The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c9.117

v1.c9.117

Tirumala was naturally in charge of the whole Government. He was the supreme minister of Vijayanagara during the last days preceding the battle of Raksas-Tagdi¹. The titles given him at this time are Mahamandalesvara Ramaraya-Yaram-Tirumalarajayyadeva-Maharaja ². The appointment of Tirumala, as Premier of the Empire, left a vacancy in the viceroyalty of Kondavidu; and it was then probably that Rama Raya, following his policy of elevating his relatives and friends, appointed to this honour his favourite, the poet Ramayamatya, thus enabling him to grant many agraharas to Brahmins ³. At the poet's death, Siddhiraju Timma Raju, another nephew of Rama Raya, was appointed in his place ⁴.