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Vijayanagara Empire: Krishnadevaraya, Hampi & Nayankara System GK Questions & Answers
The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646) was established on the banks of the Tungabhadra River by brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty, under the spiritual mentorship of Sage Vidyaranya. The empire endured through four successive dynasties: Sangama (1336–1485), Saluva (1485–1505), Tuluva (1505–1570), and Aravidu (1570–1646). The state reached its political and cultural zenith during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–1529) of the Tuluva dynasty, who defeated the Gajapatis of Odisha, captured the strategic Raichur Doab from the Sultanate of Bijapur in 1520, and authored the Telugu political treatise Amuktamalyada. His royal court, the Bhuvana Vijayam, patronized the Ashtadiggajas (eight celebrated Telugu poets), including Allasani Peddana and Tenali Ramakrishna. Administratively, Vijayanagara implemented the Nayankara system, where military commanders (Nayakas or Amaranayakas) received revenue rights over territories (Amaram) in exchange for supplying designated military quotas and royal tribute. Foreign travelers such as Nicolo de Conti, Abdur Razzaq, Domingo Paes, and Fernao Nuniz documented the urban wealth of capital Hampi. The combined armies of the Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar) defeated the Vijayanagara army under Aliya Rama Raya at the Battle of Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) on 23 January 1565, triggering the empire's ultimate disintegration.
High-yield conceptual summaries for competitive exams and rapid revision.
Founded in 1336 by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I on the Tungabhadra River, Vijayanagara was ruled by four dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu.
Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) secured the Raichur Doab, composed the Telugu text Amuktamalyada, and patronized the Ashtadiggajas literary assembly.
The Nayankara administrative framework allocated Amaram revenue lands to military chieftains (Amaranayakas) in exchange for maintaining troops and paying tribute.
The capital Hampi showcased Dravidian architectural excellence, including the Virupaksha Temple, Vitthala Temple stone chariot, and Mahanavami Dibba platform.
The unified Deccan Sultanate coalition defeated Vijayanagara forces at the Battle of Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) on 23 January 1565, sacking Hampi.
Showing 25 Curated Questions61 Total in Bank
1ID: GK-HIST-00522
hardMedieval India & Sultanates
The historical battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi (Battle of Talikota) in 1565 was fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and which confederacy?
Verified Explanation
On 23 January 1565, the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates defeated Aliya Rama Raya's Vijayanagara army at Talikota, leading to the destruction of the imperial capital.
2ID: GK-HIST-00548
easyMedieval India & Sultanates
Which king founded the Vijayanagara Empire on the banks of the Tungabhadra River along with his brother Bukka Raya I in 1336 CE?
Verified Explanation
Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty established the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 CE under the guidance of sage Vidyaranya.
3ID: GK-HIST-00644
hardMedieval India & Sultanates
The catastrophic Battle of Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) in January 1565, which shattered the Vijayanagara Empire, was fought against the combined coalition of which Deccan Sultanates?
Verified Explanation
The confederacy of four Deccan Sultanates—Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar (with Berar excluded due to regional rivalry)—defeated Rama Raya of Vijayanagara on 23 January 1565.
4ID: GK-HIST-00999
easyMedieval India & Delhi Sultanate
Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadevaraya maintained friendly diplomatic and trade relations with Portuguese Governor Afonso de Albuquerque primarily to secure an exclusive royal monopoly on the import of which strategic military asset?
Verified Explanation
Krishnadevaraya established close commercial ties with the Portuguese in Goa after 1510 to secure exclusive access to imported Arabian and Persian warhorses, which were critical for the Vijayanagara cavalry. In exchange, he permitted Portuguese merchants to trade freely in his ports and offered assistance against the common adversary, the Bijapur Sultanate.
5ID: GK-HIST-00506
mediumMedieval India & Sultanates
Which Vijayanagara Emperor authored the famous Telugu treatise on statecraft titled 'Amuktamalyada'?
Verified Explanation
Emperor Krishnadevaraya (ruled 1509–1529 CE) of the Tuluva dynasty composed the epic poem and political guide 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu.
6ID: GK-HIST-00614
mediumMedieval India & Sultanates
The celebrated Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya authored the classic treatise on statecraft and polity titled 'Amuktamalyada' in which language?
Verified Explanation
Emperor Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty composed the magnum opus 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu, which narrates the story of Andal and expounds principles of royal administration.
7ID: GK-EPIG-00174
easyCopper-Plate Charters & Ancient Indian Coinage
What was the standard primary gold coin unit of the Vijayanagara Empire, commonly depicting Hindu deities (such as Venkateshwara or Uma-Maheshvara) or the mythical double-headed eagle Gandaberunda?
Verified Explanation
The Varaha (known to European merchants as Pagoda, weighing approximately 3.4 grams) was the standard gold coin of the Vijayanagara Empire. Issued by rulers like Harihara II, Deva Raya II, and Krishnadeva Raya, it bore legends in Nagari, Kannada, or Telugu scripts.
8ID: GK-EPIG-00424
easyCopper-Plate Charters & Ancient Indian Coinage
What was the popular name of the standard high-denomination gold coins of the Vijayanagara Empire, featuring Hindu deities like Shiva-Parvati or the mythical double-headed eagle (Gandaberunda)?
Verified Explanation
Vijayanagara gold coins were termed 'Varahas' (or Gadyanas), named after the boar incarnation of Vishnu on earlier Chalukya coins. European traders called them 'Pagodas'. King Achyuta Deva Raya and Krishnadeva Raya issued beautiful Varahas featuring Gandaberunda and Venkateshwara.
Which 15th-century Persian travel chronicle, titled 'Matla-us-Sadain wa Majma-ul-Bahrain', was written by Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi (ambassador of Timurid ruler Shahrukh) describing his visit to the court of King Devaraya II at Vijayanagara?
Verified Explanation
Kamaluddin Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi visited Calicut and Vijayanagara in 1442–1443 CE, leaving the famous chronicle 'Matla-us-Sadain' in which he marveled that Vijayanagara was such that 'the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it on earth'.
Which Portuguese horse trader and traveler wrote the 'Chronica dos reis de Bisnaga' c. 1535–1537, providing an eyewitness historical account of the reign of Emperor Achyuta Deva Raya and Vijayanagara society?
Verified Explanation
Fernão Nuniz spent three years in the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542) and wrote a detailed chronicle of the founding of the city, military battles, administrative structure, and women in royal service.
'Amuktamalyada', a celebrated Telugu epic poem that details the life of Andal and expounds royal governance principles (Dandaniti) for a sovereign, was composed by which Vijayanagara Emperor?
Verified Explanation
Vijayanagara Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya (reigned 1509–1529) composed the masterpiece 'Amuktamalyada' in classical Telugu, celebrated as one of the Panchakavyas of Telugu literature.
12ID: GK-LANG-00361
hardBrahmi, Kharosthi, Devanagari & Ancient Scripts
Which Brahmic script, used in southern India from the 8th to 16th centuries CE (especially on Vijayanagara royal copper plate charters), is the sister script of Devanagari?
Verified Explanation
Nandinagari was the southern variant of the Nagari script, widely used in Karnataka and coastal regions, most notably in Vijayanagara Empire Sanskrit copper-plate inscriptions.
13ID: GK-LANG-00416
mediumBrahmi, Kharosthi, Devanagari & Ancient Scripts
Which southern variant of the Nagari script was extensively used in the Vijayanagara Empire for inscribing Sanskrit copper plate grants and palm-leaf manuscripts?
Verified Explanation
Nandinagari was a major southern variety of the Nagari script used prominently in South India, particularly across the Vijayanagara Empire and Madhvacharya mathas in Karnataka.
14ID: GK-LANG-00538
hardBrahmi, Kharosthi, Devanagari & Ancient Scripts
Which distinctive regional script of South India, used in the Vijayanagara Empire for Sanskrit copper-plate grants (Tamra-shasana), was a southern variant of Nagari script?
Verified Explanation
Nandinagari was a specialized southern derivative of the Nagari script widely used in the Vijayanagara Empire and coastal Karnataka/Maharashtra for royal Sanskrit copper-plate inscriptions and palm-leaf manuscripts.
15ID: GK-MONU-00548
easyQutb Minar, Taj Mahal, Sun Temple & Konark
On the banks of which river are the magnificent ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire located at Hampi, Karnataka?
Verified Explanation
The UNESCO World Heritage Group of Monuments at Hampi is situated along the southern banks of the Tungabhadra River in Ballari/Vijayanagara district of Karnataka.
16ID: GK-HIST-00163
easyMedieval India & Sultanates
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in 1336 CE?
Verified Explanation
Brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 CE with guidance from Saint Vidyaranya.
17ID: GK-HIST-00176
mediumMedieval India & Sultanates
Who was the greatest ruler of the Tuluva dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire who composed the Telugu epic poem "Amuktamalyada"?
Verified Explanation
Emperor Krishnadevaraya (ruled 1509–1529) presided over the golden age of Vijayanagara, patronized the Ashtadiggajas, and authored Amuktamalyada in Telugu.
18ID: GK-HIST-00219
easyMedieval India & Sultanates
Who was the greatest king of the Vijayanagara Empire, belonging to the Tuluva dynasty, who authored 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu?
Verified Explanation
Krishnadevaraya (reigned 1509–1529) was the most celebrated ruler of Vijayanagara, renowned for his military conquests, arts patronage, and literature.
19ID: GK-HIST-00386
mediumMedieval India & Sultanates
The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra river by which two brothers?
Verified Explanation
Harihara I and Bukka Raya I founded the Vijayanagara Empire (Sangama Dynasty) in 1336 CE under the spiritual guidance of Saint Vidyaranya.
20ID: GK-HIST-00440
mediumMedieval India & Sultanates
Which Persian traveler and scholar visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Deva Raya II in the 1440s?
Verified Explanation
Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi, an ambassador sent by Shah Rukh of the Timurid Dynasty, visited Vijayanagara in 1443 CE during Deva Raya II's rule and praised its immense grandeur.
21ID: GK-HIST-00462
hardMedieval India & Sultanates
In which year was the fateful Battle of Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) fought, leading to the collapse of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Verified Explanation
The Battle of Talikota occurred on 23 January 1565, where the combined armies of the Deccan Sultanates defeated Rama Raya of Vijayanagara, culminating in the sacking of Hampi.
22ID: GK-HIST-00701
hardMedieval India & Delhi Sultanate
In the socio-political structure of the Vijayanagara Empire, what was the defining nature of the 'Nayankara' administrative system?
Verified Explanation
Under the Nayankara system (documented by Portuguese chroniclers Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz), the Vijayanagara Raya assigned amaram territories to military chiefs (Amaranāyakas). They collected revenue, maintained a specified quota of infantry, cavalry, and war elephants, and remitted annual cash tribute.
23ID: GK-HIST-00808
hardMughal Empire & Regional Kingdoms
In the administrative and military structure of the Vijayanagara Empire, how did the 'Nayankara' system function as documented by Portuguese travelers Domingos Paes and Fernao Nuniz?
Verified Explanation
Under the Nayankara system, the Vijayanagara Rayas assigned territories called Amaram to military captains (Amara-nayakas). Nayakas retained revenue for their personal maintenance, maintained a stipulated quota of infantry, cavalry, and war elephants for imperial campaigns, and remitted annual financial tribute to the king at the Hampi capital.
24ID: GK-EPIG-00189
hardCopper-Plate Charters & Ancient Indian Coinage
Which Vijayanagara monarch issued gold Varaha coins famously depicting the double-headed mythical eagle 'Gandaberunda' clutching four elephants in its beaks and talons?
Verified Explanation
King Achyuta Deva Raya (reigned 1529-1542 CE, successor of Krishnadeva Raya) minted famous gold Varahas and half-Varahas depicting the ferocious two-headed celestial raptor Gandaberunda carrying giant elephants in its claws and beaks, symbolizing invincible royal power.
25ID: GK-MONU-00313
mediumQutb Minar, Taj Mahal, Sun Temple & Konark
The Vitthala Temple complex at Hampi (Vijayanagara), celebrated for its iconic monolithic stone chariot and ornate Ranga Mantapa, features how many monolithic carved musical pillars (SaReGaMa pillars) that emit musical notes when tapped?
Verified Explanation
The Maha Mantapa of the 16th-century Vitthala Temple in Hampi contains 56 monolithic carved granite pillars known as the musical pillars. Each main pillar is surrounded by 7 smaller cluster pillars that produce distinct musical notes and frequencies.