Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s2.1

v2.c25.s2.1

Great importance was attached to games in Vijayanagara times. The few bas-reliefs which to are be found in the neglected hamlet of Hampi, depict some phases of the brighter side of the life of the people of Vijayanagara. The most prominent among these bas-reliefs are those related to dancing and music. Never was dancing held in greater esteem in the history of southern India than in the days of the Vijayanagara kings. From the earliest times of Indian history in the north as well as in the south, music and dancing were considered great accomplishments. Without entering into further details about the position these two arts occupied in the life of the people in pre-Vijayanagara days,¹ we may observe that the traditions which the Tamil rulers handed down to the medieval monarchs as regards the patronage that was to be accorded to dancing and music, carried with them one or two significant considerations which may be found interesting in our estimate of Vijayanagara history. An epigraph of the twelfth century relates that, on the eighth night of the Āvaṇi festival, the Chōḷa king Rājarāja III attended the dancing of agamārga performed by a lady who bore the title Uravakkinan-talaikkoli. Ancient Tamil literature informs us that ladies who were acknowledged experts in dancing were favoured by the kings with a special mark of honour and were invested with the title of talaikkoli. The investiture of this title was preceded by a grand ceremony and was followed by the presentation of a staff embellished with nine gems and covered with gold plates.²