Unit 4 Vijayanagar and DECCAN STATES*
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Provincial Kingdoms UNIT 4 VIJAYANAGAR AND DECCAN STATES* Structure 4.0 Objectives 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Geographical Setting of South India 4.3 Establishment and Consolidation of the Vijaynagar Empire 4.3.1 Early Phase, 1336-1509 4.3.2 Krishnadeva Raya, 1509-1529 4.3.3 Period of Instability, 1529-1542 4.3.4 The Portuguese 4.3.5 Vijaynagar’s Relations with the Deep South 4.3.6 The Deccan Muslim States 4.4 Religion and Politics under the Vijaynagar Empire 4.4.1 Ritual Kingship 4.4.2 Political Role of the Brahmans 4.4.3 Relationship between Kings, Sects and Temples 4.5 Local Administration under the Vijaynagar Empire 4.5.1 The Nayankara System 4.5.2 The Ayagar System 4.5.3 Land and Income Rights 4.5.4 Economic Role of Temples 4.6 Nature of the Vijaynagar State 4.7 Rise of the Nayak Kingdoms 4.8 Rise of the Bahmani Power 4.9 Conflict between the Afaqis and the Dakhnis and their Relations with the King 4.10 Central and Provincial Administration under the Bahmani Kingdom 4.11 Army Organization under the Bahmani Kingdom 4.12 Political Formations in the Deccan 4.13 Summary 4.14 Keywords 4.15 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises 4.16 Suggested Readings 4.17 Instructional Video Recommendations * Dr. Sangeeta Pandey and Prof. Abha Singh, School of Social Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. The present Unit is taken from IGNOU Course EHI-03: India: From 8th to 15th Century, Block 7, Units 27 & 28, and EHI-04: India from 16th to mid-18th Century, Block 1, Unit 3. 77 Political Structures 4.0 OBJECTIVES After going through this Unit, you should be able to: • assess the geographical influences on the polity and economy of Deccan and South India, • understand the emergence of the Vijaynagar empire, • analyze the expansion of Vijaynagar power during 14th-16th century, • evaluate Vijaynagar’s relations with the Bahmani rulers and deep south, • explain the process of consolidation and decline of the Vijaynagar empire, • appraise the administrative set-up with special reference to nayankara and ayagar system, • appraise the political formation and its nature in Deccan and South India, • know the emergence of Nayak kingdoms in South India, • understand the emergence of the Bahmani kingdom, • analyze the conflict between the old Dakhni nobility and the newcomers (the Afaqis) and how did it ultimately lead to the decline of the Bahmani Sultanate, and • evaluate the administrative structure under the Bahmanis. 4.1 INTRODUCTION In the present Unit, we will discuss the process of the emergence, expansion and consolidation of the Vijaynagar power, over the South Indian macro-region, as well as its disintegration. The invasion of the Deccan and South India by the Delhi Sultans weakened the power of the four kingdoms in South India (the Pandya and Hoysala kingdoms in the South, and Kakatiya and Yadava kingdoms in the North) and made them subservient to the Delhi Sultanate. This was followed by the emergence and expansion of the Bahmani and the Vijaynagar kingdoms in the second quarter of the fourteenth century. Harihara and Bukka, the sons of Sangama (the last Yadava king), had been in the service of the Kakatiyas of Warangal. After the fall of Warangal at the hands of the Delhi Sultans, they shifted to Kampili. After the conquest of Kampili, the two brothers were taken to Delhi where they embraced Islam and became favorites of the Sultan. Soon the Hoysalas attacked Kampili with the support of the local people and defeated the governor of Delhi. The Sultan at this point sent Harihara and Bukka to govern that region. They started the restoration of Sultan’s power but came in contact with Vidyaranya who converted them back to the Hindu fold. They declared their independence and founded the state of Vijaynagar with Harihara as its king in 1336. Soon this state developed into the powerful Vijaynagar empire. In this Unit, we will also trace the story of the end of the Tughlaq rule in the Deccan and its replacement by the Bahmani Sultanate taking into account the conquests, consolidation and administrative system of the period. We shall further look at what followed the decline of the two empires – the Bahmani and the Vijaynagar empires in Deccan and South India. This shall provide the background for the developments witnessed in the region with the entry of the Mughals. We begin our discussion with an understanding of the geographical setting of the region. 78 Vijayanagar and 4.2 GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING OF SOUTH INDIA Deccan States Geography plays a crucial role in the politico-economic developments. Certain salient geographical features of South India and Deccan influenced the developments in the region. Broadly, the whole tract lying south of the river Narmada is known as South India. However, technically speaking, this tract consists of two broad divisions, Deccan and South India. Deccan Deccan is bounded in the north and north-east by Narmada and Mahanadi rivers, while Nilgiri hills and Pennar river form its southern boundary. To the west and east lie the Western and Eastern Ghats along with long coastal strip on both the sides. The area between the vast western sea-coast and the Sahyadri ranges is known as Konkan, a sub-region of Deccan. The whole strip is full of dense forest, and the soil is not adequately fertile. The area boasts of great strategic importance. Therefore, a number of strong forts were built there. The famous ports of Chaul and Dabhol also come under this region. On account of its difficult access, local chieftains (deshmukhs) often manifested shifting loyalties and at times defied the Central authority. You would find that it was this geographical location that played a crucial role in the rise of the Marathas. On account of its hilly and forest tracts, the Deccan states were difficult to penetrate, but from the side of southern Gujarat it had an easy access through the fertile Baglana tract. For this reason, it repeatedly fell under the sway of the Gujarat rulers. Finally, in the 16th century, the Portuguese altered the balance in that region. With minor variations, Goa marked the boundary between the Bahmani and the Vijaynagar states. The central Deccan (from the Ajanta ranges to the Nilgiri hills and Palaghat gap) possesses black soil which is good for cotton cultivation. The Khandesh and Berar tracts of Maharashtra lying along the banks of the Tapti and the Wardha and Painganga rivers were known for their fertility. This led to frequent encounters between the Malwa and Bahmani rulers for the occupation of Kherla and Mahur. Between the Krishna and Godavari lies the flat plain which is also famous for its rich ‘cotton’ soil. Then comes the Telangana region: its soil is sandy and does not retain moisture. The rivers, too, are not perennial; as a result, tank irrigation became important. Along the Krishna valley lies the Kurnool rocks where the famous Golconda mines were located. The southern Deccan plateau (parts lying in modern Karnataka) is also rich in mineral resources (copper, lead, zinc, iron, gold, manganese, etc.). South India The region south of the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab formed South India. The coastal belt in the east is known as Coromandel while the western tract from south of Kanara (from the river Netravati down to Cape Comorin) is known as Malabar which is bounded by the Western Ghats in the east. During the Chola period the focus of activity was confined mainly around the Kaveri tract which, during the Vijaynagar period, shifted further north-east towards Tungabhadra- Krishna doab (the Rayalseema tract) where the capital of Vijaynagar was situated. Throughout the 13th-16th century, this tract remained the centre of struggle: first, between Vijaynagar and Bahmani, and later between Vijaynagar and its successor Nayak states and the Bijapur rulers. The Qutb Shahi rulers also joined the conflict frequently. Another feature that influenced the 16th century South Indian polity, economy and society was the migration of the Telugu population from the northern tracts (of 79 Political Structures South India) which started from the mid-15th century and continued during the 16th century. Interestingly, this movement was from the coastal and deltaic wet land areas, which were greatly fertile, well-cultivated and well-irrigated. There might have been numerous reasons for these migrations such as the Bahmani pressure; deliberate attempts on the part of the Vijaynagar rulers to extend their dominion further south; natural process, that is, movement from more densely populated areas; the soil was well suited to the migrants since it was excellent for dry farming, etc. At any rate, it had a deep socio-economic impact. For example, the development of dry farming led to the rise of tank irrigation which became the crucial part of the 16th century South Indian economy. Secondly, its comparatively low productivity yielded low surplus which helped in the rise of what the modern scholars call ‘portfolio capitalists’ in this tract. 4.3 ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE VIJAYNAGAR EMPIRE Geographical configurations played an important role in determining the course of political events in south India. The focus of struggle among the local powers was the Krishna-Godavari delta, Kaveri basin, the Tungabhadra doab and the Konkan region, the latter was known for its fertility and access to high seas. During the 8th-13th century, the struggle was between the Rashtrakutas and the Pallavas while the following centuries saw Vijaynagar and Bahmani kingdoms locking horns. The Bahmanis compelled the Vijaynagar rulers to expand laterally westward and eastward across the peninsula from the main centre of their power on the Tungabhadra.