The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c16.43

v1.c16.43

The four Muhammadan Sultans of the Deccan ¹, after the ten days' rest on the battlefield, proceeded towards Vijayanagara with all their troops. Ferishta relates that they halted in the city of Anegundi on the other side of the Tungabhadra river, while their advanced armies penetrated to Vijayanagara itself ². This was done, no doubt, to prepare the great triumph, described by Frederick, of the four Kings on their entry into the capital of their enemy ³. From Anegundi they crossed the river by the bridge built some years previously by Rama Raya, the piers of which can still be seen in the centre of the river. As soon as they reached Vijayanagara, the temple of Achyuta Raya stood before them with its high entrance gopuram, at the end of the so-called dancing girls' street; but turning to the right, and passing in front of the temple of Kodanda Rama, they followed the way paved with large granite slabs that runs by the river side, until they reached the end of the broad bazaar of Hampi, just at the foot of the tremendous monolythic Nandi that watches silently over the first steps leading to the top of the abrupt ridge on the left. Here the state procession was probably arranged first; the soldiers, then the captains; the prisoners next, and finally the four Sultans riding on elephants or on horseback; and it is not even improbable that the head of Rama Raya was carried aloft before the Kings, on the top of a long spear, and shown to the terrified inhabitants of that desolate city. The gorgeous cavalcade, probably did not reach the Pampapati temple; but turning to the left, started the ascent of the rocky hill crowned by the two small shrines where the colossal statues of Ganesa were once worshipped. After a while they entered the enclosure of Krishna's temple, a fine specimen of the architectural work of Krishna Deva Raya: the road turns then to the right; and on reaching the plains the victorious sovereigns of the Deccan passed before the shrine containing the huge monolythic statue of the god Narasimha, which was mutilated by their soldiers shortly after. Subsequently, they entered the citadel, where the Sultans took up their residence either in the enclosure of the royal palace or in the Danayak’s enclosure; the zenana enclosure was also probably reserved for their wives.