It was exactly 509 years ago on this day 26th July 1509 that Pradhana Amatya  Timmarusu crowned Sri Krishna Deva Raya the Emperor of Dakshina Patha & heralded the golden era of Vijayanagara Kingdom (1509-1565). Krishna Deva Raya is generally considered one of the best Kings to have ruled a vast swathe of Land.

Going back a few hundred years prior to Krishna Deva Raya; Alauddin Khilji, Malik Kafur and Muhammad Bin Tughlaq had laid to waste the majestic Hindu Kingdoms of the Yadavas at Devagiri, Kakatiyas at Warangal, Hoysalas at Halebidu and the Pandyas at Madurai over a span of 35 years. By early 1340, these four kingdoms had almost collapsed due to repeat invasions and lack of strategic unity amongst themselves.

Out of the Ashes of these kingdoms rose a Majestic Empire that covered the entire Peninsular India and stood as a bulwark for Dharma for over 300 years. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by the Sangama brothers Harihara and Bukka who had escaped from the captivity of the Sultanate in Delhi. By all accounts, Harihara and Bukka had been forcibly converted to Islam and were fleeing back south in search of a benefactor and a guide.

Upon receiving spiritual direction from Sri Vidyaranya Swami of the Sringeri Matha at the ancient banks of Tungabhadra near present day Hampi, the two brothers married into the Anegundi dynasty and built a kingdom that people remember even to this day and age.

There is no conclusive proof on who Harihara and Bukka were before their imprisonment---Were they Generals of Pratapa Rudra (the Last Kakatiya King of Warangal) or were they Koshadikaris (Treasurers) of King Veera Ballala-III of the Hoysala Dynasty ?

Ballappa Dandanayaka, a nephew of Hoysala Ballala III, had married a daughter of Harihara. This shows that Harihara was associated with the Hoysala Court. Immediately after coming to power in 1336, Harihara had built a fort at Barkuru, on the west coast of present-day Karnataka. It appears from inscriptions that he was administering the northern parts of present-day Karnataka from his seat at Gutti, Anantapur district (present day Andhra Pradesh) in 1339. He had initially controlled the northern portions of the Hoysala Empire before taking full control over its entire range after the death of Veera Ballala III in 1343. Among his brothers, Kampana governed Nellore region, Muddappa administered Mulabagal region, Marappa oversaw Chandragutti (Chandragiri in Andhra Pradesh) and Bukka Raya was his second in command.

Harihara, Bukka and their descendants of the Sangama Dynasty ruled Vijayanagara Empire successfully for over 150 years until the demise of Praudha Raya in 1485.

After the Sangama Dynasty, the Saluva Dynasty briefly took reigns from 1485 but the real power and defacto ruler was the Military Commander Tuluva Narasa Nayaka. It was Narasa Nayaka and his wise Minister Saluva Timmarusu who held the kingdom together during these turbulent times.

Saluva Timmarusu was the Chief architect of the Vijayanagara Empire for almost 30 years during the collective reigns of Tuluva Narasa Nayaka (1491-1503), Tuluva Vira Narasimha Raya (1503-1509) and Tuluva Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529). He was fondly called "Appaji" by Krishna Deva Raya who considered Timmarusu more like a Father Figure and a Mentor. Appaji had enabled Krishna Deva Raya to ascend the throne in 1509 after the death of his step brother Tuluva Vira Narasimha Raya.

The ailing king had wanted to get Krishna Deva Raya blinded to enable his own son to succeed after his passing but Timmarusu knew that Krishna Deva Raya would uphold Sanatana Dharma better than anyone else in the Royal Lineage and thus fooled the king by lying that he had killed Krishna Deva Raya and by showing a pair of goat’s eyes as proof. He then sends Krishna Deva Raya into hiding. When Vira Narasimha Raya passes away in 1509, Timmarusu brings back Krishna Deva Raya from hiding and crowns him King.

Krishna deva Raya ruled for 20 years from 1509-1529 and the foundation that he and Timmarusu laid was strong enough to carry the Kingdom forward for another 100 years.

After the defeat by Aliya Rama Raya at  Talikota in 1565, the kingdom sputtered ON for another 80 years from Penukonda, Chandragiri & other forts. Notable Emperor of the Post Rama Raya Era was Venkatapati Deva Raya who actually revived the decadent Empire over a span of 30 years: (https://myind.net/Home/viewArticle/venkatapati-deva-raya-unsung-emperor-vijayanagara-empire), (https://myind.net/Home/viewArticle/venkatapati-deva-raya-unsung-emperor-vijayanagara-empire-part-2).

Although the Empire came to a grinding halt under Sriranga III in 1642, it was the glory and the stories of the Vijayanagara Empire and the Rajputs that Shivaji had heard as a child growing up in the Sahyadri’s.

It was this very inspiration that led to the fightback and revival of Sanatana Dharma under the three Chatrapathis- Shivaji, Shambhaji and Rajaram by 1700’s and later under a succession of Peshwas, Khalsa panthis and Maharaja Ranjit Singh until the 1840’s.

Oh Raya, Oh Tenali, Oh VyasaThirtha, Oh Timmarusu ! We are forever indebted and grateful to be your descendants. Hindus cannot and will not forget your supreme sacrifice and contributions to the Revival of Sanatana Dharma. We have fought back time and time again against tyranny and destruction only because of your spiritual guidance and presence.

May we uphold the Sacredness of Bharata Mata. May we never forget Vijayanagara !

Image Credits: Govt of Karnataka, UNESCO