The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c9.92

v1.c9.92

8. A rule of thirteen years had made the power of Rama Raya in Vijayanagara sufficiently strong; rumours were probably spread about that Sadasiva was dead. Then the ambitious Regent took for himself the title of King. “After Sadasiva’s death”; says Anquetil du Perron, “Rama Raya was nominated King”². It seems probable that a real ceremony of enthronement took place in the capital; for C. Frederick expressly says that Rama Raya ‘sate in the Royal throne, and was called the King’³. Even Manucci, in 1688, called Rama Raya ‘Emperor of Narsinga’⁴. And probably new *Pagodas* were at once struck with his name. We do not know of any coin of Rama Raya bearing such an early date but we are aware of coins struck with his name on the eve of the battle af Raksas-Tagdi. The famous *Gandikota Pagoda* gives the name of Rama Raya and the date 1565, and has on the obverse a figure of Vishnu standing under a canopy⁵.