Vijayanagara Empire [1336-1646] – Krishna Deva Raya, Ashtadiggajas

Vijayanagara Empire at a Glance

Foundation	Founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka Raya.
Capital	Vijayanagara [1336–1565] Penukonda [1565–1592] Chandragiri [1592–1604] Vellore [1604–1646] The empire took its name from its capital city, Vijayanagara, situated in today’s Vijayanagara district in Karnataka. Vijayanagara district was carved out of Bellary district in 2020 to become the 31st district of the state.
Ruling Dynasties	Sangama Dynasty Saluva Dynasty Tuluva Dynasty Aravidu Dynasty
First King	Harihara I (1336–1356)
Last King	Sriranga III (1642–1646)
Cultural Legacy	The era of the Vijayanagara Empire is considered a golden age of culture and learning, particularly in Andhra Pradesh.

Sangama Dynasty

Harihara I (1336–1356) & Bukka I (1356–1377)

• The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka I.
• Harihara I and Bukka I founded the Sangama dynasty.
• The dynasty was named Sangama after a man named Bhavana Sangama who was the father of the brothers Harihara I and Bukka I.
• Harihara I was called Karnataka Vidya Vilas (master of excellent knowledge and skills).

Harihara II (1377–1404)

• He took the titles Vaidikamarga Sthapanacharya and Vedamarga Pravartaka.
• After the death of Mujahid Bahmani in 1378, he extended his control into the northwest and controlled the ports of Goa, Chaul, and Dabhol.

Deva Raya I (1406–1422)

• He modernized the Vijayanagara army.
• The Italian traveler Nicolo de Conti visited Vijayanagara during his reign (1420 CE).
• He built a barrage across the Tungabhadra River and dug a 24 km long canal from the Tungabhadra River to the capital.

Deva Raya II (1424–1446)

• He patronized Chamarasa ( a veerashaiva poet in the Kannada language), Kumara Vyasa ( a Vaishnava poet ), and the noted Telugu poet Srinatha.
• Deva Raya II had the title Gajabetegara means “Hunter of elephants”.
• Abdur Razzaq, the ambassador of Persian ruler Shahrukh visited Vijayanagara.

Saluva Dynasty

Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya (1485–1491)

• Narasimha’s accession to the throne is known as the “first usurpation of the throne“.
• He also patronized Kannada poet Kavi Linga.

Tuluva Dynasty

Tuluva Narasa Nayaka (1491–1503)

• Tuluva Narasa Nayaka was the founder of the Tuluva dynasty.
• He was a commander in the Vijayanagara army.
• After the death of King Saluva Narasimha in 1491, crown prince Thimma Bhupala was murdered.
• Narasa Nayaka then crowned another teenage prince Narasimha Raya II but ruled Vijayanagar in disguise as Narasimha Raya II.
• He regained control of the area south of River Kaveri to Cape Comorin.

Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529)

• He was the greatest ruler of Vijayanagara.
• He ruled the largest empire in India after the decline of the Delhi Sultanate.
• He took titles like Andhra Bhoja (Scholar of Andhra), Andhra Pitamah, and Gaubrahmana Pratipalaka (Protector of Brahmins and Cow).
• He wrote an epic Telugu poem Amuktamalyada. It describes the story of the wedding of Lord Ranganayaka (an avatar of Lord Vishnu) and Goda Devi, the Tamil Alvar poet.
• Saluva Timmarusu was the Prime Minister (Mahapradhana) of Krishna Deva Raya.
• Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited the Vijayanagara Empire during his reign.
• He built the famous temples of Krishnaswamy, Hazara Ramaswamy, and Vittalaswamy.

Krishnadeva Raya’s Ashtadiggajas

Main article: Ashtadiggajas

• Ashtadiggajas is the collective title given to the eight Telugu scholars and poets in the court of Krishnadevaraya.
• The age of Ashtadiggajas is called the Prabandha Age because of the quality of the prabandha literature it produced.

Name of Ashtadiggajas	Work
Allasani Peddana	Manucharitam and Harikathasaransamu
Nandi Thimmana	Parijatapaharanamu
Madayyagari Mallana	RajaSekara charitam
Dhurjati	Kalahasti Mahatyam
Pingali Surana	Raghava Pandaviyam and Prabhavati Pradyuman
Tenali Ramakrishna	Panduranga Mahatyam
Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu	Sakalamatasara Sangrahar
Ramarajabhushanudu	Kavyalankora Sangrahamu

Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542)

• He was the younger brother of Krishna Deva Raya.
• He patronized composer and singer Purandaradasa (The Father of Carnatic music).
• The Tiruvengalanatha temple was built at Vijayanagara during his reign. It has become popularly known by its name Achyutaraya Temple.
• Fernao Nuniz a Portuguese traveler and horse trader visited his court and spent three years in Vijayanagar.

Kempe Gowda I, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire founded the city of Bengaluru in 1537.

Aravidu Dynasty

• Tirumala Deva Raya founded the Aravidu dynasty.
• He was the son-in-law of Krishna Deva Raya.
• He founded a new capital in Penukonda in place of Hampi which was destroyed after the Battle of Talikota (1565).
• During this period Vijayanagara Empire started to decline and the subordinates of the imperial Vijayanagara emperors started to be independent.

Aliya Rama Raya (1542–1565)

• Rama Raya was killed at the Battle of Talikota (1565).

Tirumala Deva Raya (1565–1572)

• After the Battle of Talikota, he relocated the capital to Penukonda.
• In 1569 AD, he removed King Sadashiva Raya and took the throne. This is known as the “third usurpation”.

Venkata II (1586–1614)

• He shifted his capital from Penukonda to Chandragiri (near the Tirupati Hills) in 1592.
• After 1604, he made Vellore Fort his capital.

Sriranga III (1642–1646)

• The last notable king of this dynasty, Ranga III, reigned till 1678 AD.
• He was unable to subdue the rebellious feudatories and resist the attacks of the Sultans of Bijapur and Golconda.

Foreign Travellers Account on Vijayanagara Empire

Niccolo de Conti	He visited Hampi around 1420.
Fernao Nuniz	He visited Vijayanagara during the reign of Krishnadevaraya.
Domingo Paes	1. He came to Vijayanagar in 1516 AD. 2. He praised the secularism of Krishnadeva Raya. He said that the king has given freedom to every person to practice his religion without hindrance, regardless of whether he is a Christian, Jew, Muslim or Hindu. 3. He said that Vijayanagar was a center of trade in native diamonds, lime from Pegu, silk from China and Alexandria, and vermilion, camphor, pepper, and sandalwood from Malabar.
Abdul Razzaq (Persian ambassador)	He visited Vijayanagar in 1442-48.
Duarte Barbosa	1. He came to Vijayanagar in 1516 AD. 2. He praised the secularism of Krishnadeva Raya. He said that the king has given freedom to every person to practice his religion without hindrance, regardless of whether he is a Christian, Jew, Muslim or Hindu. 3. He said that Vijayanagar was a center of trade in native diamonds, lime from Pegu, silk from China and Alexandria, and vermilion, camphor, pepper, and sandalwood from Malabar.

Literature: Vijayanagara Empire

• Amuktamalyada: This is a famous Telugu epic poem written by Krishnadevaraya. It narrates the story of the marriage of the Hindu god Vishnu (Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati) to the goddess Padmavati.
• Jambavati Kalyanam: Another significant work by Krishnadevaraya, this Telugu poetic composition narrates the marriage of Krishna with Jambavati, the daughter of the bear-king Jambavantha.
• Manucharitam: Written by Allasani Peddana, a Telugu poet in Krishnadevaraya’s court, this work is a biography of Emperor Prataparudra, the Kakatiya ruler.
• Madhura Vijayam: A Telugu epic written by Gangadevi, the queen consort of Vijayanagara Emperor Virupaksha Raya, this work narrates the conquest of the city of Madurai by the Vijayanagara forces.

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