Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c15.s6.8

v1.c15.s6.8

The Rāyavāchakamu gives us an account of the military preparations of Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya prior to the siege of Sivanasamudra. After examining the treasury and army, and making all the necessary preparations for the expedition with the assistance of the able minister Appāji (Sāluva Timma), the Emperor entertained all the Bōya nobles (Dōras) and the men of the eighteen Kappaṇas (Kampaṇas? provinces?) at a grand feast. He then ordered them to proceed to a distance of about three āmaḍas (thirty miles) into the territories of the enemy, and gather from there men, cattle, sheep and goats, that they might not be available to the enemy. Leaving a company of horse to guard the city along with the minister Sāluva Timma, and ordering all the people of the viniyōgams [executive department?], he directed the war-drum to be sounded, and then set out for the city.¹