Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c8.46

c8.46

That it was the Pradhāni who was generally the chief judge is indicated by the following evidence. Abdur Razāk who describes the judge holding his court speaks of him also as the minister of the king. He says: "When the Daṇāik leaves the chamber several coloured umbrellas are borne before him........Before he reaches the king he has to pass through seven gates..........He reports upon the affairs of the state to the king and after remaining some time returns."²⁴ Unless the judge had certain ministerial functions, he would not have gone to the king "to report upon the affairs of the state." Sāḷuva Timma, the Prime Minister of Kṛṣṇadēva Rāya, took the title Dharmapratipālakaḥ²⁵ which would indicate that he had certain judicial functions, and was perhaps the chief judge at the capital. The judicial organisation at the Madura court as described in a Jesuit letter substantiates our position, for in the Vijayanagar days it was the imperial system that was generally followed both in the provinces and in the Nāyaka's territories. Proenza in his letter of A.D. 1665 writes: "The Pradhāni did not consider the rival plaints........The examination was public........He sent for the governor, judges and all the great personages to come to the palace immediately. He came in great pomp.....The governor intimidates the witnesses and compels them to depose according to his wishes........All the procedure was sent to Madura from where the judgment came soon."²⁶ This letter shows clearly that the Pradhāni had control over the judicial department. In another instance the Madura Nāyaka Virappa and his Pradhāni Ariyanātha Mudaliyār constituted a panel to decide a certain case.²⁷ From the above illustrations, two from the capital and two from Madura, we may assume that it was generally the Pradhāni who was the chief judge.