Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c12.s2.t2.43

v1.c12.s2.t2.43

From a record dated A.D. 1589 we are able to maintain that these nāḍ-sēnabōvas were officials of considerable influence. For the inscription, which belongs to the time of Veṅkaṭapati Dēva I, mentions a grant by the king of rent-free lands (specified) in various places, and of certain dues to Tipparasaya's (son) Viraya of Hiriyūr, the sēnabhōva or accountant of 185 villages situated in 155 sthalas (named), which belonged to Kenchaṇṇa Nāyaka of Hiriyur.⁵ Granting rent-free lands to recompense labour was a method which was common in those days in southern India. In some instances the writers of the village accounts were paid from the shares of the village. Thus in A.D. 1379-80 in the villages (specified) bestowed as a gift by Harihara, the Brahmans of each agrahāra gave (a certain portion) to the learned Sammaṇa, for doing the writing work of the district.¹