Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c21.s3.t4.6

v2.c21.s3.t4.6

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