Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c22.s3.57

v2.c22.s3.57

The great Jaina-Śrīvaishṇava controversy of A. D. 1368, as we remarked in an earlier connection, ended amicably, and "Busuvi Seṭṭi, the good son of Harvi Seṭṭi of Kalleha, having made petition to Bukka Rāya, sent for Tātayya of Tirumale and had (?the śāsana) renovated. And both the samayas (creeds) uniting, bestowed the dignity of Saṅgha-nāyaka on Busuvi Seṭṭi".¹ Sumantira-murti-acharya was the chief sculptor who worked at the sculptured pillars of the vasanta-maṇṭapa at Madura in the reign of Muttu Tirumala Nāyaka. From the *The Accounts of Tirumala Naicker, and of his Buildings* we learn that the ruler, in order to do him honour, "gave him betel, on which he had himself spread chunam; and, by reason of being much occupied in looking after the work, the sculptor took it and disrespectfully put it into his mouth, before the king, when, a moment after, recollecting that he had acted improperly, he became inwardly afraid, and with an instrument cut off the two fingers with which he had conveyed the betel-leaf, etc. to his mouth. But the king bestowed on him four kinds of dresses; and had a hand made of gold, which he also gave to him."²