Deva Raya I

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For the 2012 film, see Devaraya (film).

Deva Raya I
Vijayanagar, Vijayanagara Empire
(modern day Hampi, Karnataka, India)
IssueRamachandra Raya
Bukka Raya III
HouseSangama
DynastyVijayanagara
FatherHarihara II
MotherBhima Devi
ReligionHinduism
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

Deva Raya I (reigned 1406–1422 CE) was a king of the

Sangama Dynasty).[1] After Harihara II died, there was a dispute between his sons over succession, in which Deva Raya I eventually emerged victor. He was a very capable ruler noted for his military exploits and his support to irrigation works in his kingdom.[2] He modernized the Vijayanagara army by improving the cavalry, employed skilled archers of the Turkic clans and raised the fighting capacity of his bowmen and imported horses from Arabia and Persia.[3]

Of Deva Raya I, the Italian traveler Niccolo Conti, who visited Vijayanagara c. 1420, described thus: "In this city, there are 90,000 men fit to bear arms... their king is more powerful than all the kings of India".[3][4] Conti also noted that the royal city had grown to a circumference of 60 mi.[5]

Deva Raya I was a patron of

Gommateshvara of Shravanabelagola.[6] The noted Hazara Rama temple, an excellent example of Deccan architecture was constructed during his rule.[7]

Irrigation works and general administration

The Hazara Rama temple built by Deva Raya I in Hampi
Bahamani-Vijayanagara War (1418–1420)

The credit for making the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire one of the biggest cities in the 15th century goes to Deva Raya I. He realized that the scarcity of water supply, both for drinking and for irrigation, was restricting the growth of the royal capital.[2] In c. 1410 he had a barrage constructed across the Tungabhadra River and commissioned a 24 km long aqueduct from the Tungabhadra River to the capital.[8] The account provided by Nuniz gives a details of the projects undertaken by Deva Raya I that brought prosperity to the Kingdom. He maintained a secular attitude in administrative matters. He had a Mosque and a slaughter house constructed for the convenience of the Muslim soldiers in his army.[9] In c. 1413, a dispute over property between the Shanka Jainalya of Lakshmeshwara and the Someshvara temple trust of the palace was settled in favor of the Jains. Deva Raya I had a Muslim bodyguard who built a choultry in honor of the king.[5]

Military campaigns

Main article: War of the Goldsmith's Daughter

Throughout his reign, Deva Raya was continually at war with the Velamas of Golconda, the Bahmani Sultan of

Vijaya Raya
.

Ferishta's account

Persian writer Ferishta narrates an interesting story, of the kings' love for a beautiful girl, a daughter of a goldsmith from Mudugal in the Raichur district. Unable to wed her, a frustrated Deva Raya I attacked Mudgal and laid to waste a few villages. Aroused by this provocation, the Bahamani Sultan Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah invaded Vijayanagara leading to defeat of Deva Raya I. Though injured in the conflict, Firuz Shah sent his able commanders who successfully invaded Vijayanagara territory south of Adoni.

According to this account, Deva Raya I had to give as tribute, one of his daughters in marriage to the Sultan's prince,[1] several pearls and cash, Bankapura territory, fifty elephants, and 2000 dancers. The goldsmith's daughter who was the reason for the war was wedded to Hassan Khan, a prince in the Sultan's family.[5][15]

Personal life

One of Deva Raya's queens Bhima Devi was a disciple of the Jain guru Abhinava Charukirti Panditacharya. She was a devotee of Shantinatha, 16th Jain tirthankara and built a temple at the Mangayi Basti in Shravanabelagola.[16]

Gallery

  • Mallikarjuna temple in Mallapangudi, near Hospet, built by Deva Raya I
    Mallikarjuna temple in Mallapangudi, near Hospet, built by Deva Raya I
  • Kannada inscription of Deva Raya I at the Mallikarjuna temple in Mallappanagudi
    Kannada inscription of Deva Raya I at the Mallikarjuna temple in Mallappanagudi

Notes

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4
    .
  2. ^ a b Kulakarṇī, Nayeem, De Souza (1996), p.106
  3. ^ a b Bowman,(2013) p.271
  4. ^ Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), p.31
  5. ^ a b c d Kamath (1980), p.163
  6. ^ Sastri (1955), p.360
  7. ^ Fritz & Michell (2001), p.9
  8. ISBN 8184242999
  9. ^ Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), pp.30-31
  10. ^ a b Chandra (1997), p.180
  11. ^ Chandra, Satish (1997), p.180, Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals - Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526), Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
  12. ^ Chaurasia (2002) p.109
  13. ^ Sastri (1955). p.225
  14. ^ Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), p.30
  15. ^ Sastri (1955), pp.224-225
  16. ^ Sangave (1981), p.46

References

External links


Preceded by
Vijayanagar empire

1406–1422 		Succeeded by
Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya