Literature of The Vijayanagar Empire

The empire of Vijayanagara flourished under the reign of Harihara 1 of the Sangama Dynasty, who was preceded by Bukka Raya 1 of the Sangama Dynasty and showered devotion to literature, the arts, and architecture. The empire’s generosity toward these creative endeavours resulted in a more enriched cultural heritage for that era.

The era of the Sangama dynasty of the Vijayanagar Empire can be described as a golden period of literature growth, with scholars of Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Sanskrit producing magnificent works on religion, music, biography, and poetry in traditions such as Virashaiya, Jain, and Vaishnavas. This paper will emphasise the Vijayanagar Empire’s literature growth, books and poetry, and the era’s development. 

What is Vijayanagar Empire literature? 

While the Vijayanagar Empire attained its literary apex during the reign of Sri Krishna Deva Raya, numerous literary greats flourished under various monarchs, the majority of whom were supporters of art and architecture. 

Even though Vijayanagar is widely regarded as the Golden Age of Telugu literature, many works were also created in Tamil, Kannada, and Sanskrit. It was a time when everything from Prabandhas to works on spirituality, medicine, language, music, and biographies was produced. Hampi was a bustling cultural hub that drew some of the era’s most remarkable intellectuals and writers.

The majority of Kannada literature created during the Vijayanagara era was tied to the “Veerashaivism and Vaishnavism” tradition and, to a lesser extent, Jainism. However, it wasn’t just poets and scholars; many Vijayanagar empire emperors, court nobles, and soldiers were also brilliant writers in their own right.

The majority of the writing fell into three categories, 6 line poetry called shatpadi, melodic pieces called Sangatya, and 3 line poetry called tripadi. However, one of the most notable characteristics of Kannada literature during the Vijayanagar Empire was the rise of Veerashaivism and vachana poetry, which had previously been the realm of Jainism and its champu style of writing.

While his reign is deservedly regarded as the Golden Period of Telugu literature, the Early Vijayanagar era produced some excellent Telugu poets.

The early Sangama emperors patronised the Sringeri saints, whereas the later Saluva and Tuluva monarchs patronised the “Madhava saints of Udupi ”. Sangama rulers patronised the Advaita saints of the Sringeri order, and one of the greatest works of this period was Sayana’s Vedartha Prakasha.

Section of poetry 

Among Jaina poets, Madhura, supported by Harihara II and Deva Raya I, authored Dharmanathapurana, Sastrsara, Bhaskara of Penugonda wrote Jinadharacharite, Vritta Vilasa wrote Dharmaparikshe and Kotesvara of Tuluvadesa wrote on Jivandharaja’ and Bommarasa of Terkanambi wrote Santakumaracharite. Sringeri’s Bahubali Pandita wrote the Dharmanathapurana.

Kumara Vyasa, a Vaishnava scholar, supported by Deva Raya II, wrote Gadugina Bharata. Timmanna Kavi later completed it as KrishnaRaya Bharata, which was patronised by King Krishnadevaraya, while Narahari authored Torave Ramayana. Other significant works are Bhagavatha by Chatu Vittalanatha, supported by Achyuta Raya, Krishnadevaraya and Nala Charite, Mohana Tarangini, Haribhakthisara, and Ramadhanya Charitre by the great saint Kanakadasa and Ramadhanya Charitre by the great saint Kanakadasa.

King Deva Raya II was a poet who wrote the Sobagina Sone in Kannada, a series of romantic stories told to his wife by the author. Abhinava Chandra wrote Asva-vaidya on veterinary sciences,  Manjaraja I, a Jain, wrote the book Khagendra Mani Darpana on toxicology,  Sridharadeva wrote Vaidyamrita, Brahmin poet Manjaraja II authored Manjaraja-Nighantu and Deparaja a Virashiava wrote Sobagina-song.

Books to read from Vijayanagar Empire

Telugu literature and culture developed and reached their peak during Krishnadevaraya’s reign. The magnificent emperor was a famed poet who wrote the Amuktamalyada. 8 Telugu poets became regarded as the key pillars of the literary council at his court. It was formerly thought that 8 elephants held the world in eight separate directions. The title Ashtadiggajas honours this idea, and so the court was also known as Bhuvana Vijayam. Because of the high quality of prabandha literature written during this period, the Kingdom is known as the “Prabandha Period.”

Many of the Udupi order’s Madhwa haridasas not only served as “rajguru” to Vijayanagar rulers but also penned several vital works of Advaita Vedanta. Jayatirtha, Sripadaraya, and Vyasatirtha were among them.

Sangitasara, a dissertation on music, was written by Vidyaranya of Sringeri. Kallinatha, who Mallikarjuna Raya patronised, wrote on music, and his grandson Rama Amatya, who Aliya Rama Raya favoured, also wrote on music.

Ratiratna Pradipika is an erotica book written by Praudha Devaraya. Sayana wrote Dhtuvtti, a grammatical book in Sanskrit. Ayurveda Sudhanidhi, a book on traditional Indian medicine, was also written by Sayana. Vaidyaraja Vallabham is another medicinal book written by Lakshmana Pandita.

Several of the kings are scholars themselves. Krishnadevaraya, a scholar and patron of many poets, penned, Rasamanjari, Satyavedu Parinaya, Madalasa Charitaand Jambavati Kalyana.Ramabhyudayam was written by King Saluva Narasimha. Mahanataka Sudhanidhi was written by King Devaraya I. 

Conclusion

Along with poetry, the Vijayanagara kingdom was a great supporter of art and architecture, with contributions from royalty. The importance of regional languages in explaining issues such as poetry, religion, abilities, public life, science, professions, and devotion may be observed in translations from various periods. 

The architecture of both periods was a cultural mash-up of different decades with an Islamic influence. Temples, courts, and basic civic architecture use granite and vivid colours to show stunning detailed mouldings and carvings.