Jambudveep's Blog: January 15, 2013

12/4/2016
Kakatiya|Jambudveep'sBlog
Jambudveep'sBlog
January15,2013
TheHistoryoftheReddiKingdoms,byMalampalliSomasekharaSarma
Filedunder:Ebooks,HistoryYogeshwarShastri@1:10pm
Tags:Golconda,historyofandhrapradesh,IndiaHistory,Kakatiya,kapayanayaka,kondavidu,prolayanayaka,prolayavema,reddikingodms,
Warangal
AseminalbookbythescholarandepigraphistMalampalliSomasekharaSarma.DetailsthehistoryoftheReddikingdomsofKondaviduand
Pithapuram.
Thehistoryofthereddikindoms
Comments(11)
January14,2013
VijayangarChapter6:TheGreatwarofLiberation
Filedunder:HistoricalBattles,History,VijayanagarYogeshwarShastri@6:07pm
Tags:Alauddin,Bidar,Bijapur,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,Famines,greatwarofliberation,Hoysala,InvasionsofSouthIndia,Kakatiya,KANSastri,
kapayanayaka,Madurai,Mamluk,prolayanayaka,prolayavema,racherla,sultanateofmadurai,VeeraBallala,Vijayanagar,Warangal
AsseeninthepreviouschaptersthelowpointinthehistoryofIndiacameinthe1320s.LongstandingdynastiessuchastheKakatiyasofWarangal,
theSeunaYadavasofDevagiri,thePandyarulersofMaduraiwereoverthrownorextinguishedbytheIslamicwarmachine.TheonlyHindukingdom
leftstandinginSouthIndiawastheHoysalakingdomofKarnatakaledbyVeeraBallalaIII.
ThejustandequitableruleoftheHindukingswasreplacedbyanoppressiveandmercilessadministration.Thelandwasparcelledouttovarious
Amirs,MaliksandMuslimjehadisfromaroundtheworld.Theseparasitessuckedthebloodofthecommonpeopleanddestroyedthetraditionalway
oflife.TheterriblesufferingsofthepeopleareillustratedintheMadhuravijayamandtheVilasagrantofProlayaNayaka.Templesfellintodisuseand
theoldsystemofendowmentswasdiscontinuedinfavourofextortingmoneyfromthepeople.WiththedisappearanceoftheagraharastheVedic
systemoflearningwasstrangulated.
ButthetyphoonofHindurevivalintheSouthwascoming
6.TheElevenyearwarofLiberation(13251336CE)
Fig.6.1MapofthewarofLiberation
NosoonerhadthedustsettledontheTughlaqinvasionsthattheHindusofSouthIndiamountedaferociouscounteroffensive.Outoftheashesofthe
fallenkingdomsaroseaconfederacyofHinduchiefs,eachdeterminedtodrivetheTurukshasintotheground.Thetablebelowgivethenamesand
briefdetailsoftheprominentHinduleadersofthisgreatwarofliberation.
NameofHindu
King/Chief
VeeraBallalaIII
BriefDescription
AreaofOperations
Hoysalarulerof
Karnataka
ProlayaNayaka
(Musunurifamily)
Karnataka,extending
uptoriverPonniyanin
TamilNadu
CoastalAndhrawith
13251333
headquartersatRekapalli
Oneofthechief
Nayakaofthe
erstwhileKakatiya
kings.
CousinofProalaya
CoastalAndhra,western
Nayakaandleaderof AndhraandTelangana
confederacyof75
Nayakas.
PowerfulNayakaand Regionaround
KapayaMayaka
(Musunurifamily)
ProlayaVemaReddi
https://jambudveep.wordpress.com/tag/kakatiya/
Yearactive
from
13241342
13251367
13251353
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ChalukyaSomadeva,
AriysetiAnnamantri
Kolani
Prataparudradeva
RacherlaSingama
Nayaka,
Ekramnath
Sambuvararaya
founderoftheReddi KondaviduinAndhra.
kingdomof
InitialbaseatAddanki.
Kondavidu.
Chalukyaprinceand WesternAndhrawithbase 1325?
ancestoroftheAravidu atKurnool.
emperorsof
Vijayanagar
Survivinggeneralof CoastalAndhra
1325?
theerstwhileKakatiya
kingdom.
Survivinggeneralof CoastalAndhra
1325?
theerstwhileKakatiya
kingdom.
FounderoftheVelama Telangana
13251361
kingdomof
Rachakonda.
RulerofRajgambhira Headquartersat
1325?
rajyam
Kanchipuram.Kingdom
comprisedofNorth
ArcotdistrictinTamil
NaduandpartsofChittor
districtinAndhra
Pradesh.
Table601TheMainLeadersoftheWarofIndependence
ThebelowtablegivesthemainopponentsoftheHindusintheDeccanandthesouth:
TheHinduConfederacy
1.VeeraBallalaIII2.KapayaNayakaand75
Nayakass
TheirTughlaqOpponents
1.MohammedTughlaq,SultanofDelhi.2.Malik
Muhammad,governorofKampili.
3.ProlayaNayaka
3.MalikMaqbul,governoroftheWarangal
divisionofTelanagana.
4.Somadeva
4.ShihabSultani,governoroftheBidardivision
ofTelangana.
5.EkramanthSambuvararaya
6.ProlayaVemaReddi
5.QutlughKhan,governorofDevagiri(1335
1342).
7.RacherlaSingamaNayaka
6.JalaluddinAhsanShah,kotwalofMadura
8.KolaniPrataparudradeva
9.AriysetiAnnamantri
Table62ThechiefopponentsfromtheHinduandtheMuslimside.
6.1ThewarofliberationinKarnataka
InKarnatakathecoreareaaroundMysorerightuptoTiruvannamalaiinTamilNaduwasinthehandsofVeeraBallalaIII.By1328CE,hewasbackin
actionanddirectingoperationsagainsttheMuslimgarrisonsensconcedinTamilNadu.In1327CE,thesituationwasmadeseriousbyMuhammad
TughlaqshiftinghiscapitaltoDevagirifromDelhi.ThisputenormousMuslimarmiesdangerouslyclosetotheHoysalacapitalofDvarasamudra.
Tocheckthedangeremanatingfromthenorth,VeeraBallalaentrustedthetaskofdefendingtheNorthernfrontieroftheHoysalakingdomtothefive
SangamabrothersofwhichHariharaandBukkarayaarethemostfamous.TheSangamabrotherswhowereMahamandaleswaras(Provincial
governors)laterwentontoestablishtheVijayanagarempire.
Asafurtherprecaution,VeeraBallalahadestablishedthreecapitals:Dvarasamudra,KundaniandTiruvannamalai.Thisenabledhimtomountamobile
defenceagainsttheIslamicincursionsfromDevagiriintheNorth,aswellassecurehisrearagainsttheMuslimsinMadurai.Tiruvannamalaiwasbang
onthemainroadwhichlinkedMaduraitotheNorth.Fornearlyfifteenyears(13281342CE)thiscitywashisbaseofoperationsagainsttheMuslim
garrisonsinTamilNadu.IntheregionofAnegondiandKampiliferociousbattlesragedtodriveouttheMuslims.
6.1.1AcomparisonofthearmiesofVeeraBallalaandMohammedTughlaq
WhatwasthestrengthofthearmyofVeeraBallala?FromIbnBatutasaccount,in1342CEVeeraBallalahad1,00,000infantryand20,000Muslim
mercenariesinhisarmy.In1328CEitisdifficulttogaugehismilitarystrength,butitmusthavebeenconsiderabletogoupagainstMohammed
Tughlaq.
TogetanideaoftheimpossibleoddsfacingtheHindusherearesomenumbersforMuhammadTughlaqsarmy:
Componentofarmy
Horsemen(cavalry)
Estimatednumbers
9,00,000
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Warelephants
3000
TurkishMamluks
2000
Spearmen
1000
Eunuchs(allarmed)
10,000
Bashmaqdars(atypeofbodyguard)
1000
Slaves
2,00,000
Table63ThestrengthofMuhammadTughlaqsarmy.
Outoftheninelakhhorsemen,thebulkaccompaniedTughlaqonhiscampaignswhiletherestwerepostedinvariousprovincialgarrisonsaroundthe
country.Inadditionhecouldraiselargeforcesfortemporaryexpeditions.e.g.sometimebefore1333CEheraisedandmaintainedanarmyof3,70,000
horsementosupporthisinvasionofKhorasan(inIran).Thishadtobedisbandedafterayearduetomaintenancecostsrunningincroresoftankas(the
currencyoftheday).
6.2ThewarinAndhradesa
ThefinalbattleoftheKakatiyakingdomtookplacenearRajamahendravaramin1323CE.ThecreamofthekshatriyasofAndhraperishedinthis
terriblebattleagainstMohammedTughlaqsforces.ButwithintwoyearsofthisdisasterthebanneroffreedomwasunfurledbytheMusunurichief
ProlayaNayakaandhiscousinKapayaNayaka.WiththeirheadquartersatRekapalli,theygatheredaroundthem75Nayakas(militarychiefs)ofthe
erstwhileKakatiyakingdom.PromimentamongsttheseventyfiveNayakaswereProlayaVemaReddi,KoppluaProlayaNayaka,RecharlaSingama
NayakaandManchikondaGanapatiNayaka.InthisheroicendeavourtheywerejoinedbysurvivinggeneralsoftheKakatiyassuchasAriyeti
AnnamantriandKolaniRudradeva.
ProlayaNayakarevivedtheoldendowmentsandpatronisedVediclearning.Healsorestoredthosetempleswhichsuffereddestructionatthehandsof
theIslamicinvaders.ThisliberatingarmyoftheHindusmovedswiftlyandby1328CEcoastalAndhrawasliberatedfromtheclutchesoftheMuslims.
InwesternAndhraby1329CEtheywerejoinedbytheChalukyaprinceSomadeva,whofromhisbaseinKondanavolu(Kurnool)launchedattackson
theMuslimgarrisonsintheBellaryandRayalseemaregions.Afterfiercefighting,heretookthefortsof
Anegondi,Mudgal,Musalimadugu,Satanikota,Etagiri,KuntiandSara.Inconcertwithhim,VeeraBallalaattackedKampili.MalikMuhammadthe
TughlaqgovernorofKampiliwasnowfacingsimultaneousattacksfromSomadevaandVeeraBallala.SomadevadefeatedMalikMuhammadina
seriesofbattlesandmanagedtocapturehimalongwithhis6000cavalry.HoweverMuhammadmanagedtosecurehisfreedombymakingfalse
promises.
By1333CEthepositionoftheMuslimsinAndhrahadbecomeprecarious.ThesurvivorsretreatedtoWarangalwhichwasunderMalikMaqbul.At
thesametinein1335CE,MuhammadTughlaqdescendedintotheDeccantosubduetherevoltofJalaladdinAhsanShah(thekotwalofMadurai).
AhsanShahhaddeclaredhimselfasanindependentSultanofMaduraandmintedcoinsinhisownname.WhenTughlaqwasencampedinWarangal
(orBidarasperanotheraccount)aplaguestruckthecityofWarangal.AmajorityoftheHindupopulationofthatcityperishedalongwithagreatpart
ofMuhammadTughlaqsarmy.ManyseniorsMaliksandAmirsalsoperishedduetotheplague.MuhammadTughlaqhimselfwastakensickandhad
tobeatahastyretreat.AhsanShahwaslefttohisowndevicesinMadurai.
By1336CEthestagewasclearfortheliberationofWarangal.LikeahurricaneKapayaNayakasweptintoTelanganaandliberatedWarangalin1336
CE.InthishewasaidedbyVeeraBallalawhosentforcestoreinforceKapaya.Warangalthedeclaredasthecapitaloftheshortlivedbutglorious
Musunurikingdom.InKondavidu,ProlayaVemaReddibegantolaythefoundationsofthekingdomoftheReddis.
6.3AbirdseyeviewoftheSceneatDelhi
Theperiodfrom1325CEonwardswasoneofageneralcollapseoftheDelhisultanate.Tillhisdeathin1351CEMuhammadTughlaqwasconstantly
runningfromoneendofhisshortlivedempiretotheother,constantlyfightingrebellionsanduprisings.By1336CEthemajorpartofSouthIndiawas
backinHinduhands.TheonlyaberrationwastheSultanateofMaduraiinTamilNadu.
LiketheruleofotherMuslimsultans,MuhammadTughlaqsrulewasmarkedbyextortionatetaxationandoppressionoftheHindus.Theyearsfrom
1325to1340CEwereofonelongfamineinNorthIndia,especiallyintheDoabregionofUttarPradesh.Thedoabregionisoneofthemostfertile
regionsinIndia.MuhammadTughlaqsoppressivepolicieshadexacerbatedthedroughtintoadeadlyfamine.Hindusabandonedtheirlandsandfled
intothesafetyofthejungles.ForthisMuhammadTughlaqorganisedhuntstokillthemlikewildanimals.Thedecisiontomovethecapitalofthe
SultanatetoDevagiriin1327CEwasdictatedbymanyfactors:
i.PrimaryamongstthemwastocheckthewaveofHinduresurgencesweepingSouthIndia.FarflungplaceslikeMaduraiweresixmonthsmarchfrom
Delhi.Devagirihadtheadvantageinbeingcentrallylocatedandwithinstrikingrangeofthemaincentresoftheliberationstrugglei.e.Karnatakaand
Andhra.
ii.ThefamineinthecountrysidehadfinallyaffectedDelhi,asthesuppliesofcornintothecityweredisruptedbychaosinthecountryside.Toeasethe
sufferingoftheMuslimsinDelhi,MohammedTughlaqorderedtheevacuationoftheMuslimresidentsofDelhitoprosperousDevagiri.Thefactthatit
wasexclusivelytheMuslimpopulationthatwastransferredisindicatedinthesources.Delhihadbecomeaparasiticalcitywhoseprosperitydepended
ontheexploitationoftheHinducountryside.
iii.ThethreatofMongolinvasionsstillloomedoverDelhi.ThegeographicallocationofDelhimakesitinherentlyvulnerabletoastraightthrustfrom
thesideofthePunjab.OncethebufferofPunjabisgoneitisonlyamatteroftimebeforetheinvaderreachesDelhi.(Asasidenote:Punjabduringthis
timewasdecimatedbytherapaciouspoliciesoftheDelhiSultansandtheravagesoftheMongolinvasions.Duringthisperiodi.e.1328CE,famines
stalkedPunjabandtheriverschangedtheircoursesleadingtothousandsofpeopleperishingintheensuingcataclysmicfloods.)
In1329CEtheMongolrulerTarmashirinsweptoverDelhi.AtthiscrucialjuncturemostoftheofficersoftheTughlaqadministrationwerein
Devagiri.MohammedTughlaqhadtobuyTarmashirinoffwithahugebribewhichnearlyemptiedthetreasury.Tomakeupforthebankruptstate
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MohammedTughlaqissuedcoppercoinsthuseffectivelydevaluingthecurrency.Thisledtolargescaleforgeriesandthehoardingofgoldandsilver
bythepeople.
By1333CErebellionshadbrokenoutallovertheTughlaqempire.ThemostpertinentforusisthedeclarationofindepencebytheJalaluddinAhsan
ShahthekotwalofMaduraiin1335CE.
TheheroismofVeeraBallala,thetenaciousbraveryofKapayaNayaka,thefoundationoftheVijayanagarempire,itslifeanddeathstruggleagainstthe
BahmaniSultanateandtheSultanateofMaduraiwillformtheensuingchapters.
References:
1.Vijayanagar,NevertobeForgottenEmpireSuryanarayanRow.
2.TheQarnuahTurks,IshwariPrasad.
3.SouthIndiaandherMuhammadaninvadersS.K.Aiyangar.
4.TheHistoryoftheReddiKingdomsMalampalliSomasekharaSarma.
5.Prof.N.VenkataramanayyasarticlesinVijayanagarhistoryinItihaas,thejournalofAndhraPradeshStateArchives,volII,no.2,1975,Prolegomenato
theStudyofVijayanagar.
6.SocialandPoliticalLifeintheVijayanagaraEmpire,B.A.Saletore,VolI&II
Comments(8)
December2,2012
RethinkingourconceptofBharatiyahistory:ThecaseoftheYadavasofDevagiri
Filedunder:HistoricalBattles,HistoryYogeshwarShastri@5:31pm
Tags:DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,devagiri,Gujarat,HaripalaDeva,Hoysala,IndiaHistory,InvasionsofSouthIndia,Kakatiya,Khilji,Mamluk,
ramachandradeva,seunayadava,VeeraBallala,Warangal,yadava
WhileflippingthroughthepagesofabookoninscriptionsfoundinAndhraPradesh,Icameacrosstwointerestinginscriptionswhichgiveajoltto
certainnotionsIhadabouttheSeunaYadavarulersofDevagiri.Theseraisealotofquestionsregardingthekindofhistorywearetaughtinourschools
andcolleges.
1.Alittlebackground
ButIwilldigresshereforabittogiveabriefbackgroundonthesubject.Devagiri(moderndayDaulatabadfortanditssurroundings)wastheseatof
poweroftheYadavarulerswhoruledmostofpresentdayMaharashtrafrom1173to1317CE.Itwasaprosperouskingdomandagoldenageinthe
historyofMaharashtra.TheconventionalviewofhowtheYadavasofDevagirifelltotheIslamiconslaughtisbrieflylikethis:
In1297CE,AlauddinKhiljiconductedasurpriseraidonDevagiriwithasmallcavalrybasedforce.AfterdefeatingintitalresistancenearBaglana
hebesiegedthecapitalitself.TheYadavakingRamachandraDevahadtoshuthimselfinthefortastherewereveryfewtroopsathand.Mostofthe
armywascampaigningunderhissonSimghanadownSouthagainstVeeraBallalaIII.OnhearingoftheMuslimattackSimghanarushedbacktohis
fathersaidwithaforceof20,000soldiers.TheyarealmostonthevergeoffinishingKhiljioffwhenAlauddinsreinfoircementsarrive.Thinkingthatthe
entireDelhiarmyisattackingtheYadavaarmybreaksandisdefeated.Ramachandrahastoemptyhistreasuryandgivehisdaughterinmarriageto
Alauddin.GraduallythekingdomlosesitsindependencetillthelastemberoffreedomisextinguishedbyQutbuddinMubarakKhiljiin1317CE.The
entireroyalfamilyoftheYadavasismassacredandHaripalaDeva(thesoninlawofRamachandraDeva)isskinnedaliveandhungfromthegatesof
Devagirifort.
Theinferencesdrawnfromtheaboveaccountare:
1.TheYadavaswereutterlyincompetentinmattersofintelligenceandtheircommunicationsystemwasflawed.OtherwisehowcouldAlauddin
penetraterightuptothecapitalwithoutbeingdetected?
2.TheyweresobusyfightingsenselesswarswiththeirHoysalaandKakatiyaneighboursthattheylostsightoftheIslamicmonsterloominginthe
horizon.
Tomymindsomethingwasmissingfromthenarrative.Itdidnotgelthatapowerfulkingdomwhichexcelledineverysphereoflife(arts,culture,
musicetc)couldbesoblindtotheintentionsoftheIslamicvandalswhohadentrenchedthemselvesatDelhiforoverahundredyears.
2.ThePanagalluInscriptionofSarangapanideva
TheinscriptionItalkedaboutearlierisbySarangapanideva,asonoftheYadavarulerSimghanaIwhoruledDevagirifrom12001247CE.For
unknownreasonsthisprincehadmigratedtoWrangalandwasmadeadministratorofthePanumgantisthala(area)bythekakatiyaking
Rudradeva.TheinscriptionrecordsagiftofwetlandtothetempleofChhayaSomeshwara.Themostintrestingaspectsoftheinscriptionaresomeofthe
titlesassignedtoSarangapanideva:
i.PrarajyarajyaTuruhkopaplavamediniSamuddharana:whichmeansprotectorofthegreatkingdomfromthetroubleoftheTurushka(Muslim)
armies.
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ii.Gurjararayavaranaankusa:whichmeanstheankush(controller)ofthekingofGurjaradesa.
iii.Malaviyamanamardana:DestroyeroftherpideoftheMalavas(Malwa,centralIndia).
iv.Gambhiraabhiraprachanda:Veryferociousfortheyadavas(cowherds).
ThegovernmentepigraphisthasmentionedthatSarangapanidevaprobablyinheritedthesetitlesfromhisfatherSimghanaIasinaninscriptionfound
nearDharwadSimghanaIhasnearlythesameepithets.
AdditionallythereisonemoreepithetfoundintheDharwadinscriptionofSimghanaIdatedfrom1239CE:Turushkakopapralayamaharnava
magnamedinisamuddharanamahavaraha.WhichmeansincarnationofLordVishnu(inhisvarahaavatar)inliftingtheearthfromthedelugeof
themuslims.
3.Inferencesdrawnfromtheinscriptions
ThemostobviousinferenceisthatSimghanaI(andprobablyhissons)crossedswordswiththeIslamicjihadispouringoutfromDelhianddefeated
them.TheirmostlikelyadversarywasShamsuddinIltutmishwhoruledovertheDelhisultanatefrom12111236CE.Thereisnorecordofthe
IslamichordeshavingcrossedtheVindhyasatthisearlydate.ThismeansthatSimghanaImostlikelybatteredtheIslamicarmiesincentralIndiaand
Gujarat.InthisperiodtheChaulukyasofGujaratwereactivelyassistingthesurvivorsofPrithvirajChauhansAjmerkingdomintheirfreedomstruggle.
TheinclusionofMalwaandGurjararegionsinthetitlesindicatesthatSimghanaassistedtheseregionsinthrowingbackthemuslimoffensiveor
defeatedthemuslimsinhiscampaignsagainsttheseregions.
ThismilitatesagainsttheviewthattheYadavassealedthemselvesofffromtheeventsovertakingnorthernIndia.
4.Questionsraisedbytheinscriptions
1.WhywasDevagiriunabletomusterresourcestofighttheIslamicoffensive?Inpreviousdecadesithadclearlytakentheoffensivetothemuslims,
whathappenedinafiftyyearperiodthatsappeditsaggressiveness?
2.Wasthereanaturalcalamitysuchasalongdroughtfollowedbyfaminethatdimishedtheresourcesofthekingdom?
3.ThefactthattheSeunaYadavascouldmountoffensivesbeyondtheVindhyamountainsindicatesthattheyhadsomekindofanintelligenceand
communicationssystem.Diditbreakdownby1297CE?Ifsoforwhatreasons?
4.Theperiodfromthe1290sonwardswasoneinwhichtheIslamicoffensiveoftheDelhisultanategainednewpowerandmanylargeHindu
kingdomsceasedtoexistbythe1320s.ThisincludedGujarat,Devagiri,Jalor,Ranthamboretc.Istheresomethingwearenotseeinginthispatternof
collapse?
Comments(6)
August22,2012
Bukkaraya,PartI
Filedunder:History,VijayanagarYogeshwarShastri@5:44pm
Tags:Alauddin,bahmanisultanate,bukkaraya,Hoysala,IndiaHistory,InvasionsofSouthIndia,Kakatiya,maduraisultanate,VeeraBallala,
Vijayanagar,Warangal
ThisisthefirstpartofatwopartseriesontheVijayanagaremperorBukkarayaI.
Ihavetakenthelibertyofnotquotingreferencesasittendstobecometimeconsuming.Butmostofthemcanbefoundquiteeasily.Thetranslationof
versesfromtheMadhuravijayamisfromanoriginaltranslationbeingdonebymyparents,whichIplantobeingoutsometimethisyear.Ifyouare
interestedinbuyingthebookasandwhenitcomesoutpleasedosendmeamessage.
Bukkaraya,PartI
He(Bukkaraya)wasthefirstamongallkings,justasAdisesaisamongsnakes,HimalayaisamongstthemountainsandLordVishnuisamongstthe
gods.verse27,FirstCanto,Madhuravijayam.
SuchwasthegreatnessofBukkarayathatheiscomparedtoLordVishnuwhodeliveredtheearthfromadhrama.Bukkarayawasthesecondemperor
ofthegloriousVijayanagarempire,rulingfrom13571377CE.ThefirstrulerofwhichwashiselderbrotherHariharaI.Inpopularfolklorethesetwo
brothershavebeenimmortalisedasHakkaBukka.Therewereactuallyfivebrothersinall,betterknownastheSangamabrothers.Itwasduetohis
herculeaneffortsthatthatthewaveofIslamicjihadbrokeonthebanksoftheKrishnaandabadlywoundedHindusocietywasnursedbacktohealth.It
wouldbeworthaddingthatwithoutthedivineguidanceofseerslikeVidyaranyaandKriyashaktiwhoguidedtheSangamabrothers,thesuccessful
fightbackwouldnothavebeenpossible.
ToseethegreatnessofBukkarayainthecorrectperspectiveitisessentialtohavealittleunderstandingofthechallengesfacedbyhimandhis
achievementsinovercomingthem.
1.1SomeYearsbefore
Intheearly1300sthemaraudinghordesoftheIslamicbarbariansledbyMalikKafurhadpenetratedintotheDeccanandasfarasTamilNadu.Soon
afterwardsinthe1320scamethewaveoftheTughlaqinvasionswhichswampedthesouthernkingdoms.ForawhilethefateoftheDharmahungin
balance.TheYadavasofDevagiriwerewipedout,theKakatiyasofWarangalweregoneandthePandyasofTamilNaduvanquishedaswell.Theonly
HindukingdomleftfightingwasthatoftheHoysalasledbyVeeraBallalaIII.ItseemedcertainthattheterribledisasterwhichhadconvulsedNorthern
IndiaafterPrithvirajChauhansdeathin1192CEwouldberepeatedintheSouth.
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Butthingsweredestineddifferently.AferociousfightbackbeganalloverSouthIndia.By1336CEtherollbackoftheTughlaqinvasionsfrommostof
SouthofIndiahadbeenaccomplishedbyaconfederationofHinduKingsandcommanders.NotableamongthemwereProlayaVemawholiberated
largepartsofAndhraPradesh,theChalukyaprinceSomeshwarawhooustedthetyrannicalmuslimgovernorsfrompartsofKarnatakaandthegreat
HoysalaKingVeeraBallalaIIIwholiberatedlargepartsofKarnatakaandTamilNadu.Inthisgreatwarofindependencetowhichonlythetwenty
sevenyearsofferociouswarfarewagedbytheMarathapeopleagainsttheMughalscanbecompared,therewascompleteparticipationofevery
segmentofSouthIndiansociety.FromareadingofvarioussourcesitseemslikelythattheSangamabrotherswerefeudatoriesofVeeraBallalaIII.This
explainswhyVeeraBallalahadtheconfidencetoattackthemurderoussultansofMaduraiwiththemaincomponentofhisarmyin1342CE,asthe
SangamabrothersweresecuringhisnorthernfrontiersagainstanattackbytheMuslimforcesfromDevagiri.Andby1346CEtheconstructionofthe
magnificentcapitaloftheempirelaterknownasVijayanagarwasnearlycomplete.
2.TheChallengesfacedbyBukkaraya
2.1.TheBahmaniandtheMaduraiSultanates
ThesultanateofMaduraiwasestablishedaround1333CEbyJalaluddinAhsanShah,thegovernorofMadurai.Hisrebellionwasamongstthefirst
ofalongrevoltsbygovernorsofMuhammadTughlaqalloverIndiawhicheventuallyledtothedisintegrationofTughlaqempire.
VeeraBallalaIIIwasengagedinnearconstantwarfarewiththisgenocidalregimeindesperateattemptstodestroyitandliberatethedeepsouth.He
wasovereightyyearsoldatthistimemetatragicendin1342CEatthehandsofGhiyasuddinDamghanShah,asuccessorofAhsanShah..This
greatdefenderofDharmawascapturedinthedecisivebattleofKannurKoppamandskinnedalivebythebloodthirstyGhiyasuddin.Hisbrutal
murderwasagreatsetbacktotheliberationofthedeepsouth,asitwasessentialtosecuretherearbeforetheMuslimsfromtheNorthlaunchedafresh
offensive.
TheregionfromthesouthofriverColeroonrighttillRameshwaramwasinthehandsoftheSultanateofMadurai.WiththeircapitalatMaduraitheso
calledSultanshadtheirpawsontherichtradingroutesofAsiaviatheflourishingportsontheTamilNaducoastline.Theportswereasourceofnot
onlytradebutalsotheentrypointforIslamicjihadisarrivingfromWestAsiaandAfrica.Themostfertileregionofthesouthwasundertheir
control.ThisallowedtoSultanatetofieldresourcestofendofflargerenemiesliketheHoysalas.ItwasuptoBukkarayaItoremovethisviciousdagger
stickinginthebackofthefledglingempire.TheterribleatrocitiescarriedoutbytheSultansofMaduraiwererecordedbyGangadeviinherepicpoem
Madhuravijyam.Iampresentingafewverseswhichgivegraphicdetailsofthetyrannyoftheseanimals.
IampainedbyseeingthebeautifulgrovesofMadurawherethecoconuttreeshavebeencutdownandintheirplacearetobeseenrowsofiron
spikeshangingwithgarlandsofcroresofhumanskulls.Verse8,EighthCanto,Madhuravijayam.
InMadurathekingscourtyardswhichwereverycoolbysprinklingthecamphorandsandalwatersarenowpollutedbytheimprisonedBrahmins
tears,Iamdistressedseeingthat.Verse11,EighthCanto,Madhuravijayam.
IbnBattutawasalsowitnesstothebloodthirstynatureofthesetyrants.Hesays,
theHinduprisonersweredividedintofoursectionsandtakentoeachofthefourgatesofthegreatcatcar.There,onthestakestheyhadcarried,the
prisonerswereimpaled.Afterwardstheirwiveswerekilledandtiedbytheirhairtothesepales.Littlechildrenweremassacredonthebosomsoftheir
mothersandtheircorpsesleftthere.Then,thecampwasraised,andtheystartedcuttingdownthetreesofanotherforest.Inthesamemannerdidthey
treattheirlaterHinduprisoners.ThisisshamefulconductsuchasIhavenotknownanyothersovereignguiltyof.ItisforthisthatGodhastenedthe
deathofGhiyatheddin.
TheMaduraisultanatewasnotwithoutitsallies.TherulerofKanchipuramwasChamparaju,alsoknownasSambuvarayabyhistorians.Theregionof
NorthandSouthArcotdistrictsandpartsofChittordistrictwereincludedinhiskingdom.HewasanallyoftheMaduraisultanateandthisishintedto
intheMadhuravijyamwhereintheSultanisreferredasthetreeandChamaprajuasthebranches.Thustherewasabufferregionwhichhadtobe
overcomebeforetheMuslimsinMaduraicouldbedisposedoff.
TheBahmaniSultanate:AnewdangerhadarisenintheDeccan.On3rdAugust1347atGulbargainKarnataka,HasanKanguproclaimedhimself
SultanAbulMuzzafarAlauddinBahmanShah.ThefoundationoftheBahamanisultanatewithitsepicentreatGulbargamarkedthestartofabloody
epochinthehistoryoftheHindus.TheBahmanisultanatewasnolessgenocidalthantheMaduraione.LargepartsofMaharashtraweredepopulated
underthesecularruleoftheBahmanis.TheBahmanisparticularlyafter1357CEwereengagedinaggressivecampaignsofattackingGoa(which
wasundertheKadambakings,whoweretributariesofVijayanagar),TelanganaandthedominionsofVijayanagarproperaroundtheKrishnariver.
Bukkarayahadtofightagainstenemiesinthefrontandintherear.BoththeMuslimsultanatescoordinatedwitheachotherintheattacksagainstthe
Vijayanagarempire.InfactoneofthesultansofMaduraiwasarelationofthefirstBahmanisultan.AswitnessedbyIbnBatuttatheMaduraisultans
usedtoconductregulardevastatingraidsintotheTamilcountryside.
2.2Anarchyinsociety
ThedamagetothefabricofsocietywasthemostserioushavocwroughtbytheIslamicinvaders.Thewavesofdestructiveinvasionsandthe
establishmentofMuslimruleinpartsofSouthIndiahaddestroyedthetraditionalwaysofliving.Thelargescalesackanddestructionoftemplesbythe
Islamicfanaticshadleftalargevacuuminruralandurbansociety.Hindusocietyhastraditionallybeendecentralisedandvillagebased.Inthevillages
thetemplesactedastheemployer,landholder,bank,hospital,consumeroflocalgoodsandservicesetc.Thustothemuslimswhatwasaneasysource
ofplunderwasthelifebloodtothecommonman.Withthedestructionofthetempletheanchorwhichheldtogethercommunitieswaseffectively
broken.TheplightofthetemplesiswellillustratedbythisversefromtheMadhuravijyam.
Thestateofthetempleissuchthatthespidersareweavingtheirfinecobwebs,wildelephantsrubtheirheadsagainstthewallsandlordShiva
himselfisbereftofcaretakers.Verse3,EighthCanto,Madhuravijayam.
AddedtothesetherewasnosecurityforthecommonHinduastheMuslimsengagedinwantonrapingandkilling.TheslaveryoftheHinduswasbig
businessfortheMuslimsultanates.Brahmanaswereespeciallytargetedastheywereviewedtobetheintellectualbastionofresistanceagainstthe
Muslims(ThisstrategyoftargetingthemwasandisbeingusedbyChristianmissionariesandotherantinationalforces).Atrocioustaxationmeasures
adoptedbytheSultansweredesignedtofleeceeverysinglepennyfromtheHindus.
2.3DamagetoInfrastructure
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InthescorchedearthwarfaretacticspractisedbytheMuslimsthetraditionalwatermanagementsystemssuchastanks,bunds,canals,damsand
bridgesweretheprimecasualities.Notbeingendowedwithanyqualityotherthanbarbaritytheyneitherhadthewillnortheexpertisetorepairthe
extensivedamagecausedbythem.Agriculturewhichwascompletelydependentontimelyrainsandincasetherainsfailedthesewatermanagement
systemswerethefallbackoption.Withtheirdestructiondroughtsinevitablyturnedintocatastrophicfamines,asthestoresofgrainswererequisitioned
bytheMuslimtyrantswithoutanyreciprocalrelaxationinthetaxation.
CompoundingthewoesoftheHinduswastheseriousdropinthemonsoonrains.Theperiodfrom1300sto1500swasthelittleiceagewhichwas
accompaniedbyseriousdroughtsinIndia.LargescalefamineswhichcarriedofflakhsofHinduswerearegularoccurrence,oneofthemoreserious
onesbeingthefamineof13371344CEwhichdepopulatedlargepartsofNorthernIndia(whichwerefortunatetobeunderMuslimrule).Weagain
turntotheMadhuravijayamforaneyewitnessviewoftheMuslimsvandalismandtheresultingfamines.
AtpresenttheriverKaveribreakinghertraditionalcourseisflowinginwrongdirections.ItseemsthatsheisimitatingtheTulushkasbyflowinginall
wrongdirections.Verse6,EighthCanto,Madhuravijayam.
Unlikeearliertimestheearthnolongerproduceswealth,IndradoesnotgivetimelyrainsandthegodofDeathcarriesawaythesurvivorsleftalive
afterthemassacresbytheyavanas.Verse14,EighthCanto,Madhuravijayam.
TheaboveversereferstotheplaguethatwasravagingMadurainthe1340s.
ThearticleiscontinuedinPartII.
Comments(6)
October10,2010
VIjayanagarChapter5
Filedunder:VijayanagarYogeshwarShastri@4:22pm
Tags:Alauddin,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,GhiyathaldinTughlaq,Gujarat,Hoysala,IndiaHistory,InvasionsofSouthIndia,Kakatiya,Kampili,
Kampilideva,Khusrau,Madurai,MohammedTughlaq,Mubarakkhilji,Pandya,Prataparudra,Ramanatha,VeeraBallala,Warangal
Vijaynagar
Chapter5
7/27
12/4/2016
Fig.1MajorKingdomsofSouthIndia1320CE.
ThemapaboveshowstheroughextentoftheDelhiSultanateandtheextentofthemajorSouthIndiankingdoms.
InDelhitectonicchangesweretakingplace.In1320CE,KhusrauKhanassassinatedSultanMubarakKhiljiandproclaimedhimselfSultanNasirud
din.FromthevenomheapeduponhimbyMuslimhistorianslikeBarni,itisclearthatKhusrauKhanhadconvertedbacktoHinduism.KhusrauKhan
isanenigmaticcharacterwhodeservesanarticleonhisownIwilltouchverybrieflyonhim.
AssistingKhusrauKhaninreassertingHindumightinDelhiwerefiftythousandGujaratiHinduswhohadbeenenslavedbyAlauddinKhiljiduring
hisconquestofGujarat.ThesearetheParwrsreferredtobyMuslimhistorians.
ThattheoccasionofSultanNasiruddinsaccessiontothethroneofDelhiwasamomentofjoyforthedespairingHindusintheNorthisgivenbythe
followingpassageofBarani,InthosedreadfuldaystheinfidelritesoftheHinduswerehighlyexalted,thedignityandtheimportanceoftheParwrs
wereincreased,andthroughalltheterritoryofIslmtheHindusrejoicedgreatly,boastingthatDehlhadoncemorecomeunderHindurule,andthat
theMusulmnshadbeendrivenawayanddispersed.(Baran)
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Butthisjoywasshortlived.KhusrauKhanwasdefeatedinbattlebyGhiyathaldinTughlaqandexcecuted.DevalaDeviwhohadmarriedKhusrau
Khancommittedsuicidebytakingpoison.
AfterkillingKhusrau,GhiyathaldinTughlaqtookoverthereinsoftheDelhiSultanatein1320CE.OncetheGangeticplainsweresubdued,hewas
abletodirecthisattentionstothesouthwhichhadshakenoffevennominalallegiancetothesultanate.TakingadvantageofthechaosinDelhi,
PrataparudrahadthrownofftheMuslimyoke.ItisapparentthatallthepreviousMuslimexpeditionshadnotdentedWarangalspowermuch.
ThirdInvasionofWarangal
Oncethegangeticplainsweresubdued,GhiyathaldinTughlaqturnedhisattentionontoDeccanandfurtherdownsouth.MubarakKhiljihad
completelywipedouttheYadavarulingfamilyinDevagiri,whichwasnowcompletelysubdued.AsmentionedpreviouslyDevagirihadbecomea
strongholdofMuslims,whowereencouragedtocomeandsettle.
Keepinginlinewiththegenocidalpoliciesofthesultans,HinduswerepushedtobaresubsistencelevelswherevertheMuslimsgainedastrong
foothold.AdetailedexplanationoftheeconomicandsocialcatastrophethatbefellHindusocietycanbefoundonDikgajsblog
(http://dikgaj.wordpress.com/).
Fig2FirstTughlaqinvasionofWarangalin1321CE
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GhiyathaldinTughlaqsensedthatWarangalwouldnotbeeasytosubdue.ForthispurposealargearmywasassembledfromtheMuslimstrongholds
ofBaduan,Oudh,Kara,Dabmu,Bangarmu,Chanderietc.ThisseaofMuslimarmiesmarchedtowardsWarangalin1321CEledbyUlughKhan(later
onknownasMohammedTughlaq).
ThisexpeditionwasclearlywithaviewofconqueringtheKakatiyakingdom,notjustlootingit.UlughKhanwasaccompaniedbyahostofother
noblesandtheirretinues.AftertwomonthstheyreachedDeogiri,wheretheywerereinforcedbyotherMuslimamirsandtheinvasionforcerolledon
towardsWarangal.
AtthispointitneedstobeappreciatedthatthiswasthethirdfullscaleinvasionofWarangalinashorttimeofelevenyears.Muslimscouldgenerate
andsustainmassivearmiesonthebackofrelentlessexploitationoftheHindusofthenorthandthelootingofexistingHindukingdoms.The
enslavementofHindumenandwomenwasbigbusinessfortheDelhisultans.NorthernIndia(PunjabandGangeticplains)wasstrippedbareof
resourcesafterbeingrapedforoverthreecenturiesbytheMuslims.
ItwasofficialpolicyoftheDelhisultanstoreducetheHindustobaresubsistencelevels.ThisisillustratedbyaquotebyBaraniaboutAlauddin
KhiljispolicytowardsHindus,TheHindwastobesoreducedastobeleftunabletokeepahorsetorideon,tocarryarms,towearfineclothes,or
toenjoyanyoftheluxuriesoflife.(Baran)
OntheotherhandtheKakatiyakingdomwashardpressedtogeneratethesamelevelofmilitaryresourcewithoutadverselyaffectingothersectionsof
societyi.e.agriculture,tradesetc.DespitetheirobviousresourcehandicapthehardyKakatiyawarriorsputupafiercefighttotheadvancingMuslim
host.
AsonpreviousoccasionsPrataparudraalongwithhisnoblestookshelterintheformidableWarangalfort.Prataparudrawaswellpreparedtowithstand
alongsiege.Inanyeventthesiegedraggedonforeightmonths.RovingbandsofKakatiyawarriorsdisruptedtheMuslimpostalsystemandharassed
theinvadersfromtherear.
IwilldeviatetogiveabriefdescriptionoftheDelhisultanatespostalsystem.ItisnecessarytogetanideaofhowtheSultanswereabletotakerapid
militaryactiononthebasisofspeedycommunications.IbnBattutasaysthesultanspostalservicewasoftwotypes:
1.MountedCouriers:Thefirsttypewasmountedcouriersonhorses.Therewererelaysevery4miles.
2.Runnersonfoot:Everythirdofamiletherewasavillageoutsidewhichthreepavilionsinwhichrunnerssatreadytomoveoff.Eachrunnerhad
astaff(yardandhalflong)withbellsatthetop.Whenarunnerranhehadthemessageinthefingersofthefreehandandtherodintheother.Thebells
alertedthemensittinginthenextvillageoftherunnersapproachandsomeoneinthenextpaviliontookoverthemessage.AsperIbnBattutathiswas
fasterthanmountedcouriers.Fruitsandcriminalswerealsotransportedinthiswaytothesultan.Thisseemstohavebeenonlyusedforthesultans
personalneeds/militarycommunications/governmentcommunications.
WhilethesiegeofWarangalwasinprogress,dissensionsandintriguesbrokeoutintheMuslimcamp.DistrustfulofUlughKhansmotives,agroupof
rebelsledbyTighinandTimurconductedsecretnegotiationswithPrataparudra.AspertheirpactwithPrataparudra,therebelswouldabandonthe
campandliftthesiegeofWarangal,providedPrataparudraallowedthemtoleaveunmolestedthroughhisterritory.Onceassuredoftheirsafetythe
rebelfactionrolleduptheircamp,destroyedthewoodenstockadesandleftUlughKhantofacethewrathoftheKakatiyaforces.
AssoonasPrataparudrawassurethattherebelshadlefttheMuslimcampforgood,aferocioussallyissuedforthfromWarangalfort.Thiscaused
greatslaughterinUlughKhanscamp.UlughKhanhadtodepartinhaste,allthewhilebeingpursuedbytheavengingHindus.
ThusendedthefifthinvasionofWarangalintotalignominyfortheevervictoriousarmiesofIslam.
FinalinvasionofWarangal:EndoftheKakatiyaKingdom
WhenthenewsoftheignominiousdefeatreachedDelhi,GhiyathaldinTughlaqmadesurethattherebelswhowereresponsibleforthedebaclewere
executedinthemostpainfulwaypossible.Baranisays,TheSultnheldapublicdarbrintheplainofSr,whenUbaid,thepoet,andKfr,theseal
keeper,andotherrebels,wereimpaledalive*someoftheothers,withtheirwivesandchildren,werethrownunderthefeetofelephants.(Baran)
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Fig3FirstTughlaqinvasionofWarangalin1322CE
WithinsixmonthsamoreformidableinvasionforcewasraisedandUlughKhansweptintotheDeccan.ThistimePrataparudrawastakenunawares
andwascompletelyunpreparedfortheattack!
ItisdifficulttoexplainthisfailureinthelightofthefactthatoneverypreviousoccasionhehadbeenwellpreparedtomeettheMuslimattack.The
Kakatiyasoldiershadbeensentbacktotheirvillagesandthegranariesemptied,evenWarangalfortwasnotproperlyprovisioned.Thiscanbeonly
describedinthatoftrepeatedphraseofmodernIndiaasanintelligencefailure!!
TheMuslimforcestormedBadrakot(Bidar)andbesiegedWarangal.Thesiegewentonforfivelongmonths,butthebreakingpointforthebrave
Hinduscameduetolackoffoodwithinthefort.Prataparudrasurrenderedonconditionofamnesty.
WhilebeingtakenasaprisonertoDelhi,Prataparudracommittedsuicide.Ratherdeaththanalifeofdishonour!!Thisisamessagestrangelyloston
modernIndiawhereincompromiseandadjustmentarethebuzzphrasesofthesecularmob.
ThusfellthegreatKakatiyakingdomwhichwasafocalpointofHinduresistanceagainstIslamicimperialismfornearlyaquarterofacentury.Ulugh
KhanpromptlyrenamedWarangalasSultanpur.AtypicalactofIslamicvandalismwhereinanythingcreatedbyotherculturesisappropriatedastheir
own!!IshwafromIndiaforumhaswrittenaniceseriesofarticlesanalysingIslamicvandalism(http://www.india
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forum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/2468schemeofmuslimruleinindia/page__pid__108412__st__0&#entry108412).Mythslikethegoldenageof
Islamicscienceetcwhicharebeingbandiedaboutthesedaysareaprettygoodexampleofgrossdistortionofhistory.
ResistanceinAndhra
AlthoughPrataparudrasdeathbroughtthecurtainsdownontheKakatiyakingdomitdidnotextinguishHinduresistance.InsouthwesternAndhra,
JagatapiGangayadevaresistedtheMuslimsfromhiscapitalatGutti.ButinduecoursehewasforcedtosubmittoUlughKhan.
FightingcontinuedinthecoastalAndhraregion.UlughKhanestablishedhisauthorityandextractedtributefromtheHindupopulacewiththehelpof
MuslimgovernorsandtheusualHinducollaborators.UlughKhanalsoretainedthekeydecisionmakersoftheoldKakatiyakingdomtohelpgovern
thenewlycapturedprovince.WhatlimitedfreedomofmovementtheoldHinduofficialshad,wouldbecloselywatchedbystrongMuslimgarrisons
postedinkeycities.
AfterthefallofAndhra,UlughKhancapturedMadurai.In1323CE,ParakaramdevathePandyakingofMaduraiwasdefeatedandhisfamilytaken
prisoner.AstrongMuslimgarrisonwaspostedatMaduraiandtheadministrationpassedintothehandsofMuslimamirs.
ChangeatDelhi
In1325CE,SultanGhiyathaldinTughlaqwaskilledwhenawoodenstructureerectedtowelcomehimfromhisBengalexpeditioncollapsedonhis
head.ThehandofUlughKhaninhisfathersdeathhasbeenstronglysuspectedbyhistorians.WiththisUlughKhanascendedthethroneofDelhiand
proclaimedhimselfSultanMohammedTughlaq.
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Fig4SouthIndiain1325CE
AtthetimeofMohammedTughlaqsascensiontothethroneofDelhithemajorHindukingdomsstillinexistencewere(seemapabove):
North:Rajputana(IamclubbingalltheexistingRajputstatestogether,asIhavenotreadenoughofthesituationintheNorthtogiveaclearpicture)
South:Kampili(Karnataka),Dvarasamudram(majorportionofKarnataka,partsofAndhra&partsofTamilNadu),Kandhyana(presentdayPune
region,notshownonmap),Calicut.
East:Jajnagar(Orissa),Kamarupa(Assam,notshownonmap).
ThemapabovegivesaroughideaofthesizeandlocationoftheremainingHindukingdomsinthesouthofIndia.Imakenoclaimstotheaccuracyof
themaphencetakeitasaroughguide.
MohammedTughlaqsbehaviourtowardstheHinduswasnolesscruelandatrociousthantheotherMuslimsultans.Thenwhyissomuchopprobrium
heapedonhim?TheMuslimhistorianBaranistatementclearlyillustratesthereasonforhisinfamy:
ThepunishmentofMusulmns,andtheexecutionoftruebelievers,withhimbecameapracticeandapassion.Numbersofdoctors,andelders,and
saiyids,andsfs,andkalandars,andclerks,andsoldiers,receivedpunishmentbyhisorder.Notadayorweekpassedwithoutthespillingofmuch
Musulmnblood,andtherunningofstreamsofgorebeforetheentranceofhispalace(Baran)
ItsonethingifkafirHindusarecutdownlikeanimals,butadifferentthingifatruebelieveri.e.aMuslimiskilled!!
InrecenttimesthesecularlobbyhastriedtorehabilitateMohammedTughlaqbyportrayinghimasamisunderstoodvisionarywhowasaheadofhis
time!Thesameeminenthistoriansareresponsibleforthisreprehensiblewhitewash.Onasidenotemanyofthesepseudohistorianstestifiedfrom
theMuslimsideintheSriRamJanmabhoomicourtcasewhichwasdecidedrecentlyuponbyAllahabadHighcourt.ThewaytheHonourablejudges
toreaparttheirliescanbefoundintheextractsofthejudgementpostedinthisthreadinBharatRakshak(http://forums.bharat
rakshak.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5697).
Whatthesecularhistoriansneglecttomentionisgemslikethese:AtthistimethecountryoftheDobwasbroughttoruinbytheheavytaxationand
thenumerouscesses.TheHindusburnttheircornstacksandturnedtheircattleouttoroamatlarge.UndertheordersoftheSultn,thecollectorsand
magistrateslaidwastethecountry,andtheykilledsomelandholdersandvillagechiefsandblindedothers.Suchoftheseunhappyinhabitantsas
escapedformedthemselvesintobandsandtookrefugeinthejungles.Sothecountrywasruined.TheSultnthenproceededonahuntingexcursionto
Baran,where,underhisdirections,thewholeofthatcountrywasplunderedandlaidwaste,andtheheadsoftheHinduswerebroughtinandhung
upontherampartsofthefortofBaran.(Baran)
Intheabovepoassage,BaraniistalkingabouttheatrocioustaxesleviedbyMohammedTughlaqandtheireffectontheHindusofUttarPradesh.
SotheenlightenedSultanfirsttaxesHindustilltheyhavevirtuallynoincentivetotilltheirfields(Itmustbekeptinmindthateveninthisday,land
iseverythingtotheIndianfarmer.Hewillonlyabandonitinthemostextremecircumstances:eitherwhenitdoesnotprovideevensubsistencelevel
foodorunderextremeforcebyexternalfactors).NextwhentheHindusfleeinhumanpersecution,theSultanpromptlyorganizesshikaarsandhunts
themdownlikewildanimals!!
TheKampiliwars
KampiliwasasmallbutpowerfulkingdomfoundedbyMummadiSingeyafromthefragmentsofthedisintegratingDevagirikingdom.Kampilideva
succeededMummadiSingeyain1313CE.PleaseseethemapforaroughideaofthekingdomofKampili.ItwastinycomparedtotheDelhisultanate,
butitpunchedwellaboveitsweight.IttookthreewellequippedinvasionsbeforeKampilifadedintothenight.
KampilidevaisoneofthoseunacknowledgedheroesofourhistorywhofoughttoothandnailagainsttheMusliminvaders.Astaunchdefenderof
dharma,hefoughtwitheventhoseHinduchiefswhopaidtributetotheDelhisultans.Kampilidevafoughtmanybattleswithbiggerkingdomssuchas
DvarasamudramandWarangal.
MohammedTughlaqdecidedtoputanendtoKampilibeforeitbecamethefocalpointofresurgentHindupowerintheDeccan.Anidealpretextfor
invasionwasfoundinBahauddinGarhaspsrebellion.BahauddinwasacousinofMohammedTughlaqandhadbeenmadegovernoroftheSagar
town(Karnataka)byGhiyathaldinTughlaq.AbravewarriorhehadfoughtwithdistinctionagainsttheMongolsin1324CE.
BahauddinwasdisaffectedwithhistreatmentbyMohammedTughlaqandrebelledinordertocarveaseparatekingdomforhimself.Allthiswhile,
hehadbeencarefultocultivateexcellentrelationswithKampilideva.In1327CE,apitchedbattlebetweentheDelhisultanatesarmyandBahauddin
tookplaceonthebanksoftheGodavariRiverinKarnataka.GarhaspwasdefeatedandfledwithhisfamilytoKampilidevaforprotection.
Likeonpreviousoccasionsinourhistory,theflightofafugitivetotheprotectionofaHindustatewasenoughexcusefortheMuslimsultanstoattack
theHindukingdoms.InKampiliscasetheexcusecameintheformofBahauddinGarhasp.
TheoutstandingmoralcharacterofKampilidevaisclearlydemonstratedintheassuranceofsafetywhichhegavetoGarhasp,Nowsolongasthe
pulsemovesinmybody,Iwonttakeinabreathexceptinfriendshiptoyou.Iswearbythesun,thesacredthread(Iwear)andtheidols(Iworship)that
youshallfindmefaithful.Ifall(thepeopleoftheworld)weretojointogethertotakeyourlife,theycannotcauseyouasmuchinjuryasagrainof
barley.
IhavetakenthedescriptionsofthethreeinvasionsstraightfromNVenkataramanayyasbook.Apologiesifitsoundsadverbatim,asformostpartitis.
FirstInvasionofKampili
ThefirstinvasionofKampilitookplaceshortlyafterGarhaspsrebellionin1327CE.MalikZadaaidedbyMalikRuknuddincrossedtheKrishna
andmountedanattackonKummata,whichwasthechieffortressofKampilideva.Atthistime,KampilidevawasinhiscapitalHosdurg(Anegondi).
KampilidevasentastrongforceheadedbyhisministerBaicappa,hissonsRamanathaandKatanna,andGarhasptoreinforceKummata.
OnarrivalRuknuddinpitchedhistentsaroundthefort.Katannaconductedasurprisesallyfromthefortonthefirstdayofthesiege,inflictingheavy
lossesontheMuslimsandcapturingtwothousandhorsesintheprocess.ThenextdaytheMuslimstriedtostormthefortbutweredecisivelybeaten
backbyRamanathaandKatanna.TheMuslimarmywascompletelyroutedandRuknuddinforcedtoretreatbacktoDevagiri.
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ThusendedthefirstinvasionofKampiliacompletefailurefortheworldconqueringarmiesofIslam.
SecondinvasionofKampili
IncensedbythefailureofthemightyarmiesofIslamtosubduethesmallkingdomofKampili,MohammedTughlaqpromptlydespatchedanother
wellequippedinvasionforceunderMalikQutbulMulk.TheMuslimsmovedasbeforetoattackKummata.
Kampilidevawaswellpreparedtomeetthesecondinvasionaswell.BoththefortsofKummataandHosdurgwerestrengthened.Thistime
KampilidevahimselfledthedefenceofKummataagainsttheMuslims.
OnthenightoffirstdayofthesiegeasurprisenightattackbyabandofKampiliwarriorsthrewtheMuslimcampintoconfusion.Onthesecondday
QutbulMulkattackedthefortwithallhisforcesfromthreesides.Theymanagedtotaketheouterwall,butwerepushedoutbythevigorous
defendersledbyKampilideva.
OnthethirddayofthesiegeKampilidevaarrangedhistroopsinbattleorderoutsidethefortgates.FacinghimwastheMuslimarmywiththeirTurkish
horsearchersinthecentre,cavalrytotherightandelephantstotheleft.RamanathaattackedtheTurkishcentrefirstthrowingthemintodisarray.As
theydesperatelytriedtofleefromtheattack,theycausedconfusioninthecavalryandelephantsstationedontheirsides.Ramanathachargedthe
Muslimforcescuttingmostofthemdownandkillingtheirtopcommanders.QutbulMulksavedhimselfbyescapingfromthebattlefield.
FinalInvasionofKampili
WithinashorttimeMohammedTughlaqdespatchedanevenlargerforceunderhisministerMalikZada.Thereseemstohavebeenadroughtduring
thistimeinKampili,asthePortuguesehistorianNunessaysthattheMuslimshadtowaitfortherainyseasonbeforetheycouldproceedfurther.This
wouldperhapsexplainwhythetwostrongforts:KummataandHosdurgranoutofprovisionsrelativelyquickly.
TheMuslimslaidsiegetoKummatafirst.AlthoughKampilidevaandGarhaspsalliedforthandassaultedtheMuslims,theyweredefeatedandforced
topullbackinsidethefort.ConditionsinsideKummatagotdireastheHindusbegantorunoutofprovisions.
TheMuslimsstormedthefortinanalloutassaultforcingKampilidevatoabandonKummataandseekshelterinhiscapitalHosdurg.Kampilideva
relocatedthefiftythousandcitizensofHosdurgtootherplacesinKampila,onlykeepingfivethousandsoldiersforthedefenceofHosdurg.
HotonKampilidevastrail,MalikZadalaidsiegetoHosdurg.Afteronemonththesituationinsidethefortgotdire.Thesituationgotevenmore
precariouswhentheMuslimsstormedtheirwayintothefort.
Kampilidevarealisedallwaslost,butthisgreatmanfirstmadesurehisfriendGarhaspescapedwithhisfamilytotheHoysalakingdomof
Dvarasamudra,whichwasruledbyVeeraBallalaIII.GarhaspescapedwithhisfamilytoDvarasamudra.(Garhaspseemstohavebeenquitean
accomplishedwarrior,asheisdescribedtyingthreefourhorsestogether,puttinghisfamilyonthemandridingoutofKummata,onlyturningbackto
cutdownhispursuers).
IamquotingthispassagewrittenbyIbnBattutaaboutthelasthoursofthisgreatsovereign.Itisextremelystirringtoread,Thenhe(Kampilideva)
commandedagreatfiretobepreparedandlighted.Thenheburnedhisfurniture,andsaidtohiswivesanddaughters,Iamgoingtodie,andsuchof
youaspreferit,dothesame.Thenitwasseenthateachoneofthesewomenwashedherself,rubbedherbodywithsandalwood,kissedtheground
beforether(Raya)ofKambla(Kampila),andthrewherselfuponthepile.Allperished.Thewivesofhisnobles,ministers,andchiefmenimitated
them,andotherwomenalsodidthesame.
Ther,inhisturn,washed,rubbedhimselfwithsandal,andtookhisarms,butdidnotputonhisbreastplate.Thoseofhismenwhoresolvedtodie
withhimfollowedhisexample.TheysalliedforthtomeetthetroopsoftheSultn,andfoughttilleveryoneofthemfelldead.(Batuta).
AscanbeseenfromtheabovepassagetheladiesofKampilaperformedjauhartosavetheirhonour.IbnBatutaheardaboutthisincidentfroma
trustedsource,buthewasaneyewitnesstoanotherincidentwhereintheHinduladiesburntthemselvesontheirhusbandspyre.IbnBatutaclearly
describestheirfearlessnessanddevotiontotheirhusbandsinthefaceoftheragingflames.
Kampilidevafoughtextremelybravelyinbattlebeforefallingdeadofhismanywounds.MalikZadahadhisheadstuffedandsenttoMohammed
Tughlaqasagift.TheMuslimsconductedageneralmassacreoftheremainingresidentsofHosdurg.Thosewhosurvivedliketheelevensonsof
KampilidevawereconvertedtoIslam.
ThuswastheendofthekingdomofKampili,butthelowestebbfortheSouthernHinduswasyettocome.
WhatofBahauddinGarhasp?VeeraBallalaIIIwasunwillingtotaketheriskofinvitingafullscaleMusliminvasionbyshelteringafugitive.He
promptlyhandedoverGarhasptoMalikZada.
AsisillustratedbythispassageGarhaspmetaterribleend,He(MohammedTughlaq)orderedtheprisoner(Garhasp)tobetakentothewomen,his
relations,andtheseinsultedhimandspatuponhim.Thenheorderedhimtobeskinnedalive,andashisskinwastornoff,hisfleshwascookedwith
rice.Somewassenttohischildrenandhiswife,andtheremainderwasputintoagreatdishandgiventotheelephantstoeat,buttheywouldnottouch
it.TheSultnorderedhisskintobestuffedwithstraw,andtobeplacedalongwiththeremainsofBahdurBra,*andtobeexhibitedthroughoutthe
country.(Batuta)
References:
i.TheEarlyMuslimExpansioninSouthIndia,N.Venkataramanayya,editedbyProf.KANSastri,MadrasUniversityHistoricalSeries,
1942.Availableathttp://library.du.ac.in/dspace/
ii.IbnBattuta,TravelsinAsiaandAfrica13251354HARGibbGeorgeRoutledge&Sons,1929.
WorksCited
Baran,.a.D.(n.d.).RetrievedOctober2010,fromhttp://persian.packhum.org/persian/main
Batuta,I.(n.d.).RetrievedOctober2010,fromhttp://persian.packhum.org/persian/main
MapReferences:
14/27
12/4/2016
1.Schwartzberg,JosephE.AHistoricalAtlasofSouthAsia,http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/
2.TheEarlyMuslimExpansioninSouthIndia,N.Venkataramanayya,editedbyProf.KANSastri,MadrasUniversityHistoricalSeries,1942.
Availableathttp://library.du.ac.in/dspace/
Comments(4)
June2,2010
VijayanagarChapter4
Tags:Alauddin,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,Gujarat,HaripalaDeva,IndiaHistory,InvasionsofSouthIndia,Jambudveep,Kakatiya,KANSastri,
Khilji,Khusrau,Mamluk,Mubarakkhilji,Pandya,SouthIndia,Vijayanagar,Warangal
Vijayanagar
Chapter4
DisintegrationofDeogiri
In1312CERamaRayaofDeogiridiedandhissonSangama(someaccountscallhimBhillama)tookoverthethrone.ThefirstthingSangamadidlike
hislatebrotherShankaraDevawastorebelagainsttheMuslimsanddeclareindependence.
AlauddinpromptlydespatchedKafurtodisposeoftherebel.KafurravagedthelandsofDeogiri.Sangamadecidingdiscretionwasthebetterpartof
valourfledfromDeogiri.
HoweverthistimenoscionoftheYadavadynastywasinstalledonthethrone.DeogirilostitsindependenceandwasannexedtotheDelhisultanate
forgood.MalikKafurmadehimselfthegovernorofDeogiriandinstitutedanaggressivepolicyofIslamisationoftheDeccan.Theimperialismofthe
MuslimsentailedsettlinglargenumbersofMuslimsfromthenorthandforeigncountriesinandaroundDeogiri.DeogirilikeDelhiwasfastbecoming
aMuslimcity.Hindusweremarginalisedandterrorised.KafurwasanenthusiasticbreakerofHindutemplesandtookgreatdelightinbreakingthem
downanderectingmosquesintheirplace.
AstheDeogirikingdompassedoutofexistence,variousHinduchiefsformerlyunderitrefusedtobowdowntotheIslamicoppressors.Thehilly
regionoftheSahyadriMountains,particularlyaroundPunewasundertheKolikingNagaNayaka,whoretainedhisindependenceinfaceofMuslim
assaults.
InthesouthernpartofthekingdomMallidevathechiefofRayadurgawasarelationofRamaRaya.HedeclaredhimselfthekingofMaharashtra.
MallidevasattemptatopposingtheMuslimsendedinfailure,MallidevabeingkilledinbattlebyrivalchiefsMummadiSingeyaofKampiliand
JagatapaGangayadevaofGutti.
MummadiSingeyassonKampiliRayaestablishedthepowerfulkingdomofKampili,whichcoveredpresentdayDharward,BellaryandRaichur
districts.KampilistoodasabulwarkagainstMusliminvasionstillitwasoverwhelmedbyMuhammadTughlaq.
MalikKafurdepartedforDelhisoonafterleavingAinulMulkasthegovernorofDeogiri.
ChangeatDelhi
In1316AlaudDinKhiljidiedandtheadministrationofthesultanatewastakenoverbyKafur.Inthebloodysuccessionstruggleswhichwere
typicaloftheDelhisultanate,hehadtwoofAlauddinsoldersonsKhizrKhanandShadiKhanblinded.ImprisoningtheminGwaliorhe
proclaimedAlauddinsinfantsonasthesultan.MubarakKhiljiwasthrownintoprisonandexpectedtomeetthesamefateashisbrothers.
KafurbeingamanofmanyenemiesthoughtitwisetorecallAinulMulktoDelhi.AinulMulkgatheredalltheMuslimsofDeogiriandstartedhis
marchtoDelhi.AsIhavepointedoutbeforetheMuslimcommunitywasalmostcompletelymilitarised,whichmeanteachandeveryMuslimplayed
theroleofasoldierinbattle.HenceforabriefperiodoftimeDeogiriwasleftcompletelytotheHindus.
HoweverbeforeAinulMulkcouldreachDelhi,Kafurwasassassinatedbyhisbodyguards.TheyraisedMubaraktothethrone,whoproclaimed
himselfasSultanQutbuddinMubarakKhilji.Mubarakhimselfhadamaleslaveonwhomhelavishedhisattentions.KnownasHasanhewas
subsequentlygiventhetitleKhusrauKhanbyMubarak.KhusrauKhanwasoneoftheenigmaticcharactersoftheDelhiSultanate.
Mubarakwasadebauchandspenthistimedrinkingorwithwomen.HehadhisbrothersKhizrKhanandShadiKhankilledandtooktheirwivesfor
hisownpleasure.TheunfortunateDevalaDeviwasamongsttheseandMubarakforciblymarriedher.Withafetishforcrossdressingheusedtoappear
inhiscourtdressedinawomansclothes!!
ButhewasofonemindonthequestionofpursuingJihadagainsttheHindus.
HaripalaDeva
WiththebulkoftheMuslimforcesdepartingwithAinulMulk(thegovernorofDeogiri),awarofindependencewaswagedinDeogiribythevaliant
HaripalaDeva.
HaripalaDevawasthesoninlawofthelateRamaRaya.ThesituationforHindushadbecomeintolerablewiththeirdaytodaylivesbeingdependent
onthewhimsandfanciesoftheMuslimrulers.Hinduwomenwereabductedinbroaddaylightandthepeasantrytaxedtodeath.
HaripalaDevawasjoinedinhiseffortsbyRaghava,aministerofRamaRaya.ForabriefperiodunderthekingshipofHaripalaDeva,Deogiri
regaineditsindependence.HesucceededindefeatingvariousMuslimamirstotheextentthatSultanMubarakhimselfhadtoleadanarmyfromDelhi
torecaptureDeogiri.
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In1318CE,MubarakaccompaniedbyhisloverKhusrauKhanstartedfromDelhiwithalargearmy.EnteringMaharashtratheyhadtofighttough
battleswithHaripalaDevaandRaghava.
RaghavawasdefeatedbyKhusrauandhisarmydestroyed.ButHaripalaDevadefeatedKhusrautwiceinbattle.Makingintelligentuseofthe
mountainousterrainHaripalaDevawithhisstrongarmygavetheMuslimsatoughtime.
HaripalaDevawasfinallycorneredinDevagirifortandagreedtosurrenderafterSultanMubarakpromisedtosparehislife.Onsurrenderingthislion
oftheYadavaclanmetamostgruesomeend.
Mubarakinflagrantviolationofhisownpromise,hadHaripalaDevaskinnedaliveandhislifelesscorpsehungfromthegatesofDeogirifort.The
entireroyalfamilyoftheYadavaswasmassacredtopreventanyfutureuprisings.MaharashtrawasdistributedtovariousMuslimchiefsastheir
reward.
MalikYakLakhywasmadethegovernorofDeogiriandmilitarygarrisonswerepostedatSagar,Gulbargaandotherplaces.Butthegarrisonmeantto
subdueDvarasamudramwasdefeatedbyKatariSaluvaRaseyaNayakawhowasanofficerinVeeraBallalasarmy.KhusrauKhanwasdespatchedto
collecttributefromPrataparudraandSultanMubarakdepartedforDelhion5thAugust1318CE.
ThusendedthegreatlineoftheYadavasofDeogiri.WiththemcametoanendthegoldenageofMaharashtra.Forthenextthreehundredyearsthe
lifeofHindusintheDeccanslippedintoadarkage.ThelifeofthecommonHindubecomingworsethanthatofanimals,asravagingMuslimarmies
sweptacrossthelandscape.Maharashtrapassedfromonegenocidalsultantothenext,tilldivinedeliverancecameintheformofChattrapatiShivaji
intheseventeenthcentury.
KhusrausforaysintotheSouth
AssoonasSultanMubarakwasbackinDelhi,MalikYakLakyproclaimedhimselfSultanShamsuddinandevenmintedcoinsinhisownname.The
SultanpromptlysentKhusraukhanwithalargearmytoimprisontheusurper.ForamanwithroyalambitionsMalikYakfellshortofloyalfriends
.Betrayedbyhisownsubordinates,hewasimprisonedbyKhusrauKhanwhosenthimtoDelhi.Therehisearsandnosewerecutoffandwouldbe
sultanwasdeprivedofallhiswealth.KhusrauKhanappointedAinulMulkastheviceroyofDeccan.
KhusrauKhanwasfurtherentrustedtoattackthePandyakingdomwhichwasinastateofcompletechaos.AfterKafursforayin1311CEthePandya
brothersresumedtheirpowerstruggles.HoweverthistimeViraPandyagainedtheupperhandandSundaraPandyawasforcedtofleeintoexile.Soon
ViraPandyahimselfwasdethronedfollowinganinvasionbytheCherakingofKeralaRavivarmanKulashekhara.Ravivarmanwasforcedtoretire
backtoKeralafollowingtroublesthereandthePandyakingdomwasagaininthehandsofViraPandya.
Meanwhilein1317CEPrataparudratakingadvantageofthedisordersentapowerfularmyunderhisgeneralMuppidiNayaka.TheKakatiyaarmy
successfullycapturedKanchifromthePandyas.ThusontheeveofKhusrausinvasionthePandyakingdomwasinanevenworsestateofchaosthan
before.
AsinKafurstimethePandyanarmyrefusedtofightasetpiecebattlewithKhusrau.CivilianswisefrompreviousexperiencesoftheMuslimsfled
beforetheadvanceoftheenemy,takingalongtheirpossessions.KhusraumanagedtocaptureahundredelephantsandthecityofPattan.The
governorofPattanwasaMuslimnamedSirajuddin.ThisdidnotstopKhusraufromconfiscatinghiswealthandtakinghisdaughter!!
Withthebeginningoftherainsandinternalsquabblesbreakingoutinhiscamp,KhusrauwasforcedtomovebacktoDelhi.Khusraussouthern
campaignthusendedinfailurewithoutproducinganytangibleresults.
ForChapter5clickhere.
References:
2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandyan_Dynasty
3.SouthIndiaandHerMohemmedanInvaders,SKrishnaswamiIyengar,SChand&Co,1921,http://library.du.ac.in/dspace/
4.TRKHIFROZSHH,ZUDDNBARN,PackardHumanitiesInstitute,retrievedon03042010,
http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main
5.AHistoryofSouthIndia,ProfKANSastri,OxfordUniversityPress,1966.
LeaveaComment
May19,2010
SomeBooksonVijayanagarandMuslimInvasionsofSouthIndia
Filedunder:EbooksYogeshwarShastri@8:47pm
Tags:Alauddin,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,IndiaHistory,InvasionsofSouthIndia,Kakatiya,KANSastri,Khilji,Madurai,SouthIndia,VeeraBallala,
IdownloadedthesebooksfromtheDelhiUniversityDSPACEwebsite.ThesecoverthehistoryofVijayanagar,musliminvasionsofSouthIndiaetc.I
willaddmorebookstothelistfromtimetotime.
1.SouthIndiaandherMohammedanInvaders:writtenbyKANSastriwhowasapioneeringhistorianofSouthIndia.
SouthIndia&HerMohammedanInvaders
2.EarlyMuslimexpansioninSouthIndia:
EarlyMuslimExpansioninSouthIndia
3.SourcesofVijayanagarHistory
SourcesofVijayanagarhistory
16/27
12/4/2016
4.VijayanagarSexcentenaryCommerationVolume
VijayanagaraSexcentenaryCommemorationVolume
5.StudiesintheThirdDynastyofVijayanagara
StudiesinThirdDynastyofVijayanagara
6.MedivealJainismWithReferencetoVijayanagaraHistory
MedivealJainismWithReftoVijaynagaraEmpire
7.SocialandPoliticalLifeVijayanagaraEmpireVolI(AD1346AD1646)
SocialandpoliticallifeintheVijayanagaraEmpireVol1
8.SocialandPoliticallifeinVijayanagaraEmpireVolII(AD1346AD1646)
SocialandPoliticalLifeinVijayanagaraEmpire
LeaveaComment
May15,2010
VijayanagarChapter3
Tags:Alauddin,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,Gujarat,IndiaHistory,Jambudveep,Kakatiya,Khilji,Madurai,Mamluk,Pandya,VeeraBallala,
IhavecreatedroughgraphicsofMalikKafursinvasionroutesusinginSKrishnaswamiIyengarsdescriptionandwiththehelpofGoogleEarth.Ihave
modifiedVijaynagarChapter2toshowthemapforKafursinvasionofDeogiriandWrangal.
VijayanagarEmpireoftheGods
Chapter3
AfterextractingtributesfromtwoofthemostpowerfulHinduKingdomsinIndiaatthattime,Alauddinsgazewasnaturallyturnedontherich
HoysalakingdominKarnatakaandPandyakingdominTamilNadu.
TheHoysalas
TheHoysalakingdomwasextensiveandcoveredalmostallofmodernKarnatakaandpartsofwesternAndhraPradeshandTamilNadu.Itwasarich
andflourishingkingdomwithrevenuesfromseatrade,teaketc.TheHoysalakingswereknownfortheirpatronageofKannadaliteratureandfine
architecture.ManytemplesfromtheHoysalaperiodstillsurvivetothisdayandareoutstandingexampleswithsuperbdetailandexquisite
craftsmanship.
ThecapitaloftheHoysalaswasDvarasamudram(moderndayHalebidinKarnataka),awellfortifiedcity.VeeraBallalaIII(ruledfrom12911343
CE)wastheruleratthetimeofKafursraidonSouthIndia.Hewasapersonwithexceptionalforesight,courageandoneofthemightydefendersof
HinduDharmaintroubledtimesofthefourteenthcentury.EvenattheageofeightyyearsthisgreatkingwasstillfightingagainsttheMuslims,when
hewastreacherouslymurderedin1343CEbySultanGhiyasudDinMuhammadDamghaniofMadurai.
ThePandyas
ThePandyakingdomwasextremelyrichandpowerful,commandingthevitalsearoutes.ItstretchedfromQuiloninKeralatoNelloreinTamilNadu.
ThecapitalofthePandyankingdomwasMaduraianditssecondgreatcitywasViraDhavalapattanam(knowntotheMuslimsasBirDhul).Asitstood
astridethemajorseatradingroutes,ithadaflourishingnetworkofportsandalargefleetofships.
ThePandyakingsusedtomaintainalargecavalryforce,sustainedbyconstantimportsfromabroad.ItmustbepointedoutherethatIndiaisnotideal
horsecountry,theweatherandclimaticconditionsrenderhorsessusceptibletoahostofdiseasesandearlydeath.Exceptforthehardyindigenous
breedsofhorses,foreignbreedshadaveryshortlife.Thiswaswhymaintainingalargecavalryforcewasaluxuryformostkingdoms.Theyneededto
beconstantlyreplenishedandwereadrainonresources.Agoodcavalrymaninthatagewasworthhisweightingold.TheMuslimsincontrasthad
accesstolargecavalryforcesstraightfromCentralAsia.
ThePandyasalsopossessedaforceofnearlythousandelephants,alargearmywithacontingentofArabfightersaswell.Elephantsplayedaroleon
thebattlefieldmuchlikebattletanksdotodayi.e.steamrolltheopposition.Warelephantsworkedfineuntiltheyranamokandturnedontheirown
side.
ThekingrulingoverthisporsperousdomainjustpriortothemusliminvasionwasKulashekharaPandya.Hewasanextremelycapableandambitious
ruler.HedefeatedtheKakatiyasandlaidsiegetotheHoysalacapitalofDvarasamudramtwice.Ceylonandotherislandsweresubjecttohispower.
AfterhewasfoullyassassinatedbyhissonSundaraPandya,thePandyakingdomfellonhardtimes.
AfratricidalwareruptedbetweenSundaraPandyaandhisyoungerbrotherViraPandya.ViraPandyahadbeennominatedbyKulashekharaashis
successor.ThiswasthereasonwhySundaraPandyakilledhisfatherandusurpedthethrone.
InaseesawofbattlesthefortunesofViraandSundaraPandyaroseandebbedinturn.ThusontheeveofKafursattacktheentirePandyakingdom
wasinastateofchaos.
AttackonDvarasamudram
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12/4/2016
Fig1.KafursinvasionroutetoDvarasamudramandMadurai
InthemapaboveIhavechartedoutaroughrouteforKafursattackonDvarasamudramandMaduraibasedonthedescriptiongivenininS
KrishnaswamiIyengarsbook.
MalikKafurreachedDeogirion3rdFebruary1311CE.AsusualRamaDevaprovidedallthematerialsneededtohelptotheinvaders.RamaDeva
deputedoneofhiscommanderinchiefParshuramDalavitoguideKafurontotherightrouteforDvarasamudram.Parshuramsdomainsbordered
VeeraBallalaskingdom.RamaDevahadhisownaxetogrindagainstVeeraBallalaIII,asVeeraBallalahadmaderepeatedattacksontheDeogiri
kingdomtoseizeterritory.
Thussuitablyprovisioned,KafursforcestartedfromDeogirion7thFebruary1311CEandreachedaplacecalledBandir(asperSKAiyangarthisis
PandharpurinMaharashtra)on22ndFebruary1311CE.ThiswasattheborderofDeogiriandtheHoysalakingdoms.
Likeallgoodpractitionersofwarfare,Kafurhadanintelligencewinginhisarmy.BeforepenetratingintotheHoysalakingdom,Kafurdespatchedfour
officers(BahramKarra,QatlahNehang,MahmudSartihaandAbajiMughal),eachaccompaniedbyaninterpretertogatherinformationaboutthe
enemy.TheinterpreterswerefluentinthelocallanguageIassumethiswasancientKannada.
MeanwhileVeeraBallalahaddecidedtotakeadvantageofthechaosinthePandyakingdomandwasleadinghisarmytotryandtakebackterritory
lostbytheHoysalastoKulashekharaPandya.AssoonasKafursscoutsreportedthisnews,Kafurdecidedtoheadstraightforthecapital
Dvarasamudram.
VeeraBallalaonhispartlearnedoftheMuslimsathisrearandreturnedwithgreathastetoDvarasamudram.
EnrouteoneofVeeraBallalasNayakasattackedKafursarmy,butwaskilledonthebattlefield.
Followinghistriedandtestedstrategyoflaunchingsurpriseattacksstraightonenemycapitals,KafurreachedDvarasamudramon25thFebruary1311
CE.InashortspanoftwelvedayshehadforcemarchedhisarmystraighttothegatesofDvarasamudram.
AsperaccountsinitiallyVeeraBallalawantedtogointobattlewithKafur.ThePandyakingViraPandyahadalreadydespatchedaforcetohelpVeera
Ballala.HehoweverchangedhismindonseeingthedestructivecapacityofKafursarmy.BeforemakinguphismindhesenthisadvisorKesavaMalto
ascertainthestrengthoftheenemy.LearningoftheformidablestrengthoftheenemyBallaladecidedtosueforterms.VeeraBallalawaspreparedto
losehistreasureinordertosafeguardhispeopleandkingdom.HesentBallapaDevaNayakawhowasknownforhisnegotiationskillstoKafurs
camp.KafurmadethesamedemandsasbeforeandextractedaheavypricefromVeeraBallala.
ThereweretwoadditionalstipulationstothetermsofsurrenderonewasthatVeeraBallalassonVeeraVirupakshaBallalawastoaccompanyKafur
backtoDelhi(possiblyasahostagetopreventVeeraBallalaturningagainstDelhi)andthatheshouldleadtheMuslimarmytoMadurai.Withnoway
outofthequandaryhewasinVeeraBallalaagreedtotheseterms.
OnwardtoMadurai
GuidedbyVeeraBallala,KafursarmyreachedtheborderwiththePandyakingdomon15thMarch1311CE.ThePandyanprincesmountedguerrilla
warfareagainsttheinvadersalmostassoonastheyenteredtheirterritory.
ShowingtacticalingenuitythePandyasrefusedtofightsetpiecebattleswhereKafursarmouredcavalrywouldhaveanadvantage.Insteadtheykept
eludingKafursforces.
KafurmovedtowardsVeeraDhavalapattam,conductingsavagemassacresofdefencelessHindusalongtheway.ViraPandyawasinVeera
DhavalapattanamandhesentoutamixedforceofHinduandMuslimcavalry.Aferociousbattleragedbetweenthecombatantsfromafternoontill
sunset.InthemighttakingadvantageofthelullinfightingViraPandyaescapedwithhisfamilyandtreasure.
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FuriousatlosingViraPandya,Kafurpursuedhimfromplacetoplacewithoutanysuccess.InthemeanwhilerainshadstartedandKafurwasobligedto
stopashisarmywasinnopositiontofight.
AssoonaKafurmadecamp,Pandyancavalrylaunchedafierceattackintherainandwereonlyrepulsedafteraterriblebattle.Realisingthatmaking
campintherainswouldmakehimasittingtargetKafurresumedViraPandyaspursuit.
Withtheentirelandscapefloodedbytorrentialrains,itwaslefttoVeeraBallalatosafelyguidetheMuslimsacrossthewaters.Inthecourseofhis
pursuitKafurcameuponhundredandtwentyelephantsladenwithViraPandyastreasurewhichhepromptlyappropriated.
AftersackingthetownofKandur,KafursforcesfelluponthetownofMarhatpuriinthenightwhereeverycivilianwaskilled.InMarhatpurithe
BrahmanasandothercourageouscivilianshaddecidedtodefendthetemplestotheirlastbreathandwerekilledtoamanfightingKafursforces.The
templesineverycasewererazedtotheground.
ReachingVeeraDhavalapattanamon1stApril1311CE,Kafurdestroyedthetemplesevengoingtotheextentofdigginguptheirfoundationstomake
surenotracesremainedofthem.
KafurreachedMaduraion10thApril1311CE,butwasunabletoplunderit.MaduraiwastheseatofpowerofSundaraPandyaandwasverywell
defended.SundaraPandyahadalreadyfledMadurai.
Justwhenitseemedallwaslost,ahurricaneroseupwhichnearlydestroyedKafurandhisbandofthugs.VikramaPandyawhowastheyounger
brotherofKulashekharaPandyatookchargeofthearmy.VikramaPandyawaseightyyearsoldandwiththehelpofhisveteranBrahmana
commanderhemarshalledthePandyawarriorstodestroytheinvaders(toputthesignificanceofthisincontext,trytoimaginegeriatricslike
ManmohanSingh,LalKrishnaAdvanietctakinguparmstodefendIndia,cantseethathappeningcanyou?!).
BynowKafurhadoverstretchedhimselfandhadpenetratedtoodeepintothePandyaterritory.GatheringavastforceVikramaPandyaattackedKafur
(Imnotsureofthelocation).ThePandyanwarriorswereincitedtoterriblefurybytheheinousactscommittedbyKafur.Inthefuryoftheirattackthe
MuslimcavalrywasannihilatedandmostofKafursarmydestroyed.
LikeotherHindukingsVikramaPandyafellshortofcompletelyannihilatingKafursarmyandkillingKafur.
OnhispartKafurmanagedtoescapealongwiththetreasurewhichhadbeendespatchedtoDelhi.ThebatteredremainsofKafursarmyreturnedto
DvarasamudramandfromtheremadetheirwaytoDelhi,reachingDelhion30thOctober1311CE.
KafurtookVeeraVirupakshaBallalatoDelhiwhereAlauddinpleasedwiththehelprenderedbyVeeraBallala,presentedhimwithtenlakhtankas
(silvercoins)andsenthimbacktoDvarasamudram.
ThusKafursattackonthePandyakingdomcametoanignomiousendatthehandsofthevaliantVikramaPandya.VeeraBallalaskingdomwasleft
intactandhewouldbethelastHindukingleftstandingwhenthenextwaveofconqueststartedfromDelhi.
ForChapter4clickhere.
References:
2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandyan_Dynasty
3.SouthIndiaandHerMohemmedanInvaders,SKrishnaswamiIyengar,SChand&Co,1921,http://library.du.ac.in/dspace/
4.TheNevertobeForgottenEmpireVijayanagar,BSuryanarainRow,1905,http://library.du.ac.in/dspace/handle/1/3601
Comments(3)
May1,2010
VijayanagarChapter2
Filedunder:VijayanagarYogeshwarShastri@8:28am
Tags:Alauddin,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,Gujarat,IndiaHistory,Jambudveep,Jambudveepam,Kakatiya,Khilji,Mamluk,Vijayanagar,Warangal
VijayanagarEmpireoftheGods
Chapter2
MalikKafur
WehaveseenpreviouslythatAlauddinKhiljimadeasurpriseattackonDeogiriandwiththeenormoustreasurehelooted,becameSultanofDelhi.
Nowhisattentionwasnaturallyontherichandflourishingkingdomsofthesouth.TheKakatiyakingdomofWarangalwasnextonhislistofHindu
kingdomstoloot.InthishewasablyaidedbyhistrustedgeneralandloverMalikKafur[i].
MalikKafurwasoriginallyaHindufromKhambat(Cambay)onthecoastofGujarat.DuringUlughKhansattackonGujaratin1297andits
subsequentconquest,MalikKafurwasamongsttheinnumerableHindussoldintoalifeofslavery.Butbyvariousaccountshewasahandsomeyouth
whoattractedtheSultansattentions.ChroniclerslikeZiaUdDinBarniarequiteexplicitinthedetailsofAlauddinssexualinfatuationtowardsMalik
Kafur.ItisquitehypocriticalthatMuslimscryfoulonhomosexualitywhenquiteafewoftheGhazis(warriorswhocarryoutjihadagainstthe
infidels)hadalikingforyoungboys!
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AlauddinhadhimcastratedandconvertedtoIslam.CastrationofslavesandmakingthemeunuchswasanintegralpartoftheIslamicslavesystem.
ThisensuredthatthecapturedmenwouldnotbeabletoreproduceanddilutetheMuslimbloodlines.AsperKSLalthepresentdaysystemofHijras
inourcountryisadirectconsequenceofthedistinctclassofeunuchscreatedbythemuslimrulers.
Loandbehold,thenewconvertbecameevenmorefanaticthanthesultanhimself!!BeingafavouriteofAlauddin,herosefastthroughtheranksto
becomeMalikNaib(seniorcommanderofthearmy).Anextremelyshrewdandruthlessman,MalikKafurwastheidealcompaniontoAlauddin.
NeoconvertslikeMalikKafurweremoreofathreattotheHindusthantheSultansthemselves.Toprovethemselvesworthyoftheirnewreligion,they
usuallyexceedeventheirmastersincommittingatrocitiesupontheirformercoreligionists.Evenmoredamagingwasthefactthattheyhadan
insidersviewofcontemporaryHindusocietyandknewhowsocietyworked.BeingawareoftheHindusstrengthsandweaknesses,theyruthlessly
exploitedthem.
MalikKafurbecamethesecondmostpowerfulmanintheDelhiSultanateafterAlauddinAfterAlauddinsmiserabledeathduetodropsy(asper
Barani,KafurhastenedAlauddinsdeathbypoison).Ironically,Kafurhimselfmetagruesomeendin1316,tryingtoplaythekingmakerinDelhi.
SecondInvasionofDeogiri
Fig1MalikKafurssecondinvasionofDeogiriandsecondinvasionofWarangal
Around1300ADRamaRayaofDeogirihadstoppedsendingtributetoDelhi.Alauddinwaspreoccupiedinquellinginternalrebellionsandpushing
theMongolsback.NowhisattentionwasagainturnedbeyondtheVindhyasandtherichesthatlayinthekingdomsofWarangal.
MeanwhileinDeogiriRamaRayassonShankarDeva(alsoknownasSangama)wasamanofcourageandafreespirit,whocouldnotbeartoseethe
devastation,wroughtbytheMuslims.TherealisationthathissisterwasnowpartoftheSultansharemwouldalsohavespurredhimagainsttyrannyof
theMuslims.ItmadenodifferencewhetheryousubmittedyourkingdomtoAlauddinorwerekilledonthebattlefieldtryingtodefendittheend
resultwasalwaysthesame:totalruinofyourpeopleanddestructionofcontemporaryHindusociety[iii].
WhileononehandRamaRayawasconstrainedbymanyreasons:concernforthesafetyofthepeopleofDeogiri,hisdaughterwasnowintheSultans
harem(thiswaspartofthepriceextractedbyAluddinonthefirstinvasionofDeogiri)andthefactthathistreasurywasnearlyempty.
OntheotherhandShankarDevawasmadeofsternerstuffandrealisedthatiftheMuslimswerenotdefeatedanddrivenout,itwasonlyamatterof
timebeforeDeogirisindependencewasextinguishedforeverbytheSultan.UnderMuslimadministratorsthelifeofHinduswouldbecomealiving
hell,aswasdemonstratedlateronwhenDeogiriwasincorporatedintotheSultanate.
By1306theheroicShankarDevahadtakenovertheadministrationofDeogiriandafterdefeatingtheMuslimadministratorsputinplace,nearly
broughtDeogiribacktoitsformerindependence.ThereinsofDeogiriweretakenoverfromRamaRayashandsbyShankarDeva.
TherewasanothernotcompletelyunrelatedreasonwhyAlauddinsenthishordeshurtlingdownintotheDeccan.
WhenUlughKhaninvadedGujaratin1297CE,KarnadevVaghelacowardlyfledhiscapitalAnhilwaraPatanleavinghisqueen,thebeautifulKamala
DevitofallintothehandsoftheMuslims.KamalaDeviwasmadebyAlauddinapartofhisharem,butheronlysurvivingdaughterDevalaDeviwas
stillwithKarnadev.AsperdifferentaccountsKarnadevsoughtsanctuarywithDeogiri.
TheKhiljismadeademandforDevalaDeviandKarnadevrefused.InsteadofgivinghisdaughtertotheMuslimstouseaschattel,heagreedtomarry
hisdaughtertoRamaRayassonShankarDeva(alsoknownasSangama).MuslimchroniclershaveportrayedtheincidentasKamalaDevipiningfor
herdaughterandaskingAlauddintogetherfromKarnadev!!ItisonethingforKamalaDevitoberesignedtoherfate,butwhichmotherwouldwant
herdaughtertobesubjectedtoalifeofsexualslaveryinaMuslimharem?
ThustwoexpeditionsstartedfromDelhiin1306:
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1.OnewasledbyMalikAhmadJitam.ItspurposewastodefeatKarnadevandbringDevalaDevitoDelhiandcompletelyextinguishresistancein
Gujarat.
2.ThesecondexpeditionwasunderMalikKafurtaskedwithextractingtributefromRamaRayaandmakinghimsubmit.
TheywerejoinedbyreinforcementsfromGujaratandMalwa.
ThefirstmissionwassuccessfulKarnadevwasreducedtoarefugeefleeingfromcourttocourtseekingprotection.TheunfortunateDevalaDeviwas
capturedbytheMuslimswhenshewasbeingescortedtoDeogiriandwassubsequentlysenttoDelhi.ThisbravewomanwasforciblymarriedtoAla
uddinssonKhizrKhan.OnKhizrKhansassassination,QutbuddinMubarakKhiljiinturnforciblymadeherhisconcubine.Toaddtohermiseries
afterQutbuddinwaskilledbyhisloverKhusrauKhan,shewasforcedintoKhusrausharem[ii].Aterriblefatetotheprincessoftheroyalhouseof
Vaghelas.
MalikKafurstartedwithnearly100,000horsemenandinMarch1307CEclashedwithShankarDevaoutsideDeogiri.ShankarDevabeingawareof
Kafursadvancegatheredallhistroopsnearthecapital.ShankarDevahadmadethestrategicmistakeofallowingtheinvadertoadvanceunmolested
rightuptothecapitalandthenfightinghimwithallhistroopsinonceplace.Thismeantthatthebattlebecameasetpieceone.IdeallyShankarDev
shouldhavesetupambushesandtriedtocutoffthesupplylinesofKafursarmy.
InthemeantimeKafursarmyhadcausedimmensedestructionofthesurroundingcountryside.Civiliansweremassacred,womenrapedandwanton
destructionofcropandpropertytookplace.
ShankarDevwasassistedbyhisbrotherBhillama,hiscommandersRaghavaandRamadeva.AfterahardfoughtbattleShankarDevwasdefeatedand
wasmartyredbyMalikKafur.Deogiriwasplundered,anditspopulationwasmadetoexperienceallthehorrorsofIslamicconquest.Thesamegory
storyofrape,murderandlootwasrepeatedhereaswell.
RamaRayaandtheroyalfamilyweremadeprisonersandsenttoDelhi,whereAlauddinKhiljipardonedhisfatherinlawandreinstatedhimtohis
kingdom.KafurhadspecificinstructionstospareRamaRayaduringthesackofDeogiri.AsperN.VenkataramanayyathereasonforAlauddins
benevolencetowardsRamaRayawasduetoRamaRayahavinginformedthesultanofShankarDevasrebellion.OfhowtruethisexplanationisIhave
noidea.
FirstInvasionofWarangal
WarangalwasthecapitaloftheKakatiyakingdom.TheKakatiyakingdomcoveredawideareaincludingmostofpresentdayAndhraPradesh,partsof
TamilNadu,KarnatakaandOrissa.TheKakatiyakingsweresuryavamshikshatriyas.
TheKakatiyasproducedagreatlineofmonarchsandmostuniqueamongthemwasthewarriorqueenRudrambawhotookoverthereinsofthe
kingdomafterherfatherGanapatisdeathinCE.ShefoughtoffaggressiveattemptsbytheYadavasofDeogiritoexpandintoKakatiyaterritory.
HergrandsonPrataparudrasucceededheraftersheretiredfrompubliclife.Prataparudrawasanambitiousrulerwhocarriedoutregularcampaigns
againsttheHoysalawhoruledthepresentdayMysoreregion,theDeogiriYadavasandthePandyasofTamilNadu.Itisasadtestamenttoourshort
sightednessthatthesefourgreatHindudynastieswereconstantlyengagedintryingtooverthroweachother,ratherthancombinetheirarmsandkick
theinvadersoutofIndia.
ThefirstinvasionofWarangaltookplacein1304CE.AlargeMuslimarmyledbyMalikFakhruddinJuna(MohammedTughlaq)andMalikJhajuof
KarrawasdespatchedtoplundertherichesofWarangal.
ButtheHindusofWarangalwerepreparedforthem.ArmiesledbyPrataparudrascommandersPotugantiMaili&Vennaamongothers,metthe
MuslimsatUpparapalliinKarimanagardistrict(AndhraPradesh).Intheferociousbattlewhichtookplace,theheroicTeluguchiefsdestroyedalarge
partofthesultansarmyandforcedtheremnantstofleeinconfusion.
ThiswasagreatsetbacktoAlauddinsplansoflootingtheKakatiyakingdom.AtthesametimetheMongolchiefTarghipenetratedrightuptoDelhi
withthespeedofahawkandanarmyof20,000Mongols.ThebraveAlauddinwasforcedtotakeshelterinSirifortasnoreinforcementswereat
hand,mostofthemdownsouthtryingtoconquerWarangal!!
AlthoughthisincidenthasbeenpresentedasanattempttoraidWarangalforloot,IbelievethiswasmoretotryandestablishAlauddins
administrationinthesouth.WhywouldAlauddinrisksendingalargeforcewhenhisfrontierswerethreatenedbytheMongols?Alltheseyearshe
hadbeencautiousnottoopenanotherfrontwithinIndia,tilltheMongolthreattohissultanatehadpassedover.
ThisincidentlikemanyotherIslamicdefeatshasbeenglossedoverbyMuslimhistorians.ItisagreatpitythatweknowmoreaboutMuslimtyrants
liketheKhiljis,ratherthanaboutvaliantheroeslikePotugantiMailiwhoriskedalltoprotecttheirmotherlandagainsttheMuslimhordes.
SecondInvasionofWarangal
AftergettingasoundthrashingAlauddinkeptawayforsomeyearsfromtheDeccan.HewasnowoccupiedwithdefeatingthevaliantRajaSatal
DevaofSiwanaandRajaKanhadDevSongaraofJalor(Rajasthan).
KanhadDevaSongarawasthetrueembodimentofhowaKshatriyashouldbe.Hehadnotonlyrescuedover50,000GujaratiHinduswhowerebeing
takentoDelhiasslavesbytheMuslims,butalsothefragmentsofthebrokenShivalingamofSomnathwhichwasbeingtakentoDelhitobedefiledby
theMuslims.
KanhadDevaandhissonVikramaDevabothattainedveeragatifightingAlauddinsforcesandthewomenofJalorcommittedjauhartosavetheir
honour.WithnorthernIndiasubduedforthetimebeing,theavariciousAlauddinturnedhisgazebackupontheKakatiyakingdom.
GoingbacktotheDeccan,RamaRayahadbecomeastaunchallyofthesultanandkeptsendinghimregulartribute.
AvastforceunderthecommandofMalikKafurandKhwajaHajistartedon31stOctober1309fromDelhi.Thisforcewouldhavebeenextremelywell
armedandwellsupplied.InthefiveyearssincetheMuslimdefeatatthehandsoftheTelugupeople,Alauddinwouldhaveputalotofthoughtand
efforttoavoidarepeatofthedisastrousperformanceoftheMuslims.
TheirfirststopwasDeogiriwhichhadnowbecomeabaseforfurtheroperationsintheDeccan.RamaRayagavealltheassistancerequiredtoKafurs
armyandtheyproceededintoTelangana.
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ThefirstencounterwiththeKakatiyastookplaceatSirpurfort.Kafurbesiegedthefortfromallsides.TheKakatiyagarrisonfoughtvaliantly,butwith
foodandothersuppliesrunningoutthesituationinsidethefortbecamedesperate.AsalastresortahugepyrewaslitinsidethefortandtheHindu
warriorsalongwiththeirfamiliessacrificedthemselvesintheyajnakundaofwar.Whateverfewsurvivorsofthisassaultremainedfledtothe
protectionofWarangal.
Prataparudrawaswellpreparedtomeettheinvasion.Bysomeaccountshisarmyconsistedof20,000horsemen,hundredelephantsandalargenumber
ofarchers.InsomewayshisstrategymirroredthatofShankarDevaoftheYadavas.Prataparudrapulledbackallhisforcesfromthefortsinthepathof
theinvadingarmyandconcentratedtheminandaroundWarangal.IntheformidablefortressofWarangal,Prataparudrawasjoinedbymanyofhis
chiefsalongwiththeirforces.
Followingascorchedearthpolicy,TelugusoldierslaidtowastetheroutetheMuslimarmieswouldtake,inordertodenytheinvadersanyprovisions.
OneofthereasonswhyKafursforceswereabletoreachWarangalinquicktimebyJanuary1310CE,astherewasnosubstantialforcetoopposethem
ontheirway.
On19thJanuary1310CE,MalikKafursforcesbeganthesiegeofWarangal.AsafirststeptheycapturedthehillfortofHanumakonda,which
overlookedthecityandfromwhichtheinteriorsofWarangalwerevisible.
Warangalitselfwasagreatfortresswithacircumferenceofnearly12,546yards.Itwasprotectedbytwomassivewalls,theouterwallmadeofmud
andtheinnerwallmadeofstone.Theinnerandouterwallswereessentiallytwoseparateforts,whichmeantifonefellthedefenderscouldretiretothe
innerfort.Theouterwallhadnearlyseventysevenbastions(burjortowers)mannedbyPrataparudraschiefswhowereknownasNayakas.The
outerwallwassurroundedbyalargemoat.
AsperVenkataramanayyathefortwaswellequippedwithweaponrytowithstandaprolongedsiege.Presumablythismeanscatapults,trebuchetsetc.
MalikKafurwasalsowellpreparedtoassaultsuchastrongfort.Hisarmywasequippedwiththemostadvancedsiegeequipmentofthatageincluding
weaponssuchasmaghribi(catapults),mangonels,trebuchetsetc.
Kafursetuphisheadquartersamilesfromthemaingateandorderedhisarmytopitchtheirtentsallaroundthefort.Eachdivisionofhisarmywas
responsibleforthesiegeofthe1200yardsoffortwallsallocatedtoit.Inadditionthecampofeachdivisionwasprotectedbyastrongwooden
stockade(woodenwall).
Thesiegestartedinearneston19thJanuary1310CE.InthemeantimeKafurspostalservicewhichenabledAlauddintogetrapidcommunication
fromthebattlefront,wasdestroyedbyTelugusoldierswhoengagedinguerrillawarfareagainsttheMuslims.
AvaliantnightattackbythousandhorsemencommandedbyVinayakaDevawaslaunchedontheMuslimcamp.Afierceencounterensuedwithheavy
causalitiesonbothsides,buttheattackfailed.
Prataparudrawasinnomoodtosurrender,astheMuslimshadnotmadeevenabreachintheouterwall.Kafurkeptupthemomentumoftheattackand
hadthemoatfilled.
FinallyabreachwasmadeintheouterwallandafloodofMuslimsoldiersrushedin.Heavyfightingfollowedwithneitherpartygivingnortakingany
quarter.
BymeansofanightattackthreebastionsoftheouterwallweretakenandwithinthreedaysKafurwasincommandofthewholeouterwall.
Insidetheinnerfortconditionsweregrowingincreasinglygrim.Theinnerstonefortwasfilledtothebrimwithcivilians,nobles&soldiers.People
sufferedgreatlyinsuchcrowdedconditions.AndoncetheMuslimsgainedcontroloftheouterwall,civilianscamestraightinthelineoffire.Many
werekilledbythearrowslaunchedbytheenemy.Treatingthewoundedbecameanearimpossibilityinsuchconditions.
Notbeingabletoseethesufferingofhispeopleandrealisingthatprolongingthesiegewouldendinageneralmassacre,Prataparudradecidedto
negotiatewiththeMuslims.
Thesiegefinallycametoanendon20thApril1310CE.
Asperthetrucewhichwassubsequentlyagreed,PrataparudrahadtogiveKafurallhistreasure.ThisamountedtoagoldenimageofPrataparudra,
hundredwarelephantsandnearlythousandcamelsladenwithgold.AdditionallyPrataparudraagreedtopaythejizyaandsendtributeannually.
PrataparudradutifullysenttheannualtributeeveryyeartillthedisturbancescausedbyAlauddinsdeath.
KafurreachedDelhion10thJune1310,wherehewasgivenagrandreceptionbyAlauddin.
ForChapter3clickhere
References:
[1]TRKHIFROZSHH,ZUDDNBARN,PackardHumanitiesInstitute,retrievedon16042010,
http://persian.packhum.org/persian/main
[2]MuslimSlaveSysteminMedievalIndia,K.S.Lal,VoiceofIndiaBooks,http://voiceofdharma.org/books/siii/index.htm
[3]TheEarlyMuslimExpansioninSouthIndia,N.Venkataramanayya,editedbyProf.KANSastri,MadrasUniversityHistoricalSeries,1942.
Comments(3)
April30,2010
VijayanagarTheEmpireoftheGods
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Filedunder:VijayanagarYogeshwarShastri@8:33am
Tags:Alauddin,DelhiSultanate,Deogiri,Gujarat,IndiaHistory,Jambudveep,Jambudveepam,Kakatiya,Khilji,Mamluk,Vijayanagar,Warangal
VijayanagarTheEmpireoftheGods
ThecityofBijanagar(Vijayanagar)issuchthatthepupiloftheeyehasneverseenaplacelikeit,andtheearofintelligencehasneverbeeninformed
thatthereexistedanythingtoequalitintheworld.AbdurRazzak,ambassorofPersiatoVijayanagar.
ToavoidconfusionletmemakeitclearthatVijayanagarwasboththenameoftheempireanditscapitalcity(presentdayHampi,Karnataka).
InthesouthofIndia,Vijayanagarisahouseholdname.Thenameitselfevokescivilisationalmemoriesofagloriousbygonepast,theevidenceof
whichcanbestillseeninthemuteruinsofHampiinKarnataka.
ButinotherpartsofIndia,especiallythenorth,awarenessofthisgreatHinduempire,whichactedasthelastrefugetopersecutedHindusfromthe
fourteenthtothesixteenthcenturies,remainswoefullylow.
Therearemanyreasonsforthis,thechiefonebeingthecompletewhitewashofourhistorybyagovernmentwhichiscontinuallyhauntedbythe
spectreofthetruthaboutMuslimruleinIndiabecomingpopularknowledge.Afalsecreedofsecularismhasbeenfoistedbytherulersontoa
gulliblemajority.Addtothiscocktailafecklessmediaandaneducationsystemwhichpresentsourhistoryasalifelesscaricatureofitself
WhatthemediaandthegovernmentfailtorealiseisthatHindusarenotgoingtogorampagingagainsttheminoritiesiftherealhistoryofIslamic
invasionsispublicised.Thecivilisationalmemoryisverystrongattemptstowhitewashourhistoryareonlygoingtoendingrief.Themajorityhas
enoughcommonsensetorealisethatthepresentdayIndianMuslimsarenotresponsiblefortheatrocitiescommittedbytheirforebears.
Butwhatanhonestrenderingofourhistorywilldoiscleartheairforacleardialoguebetweenthetwocommunitieswithoutprejudicesand
predilections.
AsIbeginthisarticle,myonlyrequesttothereaderis:readwithanopenmind.Iwillgivereferencesasapplicable.Feelfreetoreadupandcheckon
them.IfIhavemissedsome,pleasepointthemouttome.AlmostalloftheoriginaltextsofMuslimchroniclersareavailableonline.Ihaveusedthe
notationCE(ChristianEra)insteadofAD(AnnoDomini)fordenotingtheyears.
IamafirmbelieverinournationalmottoSatyamevajayate.Therottingcarcassoflieswilleventuallyfalloffandtruthwillbreakfreewiththe
forceofatyphoon.
Andsowebegin.
TounderstandthesignificanceofVijayanagarinourhistoryweneedtodigabitdeeperintothecenturyandthecircumstancesinwhichitwasborn.
1.ACenturybefore
ItissaidthatthetrueeclipseoftheHinducivilisationstartedwithfallofthelastHindukingofAfghanistan,JayapalaShahiin1001CE.Ifthatwas
beginningoftheeclipse,thedarkestmomentforourholylandwaswhentheMohemmedanhordesunderUlughKhan(laterknownasMohammed
Tughlaq)overransouthernIndiain1314CE.ThismeantthatforaverybriefperiodoftimethewholeofIndiacameunderMuslimrule.
Bythebeginningofthefourteenthcentury,NorthernIndia(exceptforRajputana)hadbecomealifelesslimb,beingravagedforoveracenturybythe
genocidalsultansofDelhi.TheDelhisultanatewaswellentrenchedformorethanacenturybynow.Thehorrorsinflictedonthepopulacewerebeyond
description.TogetanideaofthelifeoftheaverageHinduundertheenlightenedsultansonedoesnotneedtolookveryfar.Togiveanexamplefrom
theKmilutTawrkhofIbnAsir,TheslaughterofHindus(atVaranasi)wasimmensenoneweresparedexceptwomenandchildren,andthe
carnageofmenwentonuntiltheearthwasweary.ThiswastodescribethesackofVaranasi,afterthelastGahadvadKingJaichandra(betterknown
asJaichandofPrithvirajRasoinfamy)waskilledonthebattlefieldbyQutubuddinAibakin1194.
AnotherexamplefromZiaudDinBarnisTarikhiFirozShahi,IntwonightsandthreedayshecrossedtheGangesatKateher,andsending
forwardaforceoffivethousandarchers,hegavethemorderstoburndownKateheranddestroyit,toslayeveryman,andtosparenonebutwomen
andchildren,notevenboyswhohadreachedtheageofeightornineyears.HeremainedforsomedaysatKateheranddirectedtheslaughter.The
bloodoftheriotersraninstreams,heapsofslainweretobeseenneareveryvillageandjungle,andthestenchofthedeadreachedasfarasthe
Ganges.ThisisagraphicdescriptionofthemassacreofHindusinthedoabbySultanGhiyasuddinBalban.Thedateisunclear,butwouldhavebeen
sometimeduringhisreign(12651285CE).HindushadrebelledagainstthesultanateandwereclosetooverthrowingtheMuslimgovernorsofBadaun
andAmroha.
Thelistofatrocitiesgoesonandon,theincidentsdescribedingraphicdetailsbytheMuslimchroniclersthemselves.Thehorrificaccountsarewritten
withgreatpridebythesechroniclers,whoseethesultansasfulfillingtheirreligiousobligationsaslaidoutintheQuran.
Resistancewasfierce,butwascrushedwithoverwhelmingforceandbrutality.ThecommonpeopleofIndiahadneverexperiencedsuchhorrors.Mass
rapes,murderandmayhemhadbecometheorderoftheday.
LikeIsaid,donttakemywordforit,readthereferenceswhicharefreelyavailableontheinternet.
2.ThemajorHinduKingdoms
AtthispointintimeitwouldbepertinenttoseethesituationintherestofIndia.Atthecloseofthethirteenthcentury,whatispresentdayMaharashtra
wasruledbytheYadavakingsofDeogiri(presentdayDaulatabad),RajputanabyvariousRajputkings,theTelanganaregionruledbytheKakatiya
kings,AndhrabytheHoysalakings,presentdayTamilnadubythePandyas,AssambytheAhomkingsandKashmirbyitslastHindurulerSuhadeva.
BengalhadfallentotheBakhtiarKhiljiatthebeginningofthethirteenthcenturyin1206CEandGujarattoAlauddinKhiljishordesin1297CE.
3.WhileElsewhere
Fig1TheextentoftheMongolempire(imagecourtesyWikipedia)
Ontheworldstage,thedescendentsofChengizKhanweretearingablazeofdestructionacrosstheMuslimworld(whichincludedcentralAsia,
Afghanistan,Persia,Iraq,todaysMiddleEast),China,southeastAsia,carryingonrighttillEurope.ThisledtoaninfluxofdispossessedMuslim
princesandsoldiersintotheDelhisultanate.AndofcourseeachoneofthemwouldbeeagertogoonajihadagainsttheunbelievingHindus!!
Thesultanatemeanwhilewasstillconsolidatingitsgriponthegangeticplainsandsimultaneouslydefendingitsnorthernfrontier(Punjab)againstthe
Mongols.
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4.TheFirstIncursionsintotheSouth
Fig2.DeogiriFort(Daulatabad)(imagecourtesyWikipedia)
ThefirstsuccessfulincursionintothesouthwasviaDeogiri(presentdayAurangabad,Maharashtra).AlauddinKhilji,thewilynephewofSultan
JalaluddinlaidsiegetoDeogiriin1294.AtthisprecisemomentmostofDeogirisforceswerefightingwiththeHoysalakingsfurtherdownsouth.
RamaRaya,thekingofDeogiriwasforcedtosubmitafterthereinforcementsledbyhissonShankarDeowerebeatenbackbytheTurks.Alauddin
extractedatremendouspricefromDeogiri,virtuallydenudingitofallriches.AsperFerishtathebootyincluded,600maundsofgold,sevenmaunds
ofpearls,twomaundsofotherjewels,thousandmaundsofsilver,andayearlytributeoftherevenuesofElichpurprovince.Amaundisroughly
anywherebetween1859kgs.Sowecaneasilyimaginewhatthesizeofthetreasurewas!!
Backedbythistreasure,AlauddinsubsequentlymurderedhisuncletheSultan,incoldbloodandtookoverthethroneofDelhi.Murderouswarsof
successionandassassinationshavealwaysbeenanintegralpartofanyMuslimsultanateanywhereintheworld.Withtheaidofthelootedtreasure,a
massivestandingarmyof4,75,000(fourlakhsandseventyfivethousand)wasmaintainedandthefrontierssecuredagainsttheMongolthreat
.SuccessiveMongolincursionswererepelled,infactthecunningAlauddingotridofhispowerfulrivalZafarKhaninoneoftheMongolraids.The
Mongolincursionsmoreorlessstoppedafter1308CE,theMongolsnowbeingfullyimmersedintheirowndisputes.
AstheMongolthreatrecededitwasbutnaturalfortheavaricioussultantoturnhisgazebacktothekingdomsbeyondtheVindhyas.
5.Interregnum
BeforewemoveonIwillexpoundabitonthenatureofthesultanateandwhyitscoredquicksuccessesunderablesultanslikeAlaudddinand
MohammedTughlaq.
ShriSitaRamGoelhasgivenanexcellentaccountofthemainreasonsinhisbookThestoryofIslamicImperialisminIndia(availableforfree
readingfromhttp://voiceofdharma.org/books).Iwillverybrieflytouchonthemhere.
Spiritual&IntellectualDecline:Theforemostreasonswerethespiritualandintellectualdeclineofsociety.IndiahadbeenexposedtoIslamicinvasions
sincetheestablishmentofIslamintheseventhcentury.ThefirstphaseofinvasionwasoftheArabs(startingaround650AD)whichlastedfornearly
threehundredyears,tillaboutthetenthcenturyandwasadismalfailure.Thusfivehundredyearshadpassedsincethefirstclashwiththearmiesof
IslamandthetimeMuammadIbnSm(MohammedGhori)brokethroughintoIndiaproper.ThepatternofIslamicatrocitieswasalwaysthesameas
inlateragespeoplewereawareofwhattheywerefacing.
Despitethis,inthespanoffivecenturies,whywasnoeffortmadetounderstandtheideologywhichmotivatedtheinvaders?Whydidnoreligious
leaderdeclarethatdharmaitselfwasindangerandthattheinvadershadtobecompletelyandutterlydestroyed?WhywerethedefeatedMuslimarmies
notpursuedtotheirhomelandsandannihilated?
Despiteknowingthenefarioustacticsemployedbytheinvaders,whydidweconsistentlysticktomyopiccodesofhonour,whichintheendbrought
centuriesofdishonourandtremendoussufferingtoourpeople?
DuetoarefusaltoseethetruenatureoftheinvadertherewasnostrategicfocuswithHindurulers,barafewnotableexceptions.Ontheotherhand
irrespectiveofwhichpersonbecameSultan,theoverridinggoalremainedthesamei.e.conquestandconversion.
Thesituationisnotverydifferenttoday,whereanyattempttoprobethetruenatureoftheIslamicthreatisdismissedascommunal.Anentirerace
seemstobeindenialaboutthedangeritfaces.
StructureofSociety:Hindusocietyhadtraditionallydifferentclassessuchas,scholars(Brahmins),traderskshatriyas(warriors).Themovementof
classeswithinthesocietywasfluidashasbeenpointedoutbySitaRamGoel.Thisdivisionoflabourischaracteristicofallmodernsocieties,where
differentsegmentsofsocietytackledifferenttasks.
MuslimsocietyinIndiabycontrastwasfullymilitarised.Theentirefocuswasonmaintainingstrengthofarms,thisbeingtheonlywaytheycould
subjugateahostilemajority(i.e.Hindus).ThiswasremarkablysimilartotheMongolswhowereafullymilitarisedsocietyaswell.Incontrastthe
MuslimempireslikeKhwarazim,whofelllikeninepinsinfrontoftheMongolonslaught,werewhatcouldbecalledasnormalsocietiesintermsof
thewaytheirsocialstructure.
ThechiefdifferenceofcourselayinthefactthattheMongolswereshamanisticandbyverynatureaccommodatingofotherfaiths.Whereasthe
secularSultansdidnotevenaccordHindusthestatusofhumanbeings!!
AndtheonlywaytosustainamilitarisedsocietywasaconstantinflowoflootedtreasureandslavesfromtheirwarswiththeHindus.Enslavementof
HinduswasbigbusinessthemarketsofcentralAsiawerefloodedwithHindussoldintoslavery.ThefateofHinduwomenwasevenmoreterrible.
Theyweretreatedlikechattelandsoldinmarketplacesintosexualslavery.ItisnotsurprisingnotafewtimesHinduwomenpreferredtobeconsumed
bytheflamesandcommitjauhar,ratherthanputtheirhonouratthetendermerciesoftheinvader.
TherewasaverygoodreasonwhyatotalexterminationofHinduswasnotcarriedoutevenunderfanaticslikeAlauddin.Thesultansrealisedearlyon
theyneededthefarmers,thetradersandadministratorstocarryonhiswarsofconquest.ThiswasatemporaryarrangementtillthenumberofMuslims
reachedacriticalmass.Buttheulema(Muslimtheologians,morecommonlyknownasscholarsofIslam!)hadtobekepthappy,soHinduswere
routinelymassacredtocleansethelandofidolaters.TheconcentrationofMuslimswasstillintheurbanareas,e.g.Delhihadbecomemoreorlessa
Muslimcitybythebeginningofthethirteenthcentury,buttheruralareasremainedoverwhelminglyHindu.
StructureofArmies:Anothercontrast,aspointedoutbySitaRamGoelwasthewayinwhichthearmiesweremaintained.InHindukingdoms,the
mainfightingcoreunderthekingwascomparativelysmallbutdedicatedgroupofKshatriyas.Aliberaltaxregimemeantthatmorefocuswason
generaleconomicandsocialprogressratherthanonmaintainingavaststandingarmy.Restoftherecruitswereleviesprovidedbylocalfeudatoriesor
chiefs.Thismeantthatthequalityofthearmycouldvarysignificantly.Andoncethekingwaskilledonthebattlefieldorthemaincoreofwarriors
smashed,therestofthearmywouldfleethebattlefield.ThroughouttheirwarstheMuslimchiefsalmostalwaysfocussedonkillingtheopposingking
orkeycommanders.ThisinvariablyledtoeventhemostwellequippedHinduarmiestofleethebattlefield.ThistrendwasnotreversedtillChattrapati
Shivajistime,whotaughthisfollowerstofightforDharmaratherthantheking.
TheMuslimarmiesontheotherhandwerefullyprofessional,mostlydirectlyunderthecommandofthesultan.Eventhenoblesortheamirsunderthe
KhiljisandtheTuglaqsremainedfearfuloftheirpowerbeingtakenaway,orintheworstcaseendingupdeadiftheydisobeyedthesultan.Evenif
thesultanatesarmiesweredefeatedonce,avastreservemeanttheSultanscouldsendasteadystreamofinvadingarmiesatveryshorttimeintervals.
OntheotherhandtheHindukingdomsresourceswouldhavebeendepletedinthepreviouswarsandthesameexhaustedarmywouldbefacingamuch
fresherinvigoratedenemy.Additionally,thescorchedearthtacticspursuedbytheMuslimsinravagingthecountrysideandkillingpeopleindroves,
shookthefabricofsocietyandtooktheirtollonthedefenders.
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12/4/2016
Deception&Betrayal:Muslimsusedeverytrickofstatecraft,deceptionandstratagemagainsttheHindukings.Notreatywasworththepaperitwas
writtenon.Andtheyhadscripturaljustificationfortheseacts,forTaqiyya(deception)withunbelieversissanctionedbytheQuranitself.Assurances
ofsafetytosurrenderingHinduswererepeatedlyviolated.E.g.ThelastYadavarulerofDeogiri,HaripalaDevwasskinnedaliveandhiscorpsehung
fromthegatesofDaulatabadfortin1318CE.ThiswasinclearviolationoftheassurancesofsafepassagegivenbyMubarak(thesuccessorofAlaud
dinKhilji)in1318CE.
Taxation:UnderHindukingsthetaxesonthepeoplewerekeptatalowlevel.Incontrastunderthesultanate,thecommonpeopleweretaxedtodeath
theirbloodbeingsuckeddrybyaparasiticalsultanate.NonpaymentoftaxesmeantbeingsoldintoslaveryandsubsequentconversiontoIslam.
Revoltswerecommonandasseeninthepreviouspassages,verybrutallyputdown.ThemostignominiouswasofcoursetheJaziya,thetaxonnon
Muslims.
TheexistenceofHinduswholivedwithinthefrontiersofthesultanatewaspathetic,theirexistencethatofaZimmiorasecondclasscitizen.Onthe
borderspeopleweresubjectedtoconstantraidsandpillagingbytheMuslimarmies.
Inthesecondpart,IwilltouchupontheinvasionofMalikKafurbeyondDevagiriintotheKakatiyakingdomtillMadurai.
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