Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c14.16

c14.16

The object of the foundation of Vijayanagar was religious in character. The Hindus were anxious to preserve their religion, traditions, and Dharma from the onslaughts of Islam. This work necessitated a greater amount of attention being paid to the religious revival in the land. This activity in the field of religion to save it from Islam led also to greater attenion being paid to literature, for in India the character and number of literary productions depended largely on the religious movements in the country. Thus the foundation of Vijayanagar had three effects: the Muhammadans were held in check, the religious revival was given an impetus, and the period was marked by a great literary renaissance Soon after its foundation, the Saṅgama brothers and their sons, especially Kampaṇa, the son of Bukka, engaged themselves in freeing South India from Muhammadan domination. According to the Kōyiloḷugu, the idol of Raṅganātha of Śrīraṅgam after having been taken to Tirunārāyaṇapuram by way of Jyōtiṣkuḍi, Tirumāliruñjōlai (Aḷagarkōyil), Kōlikkūḍu (Calicut) and Puṅganūr, was kept at that place for some time after which it was finally removed to Tirupati. When Gōpaṇṇa, the ruler of Jiñji, heard of the vicissitudes of the idol, he had it removed to Jiñji where he kept it in the beautiful rock-cut shrine of Raṅganātha at Śiṅgavaram near his capital. Meanwhile the chief who was left in charge of Śrīraṅgam removed his headquarters to Kaṇṇanūr, a village six miles north of Śrīraṅgam, owing to considerations of health, and fortified that place with the stones obtained by demolishing the outer enclosures of the Śrīraṅgam temple. Through the good offices of a dancing girl of Śrīraṅgam who was on intimate relations with the Muhammadan chief with the object of saving the temple from destruction, a Kaniyāḷa Brahman named Śiṅgappirāṇ secured a post in the service of the Muhammadan chief and was serving him faithfully. As soon as news of the foundation of Vijayanagar reached the ears of the distressed people of South India Tirumanattun Nambi, the son of Śiṅgappirāṇ, sent one Uttama Nambi, one of the sthānattārs of the temple, to inform Gopaṇṇa about the condition of Śrīraṅgam. Soon communications were started between Jiñji and Śamayavaram. In 1370-71 Gōpaṇṇa defeated the Muhammadan chief “who had degenerated by drink and debauchery and become thoroughly powerless to resist an attack,” and re-established the image of Raṅganātha in the temple.⁷