International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.2, Issue-1(3), January-March, 2015

Tanks and temples in

Dr. K. Venkateswarlu Lecturer in History, S.N.S.R. Degree College, Velgode. Kurnool Dist., A.P.

Abstract: Irrigation management in the medieval period was often uneconomical. Tanks and canals were neglected and abandoned, perhaps as often as they were constructed. During the Viajaynagara period great attention had to be paid for the construction of tanks. As a result, numerous tanks, of varied sizes came into existence, throughout their empire. The development of an efficient secular management of the Temple was also closely related to the irrigation program. In the 1380’s after two centuries as an increasingly important shrine, the temple came under the managemt of twelve trustees (sthanattar). In the course of the century of growth, from the 1450/s the function of the Temple management changed. This was an important factor in the irrigation programme. The relationship between the volume of resources which came into the Temple and the secular management of the Temple was an interdependent one. The increasing endowments of land and money in the late 15th and early 16th centuries must have resulted from the fact that management was efficient and responsible, as much as from the patronage of the Vijayanagara rulers. declared that as the prosperity of the country was a source of profit to the state, the government should create irrigation facilities by the construction of tanks and the excavation of canals. To provide the country with tanks wells, and canals was believed to bring religious merit to the people. In an inscription of 1538-39 A.D. the excavation of tanks was included in the Saptasant?nas or the seven acts productive or religious merit.

Keywords : Tanks, Irrigation works, Cheruvulu, Temple Architecture, Civil architecture, Sculptures, Paintings.

Introduction of the century of growth, from the 1450/s Irrigation management in the medieval the function of the Temple management period was often uneconomical. Tanks and changed. This was an important factor in canals were neglected and abandoned, the irrigation programme. Vijayanagara perhaps as often as they were constructed. kings were great builders. During this During the Viajaynagara period great period many fortresses, palaces and attention had to be paid for the temples were constructed. Temples built construction of tanks. As a result, during this period are well known for their numerous tanks, of varied sizes came into size. Details of decoration, sculpture and existence, throughout their empire. The painting. The Vijayanagara temples built development of an efficient secular in their entirety are found in the management of the Temple was also Rayalaseema region in the places of closely related to the irrigation program. In Tadipatri, Lepakshi, Penukonda, Kadiri. the 1380’s after two centuries as an Pushpagiri Mangapuram, Srisailam, increasingly important shrine, the Tirupati Tirumala Tirupati, Kalahasti, Tiruchanur, temple came under the managemt of Ahobilam, an Agrahara Garden a Tank and twelve trustees (sthanattar). In the course a Temple.

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Tanks: One of the main branches of this in its close proximity. The tank is empty aqueduct supplied water to the and also in a much ruined stage. geometrically thrilling Stepped Tank Nevertheless the Archeological Survey within this area. In fact the very of India is repositioning the scrambled discovery of the Stepped Tank was due pavilion structures around the tank. On to this branch of aqueduct leading to the steps around the tank one can see particularly every stone is earmarked the chains of carvings. Especially that of for this purpose and some bears even elephants one following the other. The ‘sketches’ by its architects. The purpose entrance to the tank is decorated with of this tank is not very sure, mostly it the typical Vijayanagara style pillars. was used during the religious Friezes of rampant mythical beats and ceremonies by the royals. Two bathing other mythological themes decorate the pavilions of the Royal Centre – the pillars. This tank also known as Queen’s Bath & the Octagonal Bath – Lokakpavani tank is located at the end are popular for its architectural merits. of the Courtesan’s Street, close to the The Queens bath is a plan looking Varaha Temple. building from outside. But the interior is elaborate with a giant tank at the Irrigation works center and overlooking balconies projecting to the tank. The corridor The Vijayanagar architects were around with its arches, domes and the experts in constructing dams and canals. protruding balconies makes it look more According to Sewell, Krishnadeva Raya like to a palatial structure than a bath. ‘constructed in 1521 the dam and channel A water channel encircling the building at Korragal and the Basavanna channel acts as the means to feed water as well both of which are still in use and of great as a barrier from intrusion. A large open value to the country’. Krishna Devaraya verandah made of cubical pillars constructed a huge tank near the supporting the beams runs around this southeren entrance to Nagalapur Both octagonal tank. Another interesting Paes and Nuniz mention the construction structure is the Stepped Tank of of a great dam near the capital, with the Malapannanagudi, a village on the way aid of a Portuguese engineer. For the to . Tanks are an integral part of supply of water to the city many channels temple architecture. They served both were constructed. A stone channel goes up ceremonial and functional purposes. from the throne platform to the walls of Most of the temple of Hampi has tanks the citadel, a branch from it reaches the a constructed in its near vicinity. The Zenana enclosure and supplies water to queen’s bath. A tub, made of a singie block Manmatha Tank near Virupaksha 1/2 temple is by and large still functional. of granite measuring 41 feet in length 3 Temple tanks of the Krishna Temple feet in width and 2 ¾ in thickness was and the Vittala Temple have elaborate found there. Abdur Razzak says. “ In the pavilions attached to it. The central king’s palace one sees numerous running podiums of these tanks were used to streams and canals formed of chiseled place the images of the God & Goddess stone polished and smooth. Sewell states during the boat festival part of the that ‘Remains of these are still to be seen annual temple celebration. The temple not far from the ‘Ladies Bath’….. there tank part of the Achyutraya’s temple is was a long through that conveyed the a place to observe the tank architecture water and on each side were depressions which may have been hollowed for the www.ijar.org.in 180 International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.2, Issue-1(3), January-March, 2015 reception of round vessels of different banks of the channels. We find also sizes, intended to hold water for house- instances where a chain of irrigation hold use.” All these show the existence of systems by which lakes were connected irrigation architecture. The interesting with rivers and the lake connected among examples of street architecture can also be themselves. We may not also the solitary seen in Hampi Opposite to the temple of instance of the bounding of the river and Hampi there is a street 35 yards wide and creating a reservoir out of that. The term 800 yards long. pasipattam also denote a tax levied on Cheruvulu similar rights as is evident from an A record from Kurayi, Palmaner inscription from Tirumala referring to the taluk of Sadasiva dated 1482 (=1559 A.D) grant of eri-min-pattam by the villagers for refers to the right of utilizing the available the rendering of vedaparayanam to god water facility in cheruvulu (cheru-vlu), Tiruvengadamudaiyan, this inscription is Kumtalu, mutulu and etalu for irrigating dated in 1433 A.D. the land granted as archana-vritti. The record from Tirumala in 1409 A.D. Temple Architecture Another record from the same place in The city of Vijayanagar appears to have 1457 A.D. mentions undertaking fiven by been as much a capital city as city of the sthanattar of the temple to koyilkelvi temples and a number of interesting Emberumanar-jiyar who grated 5000 temples may still be found in the panam for desilting the lake at Avilali. deserted city. The temple of Pampapati Rayasam kondamarasa, Krishnaraya’s dedicated to Sri Virupaksha is the most minister, was two or three tanks sacred. Although the temple is said to constructed in the province of Udayagiri. have been built prior to the foundation of the city, many additions were made Some reference to the levy and to it by Hari Hara I and Krishnadeva collection of nirkuli by nayakas in Raya. The temple of Vitthalasamy is a Chandragiri and Chittoor. Tiruvenkata fine example of Vijayanagar style. In the Chirukkan by name, supervised the opinion of Fergusson, it ‘shows the digging and maintence of cannals and extreme limit in florid magnificence to channels in the department of which the style advanced’. Begun in the Varigripakarana or water works. This time of II its construction contradict the traditional view of N. was continued even in the reign of Venkataramanayya and Butron Stein that Achyta Raya, but was never entirely there was no department of irrigation or finished. It stands on a rectangular public works in the Vijayanagara domain. enclosure 538 by 310 feet with three The few instance cited above afford ample towers on each of the north, south and proof of the interest taken by the east sides. The Mahamandapa and individuals made for irrigation consisted of Kalyana Mandapa are impressive halls 1) investing money by spending on with high pillars. The Mahamandapa desilting of the existing lakes or assigning has 56 pillars each 12 ft high hewn out the income from taxes towards the same, of solid blocks of granite. Kalyana 2) by the construction of new lakes and Mandapa is an open pavilion with 48 bringing fresh land under cultivation, and pillars. There are five other structures 3) by excavating new channels or mostly of the nature of pillared halls renovating the old ones to ensure regular within the enclosures. There is also a supply of water to the areas all along the stone car, carved out of granite with

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movable wheels. According to important. It is a colossal structure rising Fergusson, “It has all the up in ten storeys to a height of 188 feet, characteristics of the Dravidian style”. and is highly decorative. A part of the The Hazara Ramaswamy temple is ‘one northern tower at Childambaram and a of the most perfect specimens of Hindu new tower at Kalahasti were constructed temple architecture in existence’. The by Krishnadeva Raya. As the most of these temple is a small one measuring 200’ x gopurams were built by the Rayas of 300’ from north to south. The inner Vijayanagar, these gopurams came to be walls of the temple are decorated in known as ‘Rayar Gopurams’. In relief with scenes from . A Vijayanagar there is a Jain temple called deserted temple at Tadpatri to which the ‘Gangitti’ temple which was reference has been made by Fergusson constructed by Irugappa dandanatha, the has the rich and lavish magnificence of Jain minister of Hari Hara II. There is a Vijayanagar style “ As the treatment of beautiful monolithic stambha in front of the two gopurams of this temple the shrine. The figure of a Jain indicates, this composition surpasses Thirthanakara with three superimposed perhaps even Vitthalasamy temple. The umbrellas above his head and a flywhisk on perpendicular part of the gopuram is either side is engraved upon the stone covered with the most elaborate lintel over the main doorway. He also built sculpture cut with exquisite sharpness the ‘Sangita manatapa’ in front of the and precision”. Other important shrine of the temple at Jinakanchi. On the temples having the characteristics of the base of the pillars of the manadapa are Vijayanagar style are Achyuta Raya carved lions, plants, creepers, twisting temple, and Malyaventa temple. snakes, dancing girls, etc. In one of the pillars the figure of Irugappa is carved in The Vijayanagar kings were high relief. responsible for large scale additions to important religious establishments of the Civil architecture: In the ruins of the south, Temples were provided with huge city of Vijayanagar a few secular towers and pillared halls (Mandapas). buildings can be seen intct Nothing Among the mandapas that may be ascribed remains of the palace except the two to Vijayanagar period, the most important impressive basements of large and are in (iii) in the temples of Varadaraja imposing structure. Of these one is perumal and Ekambaranatha at known as the kings’ Audience Hall and and (iv) in the the other is called Thronge platform. Jambukesvara temple at Virijipuram. Of But Paes called it as the House of these, the mandapa at Vellore has been Victory erecied by Krishnadeva Raya to decribed by Percy Brown to be ‘ the richest commemorate hs conquest of Orissa. and the most beautiful structure of its The original buildings seem to have kind’. The Vijayanagar kings were zealous been pa pillared pavilion rising up in in raising tall and massive gopurams three spcious stages diminishing as they forming entrance to the courts in order to go up, embellished by bold and chaste display their power and pomp and their mouldings and string courses. Over the devotion to religion. Among these the platform, which is reached by elaborate southeren gopuram in the temple of flights of steps ther amy stil be seen Ekambaranatha of Kanchipuram built by sockets of six rows of pillars ten in each Krishnadev Raya is certainly the most

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which supported the superstructure, ‘Tirupparuttikkunram’ there are a number now entirely gone. of colour paintings illustrative of the incidents in the lives of three Jain A few buildings can be seen more or less Thirthankaras. Paes says that in the bed in a fair state of preservation. They are the chamber of the palace of Vijayanagara. Lotus Mahal, the Elephant stables and the there were designed in painting all the two tower-like structures called watch – ways of the life of men, who had been there towers of the Zanana recessed corners and including the Portuguese so that the king’s in two storeys. The arches and their piers wives could understand the manner in seem to be modeled on Indo Islamic which each one lived in his own country. pattern. The Elephant stable is more Later the Jesuit painters received great emphatically Islamic appearance and in encouragement at the hands of character. The Islamic ranges of arches Vijayanagar Kings. The best specimens of and domes have been blended with the Vijayanagara paintings are found at indigenous balconies and the square Veerabhadraswami temple at Lepakshi, turret-like superstructures in a near Hindupur in Anantapur District. The harmonious and organic manner. roof of the Mahamandapa is covered with Scalptures life-size paintings depicting scenes from Among the seulptures of Vijayanagar the Ramayan and Mahavarata. The an enormous statue of God Vishnu in his themes of the paintings include Arjuna’s avatar as Narasimha (the man-lion), is an penance, Parvati’s marriage. interesting monument. It is hewn out of a Conclusion single boulder of granite. In the Malayavanta temple also there is an image The epigraphically evidence of Rama, carved upon a huge boulder. The discussed above drives home the point that temple contains some fine sculptures. One maintenance of tanks in the Vijayanagara of the most interesting among them is the Dynasty was given utmost importance figure of two serpents approaching the sun particularly from the Vijayanagara period or moon, representing a solar or lunar onwards. People of all ranks as well as eclipse. The Achyta Raya temple contains institutions like temples evinced great beautiful sculptures. The different interest in maintaining tanks and thereby incarnations of Vishnu are engraved on the brought large extenst of land under gate way of the temple. Most of the cultivation. Permanent arrangements were gopurams and mandapas of Vijayanagar made for the upkeep of tanks by way of contain images of wonderful workmanship. granting land, villages, tax-incomes, etc. to Paintings those who were entrusted with this The religious impulse of that period responsibility. Consequently a good inspired the people to have beautiful number of tanks excavated during the paintings in their temples. The outer walls medieval period continue to serve the and ceilings of the temples were adorned purpose even till today. Hence it can be with paintings. The Hazara Ramasamy said that the temple during the during the temple at Hampi contains some interesting Vijayanagaa period was not only a place of paintings illustrative of the life of worship but also the venue where the Rama.The Ramasamy temple at socio-cultural life was reflected. The contains one thousand temple has its own administrative setup Fresco Paintings descriptive of the life of supervised by a board of trustees, namely Rama. In the Vardhamana temple at sthanapati, pujari, and bhandagarika or a

www.ijar.org.in 183 International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.2, Issue-1(3), January-March, 2015 man trustee like pontiff of the matha to temple had the privilege of using the which the temple was affiliated. The standard of measures. References Annual reports : 1939-40 No199 Brton Stein: All the kings mana, papers in Medieval south Indian History, Madras, 1984 Burton sterin : A , Oxford University press New Delhi, 2006 Epigraphic Indica ,: Vol XIV P-97 Gopala Rao. A : Lepakshi, Kameswara Rao: Select Vijayanagara Temples of Rayalaseema, Hyd 1979 Kameswra Rao V.:Vijayanagara paintings, T.T.D Krishnaswamy Ayyangar: Source of Vijayanagra History Madras, 1919 Mahalingam T.V.: Administration and social life under the Viajayanagara part-II Social life Mangalam S.J : History Geography and Toponomy of , New Delhi, 1986 Rao P.R: “Ancient and Medieval History of Andhra Pradesh” New Delhi-1993. Rao C.V.R: Art and Artists in ancient India, the Modern Review 1964 South Indian Inscriptions: Vol XVI No.6 Ibid No. 266 Ibid No. 297 Seletore, R.N : VIjayanagara Art, Stien, Burton : Vijayanagara. New Delhi 1994 Thangasamy, S.A: Vijayanagar Empire a brief History A.D. 1336-1565, Madurai 1976, Venkataramanayya. N : “Studies in the Third Dynasty of Vijayanagara University of Madras. Vijayaragavacharya : History of Tirupati, Tirupati 1953.

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