Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t4: D. Enumeration of Gifts

Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t4

Language: English

D. Enumeration of Gifts

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As regards the articles that were given away as gifts during these occasions, we have also some interesting details. Vira Mārappa Oḍeyar, according to an inscription dated A. D. 1347, "bathing in the water of the ocean at the time of the *parva*, pouring a libation to the *manes*, the highly generous Mārappa made gifts to Brahmans of lands, cows, virgins, and gold in quantities", while on a visit to the temple of Śiva at Gōkarṇa.² Viṭhṭhala Oḍeyar, the learned governor of Āraga Eighteen Kampaṇa, in A. D. 1403, as we have already seen, is described thus: "The *hēmadri* gift did Viṭhṭhala mantri but once make, and forthwith there was a *hēmadri* gift from house to house of all the Brahmans."³ The gifts which Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya the Great made in A. D. 1513 are thus enumerated :—

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² *E. C.*, VIII., Sb., 375, p. 66.

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³ *E. C.*, VI., Kp. 53, pp. 6-7, op. cit.

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*brahmāṇḍaṃ viśva-chakraṃ ghaṭam udita-mahā-bhūlakaṃ ratna-dhēnum|*
*saptāmbhōdhīmś cha kalpa-kshitiruha-latikē kāñcha-nīṃ kāmadhēnum||*
*svarṇa-kshmāṃ yō hiraṇyāśva-rathaṃ api tulā-pūrusham gō-sahasram|*
*hēmāśvaṃ hēmagarbhaṃ kanaka-kari-rathaṃ pañ-chalāṅgali atānīt||*⁴

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⁴ *E. C.*, VII., Sh. 1, p. 2, text, p. 2. These gifts were the following: "The golden egg, the golden wheel, the golden pot, the golden cow, the seven golden seas, the wishing tree, the golden cow of plenty, golden earth, golden horse-chariot, a man's weight in gold, a thousand cows, a golden horse, the golden-wombed (Brahma), gold elephant-chariot, and the five

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Achyuta Rāya's liberality was equally remarkable.¹ After his victorious campaigns in the south, i.e., in the cyclic year Nandana, on the 12th day of the bright half of the month of Karkāṭaka he visited the temple of Varadarāja at Kāñchi, weighed himself against pearls in the presence of the god, bestowed the gifts called *mahābhūtaghaṭa* and *sahasragōdāna* and made presents of rich jewels set with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, topaz, and lapis lazuli, together with villages, to worthy recipients.² It is obvious that Achyuta Dēva Rāya followed the example of his illustrious predecessor, who, according to the epigraph dated A. D. 1515 already cited, "did he again and again bestow the great gifts described in the śāstras, together with the grants associated with them."³

Linked texts (1)

Epigraphia Carnatica