Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, BS in Analytics and Sustainability Studies

Semester 2

Course code- HUM 03

Introduction to Historical Thoughts

Mid-semester Assessment

Group 5

Prakhar Kumar Rai (M2023BSASS022)

Soumya Aggarwal (M2023BSASS030)

Tanisha Jaiswal (M2023BSASS032)

Vinayak Sarin (M2023BSASS033)

Madhur Arya (M2023BSASS037)

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Hampi: The city of ruins

Introduction

The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara and Bukka,
according to legend and epigraphic evidence. This empire encompassed peoples speaking
many languages and adhering to various religious traditions inside its erratic borders.

The Vijayanagara kings fought modern dynasties, such as the Deccan Sultans and the Gajapati
kings of Orissa, on their northern frontier, for control of the rich river valleys and the riches
produced by profitable foreign trade.

A part of the stone wall that was

built around the city of Vijayanagara

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Simultaneously, communication and exchange of ideas occurred between these states,
particularly in the area of architecture. The Vijayanagara emperors appropriated ideas and
construction methods, which they later expanded upon.

Several regions that became part of the empire had previously seen the rise of strong powers,
such the Cholas in Tamil Nadu and the Hoysalas in Karnataka. Extensive temples like the
Chennakeshava temple in Belur and the Brihadishvara temple in Thanjavur were patronized by
the ruling elites in these regions.

The rayas, or kings of Vijayanagara, expanded upon these customs and took them literally to
unprecedented heights.

Numerous inscriptions recounting significant events and acknowledging donations to temples

made by the Vijayanagara rulers and their nayakas have been found.

The gopuram or gateway of the

Brihadishvara temple at Thanjavur

A number of tourists went to the city and wrote articles about it. Among the most notable
accounts are those of Nicolo de Conti, an Italian trader, an ambassador sent by the ruler of
Persia named Abdur Razzaq, a Russian merchant named Afanasii Nikitin, and three Portuguese
visitors to the city in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries: Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes, and
Fernao Nuniz.

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Rival kingdoms placed a great deal of importance on the importation of horses from Arabia
and Central Asia because warfare during this era relied heavily on proficient cavalry. Arab
traders used to be in charge of this trade. Participating in these deals were local communities
of merchants called horse merchants, or kudirai chettis. Other players entered the scene in 1498.
When the Portuguese arrived on the subcontinent's west coast, they made an effort to set up
military and trade posts. Their adept use of musketry, along with their superior military
technology, allowed them to establish themselves as major participants in the complex politics
of the day.

Done By : Tanisha Jaiswal

RISE AND EXPANSION OF THE VIJAYNAGARA EMPIRE

The Empire of Vijaynagar grew from a small regional polity based in the interior of the rather remote
Karnatak plateau , similar to all Asian Empires before it. Its initial burst from being a resource poor,
semi-arid homeland into a powerful region, came from its acquiring large fertile tracts of agricultural
land including its inhabitants and also the rich alluvial deltas of the India’s eastern coast. Further
shifting of power came through time with conquest, incorporation and rebellion. Reaching its
maximum extent by the sixteenth century, there existed not only a rich diverse number of people but
various resources like labour, land and variation in geography. While division agree Empire was set
India conquest estate critically dependent of the forces both at incorporated rate while also holding
together its two mains this small polity integrated in other ways certains rituals relationship. The
quality of vijayanagara empire also gained shift in power via various possibilities that of
communication transportation and monitoring of activity this came with the change in the relocation
of the capital city in the late 16 and again in the 17th century being extremely large and search the
most military movement which took place over the land. This constant to and fro of power between
the various small places of ruling within the vijayanagara empire also lead to the troops being attached
to subsidiary rulers gain importance as it acted as both participants in imperial wars and raids while
also acting as a threat to this centralise control. When fire arms became an important part of warfare
during the 16th century this also lead to some changes in the defensive architecture which lead to a
working of the change of controls of the conquest policies of vijayanagara Empire. Further more the
central elites and the extent to which they said some of this executive powers led to the shifting of
goals, leading to the overall restructuring of the response to imperial dominance across the empire.
The expansion of the Vijayanagar empire was also highly influenced by the relationship that brought
doctor nation into the imperial business of consolidation such as bringing local deities , particularly

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goddesses and incorporating them into orthodox Hindu pantheons. We also observed that the
powerful merchant and producer gills that existed during the chola Empire holding sometimes even
their personal maintained army financial temples or maybe collecting even tax sales does appeared
completely during the early Vizag period this kind of cell governance had been a long tradition
destroyed by the Vijayanagar Empire ultimately leading to hold the reigns of the empire in a centered
manner.

Overall this control obtained via expansionist mind set throughout the vijayanagara empire by
acquiring rice field coastal field lines in 10 taxation leading to disperity of the economic classes
highly supporting the new cash flow system despite of the coin system existing for many
centuries before lead to a exponential increase and expansion in the power of the Vijayanagara
empire. However we should also note that this aggressive way of connecting their policies
while also harming the interest of the local rulers and farmers led to a widespread resentment.

This widespread resentment also became one of the central factors in the discombobulation of
the vijayanagara empire discussed later wise in our paper.

Done By : Prakhar Kumar Rai

Language and Literature during the Vijayanagar Empire

Until this point, we learnt many facts about how the Empire was once a sapling and grew up to
become such a huge tree. The branch of architecture was indeed a major part of the tree.
Nevertheless, the ‘Language’ and ‘Literature’ essentially played the role of the tree's
veins (xylem and phloem). Without this internal structure, it would have been impossible to
communicate or keep such a huge Empire standing. Language and Literature, as we all know,
is what makes us human.

Let us look at the developments in Language and Literature during the Vijayanagar Empire
(1336 CE - 1565 CE). Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit were some of the languages spoken
by the people in Vijayanagar. The poets, philosophers and scholars essentially wrote in

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Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada. The Vijayanagar Empire is often paralleled with the Golden
Age of Telugu Literature. Telugu gained more cultural and literary importance

during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529 CE).

Sanskrit was mostly found in the works of eminent scholars like – Sayanacharya and
Vidyaranya, who emphasised the greatness of Advaita philosophy over other Hindu
philosophies. Sanskrit Scholars often commented on the Vedas or the Ramayana and
Mahabharata Epics.

Virupaksha was the main deity worshipped by the Vijayanagar rulers, on whose behalf they
claimed their rule. Krishnadeva Raya composed Jambavati Kalyanam in Sanskrit. In this work,
he refers to Lord Virupaksha as ‘Karnata Rajya Raksha Mani’ or ‘protective jewel of Karnata
Empire.’ Sanskrit was a language known by a few intellectuals and was given great importance.

Dvaita Saints of the Udupi order:

 Famous for his critical writings, Jayatirtha earned himself the title – Tikacharya.

 Vyasatirtha was the philosopher who installed seven hundred and thirty-two vigrahas
of Hanuman in different parts of the Vijayanagar Empire. Vyasatirtha wrote rebuttals
to the Advaita philosophy and conclusions to earlier logicians. Domingo Paes, a
Portuguese traveller, composed a line on Vyasatirtha – “Rāya being washed by a
Brāhmin whom he held sacred and who was a great favourite of his.”
 Vadirajatirtha is one of the most famous persons in the Dvaita lineage. His literary
contributions include – Rukminisha Vijaya (a poetic rendition of the abduction of
Rukmini by Krishna), Tirtha Prabanda (a travelogue describing the pilgrimages
undertaken by Vadiraja), Bhugola Varnanam (interpretation of Hindu cosmology
according to Dvaita)
 Sripadaraya, along with Vadirajatirtha, majorly criticised Adi Shankara's beliefs.

The Literary Realm reached its zenith during the rule of Krishnadeva Raya. The king
had eight

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precious jewels in his court – Tenali Rama, Nandi Thimmanna, Madayyagari Mallana,
Dhurjati,
Allasani Pedanna, Pingali Surana, Ramarajabhushanudu and Ayyalaraju. They were
known as the ‘Ashtadiggajas.’

Vijayanagar (Hampi) was a flourishing ‘cultural centre’ that gave some of the greatest
writers and scholars to the world. The Vijayanagara rulers encouraged intellectuals and
thinkers, giving birth to various writings, styles and methods. There were great
contributions from the Royalty, too. The Era also witnessed a gradual blossoming of
arts, from works on Prabandhas (collections of stories) to works on music, poetry,
religion, biography and polemical writings. Thus, many foundations were laid in the
literature during the Vijayanagara Empire.

Done By: Madhur Arya

Architecture of temples in Hampi

It is a strange feeling to enter the Antal temple in Srivilliputtur after dusk. The peaceful,
gloomy tunnels that lead to the temple's centre contrast with the bustling, bright lights of the
bazaar. Enormous figures emerge from the tall columns that line the hallway. Alongside more
serene images of dancing ladies and the multiarmed Krishna playing his f lute, there are
ferocious sword-wielding gods dispatching small demons and lion-headed creatures springing
up with their keen claws.

The temples that we see in Hampi is having a Dravidian or Vijayanagara style with a
little mix of Indo-Saracenic elements. Due to the expansion of temple complexes with
numerous shrines, halls, gateways, and corridors, significant sculpture was used
throughout the temple, particularly on the open detached columned halls (mandapas)
and composite columns in the corridors, which give the temple its unique appearance.
Though its portion is rectangular rather than square, the composite column resembles
the first type of column made in the Tamil nation. Each one is a five- or six-meter-tall
monolith. Tamil Nādu is where the south Indian composite column originated, but the

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 figural composite column evolved further north in the Deccan, most notably at the
Vijayanagara empire's capital, that too in, The Vittala temple and Virupaksha Temple.

Vittala Temple

The Vijay Vittala temple is situated close to the Tungabhadra River's bank in the north-
eastern region of Hampi. It is known as the Vijay Vittala temple, and is devoted to
Vittala and honours Lord Vishnu in his Vittala form. The 500 by 300-foot courtyard
and 25-foot average height of the Vijay Vittala temple is built in Dravidian style of
architecture. The centre rangamandapa, the sukhanasi or garbhagriha, and the Mukha
mandapa make up the three distinct sections of the Vijay Vittala temple. A stone
chariot-shaped Garuda shrine can be found in the Vittala temple's courtyard. There are
fifty-six carved stone beams in the mandapa that have different lengths, widths, forms,
and surfaces that results in music when touched. And that’s the Ranga mandapa, which
is reached via mukha mandapa. It is famous for its musical pillars, known as
SAREGAMA pillars. The pillars represented the Dravidian characters. The other major
architectural creation is the Stone chariot. The four wheels of the stone chariot resemble
the raths that are used to transport the idols of the gods throughout the temple. A single
rock is used to carve and construct the stone chariot. The mandapa's composite pillars
are especially remarkable due to the intricately carved gods and goddesses and the
fretwork. Around the base of a platform are carved scenes from epic wars. When
battling in Odissa, King Krishnadevaraya was inspired to build the Stone Chariot in the
16th century after seeing the Konark Sun Temple's chariot. The Vijayanagara Empire's
artistic achievement is symbolized by the Stone Chariot. and drew inspiration from the
Dravidian architectural design.

Virupaksha temple

This temple was constructed by architect Gunda, also known by the surnames Anivaritachari and
Tribhuvanachari, with assistance from other sculptors and architects, including Sarvasiddhi Achari,
Baladeva, Chengamma, and Pullapan, among others. The Rajasimhesvara temple at Kanci served as the

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model for the construction of this one. This Virupaksha temple, built in the Dravidian architectural style
during AD 740, features a compound wall that stretches 224 feet east-west and 105 feet north-south.
There is a Nandimantapa there.

The temple's layout resembles that of the Kailasa temple in Ellora, to some extent. Henry
Cousens has studied these two temples in comparison. The south outside wall of both the
Kailasa and Virupaksha temples depicts the mythical wars described in the epics. There are
two gates on the Virupaksha temple compound: one on the east and one on the west. The eastern
gate is immediately before the Mala Prabha River. From the east, a porch supported by two
stout pillars and two pilasters provides access to the compound. This porch's pilasters are
carved with two inscriptions.

Done By : Vinayak Sarin

Fall of the Vijayanagara Empire : The Battle of Talikota

With fire and sword, with crowbars and axes, they carried on day after day their work of destruction.
Never, perhaps, in the history of the world has such havoc been wrought, and wrought suddenly, on so
splendid a city, teeming with a wealthy and industrious population in the full plenitude of prosperity
one day, and on the next seized, pillaged, and reduced to ruins, amid scenes of savage massacre and
horrors beggaring description. ion (Sastri 1955:28)

In 1565, the Sultans of Ahmednagar, Golconda, and Bijapur formed an alliance against rama
raya as the policies of rama raya were not beneficial for these sultans, and they started a war
between the Sultans and the Vijayanagara Empire. This war was called the war of Rakshasi
Tangdi or the war of Talikota. This war destroyed the power of the Vijayanagara Empire
forever as Rama Raya (King of the Vijayanagara Empire at that time) faced a disastrous defeat,
which led to the empire's fall. The capital city, Hampi, was largely abandoned after the
war. The situation worsened as areas of the city were looted and burned, and also many of the
architectural works like temple complexes, images, and gateways were left in ruins, which led
to the calling of Hampi a city of ruins.

The reason behind the war was Rama Raya’s military policies, as many rebellions took place
in his tenure because he replaced many members of the old nobility with his own relatives or

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close ones.

Following the battle of Talikota, many people living there left the city and went to live
somewhere else, but they never came back. The aravidu claimant of the power tried to re-
establish the capital to the throne but remained unsuccessful.

Done By: Soumaya Aggarwal

Conclusion

In conclusion, the history of Hampi, which is located in the Indian state of Karnataka, is
complex and influenced by a number of dynasties and monarchs. The first century AD is when
its oldest villages were established. It was once a part of the Mauryan Empire but was
subsequently ruled by the Chalukyas, Hoysalas, and Kadambas. It became the capital of the
Vijayanagara Empire in the fourteenth century, which was established in 1336 by Harihara I
and Buka Raya I. Under the reign of Krishadevaraya (1509–1529), it served as a global trading
hub that drew traders from all over the world. The Virupaksha Temple, The Vittala temple are
just a few of the palaces and temples built by the Vijayanagara dynasty, who were renowned
for their creative tendencies. But the empire's decline was accelerated by external invasions
and internal strife, leading to it's decline

Looking at the present time, the state of Karnataka, where Hampi is located, had its High Court
respond negatively in July 2011. The judges ruled that the residents of Hampi may no longer
reside in the principal mandapas of the bazaar. Thus, life in Hampi transformed very quickly
following decades of bureaucratic stagnation. A few days after the ruling by the High Court,
the mandapas were surrounded by years' worth of contemporary construction that was
bulldozed aside and about two hundred families were forced from their houses. Moving the
remaining population of the town, even those not housed in historic structures, seems
increasingly likely
Done By : Vinayak Sarin
(Morrison, 2013) (Mahalingam, 1940) (Susan.E.Alcock, 2001) (Branfoot, 2002) (Saletore, 1951) (Gour,
2022) (Michell, 2012) (Themes in Indian history, 2023)

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Bibliography
Branfoot, :. C. (2002). 'Expanding Form': The Architectural Sculpture of the South Indian Temple, ca.
1500-. Artibus Asiae, 58.

Gour, R. (2022). Vijay Vittala Temple, an Architectural Masterpiece with Mysterious Musical. ijpr.

Mahalingam, T. (1940). Administration and social life under vijayanagar. madras: University of madras.

Michell, J. M. (2012). Living heritage at risk. Archaeological Institute of America, 6.

Morrison, M. T. (2013). The "Fall" of Vijayanagara Reconsidered: Political Destruction and Historical.
Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient , 2013, Vol. 56, No. 3, 39.

Saletore, D. B. (1951). A guide to pattadakal temple. dharwar: Annigeri.A.

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