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Vijayanagar Religion
Vijayanagar Religion
(1336-1646)
Another Shaivite deity who was worshipped at the site before the empire
period is Bhairava. An AD 1199 inscription, located in a small ninth- century
temple (presently dedicated to the goddess Durga) north of the Virupaksha
temple complex, mentions the goddess Pampa and the male deities
Virupaksha and Bhairava- deva. The Bhairava temple was a pre-
Vijayanagara structure on the southern slope of Hemakuta hill.
Hinduism
The defeat of the Jain Western Ganga Dynasty by the Cholas in the early
11th century and the rising numbers of followers of Vaishnava Hinduism
and Virashaivism in the 12th century was mirrored by a decreased interest
in Jainism. Two notable locations of Jain worship in the Vijayanagara
territory were Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli.
Jain temple of Kunthu Jinanatha (AD 1385).
Islam
During the archaeological dig over one fourth of the finds are "Islamic
Quarter" which is not far from the "Royal Quarter". It was called 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. Islamic contact with South India began as
early as the 7th century, a result of trade between the Southern kingdoms
and Arab lands. Jumma Masjids existed in the Rashtrakuta Empire by the
10th century. And many mosques flourished on the Malabar coast by the
early 14th century. Muslim settlers married local women; their children were
known as Mappillas (Moplahs) and were actively involved in horse
trading and manning shipping fleets. The interactions between the
Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahamani Sultanates to the north increased
the presence of Muslims in the south. Nobles from Central Asia's Timurid
kingdoms also came to Vijayanagara.
A mosque architecture resembling that of a mandapas
.
Christianity
The introduction of Christianity began as early as the 8th century as shown
by the finding of copper plates inscribed with land grants to Malabar
Christians. Christian travelers wrote of the scarcity of Christians in South
India in the middle Ages, promoting its attractiveness to missionaries. The
arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century and their connections through
trade with the empire, the propagation of the faith by Saint Xavier (1545)
and later the presence of Dutch settlements fostered the growth of
Christianity in the south.
Naga Worship
Worship of the Nagas was another popular cult in the Vijayanagara Empire.
The hooded cobra was considered to be most important and worship was
offered to it on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month of
drdvana85. On the day of Nagachauti women used to fast and pour milk
over the Nagas. It was believed that the worshipping of Nagas would, in
fulfillment of their vow, confer motherhood on women who , installed
Nagakals when they were blessed with offspring. There are a number of
Nagakals belonging to this period preserved in the northeast comer of the
underground temple dedicated to Siva at Hampi i.e. the verandah of the
Traveler's Rest house at Kamalapur. Even god Virupaksha was referred to
as the Lord of Nagas The emperors of Vijayanagara worshipped the Nagas
and considered Siva as Naganatha. Male and Female Nagas were also
carved in stone in various temples.
Tree Worship
Very little is known about the religious history of the site between 1565 and
1900. While there is no evidence of worship having survived in the Vitthala
temple and other major Vaishnava temples after the desertion of the site in
1565, there is evidence that the great Virupaksha temple continued as a
religious establishment in the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The
Aravidu dynasty did not break off ties with Virupaksha, the patron deity of
the kingdom