The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was the most prominent Hindu empire of Deccan India established on the banks of River Tungabhadra in present-day Karnataka and consisted of the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana and Maharashtra. The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by the brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty. The Vijayanagara period was the golden age of literature in South India. 

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Vijayanagara Empire is one of the most important topics for the UPSC Prelims Exam. In this article on the Vijayanagara Empire, we shall discuss its foundation, revenue, judicial & military administration, the position of women, important rulers and its decline. This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC IAS Examination as part of their Medieval History preparation.

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Origin of the Vijayanagar Empire

The Vijayanagara Empire, also known as the Karnata Kingdom or Vijayanagara Samrajya, was established in 1336 CE on the southern banks of river Tungabhadra in the present state of Karnataka in India. The Capital of the Vijayanagara Empire was the city of Hampi (currently in Karnataka). Hampi is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Geographically, it lies close to the Deccan Plateau of South India. The founder of the Vijayanagara Empire was the brothers Harihara and Bukka, belonging to the Sangama Dynasty. Harihara and Bukka were members of a pastoralist cowherd community that claimed to be of the Kuruba lineage. Both Harihara and Bukka had also served under the Hoysala King, Vira Ballala III. The Vijayanagara period was the golden age of literature in South India.

Geographical Spread of the Vijayanagar Empire

• At its peak, the Vijayanagara Empire influenced almost all of South India’s ruling families.
• The Vijayanagara Empire rulers also pushed the Sultans of the Deccan beyond the Tungabhadra-Krishna River Doab region.
• The Vijayanagara Empire also annexed modern-day Odisha (erstwhile Kalinga) from the Gajapati Kingdom of Kalinga, Odisha.
• The empire peaked during the rule of Krishna Deva Raya when the Vijayanagara armies were consistently victorious.

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Important Dynasties of the Vijayanagar Empire

The most important Vijayanagara dynasty is mentioned below:

• Sangama Dynasty (1336 CE – 1485 CE)
• Saluva Dynasty (1485 CE – 1505 CE)
• Tuluva Dynasty (1491 CE – 1570 CE)
• Aravidu Dynasty (1542 CE – 1646 CE)

Study the NCERT Notes on the Harshavardhan Dynasty here.

Important Rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire

The list of Important Rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire is as follows:

Harihara (1336 – 1356 A.D.)

• Harihara was the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire along with his brother Bukka Raya.
• Harihara I became the ruler of the Sangama Dynasty in 1336 CE.
• He captured Mysore and Madurai from the Southern Empires.
• He was succeeded by Bukka I in 1356 CE.

Krishnadeva Raya (1509 – 1529 A.D.)

• He was also known as the ‘Andhra Bhoj’.
• He belonged to the Tuluva Dynasty and ruled over Vijayanagar Empire from 1509-1529 CE.
• He is regarded as the most prominent and famous king of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes regarded “Krishnadeva Raya as the most feared and perfect king there could be.”
• Krishnadeva Raya captured Sivasamudram in 1510 CE and Raichur in 1512 CE.
• He captured Orissa and Warangal in 1523 CE.
• The Vijayanagar empire under him extended from the river Krishna in the north to River Cauvery in the south and from the Arabian Sea in the west to the Bay of Bengal in the east.

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Contributions of Krishna Deva Raya to the Vijaynagar Empire

• He was an efficient administrator, and he also built large tanks & canals for irrigation.
• He also created extensive naval power, which boosted the overseas trade of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• He also maintained cordial relations with the Portuguese and Arab traders.
• All this helped him to enhance the revenue of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Krishnadeva Raya was also a learned & great scholar.
• He also patronised art and architecture extensively.
• The Vijayanagar Empire reached its highest growth point during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya.

Eight Scholars in the Court Krishna Deva Raya

• Allasani Peddanna – Who was the author of ‘Manucharitam’ and ‘Andhra Kavitapitamaha’.
• Nandi Thimmana – Who authored the ‘Parijatapaharanam’.
• Madayyagari Mallana
• Dhurjati
• Ayyalaraju Ramabhadra Kavi
• Pingali Surana
• Ramaraja Bhushana
• Tenali Ramakrishna

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Administration of Vijayanagar Empire

• Vijayanagar Empire had a well-organized administrative system.
• The King was the state's main power and the final decision-making authority of all the matters in the state.
• There also existed a Council of Ministers, which assisted the King in administrative work.
• The Vijayanagar Empire was divided into 6 provinces.
• There existed a Governor called ‘Naik’ to administer each province.
• Further, the provinces were divided into districts.
• And these districts were again divided into smaller units called villages.
• Such villages were administered by various hereditary officers like accountants, watchmen, weights men and officers in charge of the forced labour department.
• There also existed an officer called ‘Mahanayakacharya’ who worked as a bridge between the villages and the central government/administration.

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Army 

• Vijayanagar Empire had an army which consisted of the Infantry, cavalry and elephantry.
• There also existed a Commander-in-chief who was in charge of the entire army unit.

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Revenue Administration 

• The main source of income for the Vijaynagar Empire was land revenue.
• Proper surveys of the land were conducted, and then taxes were fixed based on the fertility of the soil.
• Significant importance was laid on the growth of agriculture by constructing a large number of dams and canals.

Judicial Administration 

• The King was considered their supreme judge.
• There were provisions of extreme punishments for the guilty person.
• Also, those who violated the law were suitably punished, and fines were levied on them.

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Position of Women in the Vijayanagar Empire

• Women held a very high position in the Vijayanagar Empire.
• They were an important part of the empire's social, political and literary aspects.
• Women also gained education at par with men.

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• They were also given training in wrestling and in the usage of various weapons.
• They were also trained in music and other types of fine arts.
• Some women also had the opportunity to get an education of high order.
• According to Nuniz, kings had female astrologers, clerks, accountants, guards and wrestlers.

Social Life in Vijayanagar Empire

• The society in Vijayanagar Empire was systemized.
• Practises like child marriage, polygamy, and sati were common.
• Women held a very high position in the Vijayanagar Empire.
• The kings of the Vijayanagar Empire allowed freedom of religion.

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Economic Conditions in Vijayanagar Empire

• Their economic policies were mainly controlled by their irrigational policies.
• Industries like Textiles, Mining, Metallurgy, and Perfumes existed.
• Also, the Vijayanagar empire had commercial relations with the islands in the Indian Ocean, Abyssinia, Arabia, Burma, China, Persia, Portugal, South Africa and the Malay Archipelago.

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Contribution of the Vijayanagar Empire to the Architecture and Literature

• Krishnadeva Raya constructed the Ramaswami Temple and the Vittalaswami Temple.
• The Bronze Image of Krishnadeva Raya is another masterpiece of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Vernacular languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada developed during this period.
• The writer Sayana wrote commentaries on the Vedas.
• Krishnadeva Raya of the Tuluva Dynasty wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu and Usha Prinayam and Jambavathi Kalyanam in Sanskrit.
• The Vijayanagara Empire coins issued the gold Pagoda, also known as Varaha in English, as its standard coin unit. 
  • The Varaha, equivalent to 3.4 grams, was also referred to as Hon, Gadyana, or Pon. It was circulated in various denominations, including Ghattivaraha, Doddavaraha, and Suddhavaraha coins.

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The decline of the Vijayanagar Empire

• The rulers after Krishnadeva Raya were weak.
• Hence, the rulers of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golconda & Bidar launched a combined attack on the Vijayanagar Empire during the rule of Aliya Rama Raya.
• Aliya Ram Raya was brutally defeated, and he along with his supporters was killed.
• Thus, the Vijayanagar Empire finally declined under the Battle of Tailkota in 1965 against the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates.

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