Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c12.s1.2

v1.c12.s1.2

On one point, nevertheless, the *Pandyan Chronicle* and epigraphs agree, and that is, in connection with the designation of the provincial rulers. They were called *nāyakas*. This name was given to the great viceroys as well as to the petty collectors of customs;¹ but it is apparent that the provincial governors were also commonly known by that appellation. Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya the Great, for example, on acquiring the eastern parts of Karṇāṭaka appointed Tubaki Kṛṣṇappa Nāyaka over the region which extended from Nellore to the river Coleroon with his headquarters at Gingee; Vijaya Rāghava Nāyaka over the land watered by Kāvēri, with his chief city at Tanjore; and Veṅkaṭapa Nāyaka over the southern parts with his centre at Madura.² Some of the important feudatories, in the north-western and central parts of the Empire were also called *nāyakas*, as, for example, those of Bednore, Basavappaṭṭaṇa, Chitaldroog, Balam, and Hāgalavāḍi. Here we may observe that the chiefs of Yelahahṅka and Sugaṭūr were called *gauḍas*, while those of Mysore, Kaḷale, Ummattūr, and Yelanāḍu were known as *oḍeyars*.³ Much has been written about the administration of these, and especially of the later Nāyakas of the south, which cannot be corroborated by independent evidence.¹