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NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 7 An Imperial Capital-Vijayanagara
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An Imperial Capital-Vijayanagara
Chapter: 7
| THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY (PART – II) |
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS ANSWER
1. What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?
Or
Explain how the history of the city and the empire of Vijayanagara was reconstructed.
Ans: An engineer and antiquarian Colonel Colin Mackenzie brought the ruins of Hampi to light in 1800. He was an employee in East India Company. He prepared the first survey map of this site. His initial informations were based on the memories of priest of the Virupaksha temple and shrine of Pampadevi. From 1856 onwards, photographers started to record the pictures of monuments of this site which helped the scholars to study them. Dozens of inscriptions were collected from here and other temples of Hampi. In an attempt to reconstruct the history of the city and the empire historians collected information from these sources, accounts of foreign travellers and other literature written in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit language so that history of the city could be reconstructed. These functions complemented the information given by priests of Virupaksha temple.
2. How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?
Or
Explain how the people of Vijayanagara obtained water for their needs.
Ans:
The need of water in Vijayanagara was fulfilled from the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flowed in the north- eastern direction. This river was surrounded by stunning granite hills which formed a girdle around the city. These hills were also the source of a large number of streams which flowed down to the river Tungabhadra.
So the rulers of Vijayanagara got built large embankments to store water. They also constructed reservoirs of varying sizes. They also made arrangements to store the rain water as this was the most arid zone of the peninsula. A very large tank was got built in the fifteenth century. It is now called Kamalapuram tank.
The water of this tank served the following purposes:
(i) It irrigated the nearby fields.
(ii) It fulfilled the needs of the royal centre.
Besides the ruins of the Hiriya canal have also been found. This canal drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra river. It irrigated the cultivated valley.
3. What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?
Ans: A great fortification of Vijayanagara was accomplished in the fifteenth century. It also encircled the agricultural heartland and forests.
This encirclement had the following advantages:
(i) It enclosed agricultural tracts, cultivated fields, gardens and forests.
(ii) It had an elaborate canal system which drew water from the Tungabhadra.
(iii) In the medieval period, sieges were laid to starve the defending armies into submission. These sieges lasted for many months or many years. So the rulers of Vijayanagara adopted an elaborate strategy to protect the agricultural belt and build large granaries.
(iv) This encirclement also saved crops from animals.
Disadvantages:
(i) This system was very expensive.
(ii) It was inconvenient to farmers during adverse circumstances.
4. What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the Mahanavami dibba?
Ans: The Mahanavami Dibba was the king’s palace in Vijayanagara though there is no definite evidence. It had a distinctive structure. It had the largest enclosures. It had a very impressive platform called as “the audience hall.” It was surrounded by high double walls with a street running between them.
There were many rituals associated with the Mahanavami dibba. Literally the Mahanavami meant the great ninth day of the ten-day Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October. This period had Dussehra in the northern India, Durga Pooja in Bengal and Navratri or Mahanavami in peninsular India. The rulers of Vijayanagara displayed their power, prestige and suzerainty on this occasion.
The ceremonies performed on this occasion included:
(i) Worship of the image.
(ii) Worship of the state horse.
(iii) The sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
(iv) The main attractions of this occasion were:
(a) Dances.
(b) Wrestling matches.
(c) Processions of caparisoned horses, elephants, chariots and soldiers.
All these ceremonies had deep symbolic meanings. Most of them were presented before the king and his guests. On the last day of the festival, the king inspected his army as well as the armies of the nayakas. He also accepted rich gifts from the nayakas. There was a grand ceremony in an open field.
5. Given picture is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral motifs ? What ary the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human figures shown.
Ans:
Given illustration of the pillar from the Virupaksha temple has pictures of plants bearing flowers and different animals-birds. Animals-birds include peacock, horse, duck etc. These pictures were probably carved on gateways to attract people. These pictures also express devotion, religiousness and love for art of patronage ruler.
Except this different animals and birds were associated with different gods and goddesses. That’s why they were also worshipped.
Human pictures include both respectively deities and their worshippers. A god is shown bearing malas and crown. He also has gadda in his hands. Probably he was a destroyer of Rakshashas. In another picture one devotee is shown near to ‘Shivlinga.’ His method of worship is also strange which is not applicable in any form.
6. Examine how buildings in the Royal Centre of Vijayanagara city helped in increasing the prestige of Vijayanagara kingdom.
Or
Discuss whether the term “royal centre” is an appropriate description for the part of the city for which it is used.
Ans: The Royal Centre existed in the south- western part of the Vijayanagara. It had more than sixty temples. Through these temples, the rulers of Vijayanagara tried to establish, strengthen and legitimise their authority. They associated themselves with the divinities housed in the shrines.
This Royal Centre had about thirty palaces. Many buildings had large and distinctive structures. These super structures were made of perishable materials. Many of these buildings were not associated with ritual functions.
The main complexes of the royal centre were as follows:
The Kings’s Palace: It is largest complex of the royal centre. There is no definite evidence to show that it was a royal residence. It has two very impressive platforms. They were called as the Audience Hall and the Mahanavami Dibba. The kings’s palace was surrounded by high double walls with a street running between the two walls.
(a) The Audience Hall: It was a high platform having wooden pillars at close and regular intervals. It had a staircase which went upto the second floor. This staircase rested on the pillars. However it is not clear for what purpose was the hall used.
(b) The Mahanavami Dibba: It was a massive platform having a base of about 11000 sq. ft. It has a height of forty feet. It supported a wooden structure. The base of the platform was convered with relief carvings.
Rituals associated with this structure were probably coincided with Mahanavami known variously as Dusshera in northern India, Durga Pooja in Bengal and Navaratri in peninsular India. The rulers of Vijayanagara displayed their power, prestige and sovereignty on this occasion.
Main ceremonies associated with this occasion worshipped the image, worship of State horse, sacrifice of buffaloes and other aminals, etc.
Main attractions of this occasion were:
(i) Dances
(ii) Wrestling matches
(iii) Procession of caparisoned horses, elephants and chariots and soldiers.
(iv) Ritual presentation by nayaks and the subordinate kings before the king and his guests to mark the occasion. These ceremonies had great symbolic meaning. King used to inspect his army and armies of the nayaks in a grand ceremony in an open field on last day of the festival. Nayaks, on this occasion, used to bring gifts and stipulated tribute for the king.
7. What does the architecture of buildings like the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us about the rulers who commissioned them?
Ans: Lotus Mahal was one of the most beautiful buildings in the royal centre. It was given this name by the British travellers in the 19th century. Historians are not quite sure that for which function this building was built. But the map drawn by Mackenzie suggests that it may have been a council chamber where the king used to meet his advisers.
There was a elephant stable near the lotus Mahal in which a number of rooms were lined. The king used to keep large number of elephants over here.
Architectural style of Lotus Mahal and nearby stable remind us about Indo-Islamic style. Rulers of Vijayanagara Kingdom used to built such elaborate buildings and spend a lot of money on them. They were of the view that beauty of these palaces will increase their presting among masses.
8. What are the architectural traditions that inspired the architects of Vijayanagara? How did they transform these traditions?
Ans: The rulers of Vijayanagara made many innovations in the architectural traditions. They added many new features in the temple architecture. These large structures were a show of their imperial authority. For example, they of the central shrines signalled the presence of the temple from a great distance. But the royal thetoys surpassed them in height. They reminded the power of the kings. They showed that the kings had full command over the resources, techniques and skills.
The rulers of Vijayanagara also got built mandapas or pavilions. Besides there were long and pillared corridors that ran around the shrines There were two main temples: The Virupaksha Temple and the Vitthala Temple. The Virupaksha Temple was built over the centuries. It was constructed in the 9th-10th centuries. But after the establishment of Vijayanagara Empire, it was substantially enlarged. Krishnadeva Raya builta hall in front of the main shrine. It marked his accession to the throne. It was decorated with delicately carved pillars.
Many temple complexes had chariot street These streets extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line. They were paved with slabs of stone. They were lined with pillared paviliona The merchants set up their shops in these pavilions. In other words, the rulers of Vijayanagara built impressive buildings.
9. What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara can you call from the various descriptions in the chapter?
Ans: The meaning of ordinary people is by those people who did not participate in power structure. Rich merchants wer also included among them.
Following were the main features of their lives:
(i) Archaeologists have found some fine Chinese porcelain in certain areas. They are of the view that rich traders probably lived over here. This was also the Muslim residential quarter. Tombs and mosque located over here are distinctive features of art, but still their architecture style resembles with that of the architecture of mandapas found in the temples of Hampi.
(ⅱ) Portuguese traveller Barbosa of 16th describes the houses of ordinary people like this, “the other houses of the people are thatched, but nonetheless well built and arranged according to the occupations, in long streets with many open places.”
(iii) Field surveys suggest that there were many shrines and small temples in the entire are which belonged to vivid cults. They probably were supported by different communities. Surveys also indicate that wells, rainwater tanks and temple tanks were probably the main sources of water for ordinary town people.
10. On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia. Trace the routes the travellers mentioned on would have taken to reach Vijayanagara.
Ans:
Hints:
Fill the following with their names on correct place or location given within outline map of world:
(i) Italy.
(ii) Portugal.
(iii) Iran.
(iv) Russia.
Travellers routes to be taken to reach Vijayanagara from Italy and Portugal:
The travellers would have crossed respectively Red Sea, Araban Sea and then, they should have taken land route to South India to reach Vijayanagara (Karnataka).
The travellers from Portugal should have cross Atlantic Ocean touching the Cape of Good – Hope (extrme corner of South Africa) and then they should take Indian Ocean to reach Malabar from their to Vijayanagara taking land route.
From Iran they should taken Arab Sea and then Indian Ocean from Malabar coast to Vijayanagara.
From Iran via Afghanistan and modern Pakistan they would have taken land route upto Karnataka, India.
From Russia via Afghanistan they would have come to India crossing modern Punjab in Pakistan, central India crossing Vindhyachal, Satpura to Karnataka.
From Russia they could have sea route also either through China Sea to Bay of Bengal and then to Vijayanagara or from western coast of India taking Caspian Sea, Arabian Sea through Indian Ocean to south India.
