Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c20.s3.26

v2.c20.s3.26

In the galaxy of learned ladies mention must be made of Rāmabhadrāmbā, who wrote the *Raghunāthābhyudayam*. While describing the activities of Raghunātha Nāyaka of Tanjore, after his return to his capital, she tells us that he convened an assembly of learned persons to examine the accomplished ladies of his court. They are said to have been proficient in composing four kinds of poetry—*chitra*, *bandha*, *garbha* and *āśu*, and in explaining the works written in various languages. They were skilful in the art of *śatalēkhini* and filling up literary verse-puzzles (*padyapurāṇam*). They were able to compose verses at the rate of one hundred in an hour (*ghaṭikāśata*), and to compose poetry in eight *bhāshas* (Sanskrit, Telugu, and the six Prākṛits). They knew how to interpret and explain the poems and dramas (*kāvyas* and *nāṭakas*) composed by the famous poets, and to explain the secrets of the music of the two sorts (*Karṇāṭa* and *Dēśa*). They were able to sing very sweetly and to play on the *vīṇā* and other musical instruments like the *rāvaṇahasta*. Raghunātha examined the proficiency of all of them and presented them with *kanakābhiṣēka*.