The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c9.64

v1.c9.64

6. In 1552 Tirumala is known to have ruled the Kochcharlakota-sima ³. Afterwards in 1558-9 a private grant was made, while Sadasiva was ruling at Vijayanagara and ‘Tirumala ruling at Kondavidu’ ⁴. This kingdom had been granted to him by Sadasiva, that is by Rama Raya in the name of Sadasiva, as we are informed by Ranga, son of the same Tirumala in one of his grants dated 1565-6 ⁵. But probably Tirumala never resided at Kondavidu. We frequently find him in Vijayanagara; for instance, an inscription at Munelli, Badvel Taluk, shows that Tirumala in 1557-8 was in the capital ruling the Empire on behalf of Sadasiva ⁶. In a copper-plate grant of the same year, Tirumala granted some privileges to Mahipati Yerrammanayaka for faithful service done to the State and for guarding the villages of Gutti, Tadpatri, Vellalura, Singanamala and Siyyada ⁷. In 1552 he made a gift of ten villages to the temple of Chennak-savaraya of Markapur, Karnul ⁸. This shows beyond doubt that Tirumala took personal charge of the Government of the State, whenever Rama Raya was absent for war or on business. He had an agent at Gudur, of whom we have two charitable edicts of the years 1555-6¹ and 1559-60² respectively.