Vijaynagara the lost Dynasty

The Vijayanagar empire emerged in fourteenth century India and lasted a fairly remarkable three hundred years. It was a formidable Hindu kingdom which ruled Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Kerala in southern India. It also governed the territories of Mysore, Trichinopally, Kanara, Pondicherry, Chingalpet and Kanchivaram. To its south was the Hindu Zamorin of Kerala, while to the north was the Bahamani sultanate of the Deccan. The empire's now-ruined capital city of Vijayanagara can be found in the Bellary District of northern Karnataka.

Two brothers, Harihara (Hakka) I and Bukka Raya, laid the foundations of the Vijaynagar capital and of the empire. Vijayanagara was on the south bank of the River Tungabhadra near the fortress of Anegudi. Also known as the Sangama brothers, these two adventurers consolidated their power and then expanded it, first under Harihara I and then Bukka Raya, which made the capital more defensible and secure. It is said that a sage named Madhav Vidyaranya and his brother Sayana were the inspirational source for this empire, and its rulers were strict worshipers of the Hindu gods, but also tolerant towards the other religions.

(Information by Madhu Nimkar.)
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