A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India c11.12

c11.12

To continue briefly the story given by Nuniz. After the capture of Ânegundi in 1334 the Sultan left Malik Nâib (whom Nuniz calls “Enybiquymelly” in his second chapter, and “Mileque neby,” “Meliquy niby,” and “Melinebiquy” in the third) as his local governor, and retired northwards. The country rose against the usurpers, and after a time the Sultan restored the principality to the Hindus, but made a new departure by raising to be Râya the former chief minister Deva Râya, called “Deorao” or “Dehorao” by Nuniz. He reigned seven years. During his reign this chief was one day hunting amongst the mountains south of the river when a hare, instead of fleeing from his dogs, flew at them and bit them.¹ The king, astonished at this marvel, was returning homewards lost in meditation, when he met on the river-bank the sage Mâdhavâchârya, surnamed Vidyâranya or “Forest of Learning,” — for so we learn from other sources to name the anchorite alluded to—who advised the chief to found a city on the spot. “And so the king did, and on that very day began work on his houses, and he enclosed the city round about; and that done, he left Nagumdym, and soon filled the new city with people. And he gave it the name Vydiajuna, for so the hermit called himself who had bidden him construct it.”²