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Vijay Nagar Kingdom

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Vijayanagara was both a city and a kingdom.  The administrative and court languages of the Empire were Kannada and Telugu. This town was on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Harihara and Bukka formed this empire in 1336. Sangama dynasty was named after their father’s name. The ministers in Kampili’s court were Harihara and Bukka. Muhammad bin Tughlaq stormed Kampili and imprisoned them both. They were both Muslims who were dispatched to the south to put down a rebellion. They did not win the war, but Saint VIdyaranya had an impact on them. Then, in order to construct the Vijayanagar Kingdom, they returned to Hinduism. Their spiritual teacher VIdyaranya and Sayan, a well-known Vedic commentator, influenced them.

Other names of this Dynasty by Historians:

Nuniz and Paes Bismaya,
Niccolo de Conti Vijengolia
Abdur Razzaq Bisnagar
contemporary people Karnataka Samrajyamu

There are 4 dynasties (Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu) that ruled Vijayanagar from 1336 to 1672.

Important Sources which tell about the Vijayanagar Kingdom:

Travellers account: 

It gave information about the socio-economic condition of the empire.

Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta
Venetian traveller Niccolo de Conti
Persian traveller Abdur Razzaq
Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes and Nuntiz visited Hampi Bazaar

2. Literary Sources
 

Krishnadevaraya Amuktamalyada
Gangadevi Maduravijayam
Allasani Peddanna Manucharitam

The copper plate inscription of Deva Raya II from Srirangam gave us information on the genealogy and achievements of the Vijayanagar empire. The remains of Hampi reveal the Vijayanagar emperors’ cultural achievements.

Sangama dynasty: (1336-1485 AD)

The Sangama dynasty’s Harihara I and Bukka I established Vijayanagar in 1336 to serve the Kakatiya monarchs of Warangal. The Vijayanagar and Bahmani kingdoms have been at odds since the Vijayanagar dynasty was founded. They’ve had a long-running feud with the Bahmani Kingdom over three areas: the Raichur Doab (between Krishna and Tungabhadra), the Krishna-Godavari Delta, and Marathwada.

Harihara I and Bukka I was able to develop their newly founded country due to the decline of the Hoysala monarchy. Maduraivijayam describes the conflict with the Sultanate of Madurai. Kumarakampana defeated the Madurai Sultans in an expedition to Madurai, extending Vijayanagar to Rameshwaram.

From 1356-79, Bukka I built a firm foundation for Vidyanagar and called it Vijayanagar. He brought peace between the warring Vaishnavas and the Jains. From 1379 to 1404 AD, Harihar II succeeded his father Bukka I.

From 1406 to 1422 AD, Deva Raya I ruled. He was Harihar II’s third son. During his reign, Niccolo de Conti pays a visit to the realm. He was well-known for his irrigation projects, which included the construction of a dam across the Tungabhadra River, with canals extending to the city.

The Sangam dynasty’s greatest emperor was Deva Raya II. He was Devaraya I’s grandson. He was given the title of Gajvetkara. He started recruiting Muslims for his army. Srinath, a well-known contemporary poet, was given the title of Kavisarvabhauma by him. Virupaksha II was the last ruler of the Sangam dynasty. Invasion of Vijayanagar by Ahmad Shah I of Bahamani demanded a war indemnity.

Sangama dynasty fell weak after his death. Madurai was taken by Kumar Kampan Adyar, who amalgamated it with the VIjaynagar kingdom. In his book ‘Madura Vijayam,’ his wife Gangadevi has written a vivid account of her husband’s victory. Bukka Raya I had a son named Kumar Kampan. Harihar II, Bukka’s son, ascended to the throne after his father’s death. ‘Maharajadhiraja’ was his new title. He was a Virupaksha Shiva devotee.

Praudh deva Rai was the name given to Deva Rai II. He was given the name Gajabetakara in his inscription (the elephant Hunter). Sri Lanka honoured him on a regular basis. Srinatha was awarded the title of ‘Kavisarbhauma’ by his court poet, Dindima. During his reign, Shah Rukh’s emissary Abdur Razzaq paid him a visit.

Saluva dynasty (1486-1505) AD:

This dynasty was founded by Saluva Narasimha (1486-91). Samant Narsingh Saluva of Chandragiri toppled Virupaksha II, the last emperor of the Sangam dynasty, and created the Saluva Dynasty in 1485 AD. During Narsa Nayaka’s regency, Tirumal (1491) and Immadi Narasimha (1491-1505) were minors. During his stay, Vasco da Gama landed.

Tuluva Dynasty (1505-70) AD:

This dynasty was formed by Vira Narasimha (1505-09) and he became the king after the assassination of Immadi Narsimha. Narsa Nayaka was his father. 

Krishna Devaraya (1505-30) AD: 

Krishna Deva Raya was the greatest Vijayanagar emperor. He was placed on the throne by the chief minister of Vira Narsimha, he was the brother of Vira Narasimha. The Muslim army was destroyed in the Battle of Diwani, which was fought between the Tuluva dynasty and the Muslim army. They overcame Ismail Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur, and seized Raichur in 1520, before marching to Bidar. Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar defeated and executed Vijayanagar in the Battle of Talikota 1565, also known as the Raksasa Thangadi.

Krishna Deva Rai formed strong bonds with the Portuguese. Albuquerque sent emissaries to the Krishna Deva Raya kingdom. During his time, Duarte Barbosa and Domingo Paes came to Vijayanagara. After Krishna Deva Raya, Achyut Deva Raya was chosen as his successor. He was a Vaishnavite, yet he was tolerant of other faiths. Andhra Bhoj was his new name. He was also a talented poet and author. His most famous work was the ‘Amuktamalyada.’ It is one of the five Telugu epics. Babar referred to him as India’s most powerful emperor in his book.

                               Krishnadevaraya, also known as Andhra Bhoja also favoured literature and architecture. At his court, there were eight great scholars known as Ashtadiggajas. The golden period of Telugu literature is credited to him. The best of these was Allasani Peddanna, who was also known as Andhrakavita Pitamag (Manucharitam & Harikathasaram). Pingali Suranna and Tenali Ramakrishna are among the others. Krishnadevarai wrote both Telugu and Sanskrit writings, including Amuktamalyada and Jambavati Kalyanam and Ushaparinayam.

In honour of his queen Nagaladevi, he erected Nagalapuram, a new city. He also constructed numerous Rayagopurams. The Aravidu dynasty and rebellious ‘Nayakas’ military commanders plagued Krishna Deva Raya’s heirs after his death in 1529. Thirumala, Sri Ranga and Venkata II were the important rulers of this dynasty. The last ruler of the Vijayanagar kingdom was Sri Ranga III.

Hampi (derived from the native mother goddess ‘Pampadevi’ and discovered by Colin Mackenzie, 1st Surveyor General of India in 1815) was Krishnadeva Rai’s capital during his reign. In 1902, John Marshall began the conservation of Hampi. Hampi was designated as a national historic site in 1976, and it was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Rayas were the rulers of the Vijayanagara empire. Mandalas (under Mandaleswara or Nayak), Nadus, sthalas, and lastly gramas divided the Vijayanagar Empire. The highest-ranking army officers, known as Nayaks or Poligars, who are given land in exchange for their service, are known as amaram. Local merchants were known as ‘Kudirai Chettis.’

Important temples during this time:

Vittalaswamy and Hazara Ramaswamy temples  Hampi 
Varadharaja & Ekamparanatha temples   Kanchipuram
Raya Gopurams  Thiruvannamalai & Chidambaram

Metal images of Krishna Deva Raya and his queens in Tirupati serve as models for metal image casting. Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil were among the languages that flourished in various places. Hampi’s Royal Center The King’s palace was the largest of the enclosures, with two platforms, the ‘audience hall’ and the ‘Mahanavami Dibba.’ The title ‘Hindu Suratrana’ (Sanskritisation of the Arabic term Sultan) was adopted by Vijayanagara monarchs. The Rayas is known as narapati, which means “lord of mankind.”



Last Updated : 22 Dec, 2022
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