Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c17.s3.t1.7

v2.c17.s3.t1.7

Friends, children and wealth—these three constituted worldly happiness. The inscriptions of the twelfth century supply equally interesting features about the life in a Karṇāṭaka home. According to a record dated A. D. 1176, the most essential factors which could give happiness to a family were the following—*pañcha-sūnā* or cutting, grinding, cooking, carrying water, and sweeping; *strī-mōha* or love of women; *parigraha* or land, house, cattle, grain, bipeds, quadrupeds, conveyance, bed, servants and vessels. These formed the three *garavas* which were as indispensable to the house-holder as they were harmful to the hermit.² With the inclusion of a very minor but significant article, lamps, which is mentioned in A. D. 1195³, we may venture to assert that the pre-Vijayanagara conception of home life included almost all things required for domestic happiness.