Theme 2- CH 3 Social and Religious Life: Vedic Society

A set of 50 flashcards covering key concepts, architecture, and historical details of the Vijayanagara Empire for exam preparation.

Who rediscovered the ruins of Hampi and how did his approach reflect colonial interests in India’s past?

Colonel Colin Mackenzie in 1800; used surveys and local accounts to aid British governance via understanding indigenous systems.

What role did the priests of Virupaksha temple and Pampadevi shrine play in preserving Vijayanagara’s memory?

Oral traditions they carried enabled Mackenzie to reconstruct the city's layout and religious significance.

How does the term “Karnataka Samrajyamu” reflect local perceptions of the Vijayanagara Empire?

Indigenous term emphasizing regional political and cultural identity beyond the term 'Vijayanagara'.

Why did the Vijayanagara rulers integrate ideas from Deccan Sultanate architecture into their own structures?

Political pragmatism and cultural assimilation to showcase imperial synthesis and architectural superiority.

How did interactions with the Gajapatis and Deccan Sultans shape Vijayanagara’s expansion strategy?

Created strategic military competition and cultural borrowing, especially in temple and fort architecture.

What architectural legacy did Chola and Hoysala dynasties contribute to Vijayanagara’s sacred architecture?

Towering gopurams, mandapas, and detailed stone carvings became symbols of state legitimacy.

What do horse imports from Arabia and Central Asia reveal about the empire’s military economy?

Reliance on cavalry made horse trade via Arab and Portuguese merchants vital for warfare superiority.

How did Krishnadeva Raya advise securing allegiance of foreign merchants in Amuktamalyada?

Provide gifts, daily audiences, and profits to ensure they remain loyal trade partners.

Why was the Raichur Doab crucial in Vijayanagara's territorial ambitions?

Fertile land and contested site; secured under Krishnadeva Raya (1512).

What significance did chariot streets hold in temple-centric urban planning?

Enabled religious processions and doubled as commercial boulevards lined with bazaars and pavilions during expansion peak.

What was the significance of Nagalapuram in Krishnadeva Raya’s urban strategy?

A suburban township named after his mother, reflecting royal patronage and expansionist city planning.

How did the amara-nayaka system reflect adaptation of the Delhi Sultanate’s iqta system?

Military commanders governed regions, remitted tribute, and maintained troops — decentralised yet loyal.

What long-term political weakness did the amara-nayaka system create?

Nayakas later asserted autonomy and founded independent kingdoms, hastening imperial fragmentation.

What military miscalculation led to Vijayanagara’s collapse at Rakshasi-Tangadi (1565)?

Rama Raya’s manipulation of Deccan Sultanates backfired when they formed a joint alliance against him.

How did the fortified layout of Vijayanagara differ from other Indian cities?

Enclosed agricultural land within the city for self-sufficiency during prolonged sieges.

What does the Hiriya canal reveal about Sangama dynasty’s approach to irrigation?

Advanced hydrological planning; diverted Tungabhadra water to separate sacred and urban zones.

How was Indo-Islamic architecture absorbed into Vijayanagara’s city planning?

Fort gateways with arches and domes borrowed Sultanate style, fused with Dravidian temple elements.

Why is the mahanavami dibba seen as a symbol of imperial authority despite spatial limitations?

Ritual platform for Dussehra; symbolic seat of power though unsuitable for actual large processions.

What ritual performances were integral to the mahanavami festival?

Worship of royal horses, buffalo sacrifices, dancing, and military reviews — signifying state supremacy.

How did the 'House of Victory' combine symbolic and functional elements of kingship?

Dual platforms hosted deity worship and royal displays; embedded legitimacy in spectacle.

What explains Indo-Islamic features like arches in Lotus Mahal within a Hindu empire?

Cultural syncretism; architectural blending with aesthetic and cooling advantages from Sultanate influence.

What was the likely function of the Lotus Mahal, and how do sources contradict?

Possibly a council chamber; lack of inscriptions leads to varied interpretations by historians.

Why is the Hazara Rama temple architecturally and politically significant?

Royal family temple with exclusive access; Ramayana panels depicted ideal kingship and dharma.

What does the presence of Chinese porcelain in the urban core suggest about Vijayanagara’s trade networks?

Indicates elite participation in long-distance luxury trade and cosmopolitan urban life.

How do the Muslim quarter’s architectural features reflect shared artistic vocabularies?

Tombs and mosques show structural similarities to Hindu mandapas, showing cultural convergence.

How does Domingo Paes' account help reconstruct Vijayanagara's urban economy?

Mentions markets, luxury goods, skilled artisans, and structured royal ceremonies, indicating a thriving, commercialised capital.

Why is the Raya Gopuram a landmark of Vijayanagara’s sacred architecture?

Monumental gateway structures signifying temple prominence, commissioned by rulers like Krishnadeva Raya.

What economic function did temple bazaars serve in Vijayanagara?

Supported temple economy through donations, taxes, and trade; facilitated artisan and merchant activity.

How did architectural scale and symbolism reflect Vijayanagara’s imperial ideology?

Large temples, ceremonial platforms, and sacred enclosures conveyed divine legitimacy and royal power.

What was the function of the enclosures around temples like Virupaksha and Vitthala?

Defined sacred space; regulated access and maintained ritual purity.

What makes the Vitthala temple distinct among Vijayanagara monuments?

Intricate carvings, musical pillars, and stone chariot — exemplifying architectural finesse.

How did the chariot-shaped mandapas reflect Vaishnava symbolism in temple design?

Evoked the idea of divine mobility and processions; central to temple rituals and festivals.

Why are inscriptions on temple walls crucial for reconstructing Vijayanagara society?

Mention donors, temple functionaries, land grants, and festivals — revealing socio-religious networks.

What does the presence of multiple languages in Vijayanagara inscriptions signify?

Multilingual polity with administrative, ritual, and diplomatic engagement across linguistic regions.

Why did foreign travellers often misunderstand Vijayanagara’s religious-political symbolism?

Lacked contextual knowledge; often saw temples as purely religious, missing their statecraft functions.

How did Vijayanagara temples act as instruments of social integration?

Employed artisans, served as granaries, social spaces, and redistributed resources via rituals.

What urban planning principle is reflected in the sacred-royal zone distinction at Hampi?

Spatial segregation of spiritual authority and royal power — structured governance and ritual access.

How does the presence of mandapas along water bodies illustrate Vijayanagara’s ritual ecology?

Used for bathing, ceremonies, and pilgrim accommodation — linking environment with sacred functions.

What was the symbolic message behind celebrating Mahanavami atop the platform within the royal zone?

Elevated the king spiritually and physically above all, reinforcing hierarchical and divine status.

Why is the decentralised nature of Nayaka authority visible in temple architecture?

Nayakas commissioned their own shrines, expressing semi-autonomous status under royal sovereignty.

How did architectural repetition of features like gopurams serve political messaging?

Standardised temple forms projected a unified imperial identity across diverse regions.

What was the ideological function of Ramayana panels on the Hazara Rama temple walls?

Drew parallels between Rama and the king — emphasising just rule and divine right.

How does the royal enclosure in Vijayanagara mirror military and ceremonial priorities?

Combined audience halls, platforms, and gates — served both defence and courtly grandeur.

What role did tank constructions play beyond irrigation in Vijayanagara's political economy?

Royal and local patronage of tanks demonstrated power, ensured agrarian surplus, and gained religious merit.

Why was the loss at Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) pivotal in South Indian history?

Marked collapse of central Vijayanagara power; rise of regional Nayaka kingdoms and Sultanates.

How does the archaeological evidence of burnt structures at Hampi help date the city's fall?

Correlates with 1565 defeat; confirms traveller accounts of destruction and looting.

Why is the Deccan perspective essential in interpreting Vijayanagara’s political history?

It was both a southern empire and a Deccan power shaped by northern Islamic and regional Hindu interactions.

How did the Vijayanagara empire's multi-religious space challenge colonial interpretations?

Presence of mosques and Islamic tombs contradicted monolithic Hindu identity projected by colonial narratives.

What does the use of sculpture in secular structures like audience halls indicate about Vijayanagara aesthetics?

Blurred boundaries between sacred and secular; art used to glorify king and court life.

Why is Vijayanagara’s legacy critical to understanding Indian concepts of kingship and space?

Fused temple-based legitimacy with centralised military rule and architectural symbolism.