Question

Discuss the career and achievements of Krishna Devaraya.

Answer 1

1.  Krishnadevaraya who reigned for 20 years was the most illustrious rulers of the Tuluva dynasty.
2.  He brought under control the independent chieftains in the Tungabhadra river basin.
3. The Bahmani sultan, Mahmud Shah, had been overthrown and kept in imprisonment by his minister. Krishnadevaraya freed the sultan and restored him to the throne. Prataparudra negotiated for peace and offered to marry off his daughter to him.
4.  Accepting the offer, Krishnadevaraya returned the territory he had conquered from Prataparudra.
5.  Krishnadevaraya, with the assistance of the Portuguese gunners, could easily defeat the Sultan of Golconda and subsequently take over Raichur from the ruler of Bijapur.

• A Great Builder:

1.  Krishnadevaraya built huge irrigation tanks and reservoirs for harvesting rainwater.
2.  He built the famous temples of. Krishnaswamy, Hazara Ramaswamy and Vithalaswamy in the capital city of Hampi.
3.  He distributed the wealth he gained in wars to all major temples of South India for the purpose of constructing temple gateways (gopura), called ‘Rayagopuram,’ in his honour.
4.  He had good friendly relationship with the Portuguese and Arabian traders, which increased the Empire’s income through customs.

• Patron of Literature, Art and Architecture:

1. Krishnadevaraya patronised art and literature. Eight eminent luminaries in literature known as astadiggajas adorned his court.