QUES . Assess the cultural and artistic achievements of the Vijayanagar empire. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2022 General Studies. 200 Words. 5 Marks

HINTS:

The Vijayanagar Empire, which existed from the 14th to the 17th century in South India, was a period of great cultural and artistic achievements. The rulers of Vijayanagar were the inheritors of the rich traditions in art and architecture of the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Hoysalas. Here are some of the most notable accomplishments of the Vijayanagar Empire:

Architecture

• The empire was known for its grand and ornate architecture, particularly in the construction of temples. The most famous example is the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other notable temples include the Vittala Temple and the Hazara Rama Temple.

• The temple building activity of the Vijayanagar rulers produced a new style, called the Vijayanagar style. Important features of Vijayanagar style of temple and architecture were: monolithic pillars, ornate brackets, decoration on exterior side of the walls, etc.

• The empire also constructed impressive waterworks and irrigation systems, which enabled the cultivation of crops in arid regions.

Literature

• The Vijayanagar Empire was a patron of literature and poetry in the Kannada and Telugu languages. The empire produced numerous literary works, including the Kannada epic, the Kaveri Purana.

• The court of the empire was home to many prominent poets and writers, such as the Telugu poet Srinatha.

• The peak of literary development was reached during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya – the greatest of Vijayanagar rulers , who is rightly called ‘Andhra Bhoja’. He himself wrote a book in Telugu called Amuktamalyada.

• The rulers of Vijayanagar encouraged people to write on music, dancing, drama, grammar, logic and philosophy. It has rightly been stated that the Vijayanagar Empire was “a synthesis of South Indian culture”.

Paintings

• The Vijayanagar school of painting is renowned for its frescoes of Hindu gods and goddesses and scenes from Hindu mythology on temple walls and ceilings.

Sculpture

• The mingling of South Indian styles under the Vijayanagar Empire resulted in a richness not seen in earlier centuries.

• Soapstone, which was soft and easily carved, was commonly used for reliefs and sculptures. Sculpture was integrally linked with architecture in the creation of Vijayanagar temples.

• Large life-size figures of men, women, gods, and goddesses adorn many Vijayagara temples, and temple pillars often have engravings of charging horses.

• Another element of the Vijayanagar style is the carving and consecration of large monolithic statues, such as the Sasivekalu Ganesha and Kadalekalu Ganesha at Hampi.

Music and Dance

• The empire was a patron of classical Indian music and dance. The Vijayanagar style of music and dance, known as the Karnataka style, is still popular today.

• The empire also had a strong tradition of devotional music, particularly in the form of bhajans, which are still sung in temples and homes across India.

Overall, the Vijayanagar Empire was a period of great cultural and artistic achievements. The empire’s legacy can still be seen today in the magnificent temples, music, and literature that it produced.

External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayanagara_Empire