AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL VIJAYANAGARA

Vijayanagara or “ City of Victory” was the name of both a city and an Empire. It was founded in 1336 AD. It stretches from the Krishna- Tungabhadra doab to the extreme south of the peninsula . We remember it as Hampi, a name derived from the local mother goddess, Pampadevi. The rulers of Vijayanagara, who called themselves Rayas, or Narapati (lord of Men) unlike Gajipati of Orissa and Ashvapati of Deccan Sultans, took the Empire to greater heights.

The Vijayanagara Empire is considered to be the Landmark in the Indian history because the traditional southern royal dynasties like the Katiyas of Warangal, Pandyas of Madurai , Yadavas of Devagiri and the Hoysalas of Halevidu fell victims to the invasions of Allah-ud-din Khiliji and Mohammad – Bin-Tughluq. As a result every where peace was disturbed, anarchy reigned and religious turmoil was evident. Under these circumstances Vijayanagara Empire helped the preservation of Hindu religion and Indian culture, building techniques to the new heights.

1336-1485 1486-1503 1503-1542 1542-1565

SOURCES USED TO STUDY THE RUINS OF HAMPI Col Colin Mackenzie SOURCES USED TO STUDY THE RUINS OF HAMPI The ruins at Hampi were brought to light in 1800 by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an employee of the East India Company. He prepared the first survey map and collected initial information based on memories from the priests of the Virupaksha temple and those associated with the shrine of Pampadevi. In 1836 epigraphists began collecting several dozen inscriptions found in these and other temples of Hampi. From 1856, photographers began to record the monuments. Although wooden structures are lost, the descriptions left by travellers allow historians to reconstruct some aspects of vibrant life of the times.

Through the 20th century, the site was preserved by the ASI and the Karnataka Department of Archaeology and Museums. In 1976, Hampi was recognized as a site of national importance. For mapping in detail the entire area was divided into a set of 25 squares, each designated by a letter of the alphabet. These were further divided and subdivided. Though painstaking the method helped find and document traces of thousands of structures like roads, paths, bazaars, shrines etc. these methods complemented the information provided by the priests of Virupaksha temple by collaborating spread of ideas, cultural influences, and help understand symbols as represented in various shrines.

Some of the old traditions suggests that Pampadevi , the local mother goddess , did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom, also recognized as a form of Shiva. To this day this marriage is celebrated annually in the Virupaksha temple. Rulers and others often granted land and other resources for maintenance of temples. Patronage of temples and cult was important for the rulers for winning support, power, wealth and deity. Often the deity was identified with the king, indicating to how rulers used temples building as a means of associating themselves with the divine, and that temples were significant religious. Social, cultural and economic centers.

(Q 1) Who was Colin Mackenzie ? Ans (a) Colin Mackenzie was an employee of the East India Company. He became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer. (b) He prepared the 1st survey map of the ruins at Hampi and was appointed first Surveyor of India in 1815.

(Q 2) State his main contribution to the study of India’s past. Ans (a) It was Colin Mackenzie who brought to light the ruins at Hampi, of the Vijayanagara Kingdom in 1800. (Q 3) How was his account useful for the East India Company? Ans His account were useful in many ways. (a) Helped the English better understand the India’s past. (b) Made governance of the Colony easier . (c) Enabled the foreign ruler’s to understand better Indian institutions, laws, customs, whose influence still prevailed among the local masses.

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