The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c9.98

v1.c9.98

The epigraphical evidence on this point is more than sufficient. A copper-plate record at Devarayadurga of 1562-3 says that Rama Raya reigned supreme at Vijayanagara⁷. A private grant of the same year mentions Rama Raya as ‘ruling the Empire', and does not mention Sadasiva ¹. An inscription in Krishnarajapet Taluk records a grant made 'while the Rajadhiraja Raja-Paramesvara Vira-pratapa-Maharaya Rama-Deva-Raya-aiyyangar was seated on the jewelled throne in Penukonda' ². There is still another inscription, dated 1565, (the same year as the battle of Raksas-Tagdi) that gives Rama Raya the same imperial titles and does not mention Sadasiva at all; it is a grant made "when the Master of Kuntala (Karnata), lord of the throne of Vidyanagari (Vijayanagara), the Rajadhiraja Raja-paramesvara Virapratapa Vira Rama-Deva-Raya maharaya, seated on the jewell throne, was ruling the kingdom of the world in peace and wisdom" ³. Even in an inscription of 1581, during the reign of Ranga I, Rama Raya is called Rajadhiraja ⁴, and in another of Venkata III, 1639, he is recorded to have 'governed the whole world' ⁵. Along with the lithic records, Anantacharya in his poem Prapannamritam calls Rama Raya 'Emperor of Vijayanagara who ruled after Krishna Raya' ⁶.