Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c7.s2.15

c7.s2.15

In the South Arcot district at the beginning of the sixteenth century taxes were heavy, besides much oppression on the part of the government. Hence Triṇētranātha Kaccirāyar, son of Paḷḷigoṇḍa Perumāḷ Kaccirāyar, who was the governor in the locality about Śrīmuṣṇam, revised the rates of taxes "which had become exorbitant in the time when the country was in the hands of the Kaṇṇaḍiyas. The cultivators owing to oppression had dispersed and the svarūpa (?) was scattered. He ordered (1) that the lands be measured year after year with the standard rod of 34 feet; (2) that 15 paṇams (including all items of taxation) be levied on one mā of dry land and 20 paṇams on one mā of wet land; (3) that towards araśupēru ⅛ paṇam be levied on each tenant, 3 paṇams on each loom of Śeṭṭis, 2 paṇams on Kammāḷa agriculturists, 3 paṇams on Kaikkōḷa weavers and (4) towards idaiturai be collected ¼ paṇam on eight sheep."³²⁸ But even this new arrangement seems to have pressed heavily on the people. Hence they again left their villages to other parts. Therefore Śiṇṇappa Nāyakkar, brother of Vāśal Ādiyappa Nāyaka, fixed favourable rates of assessment in Ś. 1435 (A.D. 1513-14). The following are the details of the new arrangement. The permanent settlement of kaḍamai kāṇikkai, kūḍi, māḍukāṇikkai, puravari and viniyōgam fixed 28 paṇams on wet lands and 22 on dry lands for such residents as resided in the districts; 20 paṇams on wet lands and 15 paṇams on dry lands for those who were going and coming; and again 15 paṇams on wet lands and 10 on dry lands to those that lived outside.³²⁹