Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c10.s5.t3.40

v1.c10.s5.t3.40

In cases of heavy taxation where the State realized that taxes could not be remitted, it effected a compromise by ordering a consolidated amount to be paid by the people. We infer this from an inscription, already cited above, dated Saka 1326 (A.D. 1414-15) during the viceroyalty of Vīra Bhūpati Rāya, son of Dēva Rāya Oḍeyar, which informs us that the State ordered the fixing of the amount of consolidated taxes from the weavers, oil-mongers, and the other commercial classes, in return for their burning a perpetual lamp in the temple of Brahmapurīśvara at Perunagar, Chingleput district.² Thus did the people colour a purely governmental affair with the sanctity of a religious obligation.