Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s1.79

v2.c25.s1.79

Another Jesuit named Emanuel de Veiga in his letter dated A. D. 1592 from Chandragiri tells us how "Superstition contended with Ambition" on the same coast. He writes about his voyage from Chandragiri to Mylapore. "The second day at night they lay at Trivalur, where they saw their Idols solemne Procession by night, carried into the street by eight Porters in a high Throne: the Image it selfe not above three spannes long clothed with an upper garment of red silke, an inner shirt of linnen. An Elephant went before the pompe, consecrated to the Idoll, carrying a white Banner on his backe; and after him three Oxen sacred also thereto, on which sate Drummers: after them Trumpetters and Pippers with diversified Instruments, straight, crooked, great, small. These all made a confused sound, without any observation of order and time. After these came 30 women-dancers, which have devoted themselves to the Idolls in perpetual service; which may not marrie, but prostitute themselves for the most part, all goodly and richly arrayed, all carrying Lampes burning. And the Idoll came in the Rere with his Porters and Priests, living on the revenues of the Temple. The common people followed with lights. They passed foure streets, and in their returne set the Idoll in a place erected with pillars with a stone roofe, and all the companie compassed the Idoll three times, which done, they carried him to the Temple, where foure Braehmanes entertained him, which bowed their heads to the Idoll; one of them bringing on his head a basket of boyled Rice for the Idoll's supper, attended with Fanners to scarre away Flies. When the meate was set downe, a Curtaine was drawne, lest any might see the Idoll eating, the Instruments sounding the while. Soone after the Curtaine was drawne againe, the Rice removed, the Ministers gone in, and one comes forth which makes an Oration in his praise, and then all went into the Temple, where foure houres were spent in idle idol-rites."1