Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c15.s6.36

v1.c15.s6.36

Foreign travellers do not tell us that the ancient custom of presenting generals with betel leaf prevailed in Vijayanagara. Their remarks are mainly confined to the importance of the betel leaf in the every day life of the people. But the Rāyavāchakamu narrates many events of the time of the great Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya. During his northern campaign, he came to know, chiefly through his spies, the atrocities committed by the Muhammadans in his own territory to the south of the Kṛṣṇa. Summoning the chief of his amara-nayakas, Pemmasāni Rāmaliṅga, he told him about the Muhammadan advance to the south, and consulted him how best to act under the circumstances. The general Pemmasāni Rāmaliṅga said that it was no serious matter, and assured him that he could, if entrusted with the attack, march into the enemy's camp and cut the ropes of their tents. He also gave other advice at which the Emperor presented him with betel and nut in token of his approval of Pemmasāni Rāmaliṅga's leading the attack.¹ From the Bakhair we learn that on the eve of the great battle, Rāma Rāja caused immediately the arrears of the army and their pay to be disbursed accompanied with betel leaf.²