Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c8.s3.6

v1.c8.s3.6

Evidence as regards the overseas trade in the Vijayanagara times may be gathered both from the accounts of Hindu and foreign writers. According to the *Harivilāsam* of Śrinātha it appears almost certain that Vijayanagra could boast of enterprising traders.⁴ This is corroborated by the remark of 'Abdur Razzāq that Vijayanagara possessed "300 seaports, every one of which is equal to Kālikot (Calicut)"—a port which in the opinion of that same traveller, was populated by bold navigators, and which was one of the greatest shipping centres of the world.⁵ From the inscriptions we can make out that at least in two parts of the Empire the Vijayanagara monarchs maintained fleets. An inscription dated A.D. 1412 speaks of Seṭṭi Gauḍa, who is styled *Navigada-Prabhu* (Lord of Ships), at Maṅgaḷūr (Mangalore).⁶ There is no doubt that in the southern part of the Empire there was a navy. This can be inferred from an inscription dated Śaka 1361 (A.D. 1439-40) which mentions Lakkaṇṇa Daṇṇāyaka Oḍeyar, the *Lord of the Southern Ocean*.⁷ We may suppose that the eastern coast of the Empire was also under the jurisdiction of a high official from the fact of Viraśri Sōvaṇṇa Oḍeyar having been mentioned as the *Lord of the Eastern Ocean* in Śaka 1275 (A.D. 1353-4).⁸