Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s1.9

v2.c25.s1.9

The most remarkable festival which dazzled the foreigners was the Mahānavami celebration. Religious in its atmosphere, it is essentially political in its significance. For it commemorates the anniversary of Rāma's marching against Rāvaṇa, and in its twofold aspect of the worship of Durgā and of the āyudhas or arms, culminating in the Vijaya-daśami,³ was particularly suited to the Vijayanagara times when fatal issues loomed ominously in the political horizon. According to the Hindu calendar it falls in Āśvina-śuklapaksha (September-October).¹