The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c31.6

v1.c31.6

2. Literary patronage did not belong exclusively to the Aravidu Dynasty. Several of the preceding sovereigns of Vijayanagara were declared patrons of the literary activity of their subjects; and Sadasiva, the last representative of the Tuluva family, favoured several learned people during the first stage of his Regent’s rule. In 1545 the young Emperor granted two villages, one to Srimat Talapaka Tirumalayagaru, called ‘the establisher of the two schools of the Vedanta’²; and another to Tiruvengalanatha, styled ‘the establisher of the path of the Vedas’³. Again in 1549-50 Sadasiva granted the village of Mamidipundi to Acharayya, a learned Brahman, who is said to be ‘a lion to the elephants, which are his controversialists’⁴.