Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s1.151

v2.c25.s1.151

We may note references to the Ekādaśi and Dvādaśi and similar festivals before we treat of the greater celebrations common to all the people and those particularly found in the Tamil land. An epigraph dated Śaka 1461 (A. D. 1539-40) records the gift of three villages Kaḷappāḷanpaṭṭu, Tarkōḷappaṭṭu and Paṇrittāṅgal in Dāmar-kōṭṭam of the Chandragiri-rājya, by Parāṅkuśa-jiyār for meeting the expenses on fifteen Ekādaśi days.⁴ The same donor gave a gift of gold to the same Arulāḷa-Perumāḷa temple in Śaka A. D. 1542 (A. D. 1620-21) for meeting the expenses of Ekādaśi and on the Kauśika- *dvādaśi* days.¹ Bīravōli Timmarājadēva Mahārāja granted land in the village of Mēḍimākulapalli in the Jagaṭāpi-Guttidurga in Śaka 1562 (A. D. 1640-1) for the lamps of the god Hanumantarāya of the village, on the occasion of the *Prathama-dvādaśi*.² According to a record the Śaka year of which is effaced, but which contains the cyclic year Śrimukha, Ashāḍha, a certain Raṅgōjalu confirmed the gift of many lands belonging to the gods and Brahmans of the villages of Chitrachēḍu and Malakatāḷa, in the presence of the god Raghunātha on the occasion of the *Utthāna-dvādaśi*. This was in the reign of Śrīraṅga Rāya.³ A damaged record dated Śaka 1446 (A. D. 1524-5) registers the grant of certain lands to the Vishṇu (Perumāḷ) temple at Gōranṭla, Anantapur district, for maintaining festive processions on the *daśamī* days of the month by the Agent of Vākiṭi Aḍapa Nāyuḍu.⁴