The Vijayanagar Empire lasted from 1336 to 1646 AD and was an important Hindu empire in South India. It saw significant growth and expansion under rulers like Krishnadeva Raya in the 15th-16th centuries. The empire developed impressive architecture including temples, palaces, and tanks that blended elements of local South Indian styles with some Islamic influences. Key architectural features included intricately carved pillars, large temple enclosures, and shrines dedicated to Tamil saints. The Vijayanagar style of architecture went on to influence temple building in South India even after the fall of the empire in the 16th century.

1. VIJAYANAGAR
EMPIRE &
ITS SIGNIFICANT
ARCHITECTURE
LETS DIG INTO THE HISTORY OF THE EMPIRE
MONDAY ● OCTOBER 2 ● 2021 NEWSPAPER CLIPPING STYLE FOR HISTORY CLASS EDITION Nº 001

2. HELLO
This is B.J.Kaushika of 12th HUMANITIES.
MONDAY ● OCTOBER 2 ● 2021 NEWSPAPER CLIPPING STYLE FOR HISTORY CLASS EDITION Nº 001

3. VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE
INTRODUCTION
01.
HISTORY
02.
ANALYSIS
03.
SIGNIFICANT
ARCHITECTURE
CONCLUSION
04.
RICHNESS OF THE EMPIRE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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4. HISTORICAL EMPIRE

5. VIJAYANAGAR
EMPIRE

6. INTRODUCTION
• Founded in 1336 in the wake of the rebellions against Tughluq rule in
the Deccan, the Hindu Vijayanagar empire lasted for more than two
centuries as the dominant power in south India. Its history and
fortunes were shaped by the increasing militarization of peninsular
politics after the Muslim invasions and the commercialization that
made south India a major participant in the trade network linking
Europe and East Asia. Urbanization and monetization of the economy
were the two other significant developments of the period that brought
all the peninsular kingdoms into highly competitive political and
military activities in the race for supremacy.

7. VIJAYANAGARA
EMPIRE
[1336-1646 A.D.]

8. Geographical and political status
• Harihara and Bukka are the founders of the
Vijayanagar City in 1336 A.D. on the southern
banks of Tungabhadra.
• They made Hampi as the capital city.
• They served under Vira Ballala III, the Hoysala
King.

9. Vijayanagar Empire was ruled by four important
dynasties and they are:
1. Sangama
2. Saluva
3. Tuluva
4. Aravidu

10. Some of the
famous kings of
the empire…

11. Harihara I
● Harihara I, also called Hakka and Vira Harihara I, was
the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire, which he ruled from
1336 to 1356 CE. He and his successors formed the Sangama
dynasty, the first of four dynasties to rule the empire.
● In 1336 A.D. Harihara I became the ruler of
Sangama Dynasty.
● He captured Mysore and Madurai.
● In 1356 A.D. Bukka-I succeeded him.

12. Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529 A.D.)
● Krishnadeva Raya of the Tuluva dynasty was the
most famous king of the Vijayanagar Empire
● According to Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller
“Krishnadeva Raya was the most feared and perfect
king there could possibly be”.

13. Krishnadeva Raya‘s Conquests
● He conquered Sivasamudram in 1510A.D and Raichur in
1512A.D
● In 1523 A.D. he captured Orissa and Warangal
● His empire extended from the river Krishna in the north to
River Cauvery in the south; the Arabian Sea in the west to Bay
of Bengal in the east

14. His Contributions
• An able administrator.
• He built large tanks and canals for irrigation.
• He developed the naval power understanding the vital role of overseas
trade.
• He maintained friendly relations with the Portuguese and Arab traders.
• He increased the revenue of his government.
• He patronized art and architecture.
• It was during his period the Vijayanagar Empire reached its zenith of glory.
• Krishnadeva Raya was a great scholar.

15. Ashtadiggajas: A group of eight scholars
adorned his court and they were -
1. Allasani Peddanna – the author of Manucharitram, he was
also known as Andhra Kavitapitamaha
2. Nandi Thimmana – the author of Parijathapaharanam
3. Madayagari Mallana
4. Dhurjati
5. Ayyalaraju Ramabhadra Kavi
6. Pingali Surana
7. Ramaraja Bhushana
8. Tenali Ramakrishna

16. Battle of Talikota (1565 A.D.)
• The successors of Krishnadeva Raya were weak
• The combined forces of Ahmednagar, Bijapur,
Golconda and Bidar declared war on Vijayanagar
during the rule of Aliya Rama Raya
• Aliya Rama Raya was defeated. He and his people
were killed mercilessly.
• Vijayanagar was pillaged and ruined.

17. The Glories of the
Vijayanagar
Empire

18. Administration
• Well-organized administrative system
• The king was head of all powers in the state.
• Council of Ministers – to assist the King in
the work of administration.
• The Empire was divided into six Provinces.
• Naik – a Governor who administered each
Province.

19. •The provinces were divided into districts and the
districts were further divided into smaller units namely
villages.
•The village was administered by hereditary officers like
accountants, watchmen, the weights men, and officers
in charge of forced labour.
•Mahanayakacharya: He is an officer and the contact
point between the villages and the Central
administration.

20. The Army
• The army consisted of the infantry,
cavalry and elephantry.
• The commander-in-chief was in
charge of the army.

21. Revenue Administration
• Land revenue was the main source of
income
• The land was carefully surveyed and taxes
were collected based on the fertility of the
soil.
• Major importance was given to agriculture
and in building dams and canals.

22. Judicial Administration
• The king was the supreme judge.
• Severe punishments were given for the
guilty.
• Those who violated the law were
levied.

23. Position of Women
• Women occupied a high position and took an active part in
the political, social and literary life of the empire.
• They were educated and trained in wrestling, in the use of
various weapons of offence and defence, in music and fine
arts.
• Some women also received an education of high order.
• Nuniz writes that the kings had women astrologers, clerks,
accountants, guards and wrestlers.

24. Economic conditions
• Controlled by their irrigational policies.
• Textiles, mining, metallurgy perfumery, and other
several industries existed.
• They had commercial relations with, the islands in
the Indian Ocean, Abyssinia, Arabia, Burma, China,
Persia, Portugal, South Africa, and The Malay
Archipelago.

25. Contribution to Architecture and Literature
• The Hazara Ramasami temple and Vittalaswamy temple was
built during this period
• The bronze image of Krishnadeva Raya is a masterpiece.
• Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada literature were
developed.
• Sayana wrote commentaries on Vedas.
• Krishnadevaraya wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu and Usha
Parinayam and Jambavathi Kalyanam in Sanskrit.

26. The decline of the Empire
• The rulers of the Aravidu dynasty were
weak and incompetent.
• Many provincial governors became
independent.
• The rulers of Bijapur and Golconda seized
some areas of Vijayanagar.

27. SIGNIFICANT ARCHITECTURE
OF VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE

28. The Vijayanagar Empire, a Hindu empire, was
established by King Harihara I in 1336 and
rose to prominence under King Krishna Deva
Raya during the 16th century. Under the
patronage of the empire, art and architecture
reached new heights of brilliance. In fact, the
influence of architecture was so great that it
continued to have an impact on the
development of temples, palaces, and shrines
in south India long after the Empire saw its
last days. Here are the ten most interesting
things about the architecture of vijayanagar
empire.

29. Architecture of
Vijayanagar Empire –
10 Interesting Things

30. The Inspirations
● Vijayanagar architecture is a
beautiful combination of
Chola, Pandya, Hoysala, and
Chalukya styles. All these
styles had evolved centuries
before the Vijayanagar
Empire and continued to
have its impact on the
Empire.

31. The Materials Used
● Hard granite, which was locally available, was
usually the material of choice due to its
durability. However, the use of soapstone was
also seen in the sculptures and reliefs
because it was easy to carve due to its
softness.

32. The Features Of Temples
● The temples had enclosures
adorned with decorative pillars
called ‘kalyanamandapa’. There
were towers at the entrance,
called ‘rayagopurams,’ which
were made with brick, stucco,
and wood, like the Cholas. Life-
sized figurines of gods were
common in each of the temples.

33. The Engravings On Pillars
● The temple architecture was
also known for having carved
pillars with engravings of
Yali (hippogryphs) or
charging horses. Some pillars
have horse engravings that
were over seven feet tall. The
horses were always depicted
with riders on their back.

34. The Palace Architecture
● The palaces usually faced
north or east. They were
situated in compounds
that had high earthen or
stone walls. They had
raised granite platforms
beneath them with layers
of moldings adorned by
carved bands.

35. The Courtly Architecture
● The courtly architecture of
the Empire was usually made
from mortar and stone
rubble. It showed influences
of Islamic style with its
vaults, domes, and arches.
The elephant stables, watch
towers, and Lotus Mahal
palace offer the best
examples of this.

36. The Shrines For Tamil Saints
● There were shrines made
especially for Alwar and
Vaishnava saints. They were
architecturally different in
the sense that these had an
image of the saint in whose
name it was built. These
shrines had an enclosure, a
separate kitchen, and a
feeding hall for the pilgrims.

37. The ‘Pushkarni’ (Tank)
● Royal centers had tanks
with stepwells called
‘pushkarni.’ The steps on
all four sides had
finished schist chloride
slabs put in a
symmetrical manner to
form the structure.

38. Madura Style: The Last Phase
● Madura style is the last phase
of the Vijayanagar Empire. It
continued flourish even after
the Empire perished. The most
notable specimens of this form
can be seen at Ramesvaram,
Madura, Tiruvalur, Tinnevelly,
Chidambaram, and several
other places in the extreme
southern parts of India.

39. Popular Temples
● In Andhra Pradesh the empire built the Mallikarjuna
Temple at Srisailam, Upper Narasimha Temple and
Lower Narasimha Temple at Ahobilam, Veera Bhadra
Temple at Lepakshi and Venkateswara Temple at
Tirupati and others. In Tamil Nadu the empire built the
Vijayaraghava Permal temple modeled after the
famous temples at Tirupati with statues of
Krishnadevaraya in Thayar Sanithi pillars facing each
other.

40. CONCLUSION
● Unquestionably, the art and architecture
of Vijayanagar Empire was one of their
greatest contributions to Indian history,
and it will continue to fascinate the
students and scholars forever.

41. THANK YOU
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