Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c7.s1.58

v1.c7.s1.58

But the Muhammadans would not yield without one more struggle; and the Hindus would not rest in peace without another bid for independence. In A.D. 1338 Muhammad Tughlaq sent an army against his own nephew Bahā-ud-din, also known as Khūr Sarif, who had been placed over the Government of the Deccan, with his capital at Sagar, but who had now rebelled against the Emperor. Khūr Sarif fled to the court of the Hindu Rāja of Kampila, with whom he had maintained friendly relations. The Imperial army, it was evident, was driving its own men into the Hindu camp. Another force was sent against the rebel, who now took shelter at the court of "Bilal Dew" (i.e., the Hoysala king at Dōrasamudra).¹ It was to the Hindu interest that a bid for independence should be made under cover of a most un-Hindu-like act, sanctioned neither by international usage nor by ancient practice. The Ballāla Rāya, who can be no other than Vira Ballāla III, delivered the refugee into the hands of the army of Muhammad Tughlaq.² The old Hindu monarch, who had tasted the wrath of the Delhi Sultan about eleven years ago, sacrificed the interests of a royal guest for the cause of his religion and country; and thus was the Sultan made to believe that his southern dominions were still under a spell of tranquillity.