Sri Krishnadevaraya History
Sri krishnadevaraya was a famous emperor who had been ruled Vijayanagara kingdom during 1509 to 1530 AD. He was born on 16 February 1471 AD. His father’s name was Narasa Nayaka who was a minister under the Saluva Narasimha and mother Nagalamba. Narasimha was a governor of Chandragiri in Andhra Pradesh. When the Vijayanagara Empire became weak, Narasimha invaded Vijayanagara and occupied it and appointed Narasa Nayaka as his chief minister. When Saluva was arrested during the raid on Udayagiri, he appointed Narasanayaka as the reagent to his young sons and asked him to raise his sons to be kings. Instead of his wish, Narasanayaka raised his eldest son Viranarasimha rayalu as emperor and ruled for six years. Later he fell ill and wanted his son the future emperor, so he afraid that there may be a threat to his younger son from Sri Krishnadevaraya.
So he asked his chief minister Timmarusu to kill Sri Krishnadevarayalu and bring his eyes as proof. Timmarusu was very brilliant and he knew about the abilities of Sri krishnadevaraya. He believed the young Krishnadevaraya will become a great ruler in future. So he went to Sri krishnadevaraya and reveals the plans of his younger brother. Later he hides Sri krishnadevaraya in his house and took goats eyes to Viranarasimharayalu and showed the goat’s eyes. Finally, Viranarasimha rayalu died and Timmarusu raised Srikrishnadevaraya as the emperor of Vijayanara.
The first six months he spent his days in capital to understood the administration and read the history of Vijayanagara empire. Later years consolidating the power Srikrishnadevaraya went to campaign and was victorious everywhere he went. He defeated sultanate of Bidar and his ally Yusuf Adil Khan in the year 1510.
The emperor also conquered Raichur, Gulbarga, and Bidar. He built Seringapatnam and made it the capital of Vijayanagaram. The Vijayanagara territory stretched both sides of Krishna and Godavari rivers. The highlight of his conquests occurred on May 19, 1520, where he secured the fortress of Raichur from Ismail Adil Shah of Bijapur after a difficult siege during which 16000 Vijayanagara soldiers were killed. During the campaign against Raichur, it is said that 7,03,000 foot soldiers, 32,600 cavalries, and 551 elephants were used. Before Krishnadevaraya’s rise to emperor, the Muslim sultans used to wage Jihad on Hindus and used to kill at least 1,00,000 to 5,00,000 people every year. In the region of Srikrishnadevaraya the people enjoyed a lot and lead a peaceful life.
He gave much preference to the security of people in his region. During his administration, no Muslim sultan dare to dream of invading the Vijayanagara empire. He controlled the robberies and thefts and also built many lakes to improve water facilities to cultivate the crops. Krishnadevaraya constructed many temples which are still very famous construction and noted sacred places. He encouraged the tradition and culture of Hinduism.
During his period flourished Telugu literature, he had 8 eminent poets called Asthadiggajas in his court and he himself a poet and wrote in Telugu and Sanskrit languages. His court was famous as Bhuvanavijayam and he wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu. Krishnadevaraya also called as krishnaraya, the daily proceedings in the court are in Telugu language. Krishnadevaraya said about Telugu: “Desabhashalandu Telugu lessa”, which means ‘Telugu is the best language among the national languages.’
Patron of Hinduism:
As a king, Krishnadevaraya built many temples in his kingdom. He respected all sects of Hinduism, although he personally followed Vaishnavism. Krishnadevaraya was a great devotee of Lord Venkateswara. He visited Tirumala temple many times and presented numerous valuable objects, diamond studded crowns and golden swords. Here the bronze statue of him installed accompanied with his two wives statues. One of his wife Tirumaladevi to his left side and Chinnadevi to his right side.
At first he married to Tirumala Devi and Chinnama Devi. However, as a part of peace treaty with Prathapa Rudra, he married his daughter, Princess Annapurna Devi to strengthen Vijayanagara Empire on both sides of the Krishna River. In another side of his personality, he was a great devotee of Lord Venkateswa. So that he visited Tirumala Tirupati temple many times and donated numerous precious ornaments to Lord Venkateswara. Among them golden sword and diamond encrusted crowns. Even he named his son Tirumala Raya in the honour of Lord Venkateswara. However, the young Prince didn’t live no longer due to poisoning. Few of the courtiers misguided Sri Krishnadevaraya about the poisoning Tirumala Raya.
He believed Timmarusu and his son were cause for the death of Tirumala Raya. Hence, prisoned Timmarusu and his son and made them blinded. Later, he found the truth and lamented about the brutal activity at his Guru Timmarusu and fell ill critically, died in 1529 AD.
Sri Krishnadevaraya Death
Sri Krishnadevaraya’s own son Tirumala Raya died mysteriously. Before his death, he nominated his brother Achyuta Deva Raya as his successor. The rule of Krishnadevaraya was a glorious chapter in the Indian history. It is difficult to the historians to compare him with any other king in India in the way of administration and fierce act in the battlefields.