VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE: RISE, RULE, AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE (1336-1646 AD)

ABOUT VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

• It was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka (with the blessings of Guru Vidyaranya) of the Sangama dynasty who originally served under the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal.
• They later proclaimed their independence and founded a new city on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River named it “Vijayanagar” (City of Victory)
• Early Vijayanagar rulers were followers of Shaivism. Virupaksha was their family God. Later they came under the influence of Vaishnavism. However, Siva continued to be worshiped.
• There was constant conflict between Vijayanagar Empire and Bahamani kingdom over Raichur doab (fertile region between Krishna and Tungabhadra), Tungabhadra doab (fertile areas of Krishna-Godavari delta) & Marathwada.
• In the south its main rivals were the Sultans of Madurai.
• During the reign of Rama Raya, the combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golkonda and Bidar defeated him at the Battle of Talaikotta in 1565 which marked an end of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• The last ruler of Vijayanagar was Sri Ranga III

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POLITICAL HISTORY  OF THE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

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IMPORTANT RULERS OF VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

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ADMINISTRATION OF VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

• The king enjoyed absolute authority in executive, judicial & legislative matters.
• The succession to the throne was hereditary.
• Administrative units divided as: Mandalams, Nadus, Sthalas and finally into Gramas.
• Mandaleshwar or Nayaka was the governor of Mandalam.
• He had considerable autonomy- had the right to issue coins of small denominations & right to impose new tax or remit old ones.
• Sources of income: land revenue, tributes, and gifts from vassals and feudal chiefs, customs at ports, & taxes on various professions.
• The army consisted of cavalry, infantry, artillery and elephants.
• Nayankar System – The top-grade officers of the army were known as Nayaks/Poligars.
• They were granted land in lieu of their services which were called Amaram.
• Manyams were tax free lands.
• A body of 12 functionaries known as Ayangars, conducted village affairs.

SOCIAL LIFE OF VIJAYANAGARA KINGDOM

• The Sangama rulers were chiefly Saivaites and Virupaksha was their family deity.
• The chief gold coin was the varaha or pagoda. The Perta was half a Varaha. Fanam was one tenth a pertha.
• Tar was a silver coin. Jittal was a copper coin.
• The chief items of export were cotton, silk, spices, rice, saltpeter and sugar.
• The imports consisted of horses, pearls, copper, coral etc.
• The art of shipbuilding had developed.

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POSITION OF WOMEN:

• Women occupied a high position and took an active part in the political, social and literary life of the empire.
• Women even went to battles.
• It was the only empire in Medieval India which employed women in state services.
• Widow remarriage was promoted.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

• The chief characteristics of the Vijayanagara architecture were the construction of tall Raya Gopurams or gateways and the Kalyanamandapam with carved pillars in the temple premises.
• The sculptures on the pillars were carved with distinctive features.
• The horse was the most common animal found in these pillars.
• The most important temples built: Vittalaswamy and Hazara Ramaswamy temples, the Stone chariot at Hampi.
• The Varadharaja and Ekambaranatha temples at Kanchipuram.
• Different languages such as Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil flourished in the regions.

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LIST OF FOREIGN TRAVELERS VISITED VIJAYANAGARA:

Also Read: Bahmani Kingdom (C.1347- 1525 CE): Rise, Conflict, and Splintering Realms in Medieval Deccan