Yuganda Rudra, foresaw that Warangal was about to be attacked by the Mussulman Sultan of Delhi. Accordingly he escaped into foreign countries in order that he might thereafter be able to deliver Raja Pratápa Rudra. Meantime the Sultan of Delhi marched an army against Warangal and took it, and he carried the Raja captive to Delhi. Then Yuganda Rudra loaded some ships with jewels, and disguised himself as a merchant, and went away with them up the river Jumna as far as the city of Delhi. When he had anchored his ships at Delhi, the Sultan heard of his coming, and offered to buy the jewels. The disguised minister, however, priced them at a hundred times their value, but offered to accept the valuation of Pratápa Rudra. Accordingly the Sultan went on board one of the ships, and took Pratápa Rudra with him, on which the minister weighed anchor and went down the river Jumna, and in due course arrived at Warangal with the Sultan and the Raja. The Sultan was then placed in prison at Warangal, but after a while was released and sent back to Delhi.

Laxity of the Bráhmans.-One day whilst the Raja of Telinga and his minister were discoursing in an upper chamber, they saw the daughter of the minister returning with her friends from the burning ghát, bringing with them the impure things that are distributed at funeral ceremonies.15 Accordingly the Raja asked the minister how he could permit his daughter to carry about such impure things. The minister was much ashamed, and said that such a thing should never occur again.16

15 The minister was probably a Bráhman.

16 There is more in this tradition than meets the eye. It was doubtless a custom amongst the Kshatriyas, as it was amongst the ancient Greeks, for the maidens to offer wine and cakes to the ghosts of deceased kinsmen. It was also the custom for the Buddhists to bring away relics from the burning ghát, as was customary amongst the Sákya Rajas. The Brahmans tried to eradicate the Buddhist usages. Moreover, they never allowed their unmarried damsels to be seen in public. The compiler of the chronicle, however, artfully places the complaint in the mouth of the Raja, who was apparently a Kshatriya, rather than in the mouth of the minister, who was apparently a Bráhman.

Reformation and Reorganisation of the Brahmans.-The minister, Yuganda Rudra, then collected together all the Brahmans of the Telinga country, to the number of six thousand families, and exhorted them to refrain from such sordid. actions, which were contrary to their caste.17 He provided for their maintenance by appointing them Karnams, or revenue accountants, to different villages, which enabled them to draw yearly allowances from the villagers. The minister then laid down the law for all the Bráhmans, that they should not humble themselves before mean people, nor engage in mean pursuits, nor employ themselves in any way, excepting as writers, interpreters, or traders. He moreover ordered that all Bráhmans should see that their children were properly educated and suitably employed; and should give their daughters in marriage only to Bráhmans of superior rank. He then dismissed them with gifts to the different villages to take up their posts as Karnams.

Marriage of a Bráhman's Daughter to a Youth of the Goldsmith Caste. A subsequent incident led to the promulgation of further reforms amongst the Bráhmans. A Bráhman poet of the Telinga country had a beautiful daughter. One day a boy of the caste of Goldsmiths came from a distant place, and passed himself off as a Bráhman orphan, destitute of means, without friends or kindred, and anxious to learn the Vedas and Sástras. Accordingly the Bráhman had compassion on him, took him into his house, instructed him in all the sacred writings; and finding him very industrious and intelligent, he gave him his daughter in marriage. Ten years passed away, when the stranger was suddenly recognised by a kinsman, who told who he was, and said that his parents were both alive, and had long been anxious about him. The Brahman was horror-stricken. He made known the story to his daughter, and said, "What must be done to a pitcher that a dog has licked?" She replied, "The pitcher must be

17 It may be inferred from this expression, and from what follows, that the Brahmans had been previously paid for collecting relics from the burning ghát.

purified by fire." That same night she set fire to her house, and perished together with her husband. After this the minister divided the Bráhmans into four classes, according to their respective countries, and this division exists to this day.18

IV. EMPIRE OF VIJAYANAGAR.

Foundation of the Empire of Vijayanagar.-After this a new race of sovereigns reigned over the southern country. A poor Brahman came from a foreign country to the Tumbadra river, and prayed to the goddess of abundance and prosperity, i.e., Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu. In return the goddess rained down so much gold that he built the city and fort of Vijayanagar, and appointed Bukka Rai to reign over it. Five Rajas reigned in succession after Bukka Rai, namely, Iswara Rai, Narasinha Deva Rai, Vira Narasinha Deva Rai, Achyata Rai, and Krishna Deva Rai. Each reigned for a considerable length of time. Their sway was benevolent and mild, and each exceeded the other in good actions.

Reign of Krishna Deva Rai: his power and splendour.Krishna Deva Rai, the last of these Rajas, was the greatest sovereign of his time, and the lord of many kingdoms. He was endowed with great courage, a ready wit, and a profound knowledge of the world. He had read much, and was remarkable for his prodigious memory. He successfully applied himself to such military exercises as archery, &c., as well as to the culture of philosophy and the liberal arts. In poetry he excelled the best authors of his time. He was also very handsome, and all his fine accomplishments were crowned by

18 This division of the Brahmans of Telinga is curious. It was probably kept up in order that no low caste for the future should be able to personate a Brahman. These four classes may take their meals together, but may not intermarry. This was another ingenious process for preventing the possibility of marriages outside the caste, by limiting the area within which marriages might take place.

his solid virtue. He patronised a great number of learned men and celebrated poets, and advanced them to the highest dignities. He loved the poor, and his valour made him terrible to his neighbours. This most excellent monarch had an excellent minister, named Tim Rai, who was prudent, wise, sagacious, and well versed in science. This famous king governed for about sixteen years, with the assistance of his minister Tim Rai, most graciously and with great benefiHe subjected many Poligars, or feudal chiefs of the south, of different castes throughout the dominions of Karnata, and obliged them to clear the jungle and encourage the populations of their respective districts.

cence.

Settlement of Bráhmans from Telinga and Orissa.-In the time of Krishna Deva Rai great numbers of Bráhmans, of different districts and sects, came from beyond the Godavari river, and from the eastern provinces, to encourage the Poligars and populate their districts.

Distribution of the Empire by Krishna Rai.-Krishna Rai of Vijayanagar was the most excellent prince of his time. His empire extended from Ceylon to Thibet. He loved his subjects, and was beloved by them. He was reconciled to the Brahmans, and accommodated his policy to their laws. Beneath his throne stood a concourse of Rajas with their hands joined together in the attitude of worship. He gave the government of Mysore to his chief favourite; 19 that of Tanjore to his betel-bearer; and that of Madura to Nágama Naik, who was overseer of the royal cattle.

Death of Krishna Rai.-Krishna Deva Rai acquired an honourable and lasting reputation in this world, and died after a long and glorious reign.

Reign of Rám Rai.-Rám Rai, the son-in-law of Krishna Deva Rai, succeeded him on the throne of Vijayanagar. Rám Rai was a prince of very great merit. At the time of

19 In the text it is stated that he allotted the "tribute" of Mysore to his chief favourite, and this expression is repeated in Tanjore and Madura. But it is evident that the post was that of governor, and that the title was Naik or deputy.

Krishna Rai's death he was absent from Vijayanagar, and engaged in war against the Mussulmans. For a short time. the kingdom of Vijayanagar was in some confusion on account of disturbances and wars with foreign princes. When Rám Rai heard of the death of Krishna Rai, he quickly put an end to the war, and returned to Vijayanagar and took possession of the throne. He governed the kingdom for some time with beneficence equal to that of his father-in-law. He was esteemed as a prince of great knowledge, who carried on wars with the Mussulmans, and vanquished them several times. At last he indiscreetly affronted their religion by killing a hog on the tomb of a Mussulman. This brought on a war, and Rám Rai was slain in battle and his head cut off 20

V. NAIKS OF MADURA.

Disturbances in Madura.-About this time the affairs of Madura were falling into great disorder. The twelve kings of Malabar withheld their tribute from the Pándya Raja.21 His own servants rebelled against him, especially one Dumbrichi Naik, who lived out in the Tinnevelly country. The Pandya Raja was therefore unable to pay his own tribute to Nágama Naik, and Nágama Naik laid his complaint before his suzerain, Krishna Rai. Accordingly Krishna Rai sent

20 This story is a striking specimen of the falsification of Hindu histories. The real facts have already been related in Chapter IV.

21 The early history of Madura is lost in fable. A dynasty known as the Pándya Rajas was said to have been founded by Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahá Bhárata. Arjuna, in fact, is said to have founded a dynasty at Madura, just as he had founded the Raj at Manipura, by marrying a daughter of the reigning Raja, and placing his son on the throne. See "History of India," vol. i., Mahá Bhárata.

According to the legends in the text, the Raja of Madura received tribute from the Rajas of Malabar, but was compelled to pay tribute to Nagama Naik, a favourite servant of Krishna Rai, a famous Raja of Vijayanagar. Then follows the story of how Visvanáth gained possession of the kingdom of Madura. Nágama Naik subsequently secured a leading share in the government of Madura.