Notion Press Old No. 38, New No. 6 McNichols Road, Chetpet Chennai - 600 031 First Published by Notion Press 2019 Copyright © S R Ramanujan 2019 All Rights Reserved. ISBN 978-1-68466-572-3 This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. CONTENTS Foreword vii Introduction ix CHAPTER 1 The Ramayana Connection 1 CHAPTER 2 Foundation for Vijayanagara Empire 15 CHAPTER 3 Madhava Vidyaranya 23 CHAPTER 4 Vijayanagara – Hindu Empire or Just an Empire? 29 CHAPTER 5 Saivism to Vaishnavism 37 CHAPTER 6 Muslims in Vijayanagara 47 CHAPTER 7 Travellers to and Chroniclers of Vijayanagara 55 CHAPTER 8 Krishna Deva Raya 79 CHAPTER 9 King Achyuta Raya – A Distorted Profile & Reality 91 CHAPTER 10 Destruction of Vijayanagara 99 Bibliography 111 v CHAPTER 1 The Ramayana Connection Did Ramayana really happen? Is Rama real? Did he walk this earth with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana? Was Valmiki a fiction writer? India’s Left Liberals, who have nothing but hatred and prejudice against our ancient culture, tradition and civilization would answer the first three questions with an emphatic “NO,” with a vehement “YES” for the last question. We may have to forgive them since, for them, India, i.e. Bharat, came into existence with the invaders and stood still soon afterwards with no identity of its own. Yes, it is a great irony. For those who swear by “identity politics” there is no identity for our nation. Stephen Knapp, an American scholar, whose life is dedicated to the study of Vedas and Sanatana Dharma, summarised the mindset of these people very well: “So, it is a wonder how such persons can be expected as leaders of the people of India who should be concerned with preserving and protecting the culture of the country. Obviously, they are neither concerned nor aware of the depths of information that can be found in support of the traditions for which India is specially known. Or, they are really attempting to dismantle or destroy the authority of the timeless nature of the civilisation of the country.” This narrative of Stephen Knapp is not an exaggeration. We have seen the opposition to International Yoga Day from the Left Liberals echoing the religious sentiments of Muslims. A communist 1 2 Vijayanagara leader went to the extent of comparing yoga with a dog stretching its front and hind legs. Such is the contempt that these worthies have for anything that reflect the ancient tradition of this great country. It is true that many geographical identity is associated with the events mentioned in Ramayna and there are contradictions as well. For example, the birth place of Hanuman is claimed to be in three different parts of the country. There are too many versions of Ramayana which is always cited by those who are keen to prove that there was no temple for Lord Ram beneath the Babri Mosque, thereby questioning the very basis of Ramayana. There are people who feel that the Ramayana epic was written only during the post-Christ era. However, researchers have a different take on this. Anthropological scientists from the Estonian Biocentre and the University of Delhi claim, as per the media reports, that events of the epic Ramayana did occur in reality thousands of years ago. The results of their genetic studies with existing data show genetic signatures of tribal groups featured in the Ramayana like Gonds, Kols and Bhils. These groups of tribals are believed to be quite ancient and existed since the Stone Age. Dr. Vadlamudi Raghavendra Rao, Professor of Anthopology, University of Delhi, in his interaction with the media, said: “Definitely the events described in Ramayana occurred is real. Our research has shown close genetic affinity of these tribes to other ethnic groups. We have shown that there is continuity in the populations, groups living here.” These tribes find a mention in Ayodhya, Aranya and Kishkinda kandas. S R Ramanujan 3 Flora and Fauna There are also other studies which say that the flora and fauna mentioned in the epic can be found even today in different parts of the country and in Sri Lanka. The world of plants is central to the Ramayana and Botanists have documented 182 plant species in Valmiki Ramayana. What is of interest is that the flora mentioned in the epic are found growing in the exact locations described and Valmiki must have been the first Botanist to come with such vivid description of plants in his epic. Hanuman introduces himself to Rama & Lakshmana Besides flora, a number of geographical entities, which you find in Ramayana, exist today. Ayodhya, Mithila, Dandakaranya, Vidharba, Chitrakoot, Panchavati, Parnasala, Pampa Saras, Sethu, Anjanadri, Lanka etc. Among them, Pampa lake finds a prominent mention in the epic connecting the pre-historic period with the modern age and more particularly the 200-year long medieval history of Vijayanagara kings. Valmiki talks about some of the 4 Vijayanagara flora in Kishkinda kanda which can be found around Pampa even today. They are: SANSKRIT INDIAN/ENGLISH LOCATION Agnimukha Bhilava Matanga Hermitage Ankola Ankola Pampa lake Arjuna Arjuna Pampa lake Ashoka Ashoka Pampa lake Ashvakama Dhupa/lndian copal Malada Asvatta Pipal/Bodhi Matanga Bilva Bel Pampa lake Champaka Champa Pampa lake Chandana Sandalwood Pampa lake Chuta Mango Pampa lake Dhanva Bakulla Matanga Dhava Axle wood Pampa lake Hintala Jangli madan mast ka phool Pampa lake Jambu Jamun Matanga Kadamba Kadamba Matanga Karnikara Golden shower Pampa lake Ketaki Kewada Pampa lake Kimshuka Palasa/Flame of forest Pampa lake Kurantaka Vajradanti Pampa lake Kurvaka Mehandi/Henna Pampa lake Lodhra Lodhra/Cinchona Pampa lake Madhavi Vasanti Pampa lake Madhuka Mahuva Pampa lake Malati Mallika Pampa lake Muchukunda Muchukunda Pampa lake Naga Naga champa Pampa lake Naktamala Karanja Pampa lake Nila Banyan/Indian fig Pampa lake Nyagrodha Banyan Matanga hermitage (Continued) S R Ramanujan 5 SANSKRIT INDIAN/ENGLISH LOCATION Padmaka Himalayan wild cherry Pampa lake Panasa Jackfruit Matanga hermitage Paribhadraka Tiger’s claw/Sunshine tree Pampa lake Patala Padari/Trumpet flower Pampa lake Priyala Chironji/Almondi tree Matanga hermitage Rakta Indian madder Pampa lake Salmali Cotton tree Pampa lake Simsupa Rose wood/Black wood Pampa lake Sindhuvara Five-leaved chaste tree Pampa lake Sirisa Sirak Pampa lake Supushpi Butterfly pea/Aparajita Pampa lake Syandana Queen crape/Pride of India Pampa lake Tilaka Cinnamum/Daalchini Pampa lake Uddalaka Bhokara/Assyrian palm Pampa lake Vakula Vakula/Magizham (Tamil) Pampa lake Vasanti Vasanti/Madhumalti Pampa lake Let’s take a tour around Hampi and look at the places which still bear the very names mentioned in the Kishkinda kanda of Ramayana. In fact, the entire area was known as Kishkinda in the Puranic period. PAMPA SARAS (also Pampa Sarovar) Quite a few references are made to this sacred geography in Ramayana where Rama met Sabari. But Pampa Saras is different from Pampa river which has now taken another name Tungabhadra. Hampe itself is a derivate name from Pampa which again took a modern name Hampi like Hosapeta became Hospet. RISHYAMUKA HILL: While Rama and Lakshmana were journeying through Dandakaranya in search of Sita, they were confronted by the demon Kabandha. Before he could breathe his last, he advised the divine brothers to go to Rishsyamukha near 6 Vijayanagara Pampa and enter into a pact with Sugriva. As they were nearing this place, they stumbled on the ashrama of female ascetic Sabari who was the disciple of Rishi Matanga. The meeting between Rama and Lakshmana with Sugriva and Hanuman took place on this hallowed hill. It is here Sugriva showed the ornaments of Sita which she dropped while being carried away in an aerial ratha by Ravana. MALYAVANTA: This is the place where Rama and Lakshmana were believed to have stayed for four months during the rainy season. Malyavanta was a great devotee of Lord Siva and the hill is named after him. Before its association with Rama, the mountain was a sacred and important site of the Saiva sect. On the summit of the hill there are many lingas and nandis. There are also temples for Prasanna Malyvanta and Goddess Lakshmi. MATANGA: Matanga was a sage who had his hermitage on the Hemakuta Hills. He gave protection to Sugriva and Hanuman who were hounded by Vali. Vali had a curse on him: if ever he ventured to enter the area around Hemakuta hills he would be destroyed. The reason for the curse was this. Vali killed a demon and threw his decomposed body around Matanga’s ashram. Therefore, Sugriva sought refuge in the hill which was a no-entry zone for Vali, who, otherwise would have finished Sugriva. The place where Sugriva hid himself is known today as Sugriva’s cave. Matanga also plays a significant role in the marriage of Pampa with Virupaksha and whose Kalyana Utsava is held every year. MADHUVANA: This is where Hanuman and his associates reached after the successful trip to Lanka and made merry making over the success before reaching Rama to convey the good news. S R Ramanujan 7 HEMAKUTA PARVATHA: Literal meaning in Sanskrit for this hill is “peak of gold.” How did this name come into vogue? There is a mythical story behind this.