Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c19.s2.t2.6

v2.c19.s2.t2.6

The Vijayanagara Brahman needed no such justification. From the days of the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire, the activities of the Brahman generals had been linked with those of others who were responsible for the rejuvenation of Hindu political life. We have seen how the victories of Goppaṇārya, or Gōpaṇa, enabled Kampaṇa Oḍeyar to consolidate the provinces of the south.² Of Mādhava, a descendant of the Brahman Chāuṇḍa, an inscription dated A. D. 1368 narrates that he won fame as a conqueror of "many countries on the shores of the Western Ocean".³ It seems to have been the custom for the rāja-gurus, or royal priests, to accompany the kings on their expeditions. Thus we find Vyāsarāya going to the south along with Sāḷuva Nṛisiṃha.⁴ Even ordinary Brahmans contributed their share to the military annals of the times. A certain Brahman named Āpatsahāya of Tirukkaḍavūr took part in the Raichur campaign conducted by Kṛishṇa Dēva Rāya.⁵ The old tradition of the king to have by his side Brahman generals was maintained under that ruler. The most famous name of a Brahman general during Kṛishṇa Dēva Rāya's times is that of Rayasam Koṇḍamarusayya.¹ In later Vijayanagara history we have Tiruchchirambala Bhaṭṭan, a native of Tiruviḍaimarudūr, who joined Viṭhṭhala's army in Travancore;² and Gōvinda Dikshita, the minister-general of Achyutappa Nāyaka, the Viceroy over the Chōḷa capital.³