Deva Raya I (reigned 1406–1422 CE) was a king of the Vijayanagara Empire (of the Sangama Dynasty). After Harihara II died there was a dispute between his sons over the throne in which Deva Raya I eventually emerged victor. He was a very capable ruler noted for his military exploits and his support to irrigation works in his kingdom.Kulakarṇī, Nayeem, De Souza (1996), p.106 He modernized the Vijayanagara army by improving the cavalry, employed skilled archers of the Turkish clan and raised the fighting capacity of his bowmen and horses from Arabia and Persia.Bowman,(2013) p.271 Of Deva Raya I, the Italian traveler Nicolo Conti, who visited Vijayanagara in c.1420, described thus: "In this city, there are 90,000 men fit to bear arms... their king is more powerful than all the kings of India".Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), p.31 Conti also noted that the royal city had grown to a circumference of 60 mi.Kamath (1980), p.163 Deva Raya I was a patron of

Kannada literature Kannada literature is the Text corpus, corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian language, Dravidian Language family, family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script. A ...

and architecture. Madhura, a noted Jain poet was in his court (and also in the court of his father King Harihara II) and wrote in Kannada the ''Dharmanathapurana'' on the life of the fifteenth Jain Tirthankar (Dharmanatha), and a poem in eulogy of

Gommateshvara Bahubali (), a much revered figure among Jains, was the son of Rishabadeva (the first ''tirthankara'' of Jainism) and the brother of Bharata Chakravartin. He is said to have meditated motionless for a year in a standing posture (''kayotsarg ...

of Shravanabelagola.Sastri (1955), p.360 The noted Hazare Rama temple, an excellent example of Deccan architecture was constructed during his rule.Fritz & Michell (2001), p.9 One of Deva Raya's queens Bhima Devi was a disciple of the Jain guru Abhinava Charukirti Panditacharya. She was a devotee of Shantinatha, 16th Jain '' tirthankara'' and built a temple at the Mangayi Basti in Shravanabelagola.Sangave (1981), p.46

Irrigation works and general administration

The credit for making the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire one of the biggest cities in the 15th century goes to Deva Raya I. He realized that the scarcity of water supply, both for drinking and for irrigation, was restricting the growth of the royal capital. In c.1410 he had a barrage constructed across the Tungabhadra river and commissioned a 24 km long aqueduct from the Tungabhadra river to the capital. The account provided by Nuniz gives a details of the projects undertaken by Deva Raya I that brought prosperity to the Kingdom. He maintained a secular attitude in administrative matters. He had a Mosque and a slaughter house constructed for the convenience of the Muslim soldiers in his army.Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), pp.30-31 In c. 1413, a dispute over property between the Shanka Jainalya of Lakshmeshwara and the Someshvara temple trust of the palace was settled in favor of the Jains. Deva Raya I had a Muslim bodyguard who built a choultry in honor of the king.

Military campaigns

Throughout his reign, Deva Raya was continually at war with the Velamas of Telangana, the Bahmani Sultan of

Gulbarga Kalaburagi, formerly known as Gulbarga, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kalaburagi district and is the largest city in the region of North Karnataka (Kalyana-Karnataka). Kalaburagi is 6 ...

, the Reddis of Kondavidu, and the traditional rivals of Vijayanagara, the Gajaptis of Kalinga. Deva Raya I was capable of managing the vast territory that he controlled by employing skilled archers of the Turkish clan and raised the fighting capacity of his bowmen. Following a confusion in the Reddi kingdom, Deva Raya I entered into an alliance with Warangal for partitioning the Reddi kingdom between them.Chandra (1997), p.180 The split of Warangal changed the balance of power in the Deccan. In c.1420, Firoz Shah invaded Pangal but the two-year siege at Pangal ended in disease and disaster for Firoz Shah's armies. Deva Raya inflicted a shattering defeat on Firoz Shah.Chandra, Satish (1997), p.180, ''Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals - Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526)'', Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi Deva Raya's army massacred Firoz Shah's troops and created a great platform with their heads upon the field of battle. Firoz was followed deep into his own territory, which was completely devastated by the rampaging Hindu army under Deva Raya I. The Hindu army destroyed many mosques and holy places belonging to the Islamic community, and committed great carnages on the civilian Mussalman population. The Sultan had to hand over the southern and eastern districts of his kingdom to Deva Raya I to secure peace. Consequently, by c.1422, Deva Raya I came to control territory up to the Krishna river - Tungabhadra river doab including PangalChaurasia (2002) p.109 In the following days, the distressed Sultan died after leading a life of piety after abdicating power to his brother Ahmad.Sastri (1955). p.225 Unable to accept this turn around, the Gajapati King Bhanudeva of Odisha invaded Rajamahendri. When a war with Vijayanagara seemed imminent, some skilful diplomacy by Vijayanagara chief Dodda Alla averted it.Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian (2003), p.30 Deva Raya was to be succeeded by his sons Ramachandra Raya and shortly thereafter by Vijaya Raya.

Ferishta's account

Persian writer Ferishta narrates an interesting story, not repeated or supported by any other contemporary source, of the kings' love for a beautiful girl, a daughter of a goldsmith from Mudugal in the Raichur district. Unable to wed her, a frustrated Deva Raya I attacked Mudgal and laid to waste a few villages. Aroused by this provocation, the Bahamani Sultan Taj ud-Din Firuz Shah invaded Vijayanagara leading to defeat of Deva Raya I. Though injured in the conflict, Firuz Shah sent his able commanders who successfully invaded Vijayanagara territory south of Adoni. According to this account, Deva Raya I had to give as tribute, one of his daughters in marriage to the Sultan's prince, several pearls and cash,

Bankapura Bankapura is a panchayat town in Haveri district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is in Shiggaon taluk, is just 2.5 km from the Pune-Bangalore national highway NH-4, 22 km from Haveri town. Bankapura is about 45 km from Hubli ...

territory, fifty elephants, and 2000 dancers. The goldsmith's daughter who was the reason for the war was wedded to Hassan Khan, a prince in the Sultan's family.Sastri (1955), pp.224-225

Gallery

File:Mallikarjuna temple (1406-1422 AD) at Hospet.JPG, Mallikarjuna temple in Mallapangudi, near Hospet, built by Deva Raya I File:Kannada inscription of Deva Raya I (1406-1422 AD) at Mallikarjuna temple in Hospet.JPG, Kannada inscription of Deva Raya I at the Mallikarjuna temple in Mallappanagudi

Notes

References

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External links

Our Karnataka article

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raya, Deva 1422 deaths 15th-century Indian monarchs People of the Vijayanagara Empire Indian Hindus Hindu monarchs Sangama dynasty Year of birth unknown