Origin of the Vijayanagara Empire

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The origin of the Vijayanagara Empire is a controversial topic in

Bukka I
in the founding of the Vijayanagara empire.

Kannadiga origin theory

Scholars such as Rothermund,

Hoysala dynasty.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] E. W. West opines the founders were officers in the army of Veera Ballala III, the last Hoysala king.[8] Though controversies over the role of Vidyaranya in the founding of the empire exist, it is well accepted that he was an important individual at the powerful Shringeri monastic order, though he became the head of the order around 1380, a few decades after the founding of the empire.[9][10]
According to these historians, modern epigraphic research and interpretation of these inscriptions (not available to earlier historians) support the theory that the founders of the empire were local princes under the service of the last of the Hoysala king. According to them, inscriptions prove that Harihara I and
Kampili kingdoms, to administer the northern territories. Also, the very first fortification that Harihara I built was at Barakuru in coastal Karnataka in 1336. He was a Hoysala commander in charge of its northern territories from his seat in Gutti (modern Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh), at that time a Hoysala territory.[15] He assumed the Kannada titles Purvapaschima Samudradhishvara (lit, "Master of eastern and western and oceans"), Arirayavibhada (lit, "fire to the enemy kings") and Bhashegetappuvarayaraganda (lit, "punisher of the ruler who failed to keep a promise"). According to Kamath, when Veera Ballala III died fighting the Sultan of Madurai, Harihara I seems to have gained sovereign powers over the entire Hoysala territory.[16]

The historian Saletore pointed out that even famous Telugu scholars such as Vallabharaya and

Kannadigas by linguistic affinity, making them people of Karnataka[19] Regarding the earliest modern work written on the history of the Vijayanagara Empire by Robert Sewell (A Forgotten Empire, 1901) Kamath claims that Sewell had not used all sources but had copiously used travelogues and other works written by only European travelers to forward his theories.[20]

Kamath points out that almost half of the Vijayanagara Empire inscriptions, out of a total of 7,000 available to us, are in Kannada. The Kings used titles such as Bhashegetappuva rayara ganda, Moorurayaraganda and Arirayadatta which are pure Kannada language titles. Their remaining inscriptions are in Sanskrit, Telugu, and Tamil.

Pandya of the Tamil country.[23] According to Henry Heras, inscriptional evidence shows that Ballappa Dandanayaka, a nephew of Hoysala Veera Ballala III was married to a daughter of Harihara I, the founding king of the empire. This is claimed proof enough of the association Sangama brothers had with the Hoysala family.[24]

According to the historians Saletore, P.B. Desai and Henry Heras, the theory of capture of Harihara I and Bukka Raya I by the Sultan of Delhi and conversion to Islam is false and that the testimony of epigraphs proves that the area around

Bellary District) may have been related to Sangama, father of Harihar I. This evidence exists in a literary piece by poet Nanjunda (Kumara Rama Charita). According to Kamath, the early Vijayanagara kings raised memorials at Sandur, Chitradurga and Dharwad to sing the glory of Kumara Rama's valor and show their continued efforts to build an empire in his legacy. All this proves the matrimonial relations the Sangama family had with the Kummata family.[19]

According to

Seunas). Inscriptions on the temples constructed by Vijayanagara Emperors in Lepakshi indicate that Vitthal and Virupaksha were originally worshiped as Vitthal and Birappa. Kurubas consider Vitthal and Birappa as brothers and worship them as inseparable companions. Dhere further looks at the sculptures on the various temples constructed by the Sangamas, where all the sculptures of human beings are dressed as Kurubas, indicating the family that built those temples.[26]

Aiyangar opines that since the Kakatiya dynasty collapsed about 20 years before the demise of Veera Ballala III of Hoysala Empire in 1342 CE, and Hosapattana was established as a second capital by Veera Ballala III (which eventually became the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire) it would be impossible for Harihara, the founder of fledgling empire to attain such a high position in a short time without having close ties to Hoysala Empire.[29]

The Vijayanagara kings make their first appearance as Mahamandalesvaras from the year A. D. 1336 under Hoysalas, to believe that they were the feudatories of Ballala. As stated before Balappa-dannayaka, the nephew ot Ballala was the son-in-law ot Harihara 1. It is therefore probable that Ballala brought about this connection and instituted the Vijayanagara chiefs In the fort of Vijayanagara, for the defence of the northern frontiers.[30] Ballala, having given over the protection of his northern territories into the hands of Harihara and his brother, he directed his attention to the south,[31] Ferishta says, a new fort was raised in the northern frontiers of Ballala's dominions carried by the name of Beejanuggur (Vijayanagara) after his son Beeja. Ballala had a son by the name of Vira Virupaksha Ballala Deva. One inscription in the Yedatore Taiuk informs us that Ballala had a son named Hampe-Vodeyar. Hampe is still the name of the site of Vijayanagara. Hampe-Vodeyar may be the same as VIra-Virupaksha Ballala. Ballala was residing at a new residence called Viru-pakshapattana or Virupaksha-Hosadurga; evidently a derivation of his son's name. As mentioned ; , eviousiy Rice has identified this latter place with Hosadurga in Chitradroog District. Fr. Heras has, however, identified it with the city of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Ferishta probably heard that the city was named after Ballala's son and hence deduced his name “Beeja" from the then current name of the city.[32] An inscription of A. D. 1380 gives the name of Virupaksha to the city of Vijayanagara. The temple of Virupaksha in that city indicates the original name. Virupaksha was also known as Hosadurga. Vijaya was not a new name to the Hoysalas. Ballala II is said to have made a fort called Vijayagir and once he was residing at Vijayapura or Hallavur. In A. D. 1354 Bukka I is said to have been residing at Hosapattana. All this epigraphical evidence may easily lead one to identify Virupaksha or Hosadurga with Vijayanagara. An inscription dated A. D. 1378 gives the description of the new town Hosapattana, which is the same as that of Vijayanagara "There, with the Tuhgabhadra as his foot-stool, and Hemakuta as his throne, he (Bukka) was seated like Virupaksha for the protection of the people of the earth” Vijayanagara is on the Tuhgabhadra, Hemakuta a hill in it, and Virupaksha its god.[33] Thus the Vijayanagara empire was founded by the Hoysala and its chieftains.

Telugu origin theory

Historians such as Robert Sewell, Dallapiccola, M.H. Ramasarma, Y. Subbarayalu, N. Venkataramanayya and B. Suryanarain Rao have attested the

Hoysala king.[41] They succeeded in suppressing the rebellion but laid foundation of an independent kingdom at the behest of Vidyaranya.[42]

Historians Venkataramanayya and Ramasarma supported the conclusions of Sewell based on his research and the information provided by the

Telugu Nayaks (Kamma, Balija, Velama and Reddy people) for revenue collection throughout the empire also supported their Telugu affinity.[47]

According to Gribble, Muslim scholars of the time, such as

Bukka then reverted to their ancient faith and having declared independence, assumed the leadership of the Hindus of Kampili in their fight against the Muslims.[54]

According to Venkataramanaya, Kaapaya and Bukka had actively collaborated with each other to ward off the Muslim threat, probably because of their close association in the court of

Musunuri Kapaya Nayak.[43]

Other theories of origin

A popular account says that the Hampi region was part of a

Kampili kingdom in the 14th century when large parts of north India was under Muslim rule. In 1326 AD Muhammad bin Tughluq defeated and killed the king of Kampili. Among those taken prisoner were sons of Sangama, Hakka (Harihara I) and Bukka (Bukka Raya), both treasury officers of Kampili who were forced to convert to Islam. Some years later the brothers were sent back to govern Kampili. In 1336, The brothers laid the foundation of an independent kingdom, denying any subordination to the Tughluqs and became Hindu again.[55]

Notes

  1. B.A. Saletore, Henry Heras
    and Kamath in Kamath (2001), p158
  2. ^ Karmarkar (1947), p30
  3. ^ a b c Kulke and Rothermund (2004), p188
  4. ^ G.S.Gai and S.K. Aiyangar in Durga Prasad, p191
  5. ^ Rice (1897), p345
  6. ^ The Empire of Vijayanagara arose out of the ruins of the Hoysala Empire as a new phoenix bird out of the ashes of its progenitor (William Coelho 1949, p08)
  7. ^ Karnataka : Homeland of the empire (M .H Rama Sharma 1971, p33)
  8. ^ West (1877), p. 637
  9. ^ Several grants were made by the founders Harihara I and Bukka I to the Shringeri monastery in 1346 and Vidyaranya did use his influence to secure critical financial support for the brothers of the Sangama dynasty (Kamat 2001, p160-161)
  10. ^ Vidyaranya's blessings and proximity, and the influence of monastic order of Shringeri helped in providing legitimacy to the founding kings of a new empire (Kulke and Rothermund 2004, p188)
  11. ^ Quote:"The founding king was an officer under King Ballala" (West 1877, p637)
  12. Kannadigas
    by origin" (Karmarkar 1947, p30)
  13. ^ Quote:"According to William Coelho and Henry Heras" (Kamath 2001, p129)
  14. ^ Eaton (2006), p42
  15. ^ Kamath (2001), p160-161
  16. ^ Ibn Batuta gave a graphic description of his end of Veera Ballala III. The greatest hero in the dark political atmosphere of South India (Kamath 2001, p130).
  17. ^ Saletore in Kamath (2001), p159. Saletore wrote Social and political life in Vijayanagar Empire, 1934
  18. ^ Desai in Kamath (2001), p159
  19. ^ a b c Kamath (2001), p159
  20. ^ Kamath (2001), p158
  21. ^ Kamath (2001), p157
  22. ^ G.S. Gai in Arthikaje. "The Vijayanagara Empire". History of Karnataka. outKarnataka.com. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  23. ^ Appadurai in The Place of Kannada and Tamil in Indias National culture (INTAMM 1997).
  24. Heras
    in Kamath (2001), p159. Heras wrote Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagar Empire, 1927
  25. ^ a b Desai, Saletore and Henry Heras in Kamath 2001, p158
  26. ^
    ISBN 9780199777648
    .
  27. ISBN 978-0-521-25484-7
  28. ISBN 978-0-231-54241-8
    .
  29. ISBN 978-1313440158
    .
  30. ^ Coelho, p. 262.
  31. ^ Coelho, p. 263.
  32. ^ Coelho, p. 260.
  33. ^ Coelho, p. 261.
  34. ^
    ISBN 9780716521372
    .
  35. ^
    ISBN 9788120608603
    .
  36. ISBN 0-521-77055-6
  37. ^ H. Kulke, "Reflections on the historiography of early Vijayanagara and Sringeri", in: Vijayanagara: City and Empire, Vol I, 1985, by A. Dallapiccola and S. Z. Ave, Stuttgart,pp. 120–143
  38. ^ Francis Buchanan, Travels in Southern India, Mysore, vol. III, East India Company, London, 1807, Buchanan, p. 110
  39. ^ J. R. Pantulu, "Krishna Raya or The Story of the Karnatak Kingdom", The Quarterly Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society, Vol. II, Pts. 3 and 4, Rajamundry, 1927, pp. 204–219
  40. ^ Dames, Mansel Longworth (1918). Book of Duarte Barbosa. p. 204.
  41. ^ Durga Prasad, "History of the Andhras" Archived 13 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ISBN 0-521-26693-9
  43. ^ a b c N. Venkataramanayya, The Early Muslim expansion in south India, University of Madras Press, Madras, 1942
  44. ^ M. H. Ramasarma, The History of the Vijayanagar Empire, Vol. I, Bombay
  45. ISBN 81-206-0860-7
  46. ^ B. V. Sreenivasa Rao, Notes on Vijayanagara, Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society, Vol. 25, 1958–60, pp. 155–177
  47. ^ Y. Subbarayalu, "The Revenue System of the Vijayanagara State", The Vijayanagara Heritage, Ed. Ramamurthy J.R, Sri Vidya Vijayanagara Hampi Heritage Trust, Anegondi, Hospet, 1996, pp. 75–80
  48. ^ J. D. B. Gribble, History of the Deccan, 1896, Luzac and Co., London
  49. ^ B. R. Gopal, "The Gozalavidu Inscription of Bukkaraya", Journal of the Karnataka University, Vol. 7, Dharwad, 1971, pp. 174–183
  50. ^ N. Venkataramanayya, "Vijayanagara: Origin of the City and the Empire", Bulletin of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, Madras University, Madras, 1931
  51. ^ N. Venkararamanayya, "The Founders of Vijayanagara Before the Foundation of the City", Journal of the Oriental Research, Vol. 12, Pt. 2, Madras, 1938, pp. 221–223
  52. ^ Telugu Vignana Sarvaswamu, Volume 2, History, Telugu University, Hyderabad
  53. ^ M. Somasekhara Sarma, A Forgotten Chapter of Andhra History, 1945, Andhra University, Waltair
  54. ^ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri and N. Venkataramanayya; Further Sources of Vijayanagara History, 1946, Vol. II, University of Madras, Madras
  55. ^ Hampi – A Travel Guide, 2003, p27

References

External links
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