VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

Why in News?

103 punch-marked Vijayanagara-era gold coins were unearthed inside an earthen pot during restoration work at a Later Chola-era Shiva temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. Archaeologists will evaluate their heritage value before they are deposited in the district treasury.

Description:

• Founded in 1336 by Harihara I & Bukka Raya I of Sangama Dynasty.
• Influence of Vidyaranya (Sringeri Math).
• Capital: Vijayanagara (Hampi) on Tungabhadra river.

Dynasties

Important Administration Features (Prelims Favorite):

• Centralised monarchy
• Amara-Nayaka System → military chiefs granted land in return for military service
• Land revenue → generally 1/6th produce
• Nayaka / Mandaleswara = provincial governor
• Local bodies had administrative autonomy

Economy:

• One of the wealthiest medieval empires (foreign traveler accounts)
• Major ports: Goa, Bhatkal, Honnavar, Mangalore, Chaul
• Exports: cotton, spices, iron, sugar
• Imports: horses (from Persia & Arabia), silk, coral

Society & Culture:

• Multilingual literature → Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil
• Ashta Diggajas in Krishnadevaraya’s court (Telugu literature)
• Devadasi system + Sati existed
• Vijayanagara encourages temple building as political-cultural assertion

Architecture (Very Important):

• Raya Gopuram
• Kalyanamandapa – carved pillars
• Example temples: Vittalaswamy Temple, Hazara Ramaswamy Temple, Virupaksha Temple
• Use of hard granite in Hampi region

Krishnadevaraya (Most Important Ruler):

• Titles → Abhinava Bhoja, Andhra Pitamah
• Author of Amuktamalyada (Telugu)
• Patronized scholars → Tenali Rama, Allasani Peddana etc.
• Victories against Gajapatis of Odisha

Decline:

• Battle of Talikota (1565) – decisive defeat by Deccan Sultanates
• Empire continued under Aravidu dynasty but gradually weakened till ~1646

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