Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s1.15

v2.c19.s1.15

These theoretical assertions are not so convincing as the testimony of travellers, who could not help noticing the honour which the Vijayanagara kings paid to the Brahmans. Abdur Razzāq says thus: "The Brahmans are held by him (Dēva Rāya) in higher estimation than all other men".³ The Portuguese travellers have more details to give on the subject. Duarte Barbosa writes: "Among them is another class of people whom they call Bramenes, who are priests and rulers of their houses of worship...Among them all these men hold the greatest liberties and privileges and are not liable for death for anything whatsoever which they do. The king, the great Lords and men of rank give them much alms on which they live; also many of them have estates while others live in the houses of worship, as in monasteries, which possess good revenues".⁴ Paes relates that the king of Bisnaga "pays much honour, and he holds them in great favour".⁵ Further he says: "In all the land of the heathen there are these Brahmans; they are men who do not eat anything, that suffers death; they have little stomach for the use of arms".⁶