Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c22.s3.32

v2.c22.s3.32

In fact, the rulers of Vijayanagara not only granted lands and high sounding birudus to persons of distinction but also gave them certain coveted privileges and insignia of honour. The famous dictator Veṅkaṭatātārya, whom, as already narrated above, Kṛishṇa Dēva Rāya the Great invested with uncommon religious powers in A. D. 1523, was entitled to receive the first tīrtha and prasāda in all the great Vishṇu temples in Vijayanagara, Ghaṇādri, and all the 77 durgas subordinate to them, e. g., Chandragiri-durga, Gutti-durga, etc., in all the cities to the east and west of Vijayanagara as far as the sea; in all the durgas to the north and south as far as Madura and in all the holy places such as Kañchi, Triśaila, and Khādri excepting Śrīraṅgam, Ahōbala and Ghaṭikagiri; privileged to get the first honours in the assemblies of the Śrīvaishṇavas; and authorized to make enquiries into the conduct of all castes owing allegiance to Rāmānuja and to punish the delinquents in regard to religious and social matters.¹