The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c25.33

v1.c25.33

3. Govinda Dikshita implies that Raghunatha was the eldest son of Achyutappa Nayaka; but Anquetil du Perron tells us that the eldest son of Achyutappa had been imprisoned by order of his father 3, and this information is confirmed by Fr. Coutinho, in his letter of July 17th, 1600, to Fr. Pimenta 4. No reason for such an imprisonment is given; what is clear is the extreme predilection of Achyutappa for Raghunatha. "When Raghunatha grew up", says Ramabhadramba in her poem, "his great qualities pleased his father very much. He had several Princesses of the Pandya and of other kingdoms married to him. Achyutappa made Raghunatha Yuvaraja" 5. The same poem, when describing the return of Raghunatha from Penukonda after defeating the Muslim hordes, who were menacing the capital of Venkata II, gives an instance of his special fondness. When Achyuta heard that his son Raghunatha was returning after accomplishing his mission with the Emperor of Karnata, he proceeded some distance from his capital to meet him, and gave him a fitting reception 6. Sivappa Nayaka, his grand-father, also had an extraordinary predilection for his grandson Raghunatha. If we are to believe Govinda Dikshita: "When he and many other famous scholars were once sitting in the court of Chevva (Siva), Raghunatha was brought before them, a small child. Seeing the child Chevva in great delight said: "This child will become great and rule the whole kingdom, and we shall become famous on his account"¹. This singular love for Raghunatha naturally excluded the eldest son from the succession to the throne; and this was perhaps the reason of the latter's imprisonment.