An Era of Prosperity and Leadership
17 January 1471 — 17 October 1529
Maharaja-dhirāja, the supreme King of his era, stands tall in the annals of history, revered as Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, the epitome of his land's rich heritage. Known as Andhra Bhoja, his influence stretched far and wide, encompassing the realms of Andhra Pradesh. As Dakshinasamudradhiswara, he commanded the southern seas with authority, while Mooru Rayara Ganda symbolized his triple kingship, a testament to his multifaceted rule. With the epithet of Abhinava-Bhoja, Krishnadevaraya ushered in a new era of prosperity and progress. As Gaubrahmana Pratipalaka, he safeguarded the interests of the Brahmin community, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of Indian history.
Sri Krishna Devaraya (Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ದೇವರಾಯ) (Telugu: శ్రీ కృష్ణ దేవ రాయ) was the greatest emperor of all the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 - 1646 AD) dynasts.
Maharaj belongs to the Yaduvamshi (Chandravanshi) Yadu-Turuvasa (with lineage from Yayati, as per Allasani Peddana 's Manu Charitramu) dynast to rose to the throne after Sangama and Saluva (Salwa) Dynasty kings to rule from Hampi-Vijayanagara.
He is the third successor king of the third Tuluva dynasty lineage after his father Narasa Nayaka and his half-brother Vira Narasimha Raya.
Inception of Greatness: Exploring Krishnadevaraya's Childhood and Upbringing
Krishnadevaraya was born on January 17, 1471, according to the Gregorian calendar. In the Hindu calendar, his birth date corresponds to the third day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashada, during the auspicious time of the Pushya Nakshatra. Krishna Deva Raya was the son of Tuluva Narasa Nayaka and his queen Nagamamba(Nagala Devi, hailed from a respected family of chiefs in the region). Tuluva Narasa Nayaka was an army commander under Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, who later took control to prevent the disintegration of the empire and established the Tuluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Krishnadevaraya's early life was profoundly influenced by the guidance of esteemed scholars and mentors who played pivotal roles in shaping his intellect and character. Among his revered teachers was the renowned scholar and poet, Vyasatirtha, who imparted to him wisdom from ancient scriptures and epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Under Vyasatirtha's tutelage, Krishnadevaraya not only delved into the philosophical depths of these texts but also imbibed the moral and ethical principles embedded within them.
Furthermore, Krishnadevaraya's education extended beyond traditional texts, as he delved into the works of celebrated poets and philosophers of his time. He immersed himself in the literary masterpieces of ancient Indian literature, studying the verses of Kalidasa, Bharavi, and Bhasa, among others. Through these literary pursuits, Krishnadevaraya not only refined his understanding of language and poetry but also cultivated a deep appreciation for the arts and culture.
Some theories say that during Sri Krishnadevaraya’s childhood, he was sent far from the empire to keep him safe from the conflicts in the Vijayanagara Empire. Thimmarasu, also known as Appaji, later protected Sri Krishnadevaraya at a safe place and made arrangements for his study in the above-said forms. After 20 years, Krishna Devaraya claimed his throne in 1509 and also gained a reputation for his intelligence and strategic thinking.
Moreover, his education was not confined to the realm of academia alone. Krishnadevaraya received practical training in governance and administration, learning the intricacies of statecraft and diplomacy from experienced statesmen and advisors.
The Sacred Union: Krishnadevaraya's Matrimonial Bond
Krishnadevaraya's marriage to Queen Chinna Devi was a significant event in the history of the Vijayanagara Empire. Krishnadevaraya married Queen Chinna Devi in the year 1509 CE. It symbolized not only a political alliance but also a union of hearts. Queen Chinna Devi, renowned for her beauty and grace, brought a sense of elegance and refinement to the royal court. Her passion for the arts, particularly dance, added a cultural dimension to the courtly life of Vijayanagara. As a supportive and influential consort, she stood by Krishnadevaraya's side, offering wisdom and counsel in governance. Their partnership not only strengthened the empire politically but also fostered a deep appreciation for the arts, leaving a lasting legacy of cultural richness and harmony.
Krishnadevaraya's second marriage to Queen Tirumalamba Devi took place in the year [1509 CE], marking a significant event in his life and reign. She became his devoted companion and support throughout his rule, contributing to his success as a ruler and symbolizing unity and prosperity in the kingdom.
Multilingual Mastery: Krishnadevaraya's Linguistic Legacy
The Hampi-Vijayanagara reached its Zenith during Sri Krishna Devaraya's reign (1509–1529 AD) and is considered as a ‘Swarna Yugam or Golden Age or Utopian rule' for various aspects of cultural, socio-religious, linguistic-literary and economic (peace & prosperity) achievements (only 2nd such instance in the history of India after Golden Age of Gupta Empire in Current Era).
This vast Hindu Vijayanagara Empire had been successful in providing Peace and Prosperity to the entire south India for more than three centuries because of the consistent efforts and struggle of the Kannadiga and Telugu people against the Muslim rulers of the Bahmani kingdom. Because of the Vijayanagara Empire, peace and prosperity were established not only in Karnataka and Telugu lands but also in present-day TN and entire south India including Goa. {more than Andhra and Karnataka lands, it was Tamilnadu which stood to gain prosperity and peace for much longer into till 18th century AD because of Vijayanagara kings and their viceroys the 'Telugu Nayaka rulers of Thanjavur and Madurai' (even after ransacking of Hampi-Vijayanagara in 1565 AD after defeat and death of Aliya Rama Raya I in battle of Tallikota with Bahmani Sultan's clans)}.
Accordingly, both Kannada and Telugu languages enjoyed special patronage in the Royal court of Vijayanagara. In fact, Vijayanagara also patronized various Indian languages like Sanskrit (Saraswat), Tulu and Tamil.
Tamil Literature Krishnadevaraya patronized the Tamil poet Haridasa.
Sanskrit Literature In Sanskrit, Vyasatirtha wrote Bhedojjivana, Tatparya Chandrika, Nyayamrita (a work directed against Advaita philosophy), and Tarkatandava. Krishnadevaraya, an accomplished scholar, wrote Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya, and Rasamanjari and Jambavati Kalyana.
All the Royal orders of the Vijayanagara Empire with the 'Raja Mudra or Royal Seal' were used to be in Kannada.
All the Royal inscriptions in the Karnata land used to be Kannada and those in Telugu-Andhra lands used to be (Ahobilamu, Kondaveedu and Simhachalamu, Udayagiri, Chandragiri Sasanamulu) in Telugu and a few inscriptions in Tamil land (near Tiruvannamalai or Arunachalam) were issued even in Tamil language.
Telugu language enjoyed special royal patronage as also being one of the 'royal court language' of Vijayanagara empire along with Kannada (Italian Venetian business traveler 'Niccolo De Conti' who visited the Empire in 1420 CE during the time of 'Deva Raya I' when he heard Telugu in Vijayanagara court happened to called it 'Italian of the East' for Telugu being 'Vowel Ending' just like Italiano).
During the time of Sri Krishna Devaraya, who himself a 'Royal Poet - Raja Kavi' with linguistic expertise in Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu (authored several works) maintained a 'Literary royal Court - Bhuvana Vijayam' with Eight Exemplary Telugu Poets (who are experts in both Andhra (Telugu) - Saraswata's (Samskrta)) famously known as “Ashtadiggaja's” (Ashta+dik+Gaja’s) (As per Hinduism Eight directions of the earth are being protected by Eight Powerful divine Elephants - namely Airaavata, Pundareeka, Vaamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta, Sarwabhouma, Suprateeka) represented by the poets were :
The Greatest Poets: Eight court poets were called Ashtadiggajas
Among those eight poets, Allasani Peddana stood as the greatest, given the title of Andhra Kavita Pitamaha (the father of Telugu poetry). Manucharitramu stands as his most popular prabhanda work. Nandi Timmana wrote Parijataapaharanamu. Madayyagari Mallana wrote Rajasekhara Charitramu. Dhurjati wrote Kalahasti Mahatyamu and Ayyalraju Ramabhadrudu wrote Ramaabhyudayamu. Pingali Surana wrote the still remarkable Raghavapandaveeyamu, a dual work with double meaning built into the text, describing both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Battumurty alias Ramarajabhushanudu wrote Kavyalankarasangrahamu, Vasucharitramu, and Harischandranalopakhyanamu.
The period of Maharaj's rule was famously known as the 'Golden period for Telugu literature'.
Foreign Dignitaries at the Court: Impressions of the Vijayanagara Empire
Abu Abdullah/lbn Batuta: He was from Morocco, and traveled thirty years of his life from North Africa, West Africa, Southern Europe, and Eastern Europe in the West, to the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and East China. He left an account of Harihara I’s reign in his book Rehla (Tuhfat-un- Nuzzar fi Gharaib UL-Amsar WA Ajaib-UL-Assar). Nicolo de Conti: He was an Italian merchant, scholar, and traveler who visited the Vijaynagar Kingdom during the time of Dev Raya II. He left an account in the Travels of Nicolo Conti.
Abdur Razzaq: He was a Persian, Timurid chronicler, and scholar who visited the Vijaynagar Kingdom at the time of Dev Raya II as an ambassador of Shah Rukh, the Timurid dynasty ruler of Persia. He gives an account of the reign of Devaraya II in his Matla as Sadain Wa Majma ul Bahrain.
Athanasius Nikitin: He was the first Russian traveler and merchant who visited India. He described the conditions of the Bahamani kingdom under Muhammad III in his Voyage to India.
Ludovico de Vorthema: He was an Italian merchant and traveler who visited India and left his memoirs in Travels in Egypt, India, Syria, etc. He was the first Christian to make the holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
Duarte Barbosa: He was a Portuguese Writer, scrivener, and explorer who gave a vivid account of Vijaynagara governance under Krishna Deva Raya in his book i.e. An Account of Countries Bordering the Indian Ocean and their Inhabitants.
Dominigo Paes: The Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited the empire in 1520. He wrote his impressions about the empire in a book called Chronica dos reis de Bisnaga ("Chronicle of the Vijayanagar kings"). His writing talks about advanced irrigation practices, description of its capital Hampi and the empire riches.
Fernao Nuniz: He was a Portuguese traveler, chronicler, and horse trader who visited India during the reign of Achyutaraya and who spent three years in Vijayanagara. He gave a detailed account of the history of Vijaynagar especially the foundation of the city, the subsequent careers of three dynasties of rulers, and the battles that they fought with the Deccan sultans and Orissan Rayas. He also mentions cultural aspects of the empire and admires the jewels worn by women as well as how women were appointed in the King's service.
Marco Polo: He was a merchant, traveler, and chronicler from the Republic of Venice. He is the only traveler who got the same stretcher as Ibn Batuta (The greatest medieval Traveller). During his arrival, he was very surprised to find tailors or seamstresses but failed to get a coat made for him.
As per the travelogue diaries of these foreign visitors, in the 15–16th century Vijayanagara enjoyed the 2nd most happening place in the world with a prosperous population of 5 lakh pupils (next to Beijing) (this is recently documented in a TOI article - HOW CITIES GREW AND SHRUNK OVER SIX CENTURIES).
Travelogues indicate that Maharaj was not only an able administrator but also an excellent general (leading from the front in battles), a ruthless ruler in maintaining the law, the most feared and perfect King… a great ruler, and a man of justice (highly circumspect of maintaining Dharma in his rule), prone to fits of anger and even kind enough attending to the wounded. He maintained himself to a high level of physical fitness through daily exercises.
Conquests and Campaigns: Krishnadevaraya's Military Exploits
At the time of Shri Krishnadeveraya, the Vijayanagara Empire was surrounded by powerful Sultanates. But under the visionary leadership of their kings, the Empire resisted all the attacks from neighboring kingdoms and emerged as a powerful empire not only of south India but also of the whole of India.
Battle Royale: Bahmani Sultanate versus Vijayanagara Empire
The sultan of the Bahmani Sultanate i.e. Mahmud Shah decided to invade the kingdom of Krishnadeva Raya around 1509 CE. The Bahmani Sultan declared Jihad on the people of Vijayanagara.
He augmented a huge army with the help of several neighboring warlords. The invading army reached Dony and here their path was blocked by the army of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The forces of the Vijayanagara Empire badly defeated the invaders. In this encounter, the leader of the Bahmani army i.e. Sultan Mahmud Shah got injured and retreated to his dominion after the battle.
But Krishnadeva Raya was far from satisfied with this victory and he decided to chase the retreating army and another battle was fought when the Bahmani army reached Kovelakonda.
The result of this battle again comes out in the favour of Krishnadeva Raya. In this second battle, Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur was killed. This was a heavy blow to the Bijapur Sultanate and due to this Ismail Adil Shah became the next sultan of this dynasty.
Due to the death of Yusuf Adil Khan, the state of Bijapur became vulnerable, and immediately the king of Vijayanagara decided to march against them.
He captured Raichur (in modern-day Karnataka) in 1512 and also took the fort of Gulbarga.
The Ummattur Conflict: Vijayanagara's Military Mastery
Veera Nanjaraja Wodeyar was the king of Ummathur from 1480-1512. Earlier they were under Hoysala kings. More than 200 Chieftains shifted their loyalty to Vijayanagara kings after Hoysalas lost their power. But the only person who refused and was brave enough to fight against Krishnadevaraya was Veera Nanjaraja Wodeyar of Ummathur. In the year 1510 King Krishnadevaraya sent Penukonda Chakreshwara, who was none other than the own brother of Veera Nanjaraja Wodeyar, to defeat him in the war and retained him as a Chieftain under him. Again, in the year 1512 Krishnadevaraya declares war under Yelahanka Chieftain Kempa Nanje Gowda, father of Kempegowda’s, commandership defeats Veera Nanjaraja Wodeyar. Veera Nanjaraja Wodeyar unable to take the defeat jumps to River Kaveri and commits suicide. Karnataka history records an unusual tale of one royal family sacrificing for the expansion of another Karnataka royal family. Veerappa Wodeyar was unable to fight against Krishnadevaraya and got his daughter married to Krishnadevaraya and retained Ummathur. Later in 1612, they merged under the Mysore Wodeyar kingdom.
Clash of Titans: Gajapati vs. Vijayanagara
After settling the dispute with most of the neighboring kingdoms of the South the charismatic leader of Vijayanagara marched against the Gajapati of Orissa. The main motivation behind this campaign was to recover the territories of the Vijayanagara Empire which were conquered by the Gajapati kingdom.
At this time the ruler of the Gajapati kingdom was Prataparudra.
This was a long campaign in which the powerful Gajapati fought bravely but in the end, they were defeated by Raya.
He attacked the fort of Udayagiri in the year 1513 CE. The garrison defended the fort audaciously. It was due to the military leadership of Raya which made the Vijayanagara’s victory possible.
Later he captured Kondavidu and even took many people including young prince Virabhadra and one of his queens as a prisoner. Later peace was settled by a treaty in which the king of Gajapati gave his daughter in marriage to Raya in return the latter gave the territories from the north of the Krishna to the former.
Emperor Sri Krishna Devaraya's Telugu inscription of 1516 CE at Simhadri (Simhachalamu near Vizag) after his series of Greatest Eastern reconquests of Andhra lands from Gajapathi's of Odhra starting from Udayagiri fort to Kondavidu fort to Kondapalli fort to Rajamahendri fort and Simhadri.
Some terms of the peace offer are mentioned below.
· Return of the royal family members captured nobles, and generals to the Gajapati.
· Return of territories north of Krishna River to Odisha.
· Marriage with the Gajapati’s daughter Jaganmohini.
· No collaboration with the hostile Muslim States while Vijayanagara indulged with them and abstention from war.
Overall, the eastern army campaign of Sri Krishna Devaraya's deafening conquests over Gajapati's 11 forts in a 4 year long campaign should considered much bigger than the battle of Raichur.
After conquering Kondapalli fort, Sri Krishna Devaraya happened to visit 'Srikakulamu Andhra Maha Vishnu temple on the banks of river Krishna to observe 'Ekadasi vrata' - this place also happened to be the platform for his very famous Telugu literary work 'Amuktamalyada' where he happened to mention why he chose to have done this work in Telugu because 'Telugu is the best among all the languages of his kingdom'.
The Battle of Golconda: Vijayanagara's Stand
However, the borders of the Krishnadevaraya Empire were far from secure. This time the Qutub Shahis of Golconda decided to march against the undefeated Krishnadevaraya. Quli Qutub Shah conquered the forts of Pangal and Guntur when Krishnadeva was busy in the Orissa campaign.
Quli Qutub Shah after capturing several territories of the Vijayanagara Empire marched towards Kondavidu (now in Andhra Pradesh) and laid a siege on the fort.
At this time Nadindla Gopa was in charge of the fort. Quli Qutub Shah’s charge was very vehement and the defender i.e. Nadindla was unable to stop this charge from the invaders. But with the arrival of Krishandeva, he dispatches Saluva Timma with an army of 200,000 men to finish the invaders at Kondavidu.
Saluva Timma defeated the Qutub Shahis and took their commander Madar ul Mulk as a prisoner of war.
The Siege of Bijapur: Vijayanagara's Test of Strength
One of the biggest military conquests achieved by Maharaj was the decisive win over Bijapur Bahamani Sultan Ismail Adil Shah came in the Battle of Raichur in May of 1520 AD.
Ismail Adil Khan reconquered the fort of Raichur and the doab region of Krishna Tungabhadra. In the year 1520 Saluva Timma took a large army to face the tide of Ismail Khan. A fierce battle took place at the village of Gobbur in which the invaders were badly defeated. Many perished while retreating. Many were drowned in the river.
Krishnadevaraya then captured the fort of Raichur whose garrison defended strongly after the flight of the Bijapur army. But with the aid of Portuguese allies (mainly skilled musketeers), the Vijayanagara army won the battle.
The battle of Raichur was a major victory as the Raichur Doab region was a bone of contention throughout the of both Vijayanagara and Bijapur Sultan from inception as Bijapur held Raichur fort (originally built by Andhra Kakatiya kingdom in 1284AD) although since initial conquest of the fort by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq in 1323 and later annexed by Bahamani's in 1347 AD.
But this war didn’t end there and later several battles were fought between Bijapur and Vijayanagara Empire. In which the result remained unchanged and Krishnadeva Raya emerged as a powerful king of South India.
Sacred Tapestry: Religion and Culture in Krishnadevaraya's Vijayanagara Empire
Mahanavami Festival:
Mahanavami Festival used to be held at this place (Mahanavami dibba) in Karnataka (Vijayanagara) Empire (from 14th Century) and even today it is still celebrated as world famous Mysore Dasara - Wikipedia continuing the tradition of centuries.
Though a staunch follower of Vaishnavism, Krishnadevaraya showed respect to all sects. Religious prejudice seldom influenced him either in granting gifts or in his choice of companions and officers. According to Barbosa, “The King allows such freedom that every man may come and go, live according to his creed, without suffering any annoyance.”
Krishnadevaraya also composed a Sanskrit drama, Jambavati Kalyanam, believed to have been performed at the Virupaksha Temple complex during the annual Mahanavami festival at Vijayanagara. This shrine was closely associated with the ruling dynasties of Vijayanagara:
one of the ruler’s earliest architectural projects had been to enlarge it, adding a long open mandapa in 1510, followed by a gopuram on the eastern side of the complex. Krishnadevaraya also undertook the construction of mandapas and gopurams at the Arunachaleshvara complex, Tiruvannamalai, and the Ekambareshvarar Temple, Kanchipuram, both in present-day Tamil Nadu; as well as Kalahasti in present-day Andhra Pradesh. The construction of large monuments in pilgrimage sites served as a visible marker of Vijayanagara power and influence on diverse groups of subjects.
Krishnadevaraya is also known to have commissioned sculptural portraits depicting himself in the act of worship at pilgrimage sites. A stone figure of the ruler, with his hands brought together in prayer, was placed in a niche inside the passageway of the northern gopuram at Chidambaram; copper statues of Krishnadevaraya and his queens Chinna Devamma and Tirumala Devamma were installed in an outer corridor of the Venkateshvara shrine at the Tirumala Venkateshvara Temple. He lavished on the Tirupati temple numerous objects of priceless value, ranging from diamond studded crowns to golden swords. Additionally, he commissioned statues of himself and his two wives at the temple complex. Panchamatha Bhanjanam Tathacharya, the Rajaguru, formally initiated Krishnadevaraya into the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya.
The emperor is depicted wearing a conical cap with two ribbons, perhaps a Persianate kullayi. His upper body is bare, while his consorts wear translucent shawls. The figures’ lower bodies are richly attired in pleated costumes, with cummerbunds and jeweled tassels. This mode of sculptural portraiture would continue to be commissioned by the Nayaka successors of Vijayanagara up to the seventeenth century.
Towards the end of his reign, Krishnadevaraya commissioned a large monolithic sculpture of Lakshmi Narasimha, known today as the Ugra Narasimha statue at Hampi. The sculpture was considered a protective image of the city of Vijayanagara.
When Shri Krishnadevaraya visited the Tirupati temple to perform the kanakabhishekam (a sacred ritual where an idol is showered with gold), he minted special gold coins just for the occasion.
On the front of this coin, you can see the lord Balakrishna seated in the regal Lalitasana pose. The reverse features the name of the king in Nagari—it reads, Shri Pratapa Krishnaraya
Reviving Heritage: Krishnadevaraya's Vijayanagara Empire for the Modern Indian Youth
The famous poet Muku Timmana gave Krishnadevaraya the title of
“The Destroyer of the Turks”
The glory of this undefeated Hindu king often gets hindered due to his contemporary rulers of northern India (Ranga Sanga & Babur). Krishnadeva Raya was a brilliant military tactician and strategist. He always led from the front and always came out victorious in every battle he fought.
After every battle, he immediately makes medical arrangements for the wounded soldiers. Due to this, the soldiers were always prepared to follow his command at any cost.
Furthermore, he was a brilliant leader and diplomat. He established friendly relations with the Portuguese which provided horses for his army. These horses played a vital role in the battles against powerful sultanates like Bijapur and Bahmani.
All in all, Krishnadeva Raya took the Vijayanagara Empire to new heights both politically and culturally. He saved the region of South India from repeated onslaughts of the powerful sultanates and defeated them in every battle.
But sadly the story of this great king who was a brilliant military strategist and patron of art and literature remains unheard in modern India.
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