Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c10.s5.t2.20

v1.c10.s5.t2.20

These agents who are called *madhyastas*, and who effected such transactions, generally fixed the price of land. When Jakkaṇṇa Heggaḍe of Honnohole and others (named) in order to meet the expenses of a marriage in their family, were compelled to sell certain land to Nimbarasa, son of Vīrappa, of the Viśvāmitra-*gōtra*, in A.D. 1406, the price which mediators fixed was thirty-five *gadyāṇa*.² It was not only the *nāḍ* people who were present on such transactions, as related above; the presence of temple officials and the relations of the parties concerned was also necessary for confirming the legal deed. And sometimes the whole transaction was conducted in the presence of the god of a temple. Chikka Bommaṇa Heggaḍe of Hedḍase in Kela-*nāḍu* and a number of others (named), sold certain land to meet the expenses of an auspicious ceremony (marriage), to Viṣṇu Bhaṭṭa, with the consent of those born with them, their sons-in-law, children, heirs and dependents, for thirty-three *varāha*, the price settled by mediators.³ And arranging that the fixed rent of three honnu three haṇa should be paid by Jakkaṇṇa Heggaḍe to the Śrī-maṭha (of Śṛingēri) from the wet cultivation, the people of the nāḍ made over the lands to Viṣṇu Bhaṭṭa (with all the usual ceremonies) in the presence of the god Mallikārjuna on the bank of the Tuṅgabhadrā. The compact was signed by Dēvaru Sēnabōva with the (approval of) both parties.¹ Siṅgaṇṇa Ayyaṅgār (of Śṛingēri Maṭha?) sold in about A.D. 1521 to the people of Kigga 36 Nāḍ his agrahāra-makki (or high level rice land) together with a tank for thirteen honnu with all the rights in the presence of the god Śṛingēśvara.² Such rights which figure in the transactions of the ancient and mediaeval times were called the aṣṭa-bhōga-tējas-svāmya, or the eight rights of full possession: akṣṇī (present profit), āgāmi (future profit), nidhi (hidden treasure), nikṣēpa (underground stones), jala (springs), pāṣāṇa (stones or minerals), siddha (actualities), and sādhya (possibilities).³