Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c9.s4.2

v1.c9.s4.2

The earliest memories which rise up with the name Vijayanagara are those of Kishkindhā. According to the *Jaina Rāmāyaṇa* of the 12th century, "there existed (in ancient times) in the south three great empires or kingdoms. These were the Rākshasa kingdom, with its capital at Laṅka; the Vānara-dhvaja kingdom, or kingdom of the monkey-flag, with its capital at Kishkindhā; and the Vidyādhara kingdom, with its capital at Rathanūpura-chakravāla-pura. The first embraced Ceylon, in which Laṅka was situated, and the maritime districts of the south; the second, whose capital was on the Tuṅgabhadrā at the site of the modern Vijayanagara and Āneguṇḍi. . . the third kingdom was north from these, and its capital may possibly be the Ratnapur in the Central Provinces".¹ It was at this place where Vijayanagara was built that, according to legend, Sugriva could ascend the hill and Vāli could not. Perhaps it was one of these five hills which guarded the city—Mālyavanta, Hēmakūṭa, Basavaśṛṅga, Mataṅgaparvata, and Kishkindhā.² Some maintain that evidence of an earlier town can be seen at Hampe.³