Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s2.52

v2.c25.s2.52

Literature throws some light on the Vijayanagara stage. In *Gaṅgādāsapratāpavilāsam* by Gaṅgādhara, of the times of Mallikārjuna Rāya, we are told that an actor of the court of the Vijayanagara king on hearing that Prince Gaṅgadāsa was in need of a proper person to stage the new drama written by the poet, proposed to go to the court of that ruler.⁵ The farce in two acts entitled *Dhūrtasamāgama Prahasana* by Jyōtiriśvara Kaviśēkharāchārya,⁶ must also have been staged in the reign of Sāḷuva Nṛisimha. The theatrical world of Vijayanagara was no doubt considerably benefited by Sāḷuva Gōpa Tippa Bhūpāla's *Tāḷa Dīpikā*.⁷ We have already stated that Kṛishṇa Dēva Rāya's *Jāmbhavatī Kalyāṇa* was enacted in the Chaitra or spring season.