A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c17.s1.8

c17.s1.8

Now the *Mahânavami* festival begins in these tracts on the 1st of the month of Âsvina, and the New Year's Day in the time of Paes was evidently celebrated on the 1st of the month Kârttika, as was often the case in former years; both days being the days following the moment of new moon. In what year, then, during the reign of Krishna Deva Râya, did the 1st of Âsvina and the 1st of Kârttika fall respectively on September 12 and on October 12? I have worked these dates out for all the years of the reign, and I find that in no year except A.D. 1520 did this occur. In 1521 the *Mahânavami* fell on September 2, and the New Year's Day on October 1; in 1522 the former fell on September 20, and the latter on October 20. This shows that Paes assisted at the festivals of A.D. 1520, and that therefore the battle and capture of Raichûr must have taken place before the month of September in that year.