Achyuta Deva Raya

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Achyuta Deva Raya
Tuluva
FatherTuluva Narasa Nayaka
MotherObamamba[1]
ReligionHinduism
The Shiva temple at Timmalapura was constructed in 1539 CE during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya
Kannada inscription of emperor Achyuta Deva Raya dated 1539 CE in the Shiva temple in Timmalapura
Vijayanagara Empire
Ruling dynasties
Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya
1422–1424
Deva Raya II1424–1446
Mallikarjuna Raya1446–1465
Virupaksha Raya II1465–1485
Praudha Raya1485
Saluva dynasty
Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya1485–1491
Thimma Bhupala1491
Narasimha Raya II1491–1505
Tuluva dynasty
Tuluva Narasa Nayaka1491–1503
Vira Narasimha Raya1503–1509
Krishna Deva Raya1509–1529
Achyuta Deva Raya1529–1542
Venkata I1542
Sadasiva Raya1542–1570
Venkata III1632–1642Sriranga III
1642–1646

Achyuta Deva Raya (r. 1529 - 1542 CE) was an emperor of Vijayanagara who succeeded his older brother, Krishnadevaraya, after the latter's death in 1529 CE.[2]

During his reign,

Fernao Nuniz, a Portuguese-Jewish traveller, chronicler and horse trader visited India and spent three years in Vijayanagara.[3]

Achyutaraya patronised the

Rama Raya
, a son-in-law of Krishnadevaraya. His wife's name was probably Vasudha Devi. Sadasiva Raya was probably the son of Vasudha Devi's sister Hemavati and her husband Ranga Raya.

Achyutadevaraya and his consort Varadambika

Reign

Kannada inscription (1536 CE) of emperor Achyuta Deva Raya on molding of Vittala temple in Hampi
Kannada inscription (1536 CE) of emperor Achyuta Deva Raya at the Vittala temple in Hampi
Shiva temple built by emperor Achyuta Deva Raya at Timmalapura near Hampi

The time when Achyuta Deva Raya became the emperor was by no means a favorable one. The peace and prosperity of the halcyon days under Krishnadevaraya were coming to an end. Feudatories and enemies were waiting for an opportunity to bring down the empire. In addition, Achyuta Deva Raya had to contend with the powerful Rama Raya, who was competing for the throne.

While the works of Nuniz speak very lowly of Achyuta Deva Raya as being a monarch given to vices and cruelty, there is enough evidence to prove that the emperor was indeed noteworthy in his own right and fought hard to keep the prosperity of the empire alive. He had been personally chosen by Krishnadevaraya himself as a capable successor, handpicked to assume the imperial throne.[4]

The

Tungabhadra and recaptured the forts of Raichur and Mudgal successfully.[6]

The two Sanskrit works Achyutarayabhyudaya (lit. 'Exaltation of Achyutaraya') and Varadambikaparinaya (lit. 'Wedding of Varadambika') describe the emperor's life and reign in detail.[7]

Throughout his rule, Achyuta Deva Raya had to contend with the manipulations of

Aliya Rama Raya
in the game of power sharing. This would further weaken the Empire. Around 1540 CE, Rama Raya imprisoned Achyuta Deva Raya in a coup.

In 1542 CE, Achyuta Deva Raya died, and was succeeded by his young son of Venkata I (Venkata Raya or Venkatadri Raya). But he was soon killed, and Sadasiva Raya became the new emperor. Rama Raya became the imperial regent and let very little governance in the hands of Sadasiva Raya.

The Tiruvengalanatha temple was built at Vijayanagara during his reign. It has become popularly known by his name as

Achyutaraya temple, rather than by the name of the deity Venkateswara
to whom the temple was dedicated.

References

  1. ^ Ayyangar, Krishnaswamy (1919). Sources of Vijayanagar History. Chennai: University of Madras. p. 16.
  2. ISBN 978-1-61530-122-5. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  3. ISBN 978-81-7991-067-2
    .
  4. ISBN 978-0-521-26693-2
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-8108-6401-6
    .
  6. ISBN 978-81-8424-568-4
    .
  7. ISBN 978-81-250-1453-9
    .
  • Prof K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002)

See also

  • Deccan Sultanates-Vijayanagar conflicts

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Achyuta Deva Raya.
Preceded by
Vijayanagar empire

1529–1542 		Succeeded by
Sadashiva Raya
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