Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms Notes for UPSC

After the decline of the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century, two powerful kingdoms rose in South India: the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire (1336 to 1646) and the Muslim Bahmani Kingdom (1347 to 1527), which later broke into the five Deccan Sultanates. Their long rivalry over the fertile Raichur Doab shaped the history of the Deccan, and both left a rich legacy in art, architecture and administration. For UPSC, this topic is important for Prelims (rulers, battles, travellers, monuments) and for Mains (administration and cultural synthesis).

Sources of Information

Our knowledge comes from inscriptions, coins, monuments and the accounts of foreign travellers who visited Vijayanagara: Nicolo Conti (Italian, early 15th century), Abdur Razzaq (Persian ambassador, 1443, during Devaraya II), Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz (Portuguese, in the time of Krishnadevaraya and Achyutaraya) and Duarte Barbosa. Krishnadevaraya's own book Amuktamalyada is also a precious source for his administration.

Foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire

The empire was founded in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, of the Sangama dynasty, with the guidance of the scholar-saint Vidyaranya. They built their capital, Vijayanagara (present-day Hampi in Karnataka), on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1986). The empire had four dynasties: Sangama (1336 to 1485), Saluva (1485 to 1505), Tuluva (1505 to 1570) and Aravidu (1570 to 1646). The Sangamas expanded the kingdom, and Devaraya II (Praudha Devaraya) was their greatest king.

Krishnadevaraya (1509 to 1529): The Greatest Ruler

Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty took Vijayanagara to its peak. He won the Battle of Raichur (1520) against Ismail Adil Shah of Bijapur, defeated the Gajapati rulers of Odisha and gained control of a vast area from the Krishna river to Cape Comorin. He had good relations with the Portuguese, who supplied him with Arabian horses, and he encouraged trade through the west coast ports. He was a fine scholar who wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu and was called Andhra Bhoja. His court had eight great Telugu poets, the Ashtadiggajas, including Allasani Peddana (author of Manucharitramu) and Tenali Ramakrishna. During his reign, the Vittala temple with its stone chariot and the Hazara Rama temple were built at Hampi, and the grand raya gopurams (royal temple gateways) came up in many temples.

Battle of Talikota and the Fall (1565)

After Krishnadevaraya, the empire became weak because of succession disputes. His son-in-law Rama Raya (Aliya Rama Raya) played the Deccan Sultans against each other, and eventually they united. In the Battle of Talikota (1565), also called Rakshasa-Tangadi, the combined armies of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Bidar defeated Vijayanagara. The city of Hampi was looted and destroyed, and the Aravidu rulers shifted to Penukonda and then Chandragiri. The empire lingered for some time but never regained its glory.

Administration of Vijayanagara

The king (Raya) was the head of the state and was helped by a council of ministers. The empire was divided into provinces (mandalams), districts (nadus), sthalas and villages. A special feature was the Nayankara system: the king gave land (amaram) to military chiefs called nayakas, who had to maintain troops and pay a share of revenue to the king. Over time, strong nayakas became semi-independent, which weakened the empire. Villages were run by hereditary officers under the Ayagar system. The main taxes were land revenue (about one-sixth of the produce), and others like kanike (a gift) and shist. Gold coins were called varaha or pagoda.

Economy, Society and Culture

Irrigation works, such as tanks and canals from the Tungabhadra, supported agriculture. Trade flourished through ports like Mangalore, Honavar, Bhatkal and Cannanore, which exported cotton cloth, spices and rice and imported horses and luxury goods. Society was Brahmin-dominated, and temples were centres of economic and social life. Foreign visitors mention the practice of sati and the presence of devadasis. Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit all flowered. Saints like Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa created devotional songs, and Purandaradasa is called the father of Carnatic music.

Foreign Trade and the Portuguese Connection

Vijayanagara controlled many ports on the west coast, and trade with Arabia, Persia, China and Europe brought huge wealth. A key import was the Arabian horse, because the Deccan climate did not suit horse breeding and cavalry was important in war. The Portuguese, who captured Goa from Bijapur in 1510 under Albuquerque, controlled the horse trade and often favoured Vijayanagara over the Sultanates. The visitors' accounts describe a rich capital with busy markets selling diamonds, pearls, silk and spices, broad streets and a strong fort wall. This explains why control of the coast and trade routes was so important in the wars of the period.

Role of Women, Religion and Learning

Women are described as taking part in court life: there were female wrestlers, accountants and guards in the palace, according to Nuniz. At the same time, practices like sati were observed. Religion was mainly Shaiva and Vaishnava, and the rulers supported all sects, including Jainism, and respected Muslim soldiers and nobles who served them. Education flourished in temples and mathas, and the Sringeri math was closely linked with the founders of the empire. In the Deccan Sultanates, Persian and Dakhni (an early form of Urdu) became common, and Bidar's madrasa trained scholars from many places.

Vijayanagara Art and Architecture

The Vijayanagara style is a mature form of the Dravida style, with tall gopurams, large pillared halls (kalyana mandapas) and sculpted pillars. The Virupaksha temple and the Vittala temple (famous for its musical pillars and stone chariot) are masterpieces. Non-religious buildings like the Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stables show the mix of Hindu and Indo-Islamic styles.

The Bahmani Kingdom (1347 to 1527)

The Bahmani kingdom was founded in 1347 by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (Zafar Khan) after a revolt against Muhammad bin Tughlaq. The capital was first Gulbarga and later Bidar. The most famous minister was Mahmud Gawan (wazir from 1466 to 1481), a Persian scholar who strengthened the kingdom: he divided the provinces into smaller units to reduce the power of governors, measured land to fix revenue, reorganised the army and built a great madrasa at Bidar. Jealous nobles got him killed in 1482, and the kingdom began to break up.

The Five Deccan Sultanates

The Mughals gradually absorbed them: Ahmednagar in 1636 (Shah Jahan), Bijapur in 1686 and Golconda in 1687 (Aurangzeb).

Conflict Between the Two Kingdoms

The Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms fought for centuries over the rich Raichur Doab (between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers), the ports of the west coast and control of the trade in horses. The wars were mostly for land and trade, not religion, and often a Hindu kingdom allied with a Muslim sultan and vice versa. Remember this point while writing Mains answers.

Mains Angle: Cultural Synthesis in the South

The two kingdoms were rivals but their cultures influenced each other. Vijayanagara rulers used Persian-style dress and military ideas and called themselves "Sultans among Hindu kings" (Hindu Suratrana), while the Deccan Sultans patronised local languages and artists, including Hindu officials. Architecture, music, cuisine and painting in the Deccan show this composite culture, which is a favourite theme for Mains questions.

How to Study This Topic

1. Make one timeline showing 1336 (Vijayanagara), 1347 (Bahmani), 1509 to 1529 (Krishnadevaraya), 1565 (Talikota) and 1686 to 1687 (end of Bijapur and Golconda).
2. Prepare a table of monuments with city, ruler and style.
3. Write one short answer on the Nayankara system and one on Mahmud Gawan's reforms.

Practice Statements and Quick Revision

• "Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka." Correct.
• "Krishnadevaraya wrote Manucharitramu." Wrong. He wrote Amuktamalyada; Allasani Peddana wrote Manucharitramu.
• "The Battle of Talikota was fought in 1565." Correct.
• Remember: Hampi (Vijayanagara), Gulbarga then Bidar (Bahmani), Bijapur (Gol Gumbaz) and Golconda (Charminar).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing that the wars between the two kingdoms were only religious.
• Confusing the Bahmani capital (Gulbarga, Bidar) with the later Sultanates' capitals.
• Mixing up the Ashtadiggajas (poets) with the Navaratnas (Akbar's court).
• Forgetting the four dynasties of Vijayanagara in order.

The southern kingdoms of the medieval period built a proud culture of temples, trade and learning. If you can recall the dynasties, Krishnadevaraya's achievements, the Nayankara system and the Battle of Talikota, you will be able to answer most questions from this chapter.

Related Notes to Read Next

Continue your preparation with these related notes from the same subject:

• Marathas Notes for UPSC
• Mughal Administration and Mansabdari System Notes for UPSC
• Medieval Indian Architecture and Culture Notes for UPSC
• All Medieval Indian History notes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire?

The brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 on the Tungabhadra river, with the guidance of the saint-scholar Vidyaranya.

What are the four dynasties of Vijayanagara?

They are the Sangama (1336 to 1485), Saluva (1485 to 1505), Tuluva (1505 to 1570) and Aravidu (1570 to 1646).

Who was the greatest ruler of Vijayanagara?

Krishnadevaraya (1509 to 1529) of the Tuluva dynasty was the greatest ruler. He won the Battle of Raichur and was a great patron of Telugu literature.

What was the Battle of Talikota?

Fought in 1565, it was a battle in which the united Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Bidar defeated Vijayanagara under Rama Raya, leading to the destruction of Hampi.

What is the Nayankara system?

Under the Nayankara system, the king granted land (amaram) to military chiefs called nayakas, who maintained troops and paid a part of their revenue to the king.

Which foreign travellers visited Vijayanagara?

Nicolo Conti, Abdur Razzaq, Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz and Duarte Barbosa visited and wrote about Vijayanagara.

Who founded the Bahmani Kingdom?

Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah, also called Zafar Khan, founded the Bahmani Kingdom in 1347 after rebelling against Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Its first capital was Gulbarga.

Who was Mahmud Gawan?

Mahmud Gawan was a Persian scholar and the wazir of the Bahmani kingdom (1466 to 1481). He reformed the provinces, land revenue and army, and built a madrasa at Bidar.

What were the five Deccan Sultanates?

They were Ahmednagar (Nizam Shahi), Bijapur (Adil Shahi), Golconda (Qutb Shahi), Bidar (Barid Shahi) and Berar (Imad Shahi), formed from the break-up of the Bahmani kingdom.

Why is Hampi famous?

Hampi, the capital of Vijayanagara, is famous for its temples such as the Virupaksha and Vittala temples, its stone chariot, musical pillars and ruins, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What are the Ashtadiggajas?

The Ashtadiggajas were the eight great Telugu poets in the court of Krishnadevaraya, including Allasani Peddana and Nandi Timmana.

Which Deccan monument is known for its whispering gallery?

The Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, built by the Adil Shahi ruler Muhammad Adil Shah, has one of the largest domes in the world and a famous whispering gallery.