Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c13.s3.1

v1.c13.s3.1

The accounts of travellers as well as inscriptions give us some details about the manner in which they administered justice in the Hindu Empire. 'Abdur Razzāq says: "On the right hand of the palace of the Sultān there is the diwān-khāna or minister's office, which is extremely large, and presents the appearance of a chihal sutūn, or forty-pillared hall. . . . In the middle of the pillared hall, a eunuch, called a Danāik, sits alone upon a raised platform, and presides over the administration; and below it the mace-bearers stand drawn up in a row on each side. Whoever has any business to transact advances between the lines of mace-bearers, offers some trifling present, places his face upon the ground, and standing upon his legs again, represents his grievance. Upon this, the Danāik issues orders founded upon the rules of justice prevalent in that country, and no other person has any power of remonstrance. When the Danāik leaves the chamber, several coloured umbrellas are borne before him,² and trumpets are sounded, and on both sides of his way panegyrists pronounce benedictions upon him. Before he reaches the king he has to pass through seven gates, at which porters are seated, and as the Danāik arrives at each door, an umbrella is left behind, so that on reaching the seventh gate the Danāik enters alone. He reports upon the affairs of the State to the king, and, after remaining sometime, returns. His residence lies behind the palace of the king".³