History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.82

c11.82

The defeat of Vīr Ballāla III at the hands of the Sultan of Madura failed to damp the ardour of the Hindu princes who had vowed vengeance upon the Muslims. The difficulties into which Muhammad Tughluq's government was plunged encouraged them in their efforts to shake off the foreign yoke. The issue was not merely political, but also religious. The bigotry of the Muhammadans had fanned the flame of popular discontent and kindled the bitterest animosities. There were three influential princes in the Deccan who could combine to accomplish the overthrow of the Muslims. They were Hari Hara of Vijayanagar, Kriṣna Nāyak of Telingana, and Virupāksa Ballāla, the son and successor of the illustrious Ballāla III. The kingdom of Vijayanagar founded in 1336 A.D. had now made considerable acquisitions of territory and risen to the position of a substantial power in South India. Hari Hara and his brothers had launched upon a career of glorious conquests and quietly grabbed the territories belonging to the Hoysalas and the Muhammadans. Hari Hara professed to own allegiance to Dihli, but the mask was worn thread-bare and he sympathised with and promised active support to the confederacy, the object of which was the expulsion of the Muhammadans from the Deccan, and ultimately he cooperated with the other Hindu chieftains to accomplish it. The leader and organiser of this confederacy was Kriṣna Nāyak, son of the famous Pratap Rudra Deva Kākatīya II, whose house had suffered great wrongs at the hands of the Muslims. Ever since the fall of Warangal in 1327-28 A.D. effected by Muhammad Tughluq's generals he had remained in a state of sullen hostility, maturing his plans for the speedy overthrow of his acknowledged foes. Virupākṣa Ballāla, better known as Ballāla IV, could never forgive the Muslims. The memory of his father's cruel death was still green, and the numerous insults and indignities, which the Muslims had heaped upon the Hindus of the South, constituted a festering sore which refused to heal. The increasing disorders of the Dihli empire provided its enemies scope for their ambitions, and encouraged by the political situation of the time, they renewed with greater determination and zeal the struggle for emancipation. Kṛṣṇa Nāyak became the soul of the triple alliance and received full co-operation from his confederates. Barani writes of the revolt in these words: "A revolt of the Hindus broke out in Arangal. Kanyā Nāyak had developed strength in the country. Malik Maqbūl, the nāib wazir, fled to Dihli and reached there in safety. The Hindus captured Arangal which was entirely lost. At this time one of the relations of Kanyā Nāyak, whom the Sultan had sent to govern Kampila,³⁰ apostatised from Islam and broke out into rebellion. The land of Kampila was lost and fell into the hands of the Hindus and Deogir and Gujarat alone remained in possession of the Sultan."³¹ Barani's statement regarding Kanyā Nāyak's relationship is supported by the Portuguese Chronicler Nuniz who writes that when Muhammad Tughluq found it impossible to hold the country round Kampila and Anāgondi by means of a governor, he appointed Deo Rao (Hari Hara Deo Raya) to hold charge of it.³² But there is nothing to show that Hari Hara embraced Islam in reality. Probably it was a political move to hoodwink the Sultan whose power no Hindu Prince could challenge in the South at the