[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934) › v2.c19.s2.t2.49 # Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s2.t2.49 Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s2.t2.49 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c19.s2.t2.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934.v2.c19.s2.t2.49) The generosity of the Vijayanagara monarchs enabled the Brahmans to amass great wealth. It was a policy of the rulers to endow them with large grants of land and money; and this seems to have culminated in the institution of a sort of a State fund called anandanidhi, for their sake, by Achyuta Rāya.³ The liberality of his illustrious predecessor was equally responsible for the wealthy position of the priestly class. Their riches may have partly caused the anti-Brahman feeling which was especially noticeable in the writings of the poets of the later ages. There is reason to believe that even the State, as typified by Rāma Rāja, was inclined to be rather unfriendly towards the members of the sacerdotal class, who had received the largest share of royal bounty in the days of Krishna Dēva Rāya and Achyuta Rāya. Even Krishna Dēva Rāya himself did not fail to observe the fallen condition of the Brahmans in his times. In his well known work, he says: “Why only kings ! even the Brahmans of this age do not possess the power of the Brahmans of those ages. A Brahman (Agastya) was able to drink away the water of the sea. Another sage (Viśvāmitra) was able to engage in creation as opposed to the creation (of Brahma). Another was able to avert the Brahmāstra by his staff (Brahmadaṇḍa). Is it proper that Brahmans of this age should give up acting up to their best ability because they do not have such powers? Have they ceased to command respect and worship from others in spite of their lessened powers?"¹ Then again he says, while dealing with persons who were qualified for government service: "Do not appoint a Brahman who swerves from the right conduct and who is bred in a Pakkaṇa (a Śabara suburb). Don't you know the story of how a Brahman once destroyed a crane which had saved his life, for a single day's meal?"² - [Previous: v2.c19.s2.t2.48](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934.v2.c19.s2.t2.48) - [Next: v2.c19.s2.t2.50](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934.v2.c19.s2.t2.50) - [Up: v2.c19.s2.t2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934.v2.c19.s2.t2) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934.v2.c19.s2.t2.49](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.saletore-1934.v2.c19.s2.t2.49) · Pramāṇa