Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c24.s1.3

v2.c24.s1.3

According to a record dated about A. D. 725 it is clear that the people of the Karṇāṭaka, like those of the Tamil land, were aware of the advantages of corporate existence. The epigraph which gives us this information, is of the times of the Yuvarāja Vikramāditya, who has been identified with the Western Chālukya king Vikramāditya II. The inscription records the mutual obligations and rights of the royal authorities, represented by the Heir-Apparent Vikramāditya, and of the *mahājanas* (Brahman householders) and burgesses of Lakshmēshwar. The preamble runs as follows: "Hail! the social constitution (*āchāra-vyavasthi[sthe]*), which the Heir-Apparent Vikramāditya has granted to the Mahājanas and the burgesses and the eighteen *prakritis* of Porigere (is as follows)." The charter then proceeds to specify the position of the royal officers and their relation to the municipality in the following terms: "The king's officers are to protect those of the houses that are untenanted, the king's gift, the king's proclamation, authoritative testimony of good men (?), constitutional usage (*maryāde*), copper-plate edicts, continued enjoyment of (*estate*) enjoyed (*bhukta-anubhōgam*)... the lives of the five *dharmas*." Then comes the section defining the duties of the townspeople beginning with the *mahājanas* or Brahman burgesses. "This is the municipal constitution (idu mahājanakke nagara maryāde). (Here come details of the rates payable by householders and fines from those accused of theft and minor delinquencies). (All these) shall be paid to the guild there in the month of Kārttika. A gutta¹ shall be paid for (?) to the ruva in the month of Māgha." The epigraph which is unfortunately illegible in many parts, next proceeds to refer to the government of the pāṇḍis and śeṭṭis in the town, the guild of braziers (kañchanagāra-śeṇi) and oilmen and other details which are effaced. The ending of this epigraph which contains a supplementary endowment bears directly on the subject in question, since it deals with the joint-activities of the Brahmans and the common people. "Also the field endowment to (?) the ara of the fortunate Kupparma the three-hundred households and the Gāmuṇḍa of the province, together with the goḍigar (?) have granted."²