Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c11.s2.t3.81

v1.c11.s2.t3.81

Without dwelling at length on the history of any of these provinces, we may ascertain one or two details about the tenure of office of a viceroy. The province of Āraga affords us some insight into this question. Āraga as a provincial seat comes into prominence from the earliest days of Vijayanagara history. It was called, as we have said, the Āraga or the Chandraguṭṭi or the Male-rājya. It comprised the modern Shimoga district of the Mysore State and portions of North Kanara. Mārappa, brother of Harihara Oḍeyar, was in charge of this province in A.D. 1347.⁴ There is reason to believe, therefore, that Āraga-rājya was at first under a prince of the royal family. Virūpaṇṇa Oḍeyar, also called Yadugiri, Udayagiri, and in one inscription Vandagiri, was the viceroy over Āraga in A.D. 1362.⁵