History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.94

c11.94

On all sides the flames of war and rebellion were kindled and of the distant provinces nothing remained in the possession of the Sultan except Gujarat and Deogir.” Firishta³⁸ has fallen into error regarding the foundation of Vijayanagar, but he is right in saying that Belāl Deo (Ballāla IV) joined the confederacy organised by Kriṣṇa Nāyak. No detailed account of the Hindu rebellion is furnished by any Muhammadan writer, but it is certain that the Muhammadans made but feeble resistance to counteract the plans of their enemies, and Muhammad Tughluq’s government found no time to deal with the situation. It was impossible for Hari Hara to keep out of this powerful league. He shared in full the hatred which his co-religionists felt towards the Muslims and knew full well that he would not be able to extend his power without coming into collision with the Muhammadans. He was induced by considerations of duty as well as self-interest to join the confederacy—a fact which is corroborated by an inscription of Samgamā II which records that Hari Hara I had inflicted a defeat upon the Sultan.³⁹ Another evidence of a general character is to be found in a copper plate grant dated Śāka 1268 (1346 A.D.) which records that Hari Hara, having conquered the earth from the eastern to the western ocean, decided to commemorate his victory and along with his four brothers, son-in-law and other relatives made a gift of nine villages to Bhārati Tīratha Śrīpad and his disciples, as well as to forty Brahmans living at Śringeri⁴⁰ for the performance of religious rites and ceremonies. Thus the revolutionary movement organised by Ballāla and Kriṣna Nāyak finally culminated in the disappearance of the Muslim power in Warangal, Dwarsamudra, and on the Coromandel coast. But the Sultanate of Madura still continued, and Ballāla IV, like his great father, fought against it until he lost his life in the attempt in 1346 A.D.⁴¹ The somewhat unexpected death of the last great representative of the Hoysala dynasty left the field clear for the ambitious sons of Samgamā who were well-versed in the art of war and diplomacy. They at once stepped into the breach created by the disappearance of their formidable rival and took vigorous steps to bring his dominions under their control so as to make the kingdom of Vijayanagar a mighty bulwark against the Muhammadans of the north.⁴² After the fall of the Hoysalas their power rapidly develop-