Sangh Parivar

DESTINY DID NOT SMILE ON VIJAYNAGAR EMPIRE AT ITS FOUNDATION DAY CEREMONY

Prof Dr Col (Retd) K Prabhakar Rao

Harihara Raya and his brother Bukka Raya found Vijaynagar Empire on the banks of Tungabhadra River in Bellary District of Karnataka in the 14 Th century. It is learnt these brothers served as commanders in the Army of Prataparudra Deva II, the Last King of Kakateeya Kingdom that ruled at Warangal in the Present Telangana region. After the fall of Kakateeya Kingdom due to the invasion by Mohd Bin Tughlaq, the Delhi sultan in 1324, these brothers escaped to the court of Jambukeswar at Anegondi which is close by to Vijaynagar.Mohd Bin Tughlaq subsequently attacked Anegondi in 1328 as the king Jambukeswara (Kampili Deva) gave asylum to Bahauddin Malik, rebel ruler at Gulbarga and a close relative of sultan. The king defended his land bravely and fell on the battlefield and the Sultan annexed Anegondi and he captured and carried away Harihara and Bukka Raya to Delhi and they were forced to embrace Islam. Subsequently, the brothers were sent back to Anegondi to administer the region as the representatives of Sultan as local rebellion broke due to cruel administration of Governor Malik Naeeb who let loose a reign of terror.
Harihara Raya and Bukka Raya though were forced to embrace Islam, were Hindus to core at heart and they came in contact with Prolaya Naika, Kapayya Naika and his followers Prolaya Vema Reddy, Singama Naika and Veera Ballala of Karnataka. Kapayya Naika was responsible to drive away Muslim commander Malik Maqbool from Warangal after prolonged Guerilla fight of ten years amply supported by his worthy friends. The like minded warriors thus made up their mind to establish a force of reckoning to defend the Hindu faith and protect Hindu culture, heritage, temples, women and children with whom the invading muslim armies played havoc in those eventful years. The invading Muslims destroyed temples, looted and destroyed houses, raped scores of Hindu women, killed children and carried away women, children and men as slaves. Entire South India faced cultural turmoil and genocide during the successive invasions of cruel and wretched Allauddin Khilji, Malik Kafur, Gayasuddin and Mohd Bin Tughlaq who were nothing short of devil incarnates. In a course of time. The Raya brothers met Saint Vidyaranya Swamy an eminent scholor in Vedas and Hindu scriptures and their association changed entire course of history in Southern India. Sensing the turmoil in Delhi Sultanate in the Tughlaq dynasty, the Raya brothers threw away the yoke of loyalty to the Delhi throne and were soon got converted into Hinduism on the advice of the Saint Vidyaranya Swamy. Harihara and Bukka Raya brothers were administering Anegondi areas when Kapayya Naika gained power in Telangana after his victory over the Muslim Governor at Warangal during 1335-36.At Daulatabad (subsequently at Gulbarga) Bahamani Sultanate was established by Allauddin Hassan Bahman Shah revolting against the rule of Tughlaq that became the arch rival and enemy of Vijayanagar empire.
The capital of Vijaynagar appears to have been established on 18 April 1336, equivalent to Salivahana Saka 1127 Prabhava Chaitra Pournami, Sthiravaram Ratri (night) where all activities of Sankalpa were completed and the foundation stone was laid in Bahula Paksha Amavasya at Midnight.This is confirmed by Raya vachakam which is a contemporary document.
It is learnt that saint Vidyaranya Swamy made all the arrangements for the foundation laying ceremony. The saint by himself conducted mahasankalpam, invoked the deity of Vastu, determined the directions of North and South with the help of Dhruva Star and the Trisanku was erected. On East and Western directions Sankhas (conches) were arranged and molten gold of sixteen shades were poured in the foundation pit in large quantities. Sri Samrajya Lakshmi yantram was then placed and opposite to the site a reservoir was dug where his disciples were asked to wait and watch for his signal of most auspicious time for laying the foundation stone. The Saint conveyed to them that he would give an indication by ringing a bell and would blow a conch shell. A brick was tied to the end of a thin string, along with Vastu yantramu, Diamonds and Mercury and arrangement was made such that by slicing the thread, the brick would fall into the foundation pit at the auspicious moment. Making all these arrangements and instructing Harihara and Bukka Raya the Saint went over to the top of the hill and was engrossed in the astronomical calculations and was waiting for the auspicious moment. The Saint planned the time and state of various planets such that the capital and the Empire that was likely to be established would flourish for 3600 glorious years
To the misfortune of Hindus, a Tantrik was worshipping lord Shiva at a place down the hill and after completing his worship rang the bronze bell and blew his conch shell loudly. Harihara Raya who was at the foundation pit awaiting the indication from the Saint immediately sliced the thread and the brick fell into the foundation pit before the auspicious moment arrived. Within a short time another sound of the bell and and blowing of conch shell was heard. Harihara and Bukka Raya ran to the top of the hill to enquire abount the two sounds at different moments. Vidyaranya Swamy lamented that the foundation stone was laid much before the auspicious time. He after examination of the time and planetary position at the instant of dropping of the foundation stone predicted that the empire would lost for 260 years and would be destroyed by the enemies due to inauspicious time of the ceremonial event. He also said that the prediction of sage Vyasa to him at Kashi has come true. It appears Sage Vyasa stated that the empire would last 300 years. The Vijaynagar city was thus established and the empire flourished for nearly three centuries from 1336 to 1646.
The empire was ruled by successive dynasties of Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Arveedu. The rulers successfully blocked islamisation of South India by the Bahmani Sultans and then by the Deccani Sultans of Golconda, Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Bidar and Berar that became independent after Bahmani Kingdom collapsed. The rulers extinguished the Sultanate at Madhura that existed for nearly 70 years in heart of South India after the invasion by Malik Kafur. Great rulers established their sway over entire South India and Hindu culture, art, sculpture, music and literature flourished. The empire reached its zenith at time of Sri Krishna Deva Raya who ruled from 1509 to 1529 who was a contemporary of emperor Baber of Mughal Dynasty. The empire received severe setback at Tallikota Battle on 23 Jan 1565. Araveeti or Aliya Ramaraya the defacto emperor of Vijaya nagar who gloriously ruled for 25 years after the death of Srikrishna Deva Raya faced the Muslim Confederation army of Deccani Sultans with a large force. Unfortunately, his Muslim generals and their troops betrayed him and went over to the enemy. Rama Raya lost the battle and was captured. Hussain Nizam Shah, the Sultan of Ahmednagar who had a personal grudge against him, killed him by cutting off his head with his sword. . The Muslim army entered Vijaynagar and stayed for five long months. They destroyed every monument, sculptures, every building, every idol and the town was burnt and defaced to fullest extent. Such was the fury and hatred of Muslim army over the Hindu Vijaynagar. However the empire was not destroyed fully. Tirumala Raya the brother of Rama Raya escaped to Penukonda where they tried to revive the empire. With suspected murder of Sadasivarayalu, the emperor, the Tuluva dynasty rule ceased and Araveeti Dynasty of Ramaraya ruled the empire. The empire however could not regain its past glory although it still commanded great respect. At Tallikota Battle, the prestige of its Army received great jolt. Subsequent rulers like Venkatapathirayalu II at Chadragiri revived the empire to a great extent. The empire slowly weakened due to in- fights of its chieftains and betrayal of local subordinate rulers of Madhura, Chenji, Tanjavur and finally the empire vanished into pages of history in 1646. The last ruler Sri Ranga III is known to have survived till 1659 devoid of an empire.
The glorious empire established with the blessings of Saint Vidyaranya Swamy in 1336 lasted for 310 years. However, it lost its glory after Tallikota Battle in 1565. The glory of the empire lasted for 229 years that is very close to the predictions of the saint. Although the saint took all precautions and planned for an empire to last 3600 years, the destiny did not smile at the foundation ceremony and the foundation stone fell at an inauspicious moment and destiny came out victorious. The truth is that no one escapes destiny whoever he may be and how great he may be. The entire empire and its long history were forgotten till the arrival of European Sewell’s book Forgotten Empire. Vijayanagar and Hampi are now in ruins and forms worlds heritage. The extent and ferocity of destruction of the entire city, the monuments, temples, and sculptures is the glaring proof for the vengeance of fanatic Muslim invaders whose sole aim was to destroy the Hindu faith and its heritage. It is fully to the credit of Saint Vidyaranya Swamy who fore saw and inspired the princes to stand unitedly and fight against oppression of Muslim invaders who were hell bent on destroying Hinduism from this land. The empire stood against the invaders for nearly 300 long years and the intention of the Muslim rulers to convert India into Dar-ul-Islam (Land of Followers of Islam) was not realized. Had it not been for the Vijayanagar kingdom, the entire South India would have been forcibly converted to Islam But Hinduism is very great. It is a way of life if not a religion. It has absorbed all religions, thus putting all Muslims in fright. The lord Krishna proclaimed in Gita:
Yada yada hi Dhrmasya Glanirbhavati Bharata
Abhyudddhanam Adharmasya tadadmanam srujamyaham
(Whenever crime and arson are on the rise let loose by a devil
I Take birth in this land to drive away the men of evil)
In 12 th and 13 th centuries, the invading fanatic Muslims created havoc with the heritage and culture of Hinduism in entire India and it can be believed that Vijaynagar empire was the gift from the almighty in time that produced brilliant rulers and each and every ruler stood against the onslaught of Muslims and defended the faith and Hinduism and Saint Vidyaranya Swamy was no doubt was the god man who was instrumental in the rise of Vijayanagar in the History of India. It is a disgrace that present youth and people are ignorant of facts and are being carried away in the melee of modern living, comforts, westernization, money and American dollars. It is shame on some pseudo historians who write distorted versions of the history for few coppers and Govt recognition and awards claiming that Vijaynagar rulers only played politics of murders and they did nothing for the protection of Hinduism.Such pseudo historians and sycophants of rulers and pseudo secularists are leading the nation to a dooms day. It is time all Hindus take inspiration from the life and teachings of Saint Vidyaranyaswamy and protect Hinduism from vanishing in its own land by the deeds of our own pseudo Hindu secularists.
Prof Dr Col (Retd) K Prabhakar Rao