The Founding of Hampi

One of the important events in the history of India, is the founding of Vijayanagara Empire by the brothers Harihara and Bukkaraya, on the advice of Vidyaranya Swami in 1336 AD. While there are different theories on the origin of the brothers, what is clear is that these brothers laid the foundation for one of the greatest Hindu empires ever.

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded at a very critical point in our history. The Muslim invasions that had devastated most of the North, had now swept into the Deccan and South, as the existing kingdoms like Hoysalas, Kakatiyas, Yadavas collapsed, while further South Madurai faced the brunt of the invasions.

It was around this time, that the Vijayanagar Empire emerged. For over 250 years, Vijayanagara Empire acted as a defense in the South against the Muslim invasions that ravaged the Northern parts of India. It protected the Hindu dharma and kingdoms in South, it preserved the culture, the temples, and acted like a solid wall, against the Muslim invaders.

There is the story of Harihara and Bukka going for hunting and seeing the hare turn against the pack of hunting dogs. The brothers on witnessing the incident informed this to their guru Vidyaranya Swami, who advised them to set up their kingdom there.

There are two different theories on the origin of Harihara and Bukka Raya. One school of thought propounded by scholars like B.L.Rice, P.B.Desai etc, is that both the brothers were serving under the Hoysalas. This theory states that their father Sangama was in the service of Veera Ballala III, and both Harihara and Bukka were feudatories under the Hoysala ruler. Harihara I was a commander in Veera Ballala’s army and he played a major role in expanding the territories.

Vijayanagara was already founded around 1336, under the name of Hosapattana, on the Tunghabhadra river, and there was a gradual transfer of power later on, when the Hoysalas began to decline.

The fact that Harihara assumed the Kannada titles of Purvapaschima Samudradhishvara( Master of the East and West Oceans), Bhashegetappuvarayaraganda( “Punisher of those who never kept a promise”) and that they were referred to as Karnataka Kshitinatha by Telugu poets like Srinatha, points to their origin as per historian Suryanatha Kamath.

Furthermore Kamath points out the fact that over 7000 inscriptions were in Kannada. One more fact supporting the Kannada origin theory was that their patron saint Vidyaranya Swamy, was the Jagadguru of the Shringeri Sharada Peetam.

The claim that Harihara and Bukka Raya, were soldiers in Kakatiya empire, who were captured by Muslim rulers, converted to Islam and again reconverted back, is a bit far fetched, as per this school.

The other theory propounded by Robert Sewell, Subbarayulu, and others, testify to the Telugu origin of the brothers. This theory states that both Harihara and Bukka were in charge of the Kakatiya treasury, who escaped after the kingdom had fallen to the Muslim rulers.

They fled to Anegondi, where they met Vidyaranya, who advised them to establish Vijayanagara Empire in order to safeguard Hindu Dharma. While Robert Sewell, concludes that the brothers were primarily Kuruba Gowdas, as per another scholar, Srinivas Rao, texts establish the fact that the brothers were Gollas and worshipped the Goddess Bhuvaneshwari.

This theory about the brothers serving the Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra and being taken captive after the fall of Warangal, was proposed by Muslim scholars like Ziauddin Barani, Ferishta and foreign visitors like Ibn Batuta.

One of the more plausible theories is that both the brothers were serving under the Kakatiya rulers, and when the empire fell, they fled to Anegondi, where they took service under the local Rajah there.

Having seen the atrocities of the Muslim invaders, the brothers had sworn to protect Sanatana Dharma from invaders. They worked as treasurer and minister in the Rajah’s palace, and in 1334, the chief, gave refuge to Baha-ud-din, the nephew of Mohd. Bin Tughlaq, who had rebelled against him.

Mohd Bin Tughlaq attacked Anegundi, and the chief surrendered Baha-ud-din to him, who then was butchered in the most gruesome manner. After the capture of Anegundi, the Sultan, left for Delhi leaving it in the care of Malik Naib, whom he appointed as the Governor.

However the local Hindus rose in revolt against Malik, overthrew him, and in due course of time, the city of Vijayanagara was founded. The brothers Harihara and Bukka Raya effectively became the first king and minister.

It's believed that when Harihara and Bukka were laying the foundation for Hampi, Vidyaranya Swami prayed to Sharadamba and asked her to let the Empire reign for 2000 years. He asked the brothers to be at a spot, and wait for his signal, when he blew the conch.

The brothers heard the conch signal and laid the foundation just as he instructed. However a minute later they heard another conch sound, and were confused. When Swami Vidyaranya met the brothers, they told him they laid the foundation on sound of first conch, but he had actually blown it the second time.

It's believed on praying to Sharadamba, she appeared before Vidyaranya and told him, that the first conch was blown on her instance, as the time was not yet ripe for a 2000 year old empire. She however predicted that the empire would last for 250 years, and that a 2000 year old Hindu empire, would appear 500 years later.

After laying the foundation, the brothers established the capital Hampi on the right bank of the Tungabhadra river as per Vidyaranya's advice. The city came to be popularly known as Vijayanagara, and was built in the form of a Sri Chakra, with the Virupaksha temple in the middle and nine gates all around.

When one looks at the founding and early years of Vijayanagara Empire, two families played a major role here. One was the Sangama family, where Harihara I ruled, along with his brother Bukka Raya, as the commander in chief. The other 3 brothers Marappa administered Chandragiri, Kampana governed over Nellore region, and Mudappa looked after the Mulbagal region( now in Karnataka).

The other family was that of Vidyaranya Swami, while he was the Raja Guru, as well as the Chief Minister for Harihara I, he played a major role in the wise delegation of powers and responsibilities.

He undertook the duties of being the advisor to Harihara I,while he delegated his equally wise brother Sayana, to Sangama, who became the Viceroy General after death of his father Kampana , and commanded the Eastern provinces.

Vidyaranya’s other brother Bhoganatha, was the Jagadguru of Sringeri, and commanded great respect. In effect it was these two families that of Vidyaranya and Harihara, Bukka who together played a major role in the initial years of the empire. It was out of respect to Vidyaranya that Harihara I built a massive temple at Hampi close to the Tunghabhadra river, which still exists today.

Bukka was a great warrior himself, and during his reign, Vijayanagar covered the entire Tungabhadra Valley to the east, and the Konkan, Malabar coast to the west. It's believed he ascended the throne in 1343 after the passing away of Harihara.

Bukka ruled for around 36 years, between 1343 and 1379, and during his reign, the kingdom expanded all the way up to Kalinga. Most of the Southern kingdoms surrendered to Bukka, and it could have been for tactical reasons. One as a defense against the Muslim invasions from the North, and another as a counter to the emerging Bahmani kingdom. In fact Bukka’s reign was marked more by his constant battles with the Bahmani rulers, than with other kingdoms.

As a ruler Bukka ensured freedom of worship, and harmony between all religious sects. He mediated in the disputes between the Jainas and Srivaishnavites, emphasizing that both of them were equally important, and such quarrels would only help the Bahmanis who were seeking to capture Vijayanagara.

Vidyaranya Swamy wrote Vedartha Prakashika, for a more simpler understanding of the Vedas, while many Jain authors also flourished during his reign.After a long reign, Bukka finally passed away in 1377, but not before laying the foundation for one of the greatest Hindu empires ever.

Harihara, Bukka Raya and Swami Vidyaranya, every Hindu should be eternally indebted to these men, who laid the foundation for one of the greatest Hindu empires that acted as a barrier to the Muslim invasions down South and protected it for close to 250 years.