The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c26.73

v1.c26.73

We cannot with confidence join in the chorus of the authors who look upon this event as the first act of the dismemberment of the Empire¹. Raja Wodeyar always acknowledged the sovereignty of Venkata II, as may be seen from an inscription of 1604, recording a grant made by him, when Venkatapati Raya was seated on the jewelled throne²; also from another of 1612, which commemorates another of his grants to Siva, after acknowledging Venkata as his paramount lord³. In the same year 1612, another event took place that proves Raja Wodeyar's subjection to the Emperor of Vijayanagara: it is a charter confirming the acquisition of Seringapatam, obtained by Raja Wodeyar from Venkata II. This document is not yet available, but is referred to in an inscription of Chama Raja Wodeyar of 1622: "On a certain day", says the incription, "when this Chama Raja Odeyar of Maisur was engaged in conversation on good stories of works of merit, it came into his mind that he would establish an agrahara. And on inquiry, finding that formerly in the Saka year 1534 (A. D. 1612), when Venkatapatideva Maharaya being in Ghanagiri (Penukonda), ruling the kingdom of the world, he had granted to Raj Odeyar, a King of his own line, Ummatur and Seringapatana, as an hereditary estate, Raja Odeyar had then sent a petition saying he wished to establish an agrahara, and that Venkatapati Raya had expressed his strong approval and granted a copper sasana" ⁴.