Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s3.t5.22

v2.c18.s3.t5.22

This last statement, however, is not always borne out by facts. The mastikal of A. D. 1430, as related above, found at Arunavalli, Malavalli tāluka, states the name of the woman who committed sati, and of her son Bāsappa who set up the stone.¹ As regards the name given to the raised hand we have some details. The inscription of A.D., 1417 recording the *sahagamana* of the three wives of Buktihara, narrated above, informs us that they give (their) arm and hand (*ālana heṇḍati yaru ṭōḷu-kayi koṭ(ṭ)a kambha*).² Rice remarks thus: "What is symbolised by the pillar I regret that I am unable to explain . . . . The human arm I have heard called *Madanakai*, the hand or arm of Mada, that is, of Cupid, love or passion". "Those with one arm are called *woṇṭikai*; those with two, *yeraḍu kai māsti*³". An inscription dated Śaka 1327 (A.D. 1405-6) informs us that Gaṅgāsāni, the daughter of Bayiri Seṭṭi of Pāmiḍi, did *agnipravēśa* (i.e., entered into the fire) at Penugoṇḍa on the death of her husband Rāma Dēva Nāyaka. In praise of her Tippa Nāyaka set up a *virakai* (hero-hand) at Vānavōḷu.⁴