-in-law, as stated both in the *Ramarajiyamu* ⁴ and in the Jesuit records ⁵.