Krishna Dev Rai: A Case Study

 

The rule of Krishna Dev Rai marks a period of much military success in Vijaynagar history. On occasion, the king was known to change the battle plans abruptly and turn a losing battle into victory. The first decade of his rule was one of the long sieges, bloody conquests, and victories.

He personally led his armies against the enemy on the battlefield and showed amazing resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles in his path. During, the siege of Udayagiri fort, he got boulders and rocks smashed to make the passage wider and smoother for the movement of his troops. Do you know where is Udaygiri fort located?

 

Udaygiri fort is located in present-day Tamil Nadu. Krishna Dev Rai captured this fortress in the year 1512. He showed extraordinary courage even in extreme conditions. He personally took care of the wounded soldiers at the conclusion of the battle.

He used to go to the battlefield looking for the wounded, making arrangements to pick them up and get them treated. All these factors made him a brave warrior and a great conqueror.

 

Well, he was not only a great conqueror but also a great patron of art and learning. The rule of Krishna Dev Rai was an age of prolific literature in many languages, although it is known as the golden age of Telugu literature.

Many Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit, and Tamil poets enjoyed the patronage of the emperor. Did you know that Krishnadeva Raya was a gifted scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit?

 

Yes, he was well versed in Telugu and Sanskrit. He was also known as Abhinava Bhoja and he was named so because he was a great patron of literature, he wrote Amuktamalyada, a work on statecraft, in Telugu. His court was adorned by eight Telugu poets, and what were these poets called?

 

These poets were called Ashtadiggajas. And, the most famous of these were Tenali Rama, Peddana, and Madhava.

 

Krishna Dev Rai: Religious beliefs and Successors

 

Krishnadeva Raya respected all sects of Hinduism and he was a devotee of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati.

 

Krishna Dev Rai respected all sects of Hinduism, he was a devotee of Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati, and even now, statues and images can be seen at the temple of Krishnadeva Raya along with his two queens standing with folded hands.

These images also have their names written in Kannada. When renowned saints Vallabhacharya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, of the bhakti movement, visited his court, he honored them by showering gold coins on them. What was this practice called?

 

The showering of gold coins was called Kanakabhisheka. The greatest achievement of Krishnadeva Raya lay in the policy of tolerance that prevailed during his reign.

 

Along with this, he was a great builder as well, who built a number of temples, forts, and palaces in various parts of his empire. Vitthala temple and Hazara Ram temple were the most impressive of all. And where were these temples located?

 

These temples were located in Hampi, the capital city of the Vijaynagar empire.

 

In 1524, he made his son Tirumala Raya the Yuvaraja which means the crown prince, but he did not survive for long and died due to poisoning. In 1529, Krishnadeva Raya became seriously ill and died soon after.

After his death, there was a struggle for succession among his relations because his sons were minors. Ultimately, in 1543 Sadashiv Raya ascended the throne although the actual government was controlled by Rama Raya.

In 1565, the rulers of the Deccan states namely Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda formed an alliance and defeated the Vijaynagar forces in the battle of Talikota. Rama Raya was captured and executed.

The city of Vijaynagar, which was the pride of the medieval world, was mercilessly destroyed. The rule of Krishnadeva Raya was a glorious chapter in the history of the Vijayanagar Empire. Even the ruins at Hampi tell the glorious tale of that mighty empire.

 

Krishna Dev Rai - MCQs - Part 1

 

MCQ 1. The forces of Vijaynagar were defeated in the Battle of _______.
a. Panipat
b. Plassey
c. Deccan
d. Talikota

 

MCQ 2. The Tirupati temple has images of Krishnadeva Raya along with his queens. These images have their names written in which language?
a. Telugu
b. Sanskrit
c. Tamil
d. Kannada

 

MCQ 3. Vitthala temple is located in which city?
a. Golconda
b. Bijapur
c. Ahmadnagar
d. Hampi

 

MCQ 4. Tirumala Raya was crowned prince in which year?
a. 1529
b. 1543
c. 1565
d. 1524

 

MCQ 5. Krishnadeva Raya died in which year?
a. 1524
b. 1530
c. 1528
d. 1529

 

Krishna Dev Rai - MCQs - Part 2

 

MCQ 1. In which year Krishnadeva Raya captured the fort of Udayagiri?
a. 1514
b. 1517
c. 1510
d. 1512

 

MCQ 2. Krishnadeva Raya was well versed with which of these languages?
a. Sanskrit
b. Telugu
c. Telugu and Bengali
d. Telugu and Sanskrit

 

MCQ 3. How many poets were there in the emperor�s court?
a. Five
b. Seven
c. Six
d. Eight

 

MCQ 4. Amuktamalyada, an epic poem composed by Krishnadeva Raya was written in which language?
a. Kannada
b. Sanskrit
c. Bengali
d. Telugu

 

MCQ 5. Tenali Rama was a famous _______.
a. Architect
b. General
c. Minister
d. Poet

Read More:
Krishnadevaraya: The Vijaynagar empire - Indian History Notes - Studynlearn