AN IMPERIAL CAPITAL : VIJAYANAGARA
Chapter 3
Answer in100-150 words
1. What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?
Answer:-
Engineer and antiquarian Colonel Colin Mackenzie brought the ruins of Hampi to light in the 1800s. He worked for the East India Company for many years and produced the first survey map of the site. His earlier information was based on the priests of the Virupaksha temple and the memory of the temple of Pampadevi. From 1856, photographers began recording images of the monuments. The image of the locations helped scholars study them. Dozens of inscriptions were collected from the Virupaksha temple and other temples located around the temple.
Historians gathered information from these sources other sources such as accounts of foreign travelers and literature in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit used by historians to reconstruct the history of the city. These ceremonies supplemented the information given to the priests of the Virupaksha temple.
2. How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?
Answer:-
The requirement of water in Vijayanagara was fulfilled from the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra. This flowed in the north-eastern direction and was surrounded by stunning granite hills. It flowed down to the river Tungabhadra.
So the rulers of the Vijayanagara got built large embankments to store water. They also constructed reservoirs of varying sizes. They also make arrangements to store the rainwater as this was the most arid zone of the peninsula. A very large tank was found built in the fifteenth century to store water. The water tank presently known as Kamalapuram tank. The water of this tank was used for several Royal centre purposes.
(i)The water from the tank was used to irrigate the nearby fields.
(ii)The water of tank fulfilled the needs of the Royal centre.
(iii)The Hiriya canal drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra river which was used for irrigation.
3. What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?
Answer:-
The advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within the protected area of the city were as follows:
(а) Advantages:
• In the Middle Ages, the purpose of the chaise was to subdue the guardians internally. These chaises can last a long time. In general, rulers tried to prepare for such situations by building large granaries with protected areas. The rulers of Vijayanagar adopted a more extensive strategy of protecting the agricultural belt.
• Since the farmland was within the protected area, the peasants faced no problems in cultivating the land due to war or otherwise. Therefore, the farmers did not face any financial difficulties.
• Land revenue was one of the main sources of income in the state. Therefore, with the protection of the agricultural pipeline, there was a regular income from this source.
• Between the sacred center and the urban center was an agricultural canal. This pipe had an extensive canal system drawing water from the Tungabhadra. Therefore, there was no problem with irrigation.
(b) Disadvantages:
• Such an extensive system of forts was very expensive.
• The state must maintain a large army for the protection of a large fortified area.
• sometimes it can be difficult to decide how much land to include within a protected area.
4. What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the mahanavami dibba?
Answer:-
Mahanavami Dibba was the palace of the king of Vijayanagar, but there is no definite evidence. From the available sources we can infer that with the platform base it had a very beautiful wooden structure which was covered with relief carvings. Mahanavami Dibba had a very impressive stage known as the "Visitor Hall". This was surrounded by high double walls with a street running between them.
There were many rituals associated with Mahanavami Dibba. It celebrated the Hindu festival Mahanavami or Navratri with great fanfare and exhibitions were held in September-October. The festival lasted for 9 days. The rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire displayed their strength, honor and suzerainty. Several events were held to mark the occasion, including:
(i) The worship of various gods and goddesses
(II) State horse worship.
(III) Sacrifice of bulls and other animals.
(IV) The main highlights of the event were:
(a) Dance
(b) Wrestling
5. Fig. 7.33 is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral motifs? What are the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human figures shown.
Answer:-
Illustrations are provided of the pillar of the Virupaksha temple which depicts plants with flowers and various animals and birds. Animals and birds include peacocks, horses, ducks, etc. These images were probably carved at the gateway to attract people. These paintings express the patronage ruler’s devotion, religiosity and love for the arts. In addition, various animals and birds were associated with various gods and goddesses.
That is why they were worshiped too. Images of people increasingly include both gods and their worshippers. A god is shown wearing a garland and crown. He also has Gadda. Probably he was the destroyer of demons. Another picture shows the devotee near the 'Shivalinga' and his method of worship is also strange which is not applicable in any way.
Write a short essay (about 250-300 words) on the following:
6. Discuss whether the term “royal centre” is an appropriate description for the part of the city for which it is used. 7. What does the architecture of buildings like the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us about the rulers who commissioned them?
Answer:-
The term "royal centre" is not an appropriate description for that part of the city for the following reasons:
1. It included more than 60 temples. On the other hand, there were only thirty building complexes which have been identified as palaces. These structures were made of decomposable materials.
2. The "King's Palace" is the largest enclosure but there is as yet no definite evidence that it was a royal residence. There are two interesting platforms – the "Visitor House" and the Mahanavami compartment. It is not clear what the "audience hall" was used for. Similarly, the area around the Mahanavami Dibba structure does not appear to be sufficiently extensive.
3. Another beautiful building is the Lotus Mahal. But again historians are unclear for what the building was used for. this could be a council chamber.
Therefore, the terms "royal centre" should not be used for this part of the city.
8. What are the architectural traditions that inspired the architects of Vijayanagara? How did they transform these traditions?
Answer:-
The rulers of Vijayanagar were known for their many innovations in architectural tradition. They built many new temples that presented their architectural skills. They added many new features to the temple architecture. For example, they built gopurams and royal entrances. The towers of the central temple signaled the presence of the temple from a great distance. But the royal entrances surpassed the kings. They showed that kings had complete mastery over resources, techniques and skills.
Other features of the architectural style include the construction of mandaps or pavilions and the colonnaded corridors running around the temple. There were two main temples. Virupaksha Temple and Vithla Temple.
The Virupaksha temple was built in the 9th-10th centuries. But after the establishment of the Vijayanagar Empire, it was considerably enlarged. Krishnadeva Raya built one of the most powerful rulers of the empire, building a hall in front of the main temple to mark his accession to the throne. It was decorated with finely carved columns. Many temple grounds had chariot roads. These roads extended in a straight line from Mandirgopuram. They were paved with stone slabs and lied with columned pavilions. where merchants have set up their shops. In other words, the names of Vijayanagar built impressive buildings.
9. What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara can you cull from the various descriptions in the chapter?
Answer:-
Ordinary people were people who did not participate in the power structure. They spoke different languages and followed different religious traditions. They consisted of small business owners and local businesses. They use to live in cities, trade centers, ports, cities and villages. The local community of traders known as kudirai chetti or horse traders participated in the exchange.
Peasants, workers, and slaves were also included among the common people.
The workers were known as "Bipr Viodin." This group of blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, and sculptors. who often quarreled with each other for their rights. It seems that during that time society felt the need to develop laws to implement social justice.
Kaikkol, known as weavers, were in large numbers. They lived near the temple. They played an important role in the administration of the temple. In the Vijayanagara kingdom there was a Gadaria known as Kambalatta. They followed multiple customs. The special feature was that the wife was older than her husband. Their women had physical relations with their husbands’ relatives like fathers and brothers.
In Vijayanagar there was a Gora Gora section called Reddy who was the landlord. They had considerable influence in the Telugu region of Vijayanagar. There were a few lower class people in society, who were ineffective. They were Dambar, Marva, Yogi, Parayan, Boy Kalla and so on. Some of the lower castes were converted to Christianity under Portuguese influence.
Map work
10. On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia. Trace the routes the travellers mentioned on p.176 would have taken to reach Vijayanagara.
Answer:-
Project (choose one)
11. Find out more about any one of the major cities which flourished in the subcontinent during c. fourteenth-seventeenth centuries. Describe the architecture of the city. Are there any features to suggest that these were political centres? Are there buildings that were ritually significant? Is there an area for commercial activities? What are the features that distinguish the urban layout from that of surrounding areas?
Answer:-
12. Visit a religious building in your neighbourhood. Describe, with sketches, its roof, pillars and arches if any, corridors, passages, halls, entrance, water supply, etc. Compare these features with those of the Virupaksha temple. Describe what each part of the building is used for. Find out about its history.
Answer:-
