An Imperial Capital Vijayanagara: Srijan Srivastava

AN IMPERIAL CAPITAl
VIJAYANAGARA
SRIJAN SRIVASTAVA
MILITARY OF
VIJAYANAGAR
Vijayanagar's military
• The numerical strength of the Vijayanagara army is disputed. Niccolò de' Conti reported a figure of 245,000 men during
the reign of Krishna Deva Raya but Fernao Nuniz claimed it to be around 200,000, consisting of 170,000 foot soldiers,
30,000 cavalry and 550 war elephants. Rayawacha countered that the force contained 500,000 foot soldiers, 60,000
cavalry and 1,200 war elephants.
• Deva Raya II, to counter the superior Bahmani cavalry, is believed to have enrolled 2000 Muslim cavalrymen to teach the
art of archery to his Hindu soldiers and officers.
REcruitment
• Emperor Krishna Deva Raya recruited soldiers. Tulu, Beary, Kabbali and Morasa State clan members joined in large
numbers. Forest tribes including Chenchu, Koya and Boya also sent recruits. Empire training facilities improved bravery,
interest in war, and body strength. According to books written in that time, the samu garidi (dance performance of
knives and fire) and training gyms were both present throughout the country. Hontakaras trained the fighters. Since
Vijayanagara was a multi-faith country, Muslims also joined the army. Their strength increased from the era of Deva Raya
II and peaked in the time of Aliya Rama Raya, diminishing after his surprise defeat in the Battle of Talikota.
Town planning of
vijayanagar
WAter RESources
• The most striking feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which
flows in a north-easterly direction. The surrounding landscape is characterised by stunning granite hills that seem to
form a girdle around the city. A number of streams flow down to the river from these rocky outcrops. In almost all cases
embankments were built along these streams to create reservoirs of varying sizes. As this is one of the most arid zones
of the peninsula, elaborate arrangements had to be made to store rainwater and conduct it to the city. The most
important such tank was built in the early years of the fifteenth century and is now called Kamalapuram tank. Water
from this tank not only irrigated fields nearby but was also conducted through a channel to the “royal centre”.
Fortification and roads
• Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in the fifteenth century, was
greatly impressed by the fortifications, and mentioned seven lines of forts. These encircled not only the city but also its
agricultural hinterland and forests. The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city. The massive masonry
construction was slightly tapered. No mortar or cementing agent was employed anywhere in the construction. The stone
blocks were wedge shaped, which held them in place, and the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with
rubble. Square or rectangular bastions projected outwards.
THe Urban COre
• Moving along the roads leading into the urban core, there is relatively little archaeological evidence of the houses of
ordinary people. Archaeologists have Fig. 7.6 A gateway in the fortification wall Fig. 7.7 A gopuram ÜDescribe the
similarities and differences between these two entrances. Why do you think the rulers of Vijayanagara adopted elements
of Indo-Islamic architecture? 2019-2020 179 found fine Chinese porcelain in some areas, including in the north-eastern
corner of the urban core and suggest that these areas may have been occupied by rich traders. This was also the Muslim
residential quarter. Tombs and mosques located here have distinctive functions, yet their architecture resembles that of
the mandapas found in the temples of Hampi.
Architecture of
vijayanagar
The Mahanavami Dibba
• Back of the platform has a twin
• staircase.
• Sides fluted with designs of chains
• of sculptures.
• Carvings of the panels at the sidewall of
• the bottom portion are most celebrated.
• Rituals conducted coincided with
• Mahanavami.
• Space surrounding the structure not
• elaborate for processions of men,
• women, animal.
• But, it remains an enigma.
Lotus Mahal
• Balcony and passages covered with a dome
• resembling open lotus bud.
• Central dome carved as a lotus bus.
• Curves given an Islamic touch.
• Surrounded by rectangular wall, four towers.
• 24 pillars supporting arched windows and balcony.
• Walls and pillars carved with patterns of sea
• creatures and birds.
• Music concerts and other recreation activities were
• also held.
Hazara Rama Temple
• Probably used by the king and his family.
• Relics portraying processions of horses,
• elephants, soldiers, dancing women etc. - most
• extensive relocs to be found in India.
• Lawn on the northern side.
• Two huge gateways, accessing the temple
• compound.
• Ornately sculpted columns in the interior of the
• temple.
• Empty pedestal signifies- idols of Rama,Lakshmana, Sita.
• Smaller shrine inside the temple complex.

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AN IMPERIAL CAPITAl

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