Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t1: A. Among the Monarchs
Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t1
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A. Among the Monarchs
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The desire of the people of Vijayanagara to give undue prominence to the minutest details of public or private conduct is to be traced to their inherent orthodox nature. What appears to foreigners as pagan formalities were really indispensable ceremonials to the Hindus, who were under the abiding influence of their classical doctrines. Nuniz relates to us that "The King of Bisnaga is a Brahman; every day he hears the preaching of a learned Brahman, who never married nor ever touched a woman".⁴ Although Nuniz is wrong in stating that the Emperor of Vijayanagara, Achyuta Rāya, was a Brahman, yet he suggests in his words an important feature of the everyday life of the Hindu kings. This was the company of learned men among whom they passed a part of their time. Mr. Venkoba Rao has identified the learned Brahman mentioned by Nuniz with Vyāsarāya, the great Vaishṇava teacher.⁵ Sōmanātha in his *Vyāsayōgicharitam* tells us that Narasa Nāyaka, Vira Narasimha and Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya were daily being instructed in Dharma by that celebrated Vaiṣṇava leader. About Narasa Nāyaka Sōmanātha says :
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⁴ Sewell, For. Emp., p. 390.
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⁵ Venkoba Rao, Vyāsayōgicharitam, Intr., p. lxvii.
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एवमेव भक्त्या संभावयन्तं रहस्येनं धर्मपदोपदेशेन प्रत्यहमनिगृहन्¹
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¹ *Vyāsayōgicharitam*, p. 59.
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Vira Narasimha was likewise devoted to the same *rāja-guru*:
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पुण्यकीर्तनेन वसुधाधिपेन हंसेनेव कमलाकरः प्रत्यहम् उपसेव्य(मानः)²
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² Ibid., p. 64.
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Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya's noble example of devotion to Vyāsarāya was unique:
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तेन कृष्णमहीपालेन त्रिसन्ध्यं कुलदेवतायामिब मकुटतटमालतीकुसुम-शेखरीक्रियमाणखमयूखजाते महानुभावे...व्यासयोगिनि....³
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³ Ibid., pp. 67-8.
Cites (1)
- Vyāsayogicarita — Somanāthakavi, Sanskrit