Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c11.s2.t4.94

v1.c11.s2.t4.94

However that may be, we have the fact of the people helping the Government in suppressing great disturbances. Thus, for example, according to a viragal which may be assigned to the reign of Dēva Rāya I,² there was much excitement in the Araga-rājya which was then under the jurisdiction of Viraṇṇa Oḍeyar. "A leading man there, Boḷeya Mummey-Nāyaka, having slaughtered all over the country, carried off prisoners, and was causing many and great disturbances and famine in the kingdom, the king being anxious about the disturbances thus created, gave an order saying: 'the Bēḍa must be brought to proper order (ā-Bēḍarige takka ājneyanu māḍuvudu endu nirūpavanu chiṭṭayisidar). Viraṇṇa Oḍeyar raising the army and coming against that Bēḍa, gave order in Anevari-nāḍ to assemble any number of horse and foot . . . Aṅgada-Rājamalla-mahā-prabhu, the Haḷḷināḍ Keyūru-nāḍiga (with various epithets) and the people of Haratāḷu, Modūr, Kallūr, Keḷale, Dānamūla, with Haritāla-Mēdi-gauḍa's son Muda-gauḍa, and Bomma-dēva-gauḍa's younger brother Tiraka-gauḍa, assembling horse and foot, went and presented themselves before Viraṇṇa Oḍeyar, and said: 'We are not breakers of the word we have given; Vira Pratāpa Harihara-mahārāya's great minister Guṇḍapa-daṇṇāyaka gave us the title of Champion over the three kings (*mūvaru-rāyara-gaṇḍa*). 'So that this title shall be sung (in songs) in such manner will I break and put down the Bēḍas' force,'—thus saying (on the date specified) Tiraka-gauḍa, taking sword and shield, broke and put down the hostile force, slew and knocked down the leaders, and himself gained *svarga*".¹