Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Vijayanagara Empire and Bahamani Kingdom from Class 6 Social_Science. Due to the military campaigns of the Sultans of Delhi, the empires of south India declined, namely the Seuna of Maharashtra, the Hoysala of Karnataka, the Kakatiya of Telengana, and the Pandya of Tamil Nadu. Without a strong political authority, culture and social life crumbled. In such troubled times, the Vijayanagara empire emerged to protect the interests of South India, protecting and nurturing Hinduism and culture. The empire flourished in great glory for three centuries, from 1336 to 1646 C.E. This lesson describes the achievements of the major kings of Vijayanagar and the Battle of Rakkasa Tangadi in 1565 C.E., which led to the downfall of the empire and its effects. It also explains the contribution of the empire to art and literature. The Bahmani kingdom was founded in 1347 C.E., shortly after the establishment of the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 C.E. The river Krishna formed the common boundary for both kingdoms, with the Bahmani kingdom in the north and the Vijayanagara empire in the south. The fertile land between the Krishna in the north and the Tungabhadra in the south is the Raichur doab. The two kingdoms fought constantly to acquire this doab. Over time, internal conflicts for power arose among the Bahmani sultans, causing the kingdom to break down into five Shahi dynasties in 1489 C.E. Among them, the Adil Shahi of Vijayapur was prominent. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us look at the competencies we will achieve in this chapter. First, we will understand the achievements of the Vijayanagara rulers. Second, we will appreciate the greatness of the literary works, music, architecture, and sculpture of that time, and lend a hand in protecting them. Third, we will appreciate the significant work done by the Vijayanagara emperors towards preserving and nourishing Dharma and culture. Fourth, we will locate on the map important places associated with the Vijayanagar empire. Fifth, we will understand the contributions of Firuz Shah and Mahamud Gawan. Sixth, we will appreciate the great contributions of the Bahmani and Bijapur sultans to literature, art, and sculpture. Seventh, we will locate on the map important historical places relating to the Bahmani kingdom. Now, look at the map of the Vijayanagara empire. It is really vast, is it not? It was one of the greatest empires in the world at that time. The royal emblem of the Vijayanagara empire was the Varaha, or the boar. [CHECKPOINT]
As a result of the military campaigns of the Sultans of Delhi, many prosperous kingdoms of south India perished. The religious, economic, and social lives of the people declined. At this crucial juncture, the Vijayanagara empire was established and encouraged Hindu Dharma and culture. It ruled for about three centuries and upheld the principle of Sarva-dharma-samabhava. Hampi of Vijayanagar district was the capital city of the Vijayanagar empire. It was established in 1336 C.E. on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra river. The sons of Sangama laid the foundation for the empire on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra. Harihara, Bukka, Kampana, Marappa, and Muddappa were the Sangama brothers. The empire was ruled by kings of the Sangama, the Saluva, the Tuluva, and the Aravidu dynasties. The boar, or varaha, was the royal emblem. The family deity was Lord Virupaksha. The title of the kings was Hinduraya Suratrana. Harihara and Bukka were the first two kings of Vijayanagara. Harihara started building the new capital at Hampi. During his reign, the Bahmani kingdom was established, leading to frequent wars between the Vijayanagara kings and the Bahmani sultans. [CHECKPOINT]
Next, we learn about Proudhadevaraya, also known as Devaraya the Second, who ruled from 1424 to 1446 C.E. His reign was a very significant period. The fame of the empire spread far and wide, internal peace and prosperity prevailed, and trade and commerce flourished. Proudhadevaraya suppressed revolts of chieftains in border areas, fought against the sultans to expand the empire, and recruited Muslim cavalry to his army. The Persian ambassador Abdul Razak recorded that there is no king like Devaraya in the whole of India, and stated that the king's army had lakhs of soldiers. Devaraya the Second was an able administrator, a brave warrior, and a scholar. He built the beautiful Hazara Ramaswamy temple at Hampi. Religious tolerance was his policy. He constructed a mosque in the capital, and Jaina and Vaishnava temples were also built during his reign. The Veerashaiva sect flourished, and rich literature flourished in both Kannada and Sanskrit. [CHECKPOINT]
Moving on to the Saluva Dynasty, which lasted from 1485 to 1505 C.E. Saluva Narasimha came to power in 1485 C.E., captured the capital from Virupaksha the Third, the weak ruler of the Sangama Dynasty, and ruled for six years. Then came the Tuluva Dynasty, from 1505 to 1567 C.E. As Saluva Narasimha's sons were minors, the general Tuluva Narasanayak captured them. After Narasanayak's death in 1509 C.E., his brother Krishnadevaraya came to power. Krishnadevaraya ruled from 1509 to 1529 C.E. He was a majestic emperor and a valiant soldier. During his reign, the boundaries extended up to the river Krishna in the north and the sea coasts. You can picture a beautiful bronze sculpture of Krishnadevaraya with his wives. His achievements were remarkable. He was a capable administrator who spent a quarter of the empire's revenue on charity and social welfare. Agriculture and commerce prospered, and commodities were inexpensive. He was a scholar well-versed in Sanskrit and Telugu, composing the drama Amukta Malyada in Telugu and Jambavati Kalyana in Sanskrit. His title was Kannada-rajya-ramaramana. [CHECKPOINT]
After Krishnadevaraya, the empire lost some power but recovered its glory under Ramaraya, the son-in-law of Krishnadevaraya, who was a mighty general and an able administrator. Now, let us understand the Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi. The causes were that the Bahmani kingdom became weak and split into five kingdoms. The sultans of these kingdoms sought Ramaraya's intervention in their internal conflicts. Ramaraya took advantage of their disunity and extended the borders up to the north of the river Krishna. This provoked the sultans to engage in battle. Moreover, the Shahi sultans were envious of Vijayanagara's prosperity. They forgot their political differences, united, and declared war. The resultant war was called the Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi, fought between the villages of Rakkasagi and Tangadagi on the banks of the river Krishna. It was the most destructive battle in south Indian history. Though eighty years old, Ramaraya led the army with courage. Vijayanagara won the first round, but a sudden volley of cannons scattered their forces. Two commanders betrayed Ramaraya and joined the enemy. Ramaraya was killed, and the soldiers fled. His younger brother Tirumala escaped to Penugonda in Andhra Pradesh with royal wealth on elephants. The capital fell, and the sultans' armies plundered it. Later, the Aravidu dynasty ruled from Penugonda, Chandragiri, and Vellore up to 1646 C.E. [CHECKPOINT]
Many important political changes took place after the decline of the Vijayanagara empire. The northern areas became part of the Vijayapura and Golkonda kingdoms. In Karnataka, the chieftains of Keladi, Mysore, and Chitradurga became independent. Now, let us hear about the glory of the capital city as seen by foreign travellers. Many visitors to Hampi were enchanted by its magnificence. The Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes wrote that there cannot be another city like this on earth with such an abundance of commodities, recording that pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and expensive cloth were easily available. The Persian ambassador Abdul Razak praised the noble nature of Devaraya and exclaimed that the eyes have not seen nor the ears heard of another glorious city like Vijayanagara on earth. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us explore the Society, Economy, and Culture. In the Grama Sabha, representation was given to members of all castes. In towns, the Muslim merchant organization called Hanjaman existed, and its representatives were given a place among the city elite. Women were employed for writing palace accounts, keeping watch, serving the king and queen, and there were female wrestlers who gave public performances. The Navaratri festival was celebrated with great pomp on the Mahanavami dibba, or hillock, of the capital. For the economy, agriculture was the main occupation. Vijayanagara was an international trade centre where merchants from across the world came. Foreign travellers noted that pearls and diamonds were sold in heaps in shops, and goods were exported and imported from harbours along the east and west coasts. Regarding religion, all religions received charities. The rulers granted freedom to practise any religion without hindrance. Mosques were built for Muslims, who were also recruited into the army. The emperors had flourishing trade relations with the Portuguese and encouraged Christianity. [CHECKPOINT]
Literature flourished greatly in Sanskrit, Kannada, and Telugu. The great Kannada poets Kumaravyasa, Chamarasa, and Ratnakara Varni belonged to this period. The Vijayanagara period was a Golden Era of Telugu literature. Kumaravyasa, also known as Naranappa, wrote Karnata Bharata Katha Manjari. Chamarasa wrote Prabhulingaleele, the biography of Allamaprabhu. Ratnakaravarni wrote Bharatesha Vaibhava in an attractive style. In music, the emperors patronised dance, painting, and music. The name Carnatic music became popular then. Saints used music to preach the Bhakti path, called the Dasa Pantha. Prominent Dasas were Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa. Purandaradasa, who composed lakhs of songs, is the Father of Carnatic Music. Kanakadasa came from an ordinary background, and his important works include Mohana Tarangini, Ramadhanya Charitre, Nalacharitre, and Haribhaktisara. I encourage you to try this activity: collect information about the Haridasas who propagated the Bhakti Pantha in Karnataka and prepare an essay of about a page. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us look at sculpture and architecture. Granite was used for construction. Tall towers called Raya-Gopuras and beautiful marriage halls called kalyana mantapas were built for existing temples, providing employment to thousands. Hampi has beautiful temples like the Hazara Ramaswami temple, Vijaya Vittalaswami temple, Krishnaswami temple, and the Achyutaraya temple. When the short pillars of the Vittalaswami temple are tapped, they release the seven musical notes. The Vidyashankara temple of Sringeri, the Thousand-pillared temple of Ramaswamy, and the Thousand-pillared basadi of Mudabidri, also known as Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani, belong to this period. Monolithic sculpting became popular. The monolithic idols in Hampi are Sasivekalu Ganesha, Kadalekalu Ganesha, and Lakshminarasimha. The monolithic chariot in front of the Vittalaswami temple is immensely beautiful and serves as the temple of Garuda. The monolithic statues of Bahubali in Karkala and Venur testify to the sculptors' exquisite skill. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us now turn to the Bahamani Kingdom. Established in 1347 C.E., it was a contemporary of Vijayanagar, with the river Krishna as its southern boundary. Initially Kalburgi, and later Bidar, became its capital. Its founder was Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahamanshah. Bidar is a historical place in the northern-most part of Karnataka and flourished as the capital for about a century. You can picture the magnificent fort of Bidar. Looking at the map, the Bahmani kingdom comprised parts of modern Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. The Bahmani kingdom and Vijayanagara were neighbours and often battled. Firoz Shah was the greatest emperor of the Bahmani Dynasty. He was just, generous, pious, a writer, a polyglot, and an expert in geometry and religious texts. He established an astronomical observatory at Daulatabad in Maharashtra, enhanced the beauty of Kalburgi, built the new city of Ferozabad on the Bhima river, gifted villages to the Sufi saint Bandenawaz, and developed harbours to boost foreign trade. [CHECKPOINT]
In Bahmani history, Mahamud Gawan achieved greater fame than the sultans. Coming from a Persian background, he served selflessly as prime minister to Mahamud the Third. His achievements are many. As an expert in warfare, he expanded the kingdom through successful conquests. He provided good administration based on Muslim law, improved tax collection, made the postal system efficient, and fixed land revenue based on soil fertility and irrigation. He abolished harsh taxes. As a scholar, he established a Madrasa, or college, at Bidar to encourage the study of Islamic faith, law, astronomy, mathematics, and history. Students received free education and hostel facilities, and the library held around three thousand manuscripts. Despite his contributions, envious chieftains hatched a plot and had him executed. His grave bears the words: Innocent Gawan was murdered. After his death, internal conflicts divided the kingdom into five new kingdoms: Adil Shahi of Bijapur, Barid Shahi of Bidar, Kutb Shahi of Golkonda, Nizam Shahi of Ahmadnagar, and Immad Shahi of Berar. The first two had capitals in Karnataka. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us understand society under Bahmani rule. Administration followed Islamic law. The Sultan was head of administration, chief justice, army chief, and religious head, regarded as God's representative on earth. Muslims held most top positions, and officials received jahagirs, or land gifts, though Hindu jahagirdars were few. Following traditional Hindu custom, the Sultans collected one-sixth of the produce as tax. Rice, wheat, maize, and pulses were staple foods. The royal family and chieftains lived luxuriously, while common people faced poor conditions. Jain and Christian communities existed, and the Sufi Sect was very powerful. For cultural contributions, the Sultans patronized foreign scholars, leading to the flourishing of Arabic and Persian literature. The famous Sufi saint and writer Bandenawaz belonged to this period. The language used by foreign scholars became known as Dakhani, which later led to the development of Urdu. [CHECKPOINT]
Bahmani history is noted for architecture combining Indo-Islamic styles, known as the Dakhani style. Their first structure was the Jami Masjid of Kalaburagi, built by Mahamud Shah, featuring an attractive auditorium with several small minarets. Tombs of the Sultans with huge domes stand near Kalaburagi, along with the tomb of Bandenawaz. The Solahkhamb mosque and beautiful palaces in Bidar fort are famous for decorative sculptures and delicate wooden carvings. The twelve tombs in Ashtur near Bidar are very impressive. The most important structure is Gawan's madrasa, measuring 76 meters long with three storeys. The mosque inside remains in good shape today, proclaiming over five centuries of past glory. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us study the Adil Shahis of Vijayapura. Among the Shahis, the Adil Shahi of Vijayapura is prominent, ruling Karnataka for about two centuries. Ibrahim the Second was an eminent ruler. The kingdom expanded and prospered immensely, with flourishing trade. A tolerant ruler, Ibrahim patronized Hindu scholars, poets, and musicians, renovated the Datta temple in his palace fort, arranged regular worship, and worked towards Hindu-Muslim cultural unity. He wrote Kitab-i-Navras in Urdu to popularize Hindu music among Muslims, beginning with songs praising Saraswati, Ganapati, and Bhairava. He was an excellent musician. His contribution includes the magnificent Ibrahim Roza. His successor Mahamud Adil Shah built the splendid Gol Gumbaz and the Asar Mahal at Vijayapura. After Mahamud Adil Shah, the kingdom declined due to Mughal invasions in south India and Maratha harassment. When Aurangzeb captured Vijayapura, the Adil Shahi rule ended. [CHECKPOINT]
Adil Shahi structures hold an important place in Karnataka's architectural history, including palaces, forts, mosques, and tombs. The Vijayapura fort has 96 bastions, or towers, and six main entrances. The Gaganmahal palace is magnificent, and the Asar Mahal has rooms with colourful paintings. The Juma Masjid in Vijayapura is attractive. Mausoleums are the most impressive. The twin structures of Ibrahim Roza consist of a mosque and a tomb, described as the Taj Mahal of the Deccan. Mahamud wanted a bigger structure and built Gol Gumbaz around a tomb. At its centre is a huge dome containing a whispering gallery. Experts are astonished at the dome's ability to repeat whispers. Gol Gumbaz is the fourth largest structure in the world and the largest in India, an architectural wonder. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us quickly review the chronology. For Vijayanagara: Establishment in 1336 C.E., period of rule from 1336 to 1646 C.E., Krishnadevaraya's reign from 1509 to 1529 C.E., and the Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi on 23 January 1565 C.E. For Bahamani: Reign from 1347 to 1489 C.E., construction of the Bidar madrasa in 1461 C.E., reign of the Adil Shahis from 1489 to 1686 C.E., construction of Ibrahim Roza in 1626 C.E., and construction of Gol Gumbaz around 1650 C.E. [CHECKPOINT]
Now, let us move to the exercises. Fill in the blanks: Number one, the emblem of the Vijayanagar empire is the boar, or varaha. Number two, the founder of the Bahamani kingdom is Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bahamanshah. Number three, the Father of Carnatic music is Purandaradasa. Number four, Gol Gumbaz is located in Vijayapura. Next, discuss in groups and answer: Question five, who was the greatest among the Adil Shahi rulers? Answer: Ibrahim the Second. Question six, why is Gol Gumbaz famous? Answer: Because of its huge dome and whispering gallery that repeats whispers, making it the fourth largest structure globally and the largest in India. Question seven, who was the greatest emperor of Vijayanagara? Answer: Krishnadevaraya. Question eight, which are the important temples of Hampi? Answer: The Hazara Ramaswami temple, Vijaya Vittalaswami temple, Krishnaswami temple, and the Achyutaraya temple. Question nine, what is the name of Kumaravyasa's work? Answer: Karnata Bharata Katha Manjari. Question ten, name the works of Krishnadevaraya. Answer: Amukta Malyada in Telugu and Jambavati Kalyana in Sanskrit. Question eleven, name the foreigners who visited Vijayanagara. Answer: The Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes and the Persian ambassador Abdul Razak. [CHECKPOINT]
Finally, here are your activities. First, collect photographs of the Bahmani Shahi and the Adil Shahi architecture with explanations and create an album. Second, prepare an album of pictures of temples, churches, mosques, and other monuments in India representing Hindu, Christian, and Muslim cultures. Third, collect a few songs of Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa, and a few songs from Gadugina Bharata, and sing them in a group. Fourth, collect information about the Haridasas of the Bhakti Movement in Karnataka and write a one-page essay. Fifth, collect pictures and information of important monuments from the Vijayanagara period. Sixth, go on an educational trip to Hampi and write an essay about your experiences. I hope you found this lesson very informative and engaging. Keep exploring our rich history and culture. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]