Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 251

DECEMBER, 1932]
THE VIJAYANAGARA CONQUEST OF CEYLON
225
arrival at Vijayanagara is thus given by him: "The author of this history, who arrived at Bîjânagar, at the close of Zi-hijja, took up his abode in a lofty mansion which had been assigned to him."70 That is to say, he was in Vijayanagara on Tuesday, 30th April 1443 A.D.71 From the above we conclude the following:
(a) that the attempt on the life of the emperor took place between November 1442 and April 1443;
(b) that the Danaik' was immediately summoned by the emperor by means of a courier;
(c) that the 'Danaik' was a Brahman, and that he had gone to the frontier of Ceylon prior to the incident mentioned by 'Abdur-Razzaq;
(d) that the Danaik' had gone on a tour, which he terminated to hasten at once to the royal presence;
(e) that he soon after led an expedition against Gulbarga; and
(f) that during his absence a mean and low Hindu officer was appointed as his
substitute.
We have to see whether these facts agree with the few facts which we have gathered about Lakkanna Dannayaka. We know that Lakkanna was the Lord of the Southern Ocean' from 1438 A.D. There is no evidence to suggest that he was ever recalled in 1442-3 A.D. by the emperor from his southern command. The fact that he was an intimate friend of the emperor has nothing to do with our attempts to identify him with the 'Danaik' mentioned by 'Abdur-Razzaq. The Persian ambassador certainly does not enlighten us on the intimacy which existed between the minister ('Danaik') and the emperor. The latter summoned the former because he was the only one who had escaped the sword of the assassins. This leads us to infer that the 'Danaik' must have been in the vicinity of the Court. But 'Abdur-Razzaq is positive about the courier having been despatched to the 'Danaik,' and about the latter having gone on a tour. This seeming inconsistency does not invalidate the evidence of the Persian ambassador. The fact that the 'Danaik' was within an appreciable distance of the capital is significant. Could a general placed in the extreme south of the peninsula have hurried to the capital to save the life of his master when the latter was amidst a band of assassins? We have only to realize the nature of the medieval conveyances and roads to understand the impossibility of Lakkanna ever having been near the emperor at the critical moment. Moreover, the Danaik' is mentioned by 'Abdur-Razzaq as having gone on an expedition to Gulbarga. If the expedition is placed between 1443-44 A.D.,72 and if Lakkanna is identified with the Danaik' of the Persian ambassador, it cannot be seen how Lakkanna could have led an army against Gulbarga in the north and have been in the south almost at the same time. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Dêva Raya II must have had more than one Dannayaka whom he could despatch to Gulbarga. Finally, we may dispense with the idea that the 'Danaik' of 'Abdur-Razzaq was Lakkanna when we examine the community to which the latter belonged. Lakkanna is said to have been of the Vishnuvardhana gôtra, and the son of Vommâyamma. In what sense the name of Vishnuvardhana is here introduced, whether he is the famous Vishnu of the Hoysalavamsa, cannot be deter. mined; but there is no denying the fact that if Lakkanna was indeed a Brahman, his sutra and saka would have been given, especially when his gôtra has been mentioned in the inscription. How far a Heggade-dêva could be termed a Brahman is also a matter that is questionable. And if Lakkanna really belonged to the family of the Hoysalas, it is not improbable that he came of a stock that was not Brahman. These considerations lead one to the conclusion that the 'Danaik' of 'Abdur-Razzaq cannot be identified in any sense with Lakkanna
70 Elliot, ibid., p. 112.
71 Swamikappu, V, p. 88.
72 Firishta confirms the Persian traveller about this expedition. Firishta, trans. Briggs, II, pp. 430-434.