case study of krishnadevaraya

Home > Warriors

The Krishnadeva Raya: The Glorious Emperor

Raja Krishnadeva Raya

Krishnadevaraya, also known as Sri Krishna Deva Raya, was a legendary emperor who ruled the Vijayanagara Empire in South India from 1509 to 1529. His reign is often referred to as the Vijayanagara Renaissance, characterized by remarkable achievements in art, literature, architecture, and military prowess. Krishnadevaraya's rule brought immense prosperity and cultural growth to the empire. This article delves into the life and accomplishments of Krishnadevaraya, exploring his military triumphs, patronage of the arts, and lasting legacy.

Expansion and consolidation defined Krishna Deva Raya's reign. At this period, the Raichur doab (the area between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers) was conquered (1512), the rulers of Odisha were overthrown (1514), and the Sultan of Bijapur suffered devastating setbacks (1520).

While the Mughal king Babur ranked the rulers of the north of India, he determined that Krishnadevaraya was the most potent and had the largest kingdom in the subcontinent.

Early Life and Ascension

Krishnadevaraya was born on July 16, 1471, into the Tuluva dynasty , which ruled the Vijayanagara Empire. He belonged to the royal Sangama lineage and was the son of King Tuluva Narasa Nayaka. Krishnadevaraya received a comprehensive education, which included warfare, administration, and literature. His elder brother's untimely death led to Krishnadevaraya ascending to the throne in 1509 at the age of 37.

Military Achievements:

One of Krishnadevaraya's notable strengths was his military acumen. He engaged in numerous successful military campaigns that expanded the Vijayanagara Empire's territory and influence. Krishnadevaraya waged wars against rival kingdoms, such as the Gajapatis of Orissa, the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, and the chiefs of Ummathur and Malabar. His most significant military triumph was the Battle of Raichur in 1520, where he defeated the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates. This victory solidified Vijayanagara's dominance in the region.

Krishnadevaraya's military successes were not limited to warfare alone. He skillfully employed diplomacy, establishing friendly relations with neighboring kingdoms and forging alliances with smaller states. His strategic alliances and military prowess ensured stability and secured the empire's borders, fostering a favorable environment for economic growth and cultural prosperity.

• The Deccan Success:

During the Raya's reign, the Deccan sultans' raids and pillages of Vijayanagara cities and villages came to a stop. When Sultan Mahmud and Krishnadevaraya's troops battled in 1509, the latter suffered serious injuries and losses. Raichur Doab was conquered and Yusuf Adil Shah was murdered. By combining Bidar, Gulbarga, and Bijapur into one kingdom after winning, the Raya gained the moniker "establisher of the Yavana kingdom" by releasing Sultan Mahmud and installing him as de facto monarch. Timmarusu, Sri Krishnadevaraya's prime minister, defeated Sultan Quli Qutb Shah of Golconda.

• Battle of Raichur:

The Battle of Raichur was a significant military engagement that took place in 1520 during the reign of Krishnadevaraya, the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. The battle occurred near the town of Raichur (present-day Karnataka, India) and was fought between the Vijayanagara forces led by Krishnadevaraya and the combined armies of the Deccan Sultanates.

The Deccan Sultanates suffered a decisive defeat, and their armies were forced to retreat. The Battle of Raichur showcased Krishnadevaraya's military prowess and solidified Vijayanagara's dominance in the region. The victory at the Battle of Raichur had far-reaching consequences for the Vijayanagara Empire. It strengthened the empire's position, securing its southern borders and deterring future attacks from the Deccan Sultanates. The battle also enhanced Krishnadevaraya's reputation as a formidable ruler and military strategist.

Patronage of the Arts and Literature

Krishnadevaraya's reign marked a golden age of artistic and literary achievements. He was an avid patron of the arts and supported numerous poets, scholars, and artists who flourished under his patronage. Krishnadevaraya's court became a vibrant center of intellectual and cultural activities, attracting talented individuals from various regions.

As a poet himself, Krishnadevaraya composed poetry in his native Telugu language under the pen name "Amarakavi." His poetic skills earned him the title "Andhra Bhoja," highlighting his literary prowess. His most renowned work is the "Amuktamalyada," an epic poem that narrates the story of the wedding of the Hindu god Vishnu with Andal, a 9th-century Tamil poet-saint. The poem showcases Krishnadevaraya's deep devotion, literary finesse, and mastery of storytelling.

Krishnadevaraya's patronage extended beyond poetry. He supported scholars and commissioned translations of ancient Sanskrit texts into Telugu, making them accessible to a wider audience. The emperor's love for literature and language significantly contributed to the development and enrichment of Telugu literature, leaving a lasting impact on South Indian literary traditions.

Architectural Marvels and Cultural Legacy:

Krishnadevaraya's reign left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of the Vijayanagara Empire. His patronage and support for the arts resulted in the construction of numerous magnificent temples, palaces, and monuments that showcased the empire's grandeur and architectural finesse. These architectural marvels continue to be revered for their beauty and cultural significance.

Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was the epicenter of architectural development during Krishnadevaraya's reign. The city was adorned with splendid temples and elaborate structures that reflected the empire's architectural brilliance. The Vittala Temple is one of the most iconic and breathtaking examples of Vijayanagara architecture. Its intricate carvings, imposing gopurams (entrance towers), and famous musical pillars are testaments to the empire's architectural prowess.

The Hazara Rama Temple, dedicated to Lord Rama, is another architectural gem built during Krishnadevaraya's reign. Its walls depict intricate bas-reliefs portraying episodes from the Ramayana, showcasing the empire's devotion to Hindu mythology and its skilled craftsmanship.

Krishnadevaraya also constructed the Krishna Temple, which was dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort, Rukmini. The temple featured elegant sculptures and intricate carvings that exemplified the artistic finesse of the Vijayanagara Empire.

In addition to temples, Krishnadevaraya commissioned the construction of majestic palaces and fortifications. The Lotus Mahal, an ornate two-story pavilion within the Zenana Enclosure, stands out for its graceful architecture and unique blend of Hindu and Islamic influences. The grandiose Elephant Stables, a long building with domed chambers, housed the royal elephants and served as a symbol of power and opulence.

The architectural marvels of the Vijayanagara Empire under Krishnadevaraya's patronage were not merely structures of stone and mortar. They were cultural expressions that showcased the empire's religious beliefs, artistic achievements, and social values. These structures served as centers of worship, fostering spiritual devotion, and attracting pilgrims and scholars from far and wide.

Krishnadevaraya's cultural legacy extends beyond architecture. His patronage of the arts and literature, as mentioned earlier, played a crucial role in the Vijayanagara Renaissance. The emperor's support for poets, scholars, and artists resulted in a vibrant cultural scene at his court, where creativity thrived. Telugu literature flourished, with poets composing verses in praise of the emperor and his achievements.

Krishnadevaraya's contributions to literature, particularly his masterpiece, the "Amuktamalyada," continue to be celebrated. This epic poem not only showcases his literary genius but also reflects his devotion to Lord Vishnu and his commitment to preserving and promoting the Telugu language and culture.

Overall, Krishnadevaraya's architectural marvels and cultural patronage left an enduring legacy. The Vijayanagara Empire's architectural achievements continue to awe and inspire visitors, while its cultural and literary contributions continue to shape the artistic landscape of South India. Krishnadevaraya's reign remains a testament to the empire's cultural and artistic brilliance, and his legacy as a patron of the arts endures to this day.

Administration during his reign:

Krishnadevaraya's administration was marked by effective governance and efficient management of the Vijayanagara Empire. As an able ruler, he implemented various administrative reforms and policies that contributed to the empire's stability, prosperity, and overall well-being.

Krishnadevaraya established a centralized system of administration, with power concentrated in the hands of the emperor. He appointed capable administrators, known as "Nayaks," who were responsible for governing different regions of the empire. These officials maintained law and order, collected taxes, and ensured the implementation of imperial policies.

The emperor paid significant attention to revenue administration. Krishnadevaraya implemented fair and efficient tax collection systems, ensuring that revenue from agriculture, trade, and other sources flowed into the imperial treasury. He introduced measures to prevent corruption and exploitation, and the revenue generated was used to fund various developmental projects, military campaigns, and the patronage of arts and literature.

Krishnadevaraya focused on ensuring a fair and accessible justice system. He appointed competent judges and established courts to resolve disputes and dispense justice. The legal system was based on Hindu laws and customs, with judges applying principles of dharma (righteousness) in their judgments. Krishnadevaraya emphasized the importance of upholding justice and protecting the rights of his subjects.

Under Krishnadevaraya's rule, significant infrastructure development took place. The empire witnessed the construction of roads, irrigation systems, and water management projects. These initiatives aimed to enhance agricultural productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the overall quality of life for the empire's subjects. The emperor also promoted the construction of temples, palaces, and other architectural marvels that not only served as cultural symbols but also contributed to the empire's economy and tourism.

Krishnadevaraya's effective administration and focus on the welfare of his subjects enabled the empire to flourish culturally, economically, and militarily during his reign. His legacy as an accomplished administrator endures, and his contributions to the empire's governance continue to be celebrated.

Foreign Ambassadors in Krishnadeva Raya’s Reign:

During the reign of Krishnadeva Raya, the Vijayanagara Empire had diplomatic relations with various foreign powers, and foreign ambassadors were present at his court. Here are some notable ambassadors and envoys who visited the court of Krishnadeva Raya:

Ø  Domingo Paes : Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveler and explorer who visited the court of Krishnadeva Raya. He arrived in the Vijayanagara Empire in the early 16th century and provided detailed accounts of the empire, its administration, and the court of the king in his travelog, "The Book of Duarte Barbosa." Paes documented the grandeur and magnificence of the Vijayanagara court under Krishnadeva Raya's reign.

Ø  Fernão Nunes : Fernão Nunes was a Portuguese envoy who visited the court of Krishnadeva Raya in 1520. He was sent by the Portuguese governor to negotiate trade and political alliances with the Vijayanagara Empire. Nunes had discussions with the king and other officials, establishing diplomatic ties between the Portuguese and the empire.

Ø  Abdur Razzak : Abdur Razzak was an ambassador from Persia (present-day Iran) who visited the Vijayanagara court during Krishnadeva Raya's reign. Razzak was sent by the Persian ruler Shah Rukh to strengthen diplomatic relations and explore trade opportunities. His account, "Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain" (The Rising of the Two Auspicious Constellations and the Confluence of the Two Seas), provides valuable insights into the empire's political and cultural aspects.

Ø  Ludovico de Varthema : Ludovico de Varthema, an Italian traveler and adventurer, visited the court of Krishnadeva Raya in 1505. He arrived in Vijayanagara after traveling extensively in the Middle East and Asia. Varthema's account, "Itinerario," describes the cultural richness, military prowess, and courtly splendor of the Vijayanagara Empire under Krishnadeva Raya's rule.

These foreign ambassadors and envoys brought valuable knowledge, cultural exchanges, and trade opportunities to the court of Krishnadeva Raya. Their visits not only enriched the empire's diplomatic relations but also provided valuable insights into the political, social, and cultural aspects of the Vijayanagara Empire during its golden age.

Similar Reads:

Popular Reads:

• Law & Policy
• Society & Culture
• Business & Economy
• Science & Technology
• Daan & Sewa
• Write For Us

HinduPost is the voice of Hindus. Support us. Protect Dharma

Will you help us hit our goal?

We’re aiming to add 2,500 contributions in the next 30 days, to help keep HinduPost free.

Sri Krishna Deva Raya: Father of Cultural and Social rejuvenation of Vijayanagara Empire

Bharat had a rich cultural heritage and its own societal values. After the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan in the second battle of Tarain, Islamic aggression was at its peak. Destruction of thriving cultural centers like Vidisha, Kashi, Kannauj, Mathura, Mulasthana, Ujjain and plundering of thousands of temples by the Mohammedan army started the declination of Bharat’s rich culture and societal values.

Invasion of Southern Bharat by Malik Kafur and Tughlaq dynasties destroyed cultural centers like Madurai, Warangal, and Halebidu among others and frequent raids and massacres by Bahamani forces sounded the death knell of these cultural and societal values.

After three centuries of frustration, humiliation, defeat, and retreat, in the tenth century, the Islamic forces succeeded in conquering Northern Bharat. The saga of the huge massacre, plunder, destruction, rapes, and conversion which lasted eight centuries, destroyed the base of civilization in the north. Sanatana Dharma got seriously injured by numerous cuts of monotheistic forces. But in Southern Bharat, after some initial successes in wars against Hoyasalas, Kakatiyas, Cholas, etc., the Islamic forces couldn’t as much as leave a scratch on Sanatana Dharma.

If Abhijat Hindu Dharma continues to survive in whatever form in South Bharat today, the entire credit for it still rests on the shoulders of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire, for building such a sturdy foundation way back in the mid-14th century. The Foundation of the empire laid by Harihara and Bukka under the spiritual guidance of Vidyaranya Swami was a perfect amalgamation of the idea of Brahma Kshatra spirit.

Not only did Harihara and Bukka lead from the front but also inspired countless others to do the same. They made earnest efforts to organize resistance against the advance of the invaders from the north. For three centuries it stood for Sanatana and its culture and saved them from destructive forces. The Vijayanagara empire stood like the insurmountable political Vindhya shielding entire Southern Bharat from the relentless barbaric depredations of Muslim armies.

The empire under Sri Krishna Deva Raya’s political and cultural leadership flourished in art, culture, architecture, trade, and in every other aspect. Common citizens in the empire had high ambitions and mortality and enjoyed life in totality. The Cradle of Sanatana and its culture flourished in a new form under the Vijayanagara empire. The empire was at zenith under the rule of mighty Krishnadevaraya. In his reign, the empire touched the peak in every aspect such as art, culture, literature, architecture, Imperial power, music, etc.

Sri Krishna Deva Raya himself was an excellent scholar and author. He was fluent in Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, and Tuluva. He wrote Madalasa Charitra, Satyavadu Parinaya, Rasamanjiri and Jambavati Kalyana in Sanskrit. Jambavati Kalyana is a Sanskrit play that was performed in various Utsavas in Vijayanagara. His Magnus opus Amukta Malyada has been written in the Champu style of poetry and is considered a great collection of poems. He was also instrumental in systemizing DVAITA into the school of thought.

He patronized numerous writers, poets, Vedic scholars of Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil among which the Telugu language had the upper hand. During his reign, Vijayanagara became a thriving center of learning and arts. He patronized Vyasatirtha, one of the most influential poets and Vedic scholars. Vyasatirtha was instrumental in systemizing DVAITA into a school of thought. Krishna Deva Raya considered him as Kuladevata. Vyasatirtha authored many memorable works like Nyayamitram on Metaphysics and Tarkatandava on logic.

He also patronized Kannada writers like Mallaranya, author of Veera Shaiva Amruta an encyclopedic work on Veera Shaivism. Kannada literature saw the growth of Veera Shaivism and Vachana poetry and also that of Vaishnavism and Jainism.

He also patronized Tamil poet Harihara Dasa and Sanskrit poet Lolla Lakshmidhara.  His reign marked a high point in Telugu literature. It gave birth to a new style called Prabandha. Along with patronizing poets and Vedic scholars, he had an inner circle of eight great poets who were masters in different topics known as Ashta Diggajalu.

In Bharatiya itihas, the Ashta Diggajas were the eight elephants that were believed to have held up the earth in eight directions, which were Pundareeka, Vaamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta, Sarwabhouma, Suprateeka, and the most famous of them all, Indra’s elephant Airawata. In a way, these eight elephants were also associated with the Ashta Dikpalakas, the guardians of the eight directions. The Ashta Diggajas in Sri Krishnadeva Raya’s court were eight great poets and writers, who were amongst his close circle, and with whom the king used to congregate daily. Their court was also called the Bhuvana Vijayamu (Conquest of the World) and these 8 poets each had their own individual style, totally different from each other.

In Ashta Diggajas, Allasani Pedanna was the greatest. He was revered as Andhra Kavita Pitamaha. He had a complex style of writing. He wrote the first major Prabhanda, a form of fictional poetry, and Sri Krishna Deva Raya himself would carry the palanquin in which he was seated.

The second was Nandi Timmanna, Saiva poet also known as Mukku Timmanna, for his great poetry on Mukku.  Timmanna wrote in a very simple style that a layman could also understand his works. He also did an experiment called Chitra Kavita (magical poems), where all 4 lines of a poem could be read from either direction.

The third was Madayagiri Mallana, whose works famous for the military and romantic conquest of Sri Krishna Deva Raya. The fourth was Dhurjati Kavi who had an exceptional style of poetry, standalone extempore poems. Fifth was Ayyalarajulu Ramabhadrudu whose famous work is Ramabhudayudu.

Sixth was Pingali Surana, a revolutionary poet. One of his most famous works is the Kalapurnodayam (art in full bloom), where he makes use of techniques like flashbacks and character transformation, considered a revolutionary work in its times.

Seventh was Ramarajabhushanudu, who was a poet, musician of note, and excellent veena player. And eighth was Tenali Ramakrishna, vidushaka and poet who was also known as Vitakavi.

One of the prominent features of this era was that the old Sanskrit texts and traditions were being revived, translated, reformed for new and broader audiences. Dharma reached even the last person of the society and revolutionary works, sects, and scholars grew by leaps and bounds.

While the content of the literature was generally religious, there is sufficient evidence to prove that nonreligious literature was equally prevalent. Other literature depicting urban life, royal ceremonies along details of town planning and fortifications. A vast body of literature on astronomy, science, music, grammar, medicine, philosophy as well as dictionaries and encyclopedia.

Social life in his era was also rich in societal values. Women, in general, occupied a high position in society, and instances of the active part they took in the political, social, and literary life of the country are not rare.

Citizens of Krishna Deva Raya were neither selfish hedonists nor selfless yogis. They had immense willpower, determination, strength to accomplish endeavors that took them to the summit of excellence. His citizens fought wars, ruled kingdoms and protected cities, carved sculpted works of art, gave generous gifts, and patronized and encouraged learning and wisdom.

Edoardo Barbosa, a Portuguese traveler during the era of Krishna Deva Raya says “City of great extent, highly populous and the seat of an active commerce in the country. Diamonds, rubies from Pegu, silks of china and Alexandria, cinnabar, camphor, pepper, and sandal from Malabar. Edoardo Barbosa describing the tolerance and respectful behavior from Krishna Deva Raya to every citizen irrespective of its caste, creed, and region says “The king allows such freedom that every man may come, go and live according to his own creed without suffering any annoyance and without inquiry, whether he is Christian, Jew, Moor (Muslim) or Hindu”.

Thus, the zenith of arts, commerce, spirituality, literature, religious tolerance, science, building and planning, and every other aspect of societal life was attained by Vijayanagara under the leadership of Sri Krishna Deva Raya. But history books have omitted this entire cultural and societal rejuvenation of Hindu society under Krishna Deva Raya. We find glorified mentions of persecution, bigotry, destruction, plunder, the massacre of native culture by invaders but politics in history writing reduced Krishna Deva Raya to a mere footnote from the greatest emperor of medieval times.

Now, this legacy of Krishna Deva Raya has been abandoned by common people as well who celebrate invaders as their heroes. Sri Krishna Deva Raya converted Vidyanagara into Vijayanagara and we, the citizens converted this into Vinashanagara by abandoning his legacy.  Sword of Krishnadevaraya won every battle and protected motherland from Turushkas, hands of Krishnadevaraya carved, sculpted glorious temples and cities, literature of Krishnadevaraya rejuvenated Bharatiya Sanatana culture but sadly, his own people have betrayed him by abandoning his legacy.

References/ sources:

• City Of victory by Ratnakar Sadasyula
• An advanced history of India by RC Majumdar and KK Dutta
• Seventy years of secularism by Sandeep Balakrishna
• A forgotten empire by Robert Sewell
• Never to be forgotten empire by Suryanarain Row
• Raya by Srinivas Rao

(Featured Image Source: Wikipedia)

Did you find this article useful? We’re a non-profit.   Make a donation  and help pay for our journalism.

HinduPost is now on   Telegram . For the best reports & opinions on issues concerning Hindu society, subscribe to HinduPost on   Telegram .

Subscribe to our channels on  Telegram  &  YouTube . Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Related Articles

बसोहली लघु चित्रकला के जीआई टैग पर विवाद क्या है कैसे हिन्दू कला को मुग़ल बनाया गया, पढ़ें, gujarat tourism got it wrong, 26 feb 1411 is not the foundation day of karnavati aka ‘ahmedabad’, let the “aryan” debate become a debate again.

• Hindu History
• Krishna Deva Raya
• Tuluva Dynasty
• Vijayanagar Empire

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

 Yes, add me to your mailing list

Latest Articles

लव जिहाद: ताज मोहम्मद ने बबलू बनकर हिंदू महिला को प्रेम जाल में फंसाया, फिर जबरन कराया धर्म परिवर्तन, ‘कॉन्ग्रेस का शफी नमाजी, वामपंथी शैलजा काफिर’: केरल चुनाव वाले स्क्रीनशॉट को लेकर cpm के शिक्षक नेता के खिलाफ विभागीय जाँच, होगी कार्रवाई, aimplb delegation seeks karnataka govt’s support to oppose waqf bill, बंगाल में tmc नेता का बेटा गिरफ्तार, 13 साल की जनजातीय लड़की का रेप करने के बाद हत्या की कर रहा था कोशिश: ग्रामीणों..., nashik, mh: hindu minor girl commits suicide after stalking by kalam mansoori.

Sign up to receive HinduPost content in your inbox

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

HinduPost is a news, commentary and opinion digital media outlet that provides the correct perspective on issues concerning Hindu society.

Popular Tags

COPYRIGHT © HINDUPOST.IN

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Thanks for Visiting Hindupost

Krishnadevaraya: The Kingly Diplomat, Patron of the Arts and a Military Force

• Read Later  

Krishnadevaraya ruled ancient India’s Vijayanagara Empire for only about two decades, however his power, skills, and personality were made known in that short amount of time and so it seemed much longer. His military campaigns expanded the empire and made it a seat of power, his artistic and architectural interests withstood the passing of time and influenced others, and his diplomatic skills had an impact on how the Portuguese viewed and interacted with the subcontinent.

Setting the Military Wheels in Motion

Krishnadevaraya (Sri Krishnadevaraya) was a member of the Tuluva Dynasty, the third dynasty that ruled the Vijayanagara Empire, a southern Indian empire based in the region of the Deccan Plateau. He became the third ruler of this dynasty in 1509, succeeding his older half-brother, Viranarasimharaya.

Kannada inscription dated to 1509 AD, of Krishnadeva Raya at the Virupaksha temple in Hampi describing his coronation and the construction of the large open mantapa. (Dineshkannambadi/ CC BY SA 3.0 )

When Krishnadevaraya was crowned as emperor, the Vijayanagara Empire was not the dominant force in the region and had to defend itself from the attacks of hostile neighbors. Thus, Krishnadevaraya’s early reign was marked by numerous military campaigns. The emperor first set his sights on the Deccan sultans, who had been conducting raids against the Vijayanagara Empire on an annual basis. Krishnadevaraya succeeded in defeating the sultan of Bijapur at Diwani in 1509, after which he invaded Bidar, Gulbarga, and Bijapur.

• Meenakshi Amman Temple: Unique Towers, Migrants from a Lost Continent, and Sacred Marriage Celebrations
• Beautiful Dynastic Artistry Shaped the Face of Modern India
• The Ramanathawamy Temple and its Infinite Corridors

Having dealt with the Deccan sultans, Krishnadevaraya then turned his attention to the Reddys of Kondavidu, the Velamas of Bhuvanagiri, and the Ummatur, who were feudatories of the Vijayanagara Empire. These feudatories rebelled against the emperor from time to time, which threatened the stability of the empire from within. Thus, Krishnadevaraya was determined to put them in their place. The chief of the Ummatur fought against Krishnadevaraya on the banks of the Kaveri, was defeated, and later drowned in the river.

Statue of King Krishnadeva Raya. ( Public Domain )

Another enemy whom Krishnadevaraya fought against and defeated were the Gajapatis of Orissa. A total of five campaigns were launched against them, and the Gajapatis were defeated each time. After the final campaign, Jaganmohini, the daughter of the Gajapati ruler, was given to Krishnadevaraya in marriage, and became his third queen.

The Astute Diplomat, Krishnadevaraya

Apart from being a skilled warrior, Krishnadevaraya was also an astute diplomat. During his reign, the Portuguese had arrived on the west coast of India. The emperor established good relations with the foreigners and encouraged trade between them and his subjects when Goa became the headquarters of the Portuguese State of India in 1510.

It was through the Portuguese merchants that Krishnadevaraya acquired firearms and Arabian horses, which further increased the empire’s military might. Moreover, the emperor was also able to utilize the engineering expertise of the Portuguese to improve the water supply system in Vijayanagara, the empire’s capital.

Krishnadevaraya statue at Srikakulam, Krishna District. (Srikar Kashyap/ CC BY SA 4.0 )

Literary and Other Achievements During his Reign

Krishnadevaraya was also a prolific builder, as attested by the many temples built during his reign. Temples attributed to this emperor include the Hazara Rama Temple, and the Vittalaswami Temple, both of which are located in the empire’s capital.

Apart from building temples, the emperor also made generous donations to them. For instance, a jewel-studded golden sword and diamond-encrusted crowns were donated to the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala.

Vitthala temple, in Hampi, Karnataka state. (Dineshkannambadi/ CC BY SA 3.0 )

Additionally, a new city, Nagalapuram, was built by Krishnadevaraya in honor of his mother.

Krishnadevaraya was also a patron of the arts, especially literature. The emperor is known to have been a patron to poets of various languages, including Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. It was, however, the Telugu language that prospered most under his reign, and this period came to be known as the ‘golden age of Telugu literature’.

• Countless Devotees Are Drawn to It, What Makes the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple So Special?
• Tracing Indo-Cambodian relations through Magnificent Stupa Architecture
• Discovery of Three Chariots in India Suggests Warrior Class of Ancient Civilization

Tamil inscription of Krishnadevaraya, Severappoondi. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )

The End of the Vijayanagara Glory Days

Although Krishnadevaraya was an extremely successful ruler, the ending of his story is a rather sad one. In 1524, the emperor appointed his 6 year old son, Tirumalaraya, as the crown prince. In the following year, however, the young boy died of poisoning.

Krishnadevaraya’s trusted prime minister, Timmarusu, was suspected of having had a hand in the crown prince’s death and was blinded. In 1529, the emperor fell critically ill, and was succeeded by Achyutadevaraya, a younger half-brother, after his death. With that, the glory days of the Vijayanagara Empire came to an end.

Top Image: Detail of a painting representing Krishnadevaraya. Source: Journeys across Karnataka

By  Wu Mingren

Compare Infobase Limited, 2018. Krishna Deva Raya Biography. [Online] Available at: https://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/history/krishna-deva-raya.html

Madur, 2011. The Emperor Down South – Krishnadevaraya. [Online] Available at: https://www.karnataka.com/personalities/emperor-krishnadevaraya/

New World Encyclopedia, 2018. Krishnadevaraya. [Online] Available at: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Krishnadevaraya

Sengupta, A., 2013. King Sri Krishnadevaraya (History). [Online] Available at: https://www.importantindia.com/9558/king-sri-krishnadevaraya-history/

TheFamousPeople.com, 2017. Krishnadevaraya Biography. [Online] Available at: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/krishnadevaraya-6287.php

Vattam, K., 2010. Krishnadevaraya, the ideal king. [Online] Available at: https://www.deccanherald.com/content/48915/krishnadevaraya-ideal-king.html

Wu Mingren (‘Dhwty’) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods.... Read More

Annie Ernaux at 84: How ‘oversharing’ made the Nobel Prize winner the master of the memoir

India is losing the taste for toddy

September nonfiction: A new book of Indian history by William Dalrymple and five more titles to read

SEBI chief did not recuse herself from Adani probe, says board member

‘Murshid’ review: A dated Mumbai gangland drama

Microsoft’s giant data centre in Telangana village accused of dumping waste, encroaching on lake

Watch: Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh in period thriller ‘Berlin’

Video: The future of Indian democracy

‘Making It Big’: Nepali billionaire Binod Chaudhary’s memoir is an endearing tribute to his life

Low salaries, courses cut short, few jobs: The dashed hopes of Skill India programme graduates

Leadership lessons from South India’s ‘greatest king’, Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara

The king’s life and wisdom are timely reminders of how one charismatic leader can shape a dynamic world, writes his biographer srinivas reddy..

Five hundred years ago, a visionary leader ruled over a vast empire that covered all of southern India. Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara was called the Emperor of War and Letters for he ruled with both brawn and brains. The citizens he governed were incredibly diverse; his people were of different faiths, classes and ethnicities.

The king himself was a shudra by birth, the son of a Tulu warlord who nonetheless received a rigorous Brahmanic education and went on to reign as a fearless warrior, celebrated poet and political genius. Krishnadevaraya was the perfect embodiment of the age-old paragon of a kavi-raja or poet-king. He was an enlightened monarch who could balance brute force when necessary with real compassion when needed. And so, for leaders around the world today, his life and his wisdom are timely reminders of how one charismatic leader can shape a dynamic world.

As a patron of the arts, and a consummate poet himself, Krishnadevaraya composed the Amuktamalyada , a renowned epic poem in classical Telugu about the Tamil saint Andal. In his masterpiece the king embedded some eighty verses on raja-niti or statecraft.

While drawing on older ideas from Indian political theorists (Kautilya in Sanskrit, Baddena in Telugu) the king refreshed well-known political tropes with his lived experience as a sixteenth century statesman. His political vision is profound and fresh; and it touches upon some very contemporary issues like diversity, inclusion, communalism, disease and poverty. Indeed, the story of Krishnadevaraya’s time is much like our own, thereby making his insights on good governance strikingly relevant to today’s most pressing global challenges.

In his introductory verse on political ethics, Krishnadevaraya sets out his overarching vision of government as a symbiotic, affective relationship between sovereign and civil society. The king and his people are one entity; and together they constitute the body politic, a holistic organism that must work collectively to alleviate the suffering of the neediest parts of society.

A king must listen to the cries of the destitute and care for their needs. whilst never entrusting such serious matters to cowards. He must always be ready to protect his people, for if a king keeps the welfare of the people in his heart the people will care for the welfare of the king.

“AM IV.204-5”

A dharmic king’s political directive was clear: always act with compassion towards your citizens. For a true leader like Krishandevaraya, this was in fact a matter of personal duty. In one verse he describes how a noble king should protect his people from the six deadly plagues ( AM II.43 ). Of these six, only one relates to invading enemies; the other five concern natural disasters: flooding, drought, and infestation by rats, moths and locusts.

A king’s righteous behaviour normally keeps these troubles at bay, but when plagues do strike, the king must mitigate the suffering caused to his people by generously donating funds from the royal coffers.

The king however is not the sole person in charge of governance. Power flows down from him, through ministers, generals, vassals, lords and officers. Nonetheless, keeping all of them in line was the king’s responsibility. Here is one sharp verse regarding the unfortunate plight of refugees and the nefarious actions of local politicians:

The people are suffering and fleeing the country! The officials don’t call them back, they just think, “Now we can sell off all their cattle and grains, and then we’ll use their houses for firewood!” When a king commands such jackals of war, Even conquering the whole world has no glory!

“AM IV.237”

When politicians turn into jackals, they become war profiteers in search of personal gains, but eventually their devious deeds will lead to naught. Dominating people, forcing them to leave the country and stealing their resources is not dharmic. In fact, Krishnadevaraya advises that refugees from foreign lands be offered asylum: “When drought, sickness and calamity force foreigners to seek refuge, give them shelter in your own country.” ( AM IV.245 ) This was the way of a truly righteous king, for his only true dharma was to safeguard the health and welfare of all his people.

In an extended prose section, Krishnadevaraya waxes on about the pitiful state of sixteenth century Indian politics. He laments over an age of moral impoverishment, a time when unethical officers are on the rise and good governance is in decline. He praises the dharmic kings of yore and bemoans the selfish behaviour of modern leaders and ministers. But this is the Kali Yuga, and moral decline is to be expected. Krishnadevaraya adds: “The life of a lawful king remains unfulfilled unless and until he relieves the misfortunes of his people…but in this modern age, and in times to come, will civil society really have enough power?”

No matter how bleak his assessment may have been, Krishnadevaraya maintained a hopeful and positive outlook. This is how the king summarises his position: “Be ever mindful and maintain control, don’t disregard the things you hear and see. Protect the good and punish the wicked whenever you can, but when you’re powerless, take solace in god. For when you act without selfish motives, everything will fall into the palm of your hand. This is the way, for a lawful king always acts with dharma as his beacon!” ( AM IV.285 )

But if this medieval king felt so strongly about government’s moral decline in the sixteenth century, what would he think of today’s global political landscape?

In many ways Krishnadevaraya would see that not much has changed in five hundred years: politicians are still crooked, religious figures are dishonourable and businessmen are greedy. As one of the world’s first truly global leaders, Krishnadevaraya was the first Indian king to address modern issues like multiculturalism, urbanisation, globalisation and immigration. Indeed, Krishnadevaraya’s problems were quite similar to our own; the sad problem for us now is that we have forgotten the culturally specific theories and strategies of our past.

Whereas Krishnadevaraya and other premodern Indian rulers naturally drew on political wisdom derived from an Indian context, the leaders of many modern nations like India have typically adopted a Western model of industrialised capital development. As a country, and as a people, we are still trying to squeeze our Indian ways of being into a foreign model of a democratic nation-state.

The key to India’s future is remembering her past; and remembering that past in a balanced way – by shying away from exaggerated histories rooted in issues of identity politics and cultural pride, and by focusing squarely on the richness of our cultural heritage in a scholarly, impartial and productive manner. Like many colonised people, we as Indians have forgotten our own history, and we have allowed it to be written primarily by those who see India from the outside. Reclaiming that history for ourselves in a balanced way will lead to a true awakenings

By carefully looking back into our past we are sure to find solutions to many of our most pressing challenges. When we decolonize our minds and transcend the identity politics of what a modern nation constitutes, we may see a future India that lives up to her ancient ideals of inclusion, diversity and unity. We may in fact hold within our past a new way of being that embraces a truly interconnected sense of our planetary humanity.

The Sanskrit root ni means to lead, guide and govern. From it derives the word neta , a leader, and also the word niti , ethics. A true leader like Krishnadevaraya is one who leads by example: yatha raja, tatha prajah – as the king, so the people. And so, when a leader acts with righteousness and compassion, the people will follow, and all of society will flourish.

History of Sri Krishnadevaraya in English

by Ashish Salunke Aug 1, 2024

Introduction

Sri Krishnadevaraya, an emperor of the 16th century, was known for his magnificence and charisma. As the king of the Vijayanagara Empire, he ruled most of South India, extending his dominion over parts of present-day Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. He was a formidable opponent to both the Badami kings and the Portuguese, who sought to expand their empires during his reign.

A Custodian of Indian Culture

Over 500 years ago, the rule of Sri Krishnadevaraya marked a golden era for Indian culture. The Vijayanagara kingdom, founded by Harihara I and Bokka Raya after escaping from the Delhi Sultanate, became a beacon of Indian heritage under his leadership. The city introduced modern amenities such as drainage systems and irrigation canals, many of which are still functional today. People often recount tales of the emperor wandering the streets disguised as a commoner, while he also exuded grandeur in his court.

Celebrated by Scholars and Artists

Renowned as one of the greatest rulers of his age, Sri Krishnadevaraya was the subject of many songs and legends. His engagement with philosophers and spiritual leaders added to his formidable reputation. Despite his prominence, it took surprisingly long for a comprehensive English book about him to be available. Sreenivasa Reddy’s “Raya: Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara” fills this gap with a richly detailed and engaging narrative.

Exploring Reddy’s “Raya”

Srinivas Reddy’s book draws from literary sources and physical evidence in arts and architecture. It weaves many threads into a sophisticated yet readable text. The first half of the book covers the battles and conquests of Sri Krishnadevaraya, revealing the political dynamics and caste systems of the time. The second half delves into his cultural contributions, including temple patronage in Tirupati and support for poets and thinkers.

Legacy and Caste Struggles of Krishnadevaraya

Although Sri Krishnadevaraya was of low caste, he proved himself a true king by upholding Hindu ideals. Despite being looked down upon by higher caste rulers like Prataparudra Deva, Krishnadevaraya’s hard work and dedication earned him immense respect. Both kings supported religious movements and traditions, highlighting their roles as patrons of culture and learning.

Kings Worshipped as Gods

Both Sri Krishnadevaraya and Prataparudra Deva were revered as kings of kings and worshipped as gods on earth. Their courts were filled with Brahman Pandits, masters of poetry and languages, who immortalized their reigns on palm leaves. They were also scholars and poets, embodying the ideal of Kavi Raja—the poet-king. Sri Krishnadevaraya, in particular, was seen as the new Bhoja, an enlightened philosopher-king.

Contributions to Literature and Culture

While Prataparudra Deva wrote classical Sanskrit, Sri Krishnadevaraya produced significant works in Telugu literature. Prataparudra’s major work was the Sanskrit “Vilasam,” a comprehensive text on Dharma Shastra, covering Hindu religious morals and civil laws. Despite their different backgrounds, both kings made lasting contributions to their respective literary traditions.

Golden Age of Literature

The period of Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya is often called the golden age of literature because of the extensive creation of literature in various languages. Emperors provided shelter to poets of different languages like Tamil, Kannada, Sanskrit, Telugu, and others.

Controversy of Krishnadevaraya’s Dynasty

Some historians believe that Raja Krishnadevaraya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty, while others think he was Telugu or Kannadiga. The question of Maharaj Krishnadevaraya’s dynasty is controversial. However, most historians agree that he belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.

Brief Information

Kingdom of Vijayanagar

In medieval India, before Mughal came to South Asian counties like India. At that time, in India there were only two powerful kingdoms. First is Vijayanagar and other is Bahamani empire. Vijayanagar empire was one of the most glorious and prosperous empires in Indian history. Therefore, history lovers like you must read about the Vijayanagar Empire once. The hero of the vast realm of this great Emperor, Sri Krishnadevaraya.

Current new generation is going to forget about such a great ruler. Most people know great personalities only after Bollywood, Hollywood released films on them. In this biography you will know about this great Emperor.

Before we get to real main topic lets know his background. So his father Tuluva Narasa Nayaka was the minister of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya who was from Saluva dynasty.

After his short reign of 6 years, he died at age of 60 years in 1491 CE. But his children were too young to handle the responsibility of throne. So as influential minister, father of Krishnadevaraya became guardian and took responsibility of thorne.

After 12 years reign of his father, children of Saluva dynasty came to throne. But they were very ignorant in court and their luxuarious lifestyle was not in favor of kingdom. Influential minister Timmarusu realized that and supported Krishnadevaraya to became king. So with support of all ministers, he became king. Hence, permanent shift of Saluva dynasty to Tuluva dynasty happened.

Then, after Tuluva dynasty, Sangama dynasty overtook the kingdom which lasts till 1646 CE.

Fame of Emperor Krishnadevaraya

Emperor Krishnadevaraya ruled Vijayanagara from 1509 C.E. to 1592C.E.. He was the third ruler of the great Tuluva dynasty in South India. Many great Indian rulers like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were considered him as ideal.

During his lifetime, he received titles like Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana (God of Kannad Empire), Andhra Bhoja (Banquet for Telugu Literature) and Muru Raira Ganda (King of Three Kings).

In his career, he had defeated powerful states like Bijapur, Golconda, Bahmani Sultanate, Gajpati Sultan of Odisha.

When Babar was beginning the Mughal rule in the North, during that time, Emperor Krishnadevaraya was the most powerful ruler in India. His kingdom Vijayanagara was the most outstretched Empire in India.

Wives of Sri Krishnadevaraya

King Krishnadevaraya was a famous ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. He ruled during the 16th century. His reign is known for prosperity and cultural richness.

First Wife: Tirumala Devi

Tirumala Devi was first wife and chief consort of King Krishnadevaraya. She was deeply loved by the king. She was known for her wisdom and grace. “Her beauty was unmatched,” said many poets of that time.

Second Wife: Chinnama Devi

Chinnama Devi (Chinna Devi) was second wife of the king. She was also very important and supported him in his battles and governance. People admired her bravery and strength.

Third Wife: Jaganmohini OR Annapurna Devi

Jaganmohini was another wife of Krishnadevaraya. She had a kind heart. She often helped the poor and needy. She was loved by the people for her generosity. She was less known among all others.

The queens had a significant impact on art and culture. They were patrons of music, dance, and literature. Their influence helped in the growth of the rich heritage of Vijayanagara Empire.

The wives of King Krishnadevaraya played vital roles. They were more than just queens. They were partners in his success and glory. Their stories are remembered even today.

Family of Sri Krishnadevaraya

Tirumala Raya married Vengalamba Devi, the granddaughter of Sri Krishnadevaraya, making him the son-in-law of the great ruler. Other wives, including Chinna Devi and Jaganmohini OR Annnapurna Devi, had no offspings. So, the lineage of Sri Krishnadevaraya continued further with his daughter named Tirumalamba, the children of Tirumala Devi.

Foreign Traveller who Visited Vijaynagar

Many foreign tourists, such as Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz, visited Vijaynagar. Timirusu was the Prime Minister in the court of Sri Krishnadevaraya. Timmarusu helped Maharaj Krishnadevaraya to see the kingdom.

The history of Emperor Krishnadevaraya behind becoming King of Vijaynagar: Tuluva Narsa Nayaka was the father of Sri Krishnadevaraya. Tuluva Narsa Nayak was also the army commander of Suluva Narasinghadevaraya.

At that time, a competent king was needed to prevent the disintegration of the kingdom & even to unite and strengthen the country. Therefore, Sri Krishnadevaraya takes Vijayanagara into his control.

Coronation of Sri Krishnadevaraya performed on the festival of Krishna Janmastami (Birthday or Appearance day of Lord Krishna) with the help Timmarusu.

Samrat Krishnadevaraya gives Timmurusu the status of his father, and due to his worthiness, he declares Timmurusu as the Prime Minister of the state.

Personality of Sri Krishnadevaraya

Emperor Krishnadevaraya had great respect for the foreign pilgrims coming to the state. It is also strict in terms of legislation. He was irritated with the rebellions, treasons and thefts in the country.

According to the travel details of pilgrims visiting Vijaynagar, Sri Krishnadevaraya was an excellent judicial patron, as well as a great warrior.

In every battle, he was the leader of the army, in many battles, he found in travelogue describing his leadership despite being injured.

Military Success of King Sri Krishnadevaraya

Maharaj Krishnadevaraya achieved the highest military achievement in the history of Vijayanagar. He was known to change the war strategy at the last minute.

This strategy does not give enough time to the enemy to take action to understand the new plan. Because of such war strategy, he did not lose any war in his career.

Campaign of Sri Krishnadevaraya in Deccan

Sultan of Deccan sent his army to loot the people of Vijayanagara. Therefore, the villages of Vijaynagar were in trouble. The robberies were stopped entirely, during the reign of Emperor Krishnadevaraya.

The Emperor Shri Krishnadevaraya defeated Sultan Mahmud Shah by invading Vijapur in 1509 AD. Therefore, Bidar, Gulbarga and Vijapur are once part of Vijayanagar kingdom, again reunited to the kingdom.

People gave a title to Maharaj Krishnadevaraya as “founder of Bijapur.” After giving the throne of Bijapur to Mahmud Shah, he also titled as “founder of the Yavan kingdom.” Prime Minister Timmarusu defeated Sultan Kuli Qutub Shah of Golconda.

Siege of Udayagiri and Victory

Maharaj Krishnadevaraya fought and defeated many rebel local rulers, such as Dharanikota Kamas, Ummatur’s head. Raja Krishnadevaraya had passed the Godavari river in the year 1516-1517.

During the time of Sri Krishnadevaraya, Kalinga ruled by Odisha and Gajapati Prataprudra of Andhra Pradesh. In campaign of Ummatur, he had a lot of help in attacking the Andhra region.

Maharaj Krishnadevaraya surrounded the Udayagiri fort in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh for 18 months.

The army of Gazapati Prataprudra has to retreat due to hunger, after cutting the food supply to the fort. After the success of Udayagiri, Emperor Krishnadevaraya worshipped with his wives in the temple of Sri Venkateswara at Tirupati.

Battle at Kondavidu

There was a bloody battle at the Kondavidu between King of Kaling Prataprudra and Raja Krishnadevaraya. After seizing Kondavidu fort, Vijaynagar army has to retreat for some time due to accidents and significant losses.

After, minister Timmarsu finds the secret path to the east gate of the Kondavidu fort. The army of Vijayanagara suddenly invades the Kondavidu fort during a night attack with that secret entrance. The son of Gajapati Prataprudra, Yuvraj Virabhadra was imprisoned from the fort.

Victory of Sri Krishnadevaraya over Kalinga

Some Wanderer people from Andhra Pradesh who previously serviced to Prataparudra, betrayed the Gajapati Pratap Rudra.

Timiruusu successfully persuade them provding wealth & gets all the details of the plan of Pratap Rudra. When the army of Vijayanagara invades Kalinga, Pratap Rudra ran away to the Cuttak.

At that time, Cuttack was the capital of the kingdom of Gajapati Pratap Rudra. After that, soon Gajapati Pratap Rudra surrendered, and give his daughter, Jagan Mohini to the emperor Krishnadevaraya.

Maharaj Krishnadevaraya accepted the deal of Gajapati Pratap Rudra, hence Krishna River becomes the border of Gajapati and Vijayanagara.

Battle of Raichur

Battle of Raichur is considered to be important. In this battle on 15th May 1520, about 16,000 soldiers of Vijaynagar were killed. Later, Vijaynagar soldiers, led by Pamasan Ramalinga Naidu, conquered Raichur fort.

Thereafter, the emperor appreciated Pamaszan Ramalinga Naidu very much. There was terrible bloodshed happened in this war. Along with Vijayanagar, there were about 800,000 infantry, 35,000 cavalries, and 600 elephants in this battle.

After this war, the army of Vijaynagar siege to the previous capital of Bahamani Sultanate that fort of Gulbarga and conquered it. After this campaign, the Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya was ruled over the whole of South India.

Death of Crown Prince – Tirumala Raya

In 1524, Emperor Krishnadevaraya declared his son Tirumala Rai as the Crown Prince of Vijaynagar. However, Tirumala Raya was poisoned and died due to the same reason.

Maharaj Krishnadevaraya suspected that the most trustworthy advisor and father figure Timiruusu and his son may include in this conspiracy. Therefore, he gave a penalty of blinding them.

After death of son, he had only daughter named Tirumalamba. Her father arranged marriage with a noblemen in Vijayanagar named as Araviti Ranga. Prince Virabhadra and Vengalamba were their two two childrens.

Later, Vengalamba Devi married to younger brother of Rama Raya. Aliya Raya Raya was the most influential minister of Vijayanagar. During times of Krishnadevaraya, he served in many military campaigns. So along with his battle skills, he also well-known to kept deplomatic foreign relations.

Foreign Relations

Emperor Krishnadevaraya established a very good relationship with the Portuguese. In 1510, the emperors established the Portuguese Dominion of India in Goa. So, foreign trade gets encouraged.

Emperor Krishnadevaraya included Portuguese guns in his defense system, and also Portuguese horses in his horse barn. Raja Krishnadevaraya adopted Portuguese’s improved water supply system in the Vijayanagara with the help of Portuguese experts.

Relationship with Enemy Kingdom

At time of Bahmani Sultanate there were one powerful ruler among five strongholds. That ruler used to became Bahmani Sultan.

Ismail Adil Shah and King Krishnadevaraya were prominent figures. They ruled during the same period in southern Indiaand their interactions shaped history.

Ismail Adil Shah ruled Bijapur Kingdom. He had a complex relationship with Sanrat Krishnadevaraya. Sometimes they were allies, other times rivals.

Their rivalry peaked during battles. One notable conflict was the Battle of Raichur in 1520. Krishnadevaraya defeated the forces of Adil Shah. This battle showed their power struggle.

The two rulers also engaged in diplomacy. At times, they made temporary alliances to counter mutual threats. Their political maneuvers were strategic.

Despite conflicts, there was mutual respect. Krishnadevaraya admired tactics of Adil Shah. Similarly, Adil Shah recognized leadership quality of Krishnadevaraya. This respect influenced their interactions.

Their relationship left a mark on history. It shaped regional politics and influenced cultural exchanges. Their legacy continues to be studied.

After that, while preparing for the attack on the fort of Belgaum, Sri Krishnadevaraya became seriously ill. He declared his brother Achyuta Dev Raya as his successor. Later, soon after 1529 CE, he died.

Eight Legends Appointed by Sri Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagara Empire

The eight poets who were the backbone of Telugu literature in the court of Sri Krishnadevaraya were called “Ashtadiggajas” (Eight Legends).

Apart from the Vijayanagar court, these eight legends were responsible for running Vijayanagar uninterruptedly. Due to those great legends, the historical Telugu literature of Vijayanagar reached the summit.

The period from 1540 CE to 1600 CE is called “Prabandha Kaal.” In the court of Emperor Krishnadevaraya, in the “Poet Literature Assembly,” those legends considered as eight pillars. Seems that, The eighth legend believed to have appointed in the seventeenth century.

Brief History about End of Empire

Brothers Aliya Rama Raya and Tirumala Deva Raya were considered the son-in-law of great Krishnadevaraya. All Deccan powers were combined their military forces. Their forces meet with VIjayanagara army at Talikota battlefield in year 1565 CE. Even after combined forces of enemy in front of Vijayanagara military they small and battle were seems like piece of cake.

Aliya Rama Raya had suffered the mistake done several months ago. He was appointed two muslim commanders in his army which were previously served Bahamani kingdom. These commanders flip their forces against Vijayanagar at important time.

War end with beheading of Aliya Rama Raya and entire Vijayanagara city was converted ruins and history of past. Brother of Rama Raya, Tirumala Deva Raya tried to regain the power of Vijayanagar. But significant losses in war never recovered.

How many wars did krishnadevaraya fought?

Krishnadevaraya fought 9 major wars and campaigns during his reign from 1509 to 1529. Apart from that he could have done many other war campaigns.

What are the names given to Sri Krishnadevaraya?

Andhra Bhoja, Karnatakaratna Simhasanadeeshwara, Yavana Rajya Pratistapanacharya, Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, Gaubrahmana Pratipalaka, Mooru Rayara Ganda.

Who was guru of Krishnadevaraya?

Guru of Krishnadevaraya was Sri Vyasaraya, who was also known as his “Raja Guru .” Sri Vyasaraya was a prominent figure in the Haridasa movement and played a significant role in Krishnadevaraya’s life, influencing his cultural and literary pursuits.

What was event at time of birth of Krishnadeveara?

It was widely believed that on the day of birth, there was Krishna Janmasthami. On this auspicious day he born and hence he named after name of Lord Krishna.

I hope you like the Sri Krishnadevaraya history which can be really important for history of southern India. Though combine powers of deccan Sultanates overthrew his empire in Battle of Talikota of 1646 CE. Still his work in administration and telugu literature make us realise his undeniable contribution.

Images Credits

• Featured Image:  Krishnadevaraya sitting on Vijayanagara Throne
• Kannada Inscription of Krishnadevaraya at Entrance of Mandapa of Virupaksha Temple in Hampi ( 1509 AD ), Credit:   Dineshkannambadi ,  Source:  Wikimedia
• Krishnadevaraya Statue at Srikakulam village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh,  Credit:   Srikar Kashyap ,  Source:  Wikimedia
• Statues of Krishnadevaraya with Chinnadevi, Tirumaladevi at Chandragiri Museum,  Credit:   Ravitheja Kumar Reddy C ,  Source:  Wikimedia
• Kannada Inscriptions of Krishnadevaraya (1513 AD) at the Krishna Temple in Hampi,  Credit:  Dineshkannambadi,  Source:  Wikimedia
• Ashthadiggaj (Asthanam) Court of Sri Krishnadevaraya,  Credit:  ​ IM3847 , Source: Wikimedia
• ​ Standing Statue of Sri Krishnadevaraya,  Credit:   Chavakiran ,  Source:   Wikipedia

About the Author

Ashish Salunke

Ashish is a skilled biographer and content writer specialized in crafting captivating historical narratives. Through HistoricNation, he skillfully merged his IT expertise with the art of storytelling.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Subscribe to our free newsletter.

Join to recieve all future updates!

Congrats!! Now you are part of HN family!

We do not sent spam messages or promotional messages.

Pin It on Pinterest

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center

Krishna Deva Raya

Learn about this topic in these articles:, dravidian languages.

…by Vijayanagar kings, beginning with Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya, himself a poet versed in Sanskrit, Kannada, and Telugu. The rāyala yugam (“age of kings”) was known for its courtly prabandha s, virtuoso poetic narratives by and for pandits (learned men). Among the most famous court poets were Piṅgaḷi Sūranna, whose verse novel,…

Indian history

…the new ruler of Vijayanagar, Krishna Deva Raya, repulsed the Muslims, who suffered substantial losses. Later the political ambitions of Bijapur and Ahmadnagar prompted a series of successful interventions by Vijayanagar under Rama Raya, a regent who finally usurped the Vijayanagar throne and played a significant role in Deccan politics.…

…to the rebel Nayakas under Krishna Deva Raya and his successors ceased after the Talikota debacle in 1565. Consolidation was achieved by Ibrāhīm Quṭb Shah (reigned 1550–80) and enhanced under Muḥammad Qulī early in the 17th century. A conciliatory policy toward the Nayakas, as well as the regime’s desire to…

…was succeeded by his brother Krishna Deva Raya (reigned 1509–29), generally regarded as the greatest of the Vijayanagar kings. During his reign the kingdom became more powerful than ever before, and internal consolidation reached a new peak. Krishna Deva spent the first 10 years of his reign solidly establishing his…

Vijayanagar

The outstanding Tuluva king was Krishna Deva Raya. During his reign (1509–29) the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers (the Raichur doab ) was acquired (1512), the Orissa Hindus were subdued by the capture of Udayagiri (1514) and other towns, and severe defeats were inflicted on the Bijapur sultan (1520).…

Forgotten Indian History

Krishnadevaraya: The Destroyer of Turks: Hidden Story of Andhra Bhoja who took Vijayanagara Empire to new heights

The powerful Vijayanagara Empire was founded by two brothers named Harihara (Harihara 1) and Bukka Raya. They were taken as prisoners by Mohammad bin Tughlaq and were converted to Islam. Later they were sent to establish the rule Delhi Sultanate over south India.

But the two brothers had different ambitions and under the influence of a sage named Vidyaranya, they renounced Islam and bring themselves back to Sanatan Dharma which led to the foundation of a powerful Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara.

At that the time of its formation, the Vijayanagara Empire was surrounded by powerful Sultanates. But under the visionary leadership of their kings, the Empire resisted all the attacks from neighboring kingdoms and emerged as a powerful empire not only of south Indian but also of whole India.

In this article, we will cover the story of a great king who throughout his reign remained undefeated and took the Vijayanagar Empire to new heights. This is the story of Krishnadevaraya (Krishnadeva Raya)

Rise of Krishnadevaraya

The reign of the great Hindu king i.e. Krishnadeva Raya is full of unstoppable conquests over different sultanates.

Born of 1471 CE Krishnadeva Raya was the son of Tuluva Narasa Nayaka and Nagala Devi.

With the accession of Vira Narasimha, the period of the Tuluva Dynasty begins. After the death of Vira Narasimha (1505-1509) his brother i.e. Krishnadevaraya ascended the powerful throne of the Vijayanagara Empire on 8 August 1509 CE.

He was married to Tirumala Devi and Chinnama Devi. To safeguard his empire he initially took the objective of bringing all the chieftains of the Tungabhadra region under his sway. 

He was a patron of art and literature too. He was known as Andhra Bhoja and gave patronage to many scholars, artists, philosophers, etc. Amukta-malyada a famous poem in Telugu is also written by him.

Raya built numerous temples like the famous Krishnaswamy temple, Hazara Ramaswamy temple, Vittalaswami temple . He also built huge irrigation reservoirs, tanks, and canals for the peasants.

Conquests of Krishnadevaraya

The bahmani kingdom & vijayanagara empire.

The sultan of the Bahmani Sultanate i.e. Mahmud Shah decided to invade the kingdom of Krishnadeva Raya around 1509 CE. The Bahmani Sultan declared Jihad on the people of Vijayanagara.

He augmented a huge army with the help of several neighboring warlords. The invading army reached Dony and here their path was blocked by the army of the Vijayanagara Empire .

The forces of the Vijayanagara Empire badly defeated the invaders. In this encounter, the leader of the Bahmani army i.e. Sultan Mahmud Shah got injured and retreated back to his dominion after the battle.  

But the Krishnadeva Raya was far from satisfied from this victory and he decided to chase the retreating army and another battle was fought when the Bahmani army reached Kovelakonda.

The result of this battle was again comes out in the favour of Krishnadeva Raya. In this second battle, Yusuf Adil Khan of Bijapur was killed. This was a heavy blow to the Bijapur Sultanate and due to this Ismail Adil Shah became the next sultan of this dynasty.

Due to the death of Yusuf Adil Khan, the state of Bijapur became vulnerable, and immediately the king of Vijayanagara decided to march against them.

He captured Raichur (in modern-day Karnataka) in 1512 and also took the fort of Gulbarga.

Ummattur & Vijayanagara Empire

Next, he launched an assault on the Palaigar of Ummattur. This campaign on Ummattur lasted for two years and captured Sivanasamudram.

Gajapati & Vijayanagara Empire

After settling the dispute with most of the neighboring kingdom of the South the charismatic leader of Vijayanagara marched against the Gajapati of Orissa. The main motivation behind this campaign was to recover the territories of the Vijayanagara Empire which were conquered by the Gajapati kingdom.

At this time the ruler of the Gajapati kingdom was Prataparudra .

This was a long campaign in which the powerful Gajapati fought bravely but in the end, they were defeated by Raya.

He attacked the fort of Udayagiri in the year 1513 CE. The garrison defended the fort audaciously. It was due to the military leadership of Raya which made the Vijayanagara’s victory possible.  

Later he captured Kondavidu and even took many people including young prince Virabhadra and one of his queens as a prisoner. Later peace was settled by a treaty in which the king of Gajapati gave his daughter in marriage to Raya in return the latter gave the territories from the north of the Krishna to the former.

Quli Qutub Shah of Golconda & Vijayanagara Empire

But the borders of the Krishnadevaraya Empire were far from secure.  This time the Qutub Shahis of Golconda decided to march against the undefeated Krishnadevaraya. Quli Qutub shah conquered the forts of Pangal and Guntur when Krishnadeva was busy in the Orissa campaign.

Quli Qutub Shah after capturing several territories of the Vijayanagara Empire marched towards Kondavidu (now in Andhra Pradesh) and laid a siege on the fort.

At this time Nadindla Gopa was in charge of the fort. Quli Qutub Shah’s charge was very vehement and the defender i.e. Nadindla was unable to stop this charge from the invaders. But with the arrival of Krishandeva, he dispatches Saluva Timma with an army of 200,000 men to finish the invaders at Kondavidu.

Saluva Timma defeated the Qutub Shahis and took their commander Madar ul Mulk as a prisoner of war.

Bijapur & Vijayanagara Empire

Ismail Adil Khan reconquered the fort of Raichur and the doab region of Krishna Tungabhadra. In the year 1520 Saluva Timma took a large army to face the tide of Ismail Khan. A fierce battle took place at the village of Gobbur in which the invaders were badly defeated. Many perished while retreating. Many were drowned in the river.

Krishnadevaraya then captured the fort of Raichur whose garrison defended strongly after the flight of the Bijapur army. But with the aid of Portuguese allies (mainly skilled musketeers), the Vijayanagara army won the battle.   

But this war didn’t end here and later several battles were fought between Bijapur and Vijayanagara Empire. In which the result remained unchanged and Krishnadeva Raya emerged as a powerful king of South India.

Forgotten Hero

The famous poet Muku Timmana gave Krishnadevaraya the title of “The Destroyer of the Turks ”. This shows the military prowess of this great Hindu king.

The glory of this undefeated Hindu king often gets hindered due to his contemporary rulers of northern India ( Rana Sanga and Babur ). Krishnadeva Raya was a brilliant military tactician and strategist. He always led from the front and always came out victorious in every battle he fought.

After every battle, he immediately makes medical arrangements for the wounded soldiers. Due to this, the soldiers were always prepared to follow his command at any cost.

Furthermore, he was a brilliant leader and diplomat. He established friendly relations with the Portuguese which provided horses for his army. These horses played a vital role in the battles against the powerful sultanates like Bijapur and Bahmani.

All in all Krishnadeva Raya took Vijayanagara Empire to new heights both politically and culturally. He saved the region of South India from repeated onslaughts of the powerful sultanates and defeated them in every battle.

But sadly the story of this great king who was a brilliant military strategist and patron of art and literature remains unheard in modern India.   

Donate to our Cause

If you support what we are doing and would like to contribute to help us grow and reach more Indians to teach them more about such forgotten historic Indian Heroes and stories, please consider donating any amount. It will help us grow

Related posts:

• Battle of Talikota (1565): The Battle which changed the history of South India
• Nanda Empire: The 1st Empire of Ancient Indian History: The destroyer of Kshatriyas
• Rudrama Devi (1259-1289): The Brave Warrior Queen of the Kakatiya Empire
• The Forgotten Triumph of the Rajputs over the Turks: Story of Rajput and Turkish Encounters

https://studynlearn.com/

Krishnadevaraya: the vijaynagar empire - indian history notes - studynlearn.

Krishnadevaraya

Krishnadeva Raya was a prominent ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire of South India. He was a brave general and skilled warrior, under his reign Vijaynagar emerged as the strongest empire.

The Vijayanagara Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Islamic invasions by the end of the 13th century.

The Vijaynagar empire: Introduction

The Vijaynagar empire was established by two brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I in 1336, the empire stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

Also, they made Hastinavati, or modern Hampi as their capital. Do you know that this kingdom flourished for more than two centuries?

This kingdom reigned from 1336 to 1565; it was ruled by four dynasties named the Sangama, Salwa, Tuluva, and Aravidu. The most famous rulers of this empire were Devaraya I, Devaraya II, and Krishnadevaraya. Now let us understand, what provided the information about the Vijaynagar empire?

The information about the Vijaynagar empire is provided by the writings of foreign travelers like Nuniz, a Portuguese writer, and Nicolo Conti, an Italian traveller. Krishnadevaraya is considered as one of the greatest rulers of the Vijaynagar empire, he was born in 1471 at Hampi, Karnataka, to Tuluva Narasa Nayaka and Nagala Devi. Do you know who established the Tuluva dynasty?

Tuluva Narasa Nayaka, father of Krishnadevaraya established the Tuluva dynasty after the death of Suluva Narasimha to prevent it from splitting up. Now, let us understand more about Krishnadeva Raya, Krishnadevaraya ascended the throne in 1509 and developed a strong relationship with the empire�s Prime Minister.

He was the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, a brave general and skilled warrior, under his reign Vijaynagar emerged as the strongest empire. When Krishnadeva Raya was crowned emperor, the Vijayanagar Empire was not the dominant force in the region; he fought many battles and made Vijaynagar the strongest empire.

Conquests and administration of Krishnadevaraya

Krishnadeva Raya is considered to be the greatest of all because his rule brought unprecedented success to the Vijayanagar armies � with the forces inflicting heavy defeats on the five Deccan sultanates.

Krishnadeva Raya the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty of the Vijaynagar empire extended his empire to most of South India. Which present-day states were included in his empire?

The present-day Karnataka, northern Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh were included in the Vijaynagar empire under Krishnadeva Raya.

The most interesting part is that Krishnadeva Raya ascended the throne during the most critical stage of the empire and went on to consolidate it as a flourishing empire. He defeated the five Deccan sultanates, the Reddys of Kondavidu, the Velamas of Bhuvanagiri, and the Gajapati Dynasty of Kalinga (modern Odisha).

He also played an important role in defeating the Bahmani Sultans. On defeating the Bahmani Sultans he captured their fortresses of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, and Bijapur.

He led a major military campaign against the Gajapatis of Odisha and captured the fortresses of Udayagiri, Kondavalli, and Kondavidu. Do you know why is he often compared with the greatest emperors of Asia and Europe?

He is considered to be the greatest of all because of his brilliant achievements and ability to maintain political stability in the Deccan. He was also an able administrator as he toured the remote corners of his empire and heard the grievances of his people.

His empire was divided into Mandalas, Nadus, Sthalas, and Gramas. Land revenue was fixed based on the yield normally 1/3rd of the produce. He also established friendly relationships with the Portuguese and encouraged overseas trade.

How did Krishnadevaraya acquire Arabian horses?

It was through the Portuguese merchants that Krishnadeva Raya acquired firearms and Arabian horses, which further increased the empire�s military might.

Moreover, the emperor was also able to utilize the engineering expertise of the Portuguese to improve the water supply system by building reservoirs and channels across the kingdom.

Krishnadevaraya - MCQs

MCQ 1. Who was the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty? a. Tuluva Narasa Nayaka b. Devaraya I c. Devaraya II d. Krishnadeva Raya

MCQ 2. Which of the following was the capital of the Vijaynagar empire? a. Bidar b. Bijapur c. Kondvidu d. Hampi

MCQ 3. Who was a Portuguese writer amongst the following? a. Nicolo Conti b. Abdurr Razzak c. Ibn Batuta d. Nuniz

MCQ 4. Which of the following is the correct timeline of the Vijayanagar empire? a. 1330-1550 b. 1450-1650 c. 1351-1569 d. 1336 � 1565

MCQ 5. Who established the Tuluva dynasty? a. Suluva Narasimha b. Krishnadeva Raya c. Devaraya II d. Tuluva Narasa Nayaka

MCQs - Part 2

MCQ 1. Which of the present-day states was not included in the Vijaynagar kingdom? a. Karnataka b. Tamil Nadu c. Andhra Pradesh d. Maharashtra

MCQ 2. The empire was divided into how many provinces? a. Three b. Six c. Four d. Five

MCQ 3. Krishnadeva Raya established friendly relations with the ________. a. French b. British c. Dutch d. Portuguese

MCQ 4. Which of the following was not captured by Krishnadeva Raya? a. Bidar b. Gulbarga c. Raichur d. Mehrangarh

MCQ 5. Krishnadeva Raya acquired _______ from the Portuguese. a. Asiatic Elephants b. African Elephants c. Arabian Camels d. Arabian Horses

Read More: Krishna Dev Rai: A Brave Warrior and Scholar - Case Study

• March,30 2022

Leave your comment

Reply Comment

Krishna Deva Raya (1509 - 1529 CE) - Important Ruler of Tuluva Dynasty - Medieval India History Notes

Neha Grover

Aug 9, 2024

IAS Exam Latest Updates

• 09 August, 2024 : UPSC Mains Schedule 2024 Out; Exam from September 20

Krishna Deva Raya was Vijayanagara Empire's medieval Indian emperor from 1509 to 1529. He was Tuluva dynasty's third ruler. After the fall of the Delhi Sultanate, he ruled the largest empire in India. Many Indians regard him as an icon for presiding over the empire at its pinnacle. He defeated the sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate, and the Gajapatis of Odisha to become the dominant ruler of the peninsula, and he was one of India's most powerful Hindu rulers. In this article, we will discuss Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529 CE) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Krishna Deva Raya - Features

• He was a member of the Tuluva Dynasty and was Vijayanagara Empire's emperor from 1509 to 1529.
• Krishna Deva Raya was also known as Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, Andhra Bhoja, and Mooru Rayara Ganda.
• The great south Indian mathematician Nilakantha Somayaji also lived in Krishna Devaraya's Empire.
• During his reign, Portuguese travellers Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz also visited the Vijayanagara Empire.

Krishna Deva Raya - Administration

• During his reign, he maintained strict control over his ministers and dealt harshly with any minister who committed wrongdoing. He got rid of obnoxious taxes like the marriage fee.
• To increase revenue, he cultivated new lands, ordered deforestation in some areas, and undertook a large-scale project to obtain water for irrigation around Vijayanagar.
• Foreign visitors to Vijayanagar, such as Paes, Nunez, and Barbosa, praised his administration's efficiency and the people's prosperity during his reign.
• The empire was administered along the lines outlined in his Amuktamalyada. He believed that the King should always rule in accordance with Dharma.
• His concern for the welfare of the people is amply demonstrated by his extensive annual tours throughout the empire, during which he personally studied everything and attempted to redress people's grievances and punish evildoers.

Krishna Deva Raya - Military Career

Deccan success.

• During the Raya's reign, the Deccan sultans stopped raiding and plundering Vijayanagar towns and villages.
• In 1509, they clashed with Krishnadevaraya's armies, and Sultan Mahmud was severely injured and defeated. Yusuf Adil Shah was assassinated, and Raichur Doab was annexed.
• Taking advantage of the victory, the Raya merged Bidar, Gulbarga, and Bijapur into Vijayanagar, earning the title "establisher of the Yavana kingdom" when he released Sultan Mahmud and made him de facto ruler.
• Timmarusu, the prime minister of Sri Krishnadevaraya, defeated the Sultan of Golconda, Sultan Quli Qutb Shah.

Gajapatis of Orissa

• The Odisha Gajapatis ruled a vast land that included Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
• Krishna Deva Raya's victory at Ummatur provided the impetus for his campaign into the Coastal Andhra region, which was under the control of Gajapati Raja Prataparudra Deva.
• In 1512, the Vijayanagar army besieged Udayagiri fort. The campaign lasted a year before the Gajapati army disintegrated due to starvation.
• Following that, Krishna Deva Raya and his wives Tirumala Devi and Chinnama Devi offered prayers in Tirupati.
• The Gajapati army was then met at Kondaveedu, where the armies of Vijayanagara began to retreat after establishing a siege for a few months due to heavy casualties.
• Then Timmarusu discovered a secret entrance to the fort's unguarded eastern gate and launched a night attack that resulted in the fort's capture and the imprisonment of Prince Virabhadra, Prataparudra Deva's son.
• Following that, Vasireddy Mallikharjuna Nayak took over as governor of Kondaveedu.

War with Kalinga

• Krishnadevaraya planned an invasion of Kalinga, but Prataparudra learned of it and devised his own strategy to defeat Krishandevaraya and the Vijayanagara Empire at Kalinganagar Fort.
• But the cunning Timmarusu discovered Prataparudra's plan by bribing a Telugu deserter from Prataparudra's service.
• When the Vijayanagara Empire invaded, Prataprudra was driven to Cuttack, the Gajapati Kingdom's capital.
• Prataparudra eventually surrendered to the Vijayanagara Empire and married Sri Krishnadevaraya's daughter, Princess Jaganmohini.
• Krishandevaraya returned all of the lands captured by the Vijayanagara Empire north of the Krishna River, establishing the Krishna River as the boundary between the Vijayanagar and Gajapati Kingdoms.

Krishna Deva Raya - Literature

Telugu literature.

• Krishna Deva Raya's reign is regarded as the golden age of Telugu literature.
• Eight Telugu poets, known as Ashtadiggajas , were considered the eight pillars of his literary assembly.
• Krishna Dev Raya wrote the epic Telugu poem Amuktamalyada .
• Telugu culture and literature flourished and reached their zenith during Krishnadevaraya's reign.
• Eight Telugu poets were regarded as the eight pillars of the literary assembly in his court. It was once thought that eight elephants were holding the earth in eight different directions.
• The title Ashtadiggajas honours this belief, and thus the court was also known as Bhuvana Vijayam (Conquest of the World).

Kannada literature

• He supported Kannada poets Mallanarya , who wrote Veera-shaivamruta, Bhava-chinta-ratna, and Satyendra Chola-kathe; Chatu Vittalanatha, who wrote Bhagavatha, and Timmanna Kavi, who wrote a eulogy for his king in Krishna Raya Bharata.
• His Rajaguru was Vyasatirtha , the great Dvaita saint from Mysore of the Madhva tradition. Krishna Deva Rayana Dinachari in Kannada is a recently discovered work.
• The record highlights contemporary society during Krishna Deva Raya's time in his personal diary. However, it is unclear whether the record was written by the king himself.

Tamil literature

• Krishna Deva Raya supported the Tamil poet Haridasa, and Tamil literature flourished over time.

Sanskrit literature

• Vyasatirtha wrote in Sanskrit Bhedo-jjivana, Tat-parya-chandrika, Nyaya-mrita (a work critical of Advaita philosophy), and Tarka-tandava.
• Krishna Deva Raya, an accomplished scholar, wrote Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya, Rasamanjari, and Jambavati Kalyana.

Krishna Deva Raya - Religion and Culture

• Krishna Deva Raya respected all Hindu sects. He is known for encouraging and supporting various sects and places of worship.
• He reconstructed the Virupaksha Temple as well as other Shiva shrines. He granted land grants to Tirumala, Srisailam, Amaravati, Chidambaram, Ahobilam, and Tiruvannamalai temples.
• He lavished numerous priceless objects on the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, ranging from diamond-studded crowns to golden swords to nine types of precious gems. Venkateshwara became Krishna Deva Raya's patron deity.
• He went to the temple seven times. 229 of the Tirumala Devasthanam's approximately 1,250 temple epigraphs are attributed to Krishna Deva Raya.
• The Tirumala temple complex contains a statue of Krishna Deva Raya with two of his wives. These statues can still be seen at the temple's exit. He also helped to build parts of the Srisailam temple complex, including rows of mandapas.
• Krishna Deva Raya was the first person to be formally initiated into the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya.
• The Amuktamalyada is a Telugu work he wrote about Andal, a Tamil Sri Vaishnava female saint. Venkata Tathacharya of the Sri Vaishnava sect was Krishna Deva Raya's Rajaguru and a powerful figure.
• According to the Madhwa text Vyasayogicarita , the Madhwa seer Vyasatirtha was Krishna Deva Raya's rajaguru.

Krishnadevaraya appointed his son Tirumala Raya as Yuvaraja in 1524. The prince did not live long because he was poisoned. Krishna Deva Raya blinded Timmarusu after suspecting him. At the same time, Krishnadevaraya was planning an attack on Belgaum, which Adil Shah controlled. Krishnadevaraya became ill around this time and died in 1529, leaving his brother, Achyuta Deva Raya, in charge.

Question: Who was Krishna Deva Raya?

Krishnadevaraya was a medieval Indian emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509 to 1529. He was the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty. Following the fall of the Delhi Sultanate, he ruled the largest empire in India.

Question: Mention some of Krishnadeva Raya’s literary contributions.

Krishnadeva Raya is regarded as one of India's greatest kings, and his reign is often regarded as a golden period in South Indian history. He was not only a great ruler, but he also made significant contributions to literature and culture. He wrote Amuktamalyadam, a Telugu literary work that is regarded as one of the Panchakavyas of Telugu literature. For this, he was bestowed the title Andhrabhoja. In Telugu, he wrote the Madalasa Charitra, Ushaparinayam, Jambavatiparinayam, and Sakalakathasaram.

Question: Who is known as Andhra Bhoja?

Other titles for Krishnadeva Raya include 'Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana,' 'Andhra Bhoja,' and 'Mooru Rayara Ganda.'

Question: The Vijayanagar king who wrote 'Amuktamalyada' on the lines of Kautilya's Arthashastra was:

(a) Deva Raya

(b) Vira Narasimha

(c) Sri Ranga ll

(d) Krishnadeva Raya

Answer: (d) See the Explanation

The amuktamalyada is a Telugu epic poem written in the early 16th century by Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara Emperor.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Question: Krishnadevaraya belonged to which dynasty?

(a) Sangam dynasty

(b) Tuluva dynasty

(c) Salva dynasty

(d) Aravidu Dynasty

Answer: (b) See the Explanation

Krishnadevaraya was the Vijayanagara Empire's medieval Indian emperor from 1509 to 1529. He belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

UPSC : Polity - Parliamentary Bodies

Upsc : modern history - british rule and economy, upsc : geography - human settlements, upsc : economy - basics of economics, growth and development, upsc : science & tech - chemistry, upsc cse : polity - fundamental rights - 01, daily quiz: up police: mental ability (direction sense), daily quiz: rrb ntpc: (series), daily quiz: ctet: science (science around us), daily quiz: ctet: social studies (human geography), daily quiz: ctet: history (gupta period), daily quiz: delhi police: problem solving (direction & distance), daily quiz: ctet: physics (electricity and magnetism), daily quiz: upsc cse (ias): national movement (1905-1919) - ii, 5 oct daily ca quiz for upsc & state pscs, 2024 january - monthly current affairs test for upsc exams(aug 31 - sept3), ias 2025 general studies(paper1) : geography subject knowledge test(aug 31-sept3).

UPSC CDS General Knowledge All India Mock Test

Upsc civil services prelims csat full test 7, upsc civil services prelims csat full test 6, upsc civil services prelims csat full test 5, upsc civil services prelims csat full test 4, upsc civil services prelims csat full test 3, upsc civil services prelims csat full test 2, upsc civil services prelims csat full test 1, upsc civil services prelims general studies full test 11, upsc civil services prelims general studies full test 10, upsc civil services prelims 2023: general studies (set - a - held on 28 may), upsc cse 2023 (prelims paper-1: general studies) previous year paper (28-may-2023), upsc civil services prelims 2022: csat official paper, upsc civil services prelims 2022: general studies official paper, upsc cse 2022 (prelims paper-2: csat) previous year paper (05-jun-2022), upsc cse 2022 (prelims paper-1: general studies) previous year paper (5-june-2022), upsc civil services exam (prelims) csat official paper-ii (held on: 2021), upsc civil services exam (prelims) general studies official paper-i (held on: 10 oct 2021), upsc cse 2021 (prelims paper-2: csat) previous year paper (10-oct-2021), upsc cse 2021 (prelims paper-1: general studies) previous year paper (10-oct-2021).

31 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

30 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

28 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

27 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

26 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

24 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

23 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

22 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

21 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

20 August 2024 Daily Current Affairs Analysis

• Entertainment
• Life & Style

To enjoy additional benefits

CONNECT WITH US

Rediscovering the story of a great king

A children's historical book captures the essence of the vijayanagara empire's splendour and an insightful story on one of its greatest rulers.

Published - February 08, 2018 01:29 pm IST

Krishna Deva Raya's life and times have been captured in a compelling story by Roopa Pai and stunning illustrations by Archana Sreenivasan in Good Earth's recently launched Krishna Deva Raya: King of Kings . In an email interview, Roopa and Archana explain the creative process of recreating the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire and the personality of Krishna Deva Raya.

Which aspects of Krishna Deva Raya's life have you highlighted in this book?

While I was doing my research for the book, I discovered that while there was adequate information about his political life, there was precious little historically-authenticated information about Krishna Deva Raya's personal life. In folklore and legend as well, I found more stories about Tenali Rama, the great Telugu poet and wit at the court, than about Krishna Deva Raya. However, I did want to write a story that would make children warm up to him as a person while being in awe of him as a great ruler. One way to do that was to tell his story through a narrator who had known both his personal and professional sides well and had no agenda of his / her own – and who more appropriate than his own daughter?

History does not mention that Krishna Deva Raya had a daughter. However, it does not say he did NOT have a daughter either. So I created a daughter for him, and had her tell his story - affectionately, indulgently, and very proudly.

As a foil to her, I brought in Krishna Deva Raya himself as a second narrator of his own story. Some bits of Krishna Deva Raya's story that his daughter (only nine at the time of his death according to my story) could not have known – the countries he traded with, for instance, or his reasons for doing the things he did – are introduced through Krishna Deva Raya the narrator.

Could you tell us about the research for the book? And how did you sift through the texts/material available on him to weave a story around his life?

For research, I read books not just about Krishna Deva Raya but about the Vijayanagara Empire itself, not only because they are inextricably linked but also because I wanted to tell the story of the empire as much as I did the story of its most important ruler. So I read the seminal texts, like Robert Sewell’s A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagara), published in 1924, which includes the first English translations of the accounts left by Portuguese travellers and diarists Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz of their sojourns in 16th century Vijayanagara, and Hampi Vijayanagara,a more recent book co-authored by George Michell, one of the foremost authorities on Vijayanagara architecture. I also watched Kannada and Telugu films on Krishna Deva Raya to learn about the folk stories around him. And then, to clues I gathered along the way, I added generous doses of my own deductions to tease out a personality for him – if Krishna Deva Raya had built a city and named it after his chief queen, surely he was a fond husband? If he grieved so much at the death of his young son, an affectionate father? If Domingo Paes records him as having a short temper, having him occasionally rage and rant would be an authentic portrayal? I enjoyed the exercise thoroughly.

What, according to you, is the most challenging part of writing a story around a historical character?

I think the challenge is two-fold – one is not to judge him or her by the standards of morality, ethics, behaviour and attitudes that we consider appropriate for a leader/ man/woman/ husband/father in the 21st century; the other is to neither portray him or her as all good or all bad but to acknowledge that, like all of us, he was a mixed bag. This is especially important in books for children – so that they learn to see the world not just in black and white, but in shades of grey.

Could you tell us about how you collaborated with the illustrator, Archana Sreenivasan?

Archana and I have worked together before and I admire her work hugely. I wanted to work with her on this particular book because she is from Bangalore too, and understands the Kannada ethos very well. I wanted that to come out in the way the characters looked, and how the book ‘felt.’

As it turned out, however, Archana had never been to Hampi before. I had been there several times, in fact, I have made a habit of going with friends who have never been, for the pleasure of watching one of my favourite places in the world work its timeless magic on them. So we made a trip together, in the footsteps of the book’s young protagonist and her grandmother (Krishna Deva Raya's fictional daughter), took a lot of pictures, and had a wonderful time.

We brainstormed a few times through the next few months too, making joint decisions with our editors about things like using Kannada numerals to number the chapters. Archana has succeeded in making the flavour, colours and pageantry of a glorious 500-year-old empire come alive in an almost-tactile way for young 21st-century readers.

Archana Sreenivasan

Could you tell us about the creative process of recreating the splendour of the Vijayanagara Empire?

My starting point for most books is research. I start reading about and exploring the topic of the book. For this book, I looked up online resources, downloaded PDF books about the Vijayanagar Empire and Roopa had some books that she showed me. Roopa and I also made a trip to Hampi together before I started work on the book. All this helped me create a small reference resource for myself for the project – consisting of tons of images along with the reading material.

I fell in love with the Vijayanagara murals and that was my primary influence for the book’s visual style. Mostly the murals in Lepakshi, but also the ones on the ceiling of the Virupaksha temple.

After that, in general, my process was this: Read the text multiple times to select the parts to illustrate. Make character sketches and visual styling trials. I work with the client to plan the page count for the book and decide on the pagination, page size of the book, etc. Make a few rough pencil scribbles while constantly referring to my library of reference images. Make more detailed drawings of selected pencil scribbles, while also planning how the text placement works on the page with the image. Once the client has approved drawings, go on to make final coloured illustrations. Finally, design the cover and other non-story pages like end papers etc.

How did you go about creating a portraiture of Krishna Deva Raya? What aspects of his personality have you brought to life in your illustrations?

His visual appearance is based largely on the very detailed records of Domigo Paes - the 16th-century Portuguese traveller. He describes Krishna Deva Raya as not too tall, quite stout, round-faced, and of cheerful temperament mostly. He also mentions that the King wore any garment only once and that he loved to wear white silks with gold thread-work. So in the book, Krishna Deva Raya is shown wearing mostly white and gold. His headgear – the raised conical cap called the Kulavi has also been described in detail. I’ve also relied on a few sculpted portraits of king Krishna Deva Raya found in some of Hampi’s ruins.

Since the story is told from the point of view of his daughter, we get to know not only the king Krishna Deva Raya but also something about the person that Krishna Deva Raya was.

The book is available in all Good Earth stores and on www.goodearth.in.

Read the full interview online on thehindu.com

Top News Today

• Access 10 free stories every month
• Save stories to read later
• Access to comment on every story
• Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
• Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products

Terms & conditions   |   Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

• Classroom Programme
• Interview Guidance
• Online Programme
• Drishti Store
• My Bookmarks
• My Progress
• Change Password
• From The Editor's Desk
• How To Use The New Website
• Help Centre

Achievers Corner

• Topper's Interview
• About Civil Services
• UPSC Prelims Syllabus
• GS Prelims Strategy
• Prelims Analysis
• GS Paper-I (Year Wise)
• GS Paper-I (Subject Wise)
• CSAT Strategy
• Previous Years Papers
• Practice Quiz
• Weekly Revision MCQs
• 60 Steps To Prelims
• Prelims Refresher Programme 2020

Mains & Interview

• Mains GS Syllabus
• Mains GS Strategy
• Mains Answer Writing Practice
• Essay Strategy
• Fodder For Essay
• Model Essays
• Drishti Essay Competition
• Ethics Strategy
• Ethics Case Studies
• Ethics Discussion
• Ethics Previous Years Q&As
• Papers By Years
• Papers By Subject
• Be MAINS Ready
• Awake Mains Examination 2020
• Interview Strategy
• Interview Guidance Programme

Current Affairs

• Daily News & Editorial
• Daily CA MCQs
• Sansad TV Discussions
• Monthly CA Consolidation
• Monthly Editorial Consolidation
• Monthly MCQ Consolidation

Drishti Specials

• To The Point
• Important Institutions
• Learning Through Maps
• PRS Capsule
• Summary Of Reports
• Gist Of Economic Survey

Study Material

• NCERT Books
• NIOS Study Material
• IGNOU Study Material
• Yojana & Kurukshetra
• Chhatisgarh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh

Test Series

• UPSC Prelims Test Series
• UPSC Mains Test Series
• UPPCS Prelims Test Series
• UPPCS Mains Test Series
• BPSC Prelims Test Series
• RAS/RTS Prelims Test Series
• Daily Editorial Analysis
• YouTube PDF Downloads
• Strategy By Toppers
• Ethics - Definition & Concepts
• Mastering Mains Answer Writing
• Places in News
• UPSC Mock Interview
• PCS Mock Interview
• Interview Insights
• Prelims 2019
• Product Promos
• Daily Updates

Important Facts For Prelims

Make Your Note

Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya

• 26 Feb 2021
• Quick Facts For Prelims
• GS Paper - 1
• Medieval Indian History

Why in News

The first-ever epigraphical reference (an inscription) to the date of death of Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya has been discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district, Karnataka.

• Normally, the death of kings was not recorded in the inscriptions and this was one of those rare records.
• Incidentally, this day was marked by a lunar eclipse.
• The inscription is engraved on a slab kept on the north side of the Gopalakrishna temple at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district.
• The inscription also registers the gift of village Honnenahalli in Tumakuru for conducting worship to the god Veeraprasanna Hanumantha of Tumakuru.
• The inscription is written in Kannada.
• He was the ruler of the Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagar empire (1509-29 AD).
• His rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation.
• He is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive gopurams to many important south Indian temples.
• He also founded a suburban township near Vijayanagar called Nagalapuram after his mother.
• He composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada.
• Vijayanagara or “city of victory” was the name of both a city and an empire.
• They made Hampi the capital city. In 1986, Hampi was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
• It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

• Insights IAS Brochure |
• OUR CENTERS Bangalore Delhi Lucknow Mysuru --> Srinagar Dharwad Hyderabad

Call us @ 08069405205

Search Here

• An Introduction to the CSE Exam
• Personality Test
• Annual Calendar by UPSC-2025
• Common Myths about the Exam
• About Insights IAS
• Our Mission, Vision & Values
• Director's Desk
• Meet Our Team
• Our Branches
• Careers at Insights IAS
• Daily Current Affairs+PIB Summary
• Insights into Editorials
• Insta Revision Modules for Prelims
• Current Affairs Quiz
• Static Quiz
• Current Affairs RTM
• Insta-DART(CSAT)
• Insta 75 Days Revision Tests for Prelims 2024
• Secure (Mains Answer writing)
• Secure Synopsis
• Ethics Case Studies
• Insta Ethics
• Weekly Essay Challenge
• Insta Revision Modules-Mains
• Insta 75 Days Revision Tests for Mains
• Secure (Archive)
• Anthropology
• Law Optional
• Kannada Literature
• Public Administration
• English Literature
• Medical Science
• Mathematics
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Monthly Magazine: CURRENT AFFAIRS 30
• Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
• InstaMaps: Important Places in News
• Weekly CA Magazine
• The PRIME Magazine
• Insta Revision Modules-Prelims
• Insta-DART(CSAT) Quiz
• Insta 75 days Revision Tests for Prelims 2022
• Insights SECURE(Mains Answer Writing)
• Interview Transcripts
• Previous Years' Question Papers-Prelims
• Answer Keys for Prelims PYQs
• Solve Prelims PYQs
• Previous Years' Question Papers-Mains
• UPSC CSE Syllabus
• Toppers from Insights IAS
• Testimonials
• Felicitation
• UPSC Results
• Indian Heritage & Culture
• Ancient Indian History
• Medieval Indian History
• Modern Indian History
• World History
• World Geography
• Indian Geography
• Indian Society
• Social Justice
• International Relations
• Agriculture
• Environment & Ecology
• Disaster Management
• Science & Technology
• Security Issues
• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
• Insights IAS Brochure

• Indian Heritage & Culture
• Enivornment & Ecology

Sri Krishnadevaraya

Topics Covered:   Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Sri Krishnadevaraya:

The first-ever epigraphical reference to the date of death of Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya has been discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district in Karnataka.

• The inscription is written in Kannada.

As per the inscription:

• Krishnadevaraya, one of the greatest emperors of India who ruled from the South, died on October 17, 1529, Sunday, and incidentally this day was marked by a lunar eclipse.
• A village named Honnenahalli in Tumakuru was gifted for conducting worship to the god Veeraprasanna Hanumantha of Tumakuru.

About Vijayanagar ruler Krishnadevaraya:

• He was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529.
• He belonged to Tuluva Dynasty.
• Krishna Deva Raya earned the titles Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, Andhra Bhoja and Mooru Rayara Ganda.
• He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula of India by defeating the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Raja of Odisha.
• The great south Indian mathematician Nilakantha Somayaji also lived in the Empire of Krishnadevaraya.
• Portuguese travellers Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz also visited the Vijayanagara Empire during his reign.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

• About Krishnadevaraya.
• His titles.
• His achievements- Cultural and architectural.
• Foreign travelers who visited his court.
• About Nilakantha Somayaji.

Mains Link:

Write a note on Sri Krishnadevaraya.

Sources: the Hindu.

• Our Mission, Vision & Values
• Director’s Desk
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Prelims
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Mains
• Environment & Ecology
• Science & Technology

Use of library resources and services by the research scholars of Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ballari (India): A case study

• Kuri Gurumurthy
• Padmamma S.

Author Affiliations

• 1 Dept. of Library & Information Science, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga – 577451, Karnataka, India
• 2 Dept. of Library & Information Science, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga – 577451, Karnataka, India

Res. J. Library Sci., Volume 11, Issue (2), Pages 9-14, July,21 (2023)

The availability of required books and other reading materials is necessary for research scholars to make effective use of library resources and services. Within the university itself, libraries should offer researchers innovative and responsive library services to meet their academic and educational needs. Understanding how scholars use library resources and services is the primary goal of this study. The researcher gathered primary data from the research scholars by means of a survey and a questionnaire for this study. The analysis reveals that the researchers who are carrying out their studies are pleased with the library's resources and services, and the researchers also suggested that the library should acquire the most recent editions of books, including a reference collection.

• Huded, S., & Naikar, S. (2021)., Awareness, use and impact of electronic information resources by the patrons of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Hyderabad: A study., International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 11(02), 87-91. Google Scholar
• Hussain, A., & Kumar, K. (2013)., Utilization of information resources and services of the master school of management library: A study., International journal of library science, 9(3), 39-52. Google Scholar
• Kawatra, P. S. (1988)., Attitudes of research scholars towards the resources and services of three University libraries in Rajasthan (India)–A study., Google Scholar
• Tadasad, P. G., & Patil, S. (2017)., Use of online social networking services in university libraries: A Study of university libraries of Karnataka, India., DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 37(4). Google Scholar
• Tom-George, N. W. (2022)., Provision of Library Services and Utilization of Resources by Undergraduate Students in Federal University Libraries, South-South Nigeria., British Journal of Library and Information Management, 2(1), 1-17. Google Scholar
• Angadi, M., & Karishnamurthy, C. (2017)., Impact of electronic information resources and services on humanities research scholars of Karnatak University, Dharwad: An analytical study”., International Journal of Library and Information Studies, 7(1), 102-110. Google Scholar
• Awana, O. (2007)., Availability of Books and Other Informational Materials and the Use of Academic Libraries., African Research Review, 1(3), 51-64. Google Scholar
• Cochran, W. G. (1977)., Sampling techniques., John Wiley & Sons. Google Scholar
• Dina, O. (1983)., Attitude of Students towards Library Use and Services: University of Lagos as a Case Study., Unpublished MLS Thesis. Google Scholar
• Gurikar, R., & Gurikar, R. (2015)., Use of library resources and services by Karanatak University research scholars: A case study., DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 35(5), 361-367. Google Scholar
• Hatti, S., Chavan, K., & Naikar, S. (2023)., Use of e-resources by UG and PG Students in SDVS Sangh, In Handbook of Research on Technological Advances of Library and Information Science in Industry 5.0. pp. 378-396. IGI Global. Google Scholar
• Horakeri, Mahesh D. & et.al. (2013)., Usage of Library Resources by Students and Research Scholars of Karnatak and Gulbarga University: A Comparative Study., In International Conference on Knowledge Management and Organization in Digital Era (ICKMODE), pp. 247-252. Sree Siddaganga College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women.https://www.shorturl.at/diQXY
• Irebovbude, M. O. (1991)., Undergraduate Students Perception of Academic libraries: A case study of University of Ibadan., Unpublished MLA Thesis, 52-60.
• Jamil, M., Tariq, R. U. H., & Jamil, S. (2013)., Library Resources: Utilization by Teachers and Students., Bulletin of Education and Research, 35(2), 19-35. Google Scholar
• Khan, A., Ahmed, S., & Masrek, M. N. (2014)., Scholars’ satisfaction with digital library collection and gaps in the provision of effective information resources and services: A Pakistani perspective., Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 26(4), 250-267. Google Scholar
• Korobili, S., Tilikidou, I., & Delistavrou, A. (2006)., Factors that influence the use of library resources by faculty members., Library review, 55(2), 91-105. Google Scholar
• Krishnamurthy, C., & Awari, V. H. (2015)., Use and impact of electronic information resources among PG students of UAS, Dharwad., Pearl: A Journal of Library and Information Science, 9(1), 1-8. Google Scholar
• Kumbar, M., & Lohar, M. S. (2002)., Use of library facilities and information resources in Sahyadri Colleges, Shimoga (Karnataka): a study., Google Scholar
• Lawal, L. D. (1997)., The effective organization and utilization of non‐print resources., Library Review, 46(3), 210-215. Google Scholar
• Maan, I. S. (2019)., Use of library resources and services of Punjabi university Patiala by the research scholars and post graduate students., Journal of Indian library association, 54(3). Google Scholar
• Madhusudhan, M. (2010)., Use of electronic resources by research scholars of Kurukshetra University., The electronic library, 28(4), 492-506. Google Scholar
• Kumbar, M. (2015)., Use of Information resources and services by the faculty members of First Grade Colleges Affiliated to Tumkur University, Tumkur: A study., Google Scholar
• Mohamed, H. K. (2007)., Use of ICT based resources and services in special libraries in Kerala., Annals of library and information studies, 54(1), 23-31. Google Scholar
• Mukherjee, B., & Kumar, P. (2010)., Use of UGC-Infonet e-journals by research scholars of the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi: A case study., Google Scholar
• Mulimani, Mallikarjun N. & Naregal, Basavaraj (2016)., Use of Library Resources by Students of GFGC for Women, Chamarajpet Bangalore: A Study., In 7th KSCLA National Conference on Information Literacy and Embedded Librarianship: Changing Role of College Libraries in Digital Era (pp. 595-600). Siddaligeshwar Prakashan. https://www.shorturl.at/ABMOU
• Mulimani, Mallikarjun N. & Ramanna, Shamrao (2015)., Use of Information Resources in City Central Library, Kalaburgi, Karnataka State: A Study., Indian Journal of Library and Information Technology, 5(2), 16-21. https://www.shorturl.at/tJMR7
• Muthuvennila, S., & Kannan, P. (2020)., User Satisfaction with Library Information Resources and Services: Improvement and Innovation of Effective Activities of Research Scholars., In Challenges and Opportunities of Open Educational Resources Management, pp. 81-102. IGI Global. Google Scholar
• Nzivo, C. N. (2012)., User perception on library services and information resources in Kenyan Public Libraries., Library Review, 61(2), 110-127. Google Scholar
• Ologbonasaiye, R. (1994)., Resources Management for Librarians. Lagos: Concept Publishers.,
• Padmamma, S., Sathish, H., & Walmiki, R. H. (2013)., Use of e-resources by students and faculty member of National Institute of Business Excellence, Bangalore: A study., International Journal of Contemporary Issues, 1(2), 21-26. Google Scholar
• Padmavathi, N., Ningaiah, A., & Biradar, K. (2017)., Use and user satisfaction of library resources and services by PG students and research scholars in Bangalore University Library, Bangalore., International Research: Journal of Library and Information Science, 7(1). Google Scholar
• Ramanna, S., & Kotur, M. B. (2016)., Use of Information Resources among Secondary School Children in Hai I Ikhfd (B) Village, Bidar Dist. (Karnataka State): A Case Study., Sansmaran Research Journal, 6(1), 19-22. Google Scholar
• Siddiqui, A. F. (2001)., Use of library collections in the Jawaharlal Nehru University library New Delhi., IASLIC Bulletin, 46(4), 184-196. Google Scholar
• Download PDF
• Download XML
• Table of Contents

©2024 International Science Community Association

The Quality of Digital Technology in Higher Education: A Case Study from Gulf Universities

• First Online: 31 August 2024

Cite this chapter

• Abdulsadek Hassan 9 , 10 ,
• Abdulla Mahdi Hassan 9 , 10 &
• Tariq Mana Ali Al Numis 9 , 10  

Part of the book series: Studies in Systems, Decision and Control ((SSDC,volume 538))

This article explores the usage of digital technology in higher education within Gulf universities. The educational landscape in this region has witnessed significant transformations driven by advancements in technology. Gulf universities are embracing various digital tools and platforms to enhance the teaching and learning experience, improve access to education, and foster engagement among students and faculty members. This article examines the implementation of digital technology in Gulf universities, highlights its advantages and challenges, and explores the potential impact on the overall quality of education. Additionally, it discusses the key initiatives and strategies adopted by Gulf universities to leverage digital technology effectively. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and institutions seeking to leverage digital technology in higher education within Gulf countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save.

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime
• Available as PDF
• Read on any device
• Instant download
• Own it forever
• Available as EPUB and PDF
• Durable hardcover edition
• Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
• Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abdellatif, S., Shomotova, A., Trabelsi, S., Husain, S., Alsalhi, N., Eltahir, M.: Transition to distance learning: student experience and communication during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates. Sustainability 15 (8), 6456 (2023)

Article   Google Scholar  

Aboud, Y.Z.: Evaluating the status of gifted education in the Gulf cooperation council countries. Cogent Educ. 10 (1), 2206080 (2023)

Abu Talib, M., Bettayeb, A.M., Omer, R.I.: Analytical study on the impact of technology in higher education during the age of COVID-19: systematic literature review. Educ. Inf. Technol., 1–28 (2021)

Google Scholar  

Aburayya, A., Salloum, S., Alderbashi, K., Shwedeh, F., Shaalan, Y., Alfaisal, R., Malaka, S. and Shaalan, K.: SEM-machine learning-based model for perusing the adoption of metaverse in higher education in UAE. Int. J. Data Netw. Sci. 7 (2), 667–676 (2023)

Ahmed, E., Shaukat, A., AlDhaen, E.: A review of the recent developments in the higher education sector globally and in the GCC region. In: Artificial Intelligence and Transforming Digital Marketing, 635–651 (2023)

Akhmedov, B.: A new approach to teaching information technologies in education. Central Asian J. Educ. Comput. Sci. (CAJECS) 1 (2), 73–78 (2022)

Akhmedov, B.A.: Improvement of the digital economy and its significance in higher education in tashkent region. Uzbek Scholar J. 12 , 18–21 (2023)

Akour, M., Alenezi, M.: Higher education future in the era of digital transformation. Educ. Sci. 12 (11), 784 (2022)

Al Rawashdeh, A.Z., Mohammed, E.Y., Al Arab, A.R., Alara, M., Al-Rawashdeh, B.: Advantages and disadvantages of using e-learning in university education: analyzing students’ perspectives. Electron. J. E-learn. 19 (3), 107–117 (2021)

Alarefi, M.: Adoption of IoT by telecommunication companies in GCC: the role of blockchain. Decis. Sci. Lett. 12 (1), 55–68 (2023)

Alastal, A.Y.M., Salman, M.A.H., Allaymoun, M.H.: Accounting students’ perceptions on e-learning during Covid-19 pandemic: case study of accounting and financial students in Gulf university—Bahrain. In: Artificial Intelligence and Transforming Digital Marketing, pp. 879–890. Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham (2023)

Alenezi, M.: Deep dive into digital transformation in higher education institutions. Educ. Sci. 11 (12), 770 (2021)

Article   MathSciNet   Google Scholar  

Alenezi, M.: Digital learning and digital institution in higher education. Educ. Sci. 13 (1), 88 (2023)

Al-Harthi, A.S.A., Ani, W.T.A.: Learner readiness for MOOCs in Omani higher education institutions: disparities between projections and reality. Educ. Inf. Technol. 28 (1), 303–319 (2023)

Alkaabi, K., Ramadani, V., Zeqiri, J.: Universities, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and family business performance: evidence from the United Arab Emirates. J. Knowl. Econ., 1–28 (2023)

Almahamid, S.M., Ayoub, A.E.A., Al Salah, L.F.: New ways of working scale development and psychometric properties: validation in higher education institutions in the GCC countries. J. Facil. Manag. 21 (3), 453–471 (2023)

Almaiah, M.A., Alfaisal, R., Salloum, S.A., Al-Otaibi, S., Al Sawafi, O.S., Al-Maroof, R.S., Lutfi, A., Alrawad, M., Mulhem, A.A., Awad, A.B.: Determinants influencing the continuous intention to use digital technologies in higher education. Electronics 11 (18), 2827 (2022)

Almaiah, M.A., Alhumaid, K., Aldhuhoori, A., Alnazzawi, N., Aburayya, A., Alfaisal, R., Salloum, S.A., Lutfi, A., Al Mulhem, A., Alkhdour, T., Awad, A.B., Shehab, R.: Factors affecting the adoption of digital information technologies in higher education: an empirical study. Electronics 11 (21), 3572 (2022)

Anthony, B., Kamaludin, A., Romli, A., Raffei, A.F.M., Phon, D.N.A.E., Abdullah, A., Ming, G.L.: Blended learning adoption and implementation in higher education: a theoretical and systematic review. In: Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 1–48 (2022)

Aseeri, M., Kang, K.: Organisational culture and big data socio-technical systems on strategic decision making: case of Saudi Arabian higher education. In: Education and Information Technologies, 1–26 (2023)

Ayoub, A.E.A.H., Almahamid, S.M., Al Salah, L.F.: Innovative work behavior scale: development and validation of psychometric properties in higher education in the GCC countries. Eur. J. Innov. Manag. 26 (1), 119–133 (2023)

Ayu, M.: Online learning: leading e-learning at higher education. J. English Literacy Educ. Teach. Learn. English Foreign Lang. 7 (1), 47–54 (2020)

Bhat, S., Antony, J., Maalouf, M., EV, G., Salah, S.: Applications of six sigma for service quality enhancement in the UAE: a multiple case study analysis and lessons learned. Int. J. Lean Six Sigma (2023)

Fakrudeen, M., Rajan, A., Alameri, A.H.M., Almheiri, A.M.L.O.: Assessing higher education websites in the middle east: a comparative analysis of UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. In: 2023 9th International Conference on Information Technology Trends (ITT), pp. 226–231. IEEE (2023)

Fenech, R., Abdulla, A., Zairi, A., Kinsella, K., Misra, A.: Culture of excellence in academia in the UAE: a model of transformational leadership and leadership development. J. Res. Leadersh. Educ., 19427751231188388 (2023)

Ghamrawi, N., Tamim, M.R.: A typology for digital leadership in higher education: the case of a large-scale mobile technology initiative (using tablets). Educ. Inf. Technol. 28 (6), 7089–7110 (2023)

Islam, M., Mazlan, N.H., Al Murshidi, G., Hoque, M.S., Karthiga, S.V., Reza, M.: UAE university students’ experiences of virtual classroom learning during Covid 19. Smart Learn. Environ. 10 (1), 5 (2023)

Karkouti, I.M.: Integrating technology in Qatar’s higher education settings: what helps faculty accomplish the job. Technol. Knowl. Learn. 28 (1), 279–305 (2023)

Niankara, I.: The impact of financial inclusion on digital payment solution uptake within the Gulf cooperation council economies. Int. J. Innov. Stud. 7 (1), 1–17 (2023)

Shaya, N., Madani, R., Mohebi, L.: An application and extension of the UTAUT model: factors influencing behavioral intention to utilize mobile learning in UAE higher education. J. Interact. Learn. Res. 34 (1), 153–180 (2023)

Shomotova, A., Karabchuk, T.: Transition to online teaching under COVID-19: the case study of UAE University. In: Social Change in the Gulf Region: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, pp. 141–160. Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore (2023)

Siddique, N., Ur Rehman, S., Ahmad, S., Abbas, A., Khan, M.A.: Library and information science research in the Arab world: a bibliometric analysis 1951–2021. Global Knowl. Memory Commun. 72 (1/2), 138–159 (2023)

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Ahlia University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Abdulsadek Hassan, Abdulla Mahdi Hassan & Tariq Mana Ali Al Numis

University of Business and Technology, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdulsadek Hassan .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

College of Business of Finance, Ahlia University, Manama, Bahrain

Allam Hamdan

Department of Business Studies, Box Hill College Kuwait, Kuwait, Kuwait

Arezou Harraf

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Hassan, A., Hassan, A.M., Al Numis, T.M.A. (2024). The Quality of Digital Technology in Higher Education: A Case Study from Gulf Universities. In: Hamdan, A., Harraf, A. (eds) Business Development via AI and Digitalization. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 538. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62102-4_50

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62102-4_50

Published : 31 August 2024

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-031-62101-7

Online ISBN : 978-3-031-62102-4

eBook Packages : Intelligent Technologies and Robotics Intelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)

Share this chapter

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research