Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c22.s1.6

v2.c22.s1.6

But the precedent thus shown was maintained in later years as is proved by epigraphs dated A.D. 1257 and A.D. 1292. In the former we are told that Sivaneya Nāyakaṇ, who belonged to the well known family of Gaṇḍa Nārāyaṇa Seṭṭi, "with five of his servants, fulfilled his engagement (or vow) with Ballāḷa Dēva". The same epigraph continues to narrate that "Lakkeya Nāyaka, with his wife Gaṅgā Dēvi and three servants, fulfilled his engagement with Narasinga". To the same celebrated family which traced its descent from Gaṇḍa Nārāyaṇa Seṭṭi belonged Kanneya Nāyaka. This brave man with his wives Ummavve, Javanavve and Kallavve, and with ten maid-servants and twenty-one man-servants, six times embraced Garuḍa on (or from) the head of an elephant and fulfilled his engagement with Sōmēśvara Dēva.¹ The other inscription is dated A. D. 1292 and refers us to the reign of the Hoysala king Vīra Narasimha Dēva. The high traditions of the family to which Kanneya Nāyaka belonged were continued by his son Singeya Nāyaka who "with his wives Kētavve, Honnavve and Nāchavve, and with ten maid-servants, and twenty man-servants on (or from) the head of an elephant six times embraced Garuḍa, and fulfilled his engagement with Narasimha Dēva" (...mēle āru-bāri Garuḍanan appi bāseyam pūraysidanu).²