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Historical and Archaeological Findings in News

15th Century Copper Plates from the Vijayanagara Empire discovered

Prelims Only | History | Mains Paper 1: Arts & Culture
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Vijayanagara Empire

Why in the News?

A set of copper plates from the early 15th Century, dating back to the reign of Devaraya I of the Sangama Dynasty, were recently unveiled by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

About the Sangama Dynasty 

  • The Sangama Dynasty was the first ruling dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire, founded in the 14th century by brothers Harihara I and Bukka Raya I.
  • They were the sons of Bhavana Sangama, a chieftain from a pastoralist community with Yadava descent.
  • The Sangama Dynasty was established in 1336 CE by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, who founded the city of Vijayanagara on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River.
  • The early rulers focused on building the foundations of the empire, both administratively and culturally.

Notable Rulers

  • Harihara I: Known for founding the empire and laying its initial foundations.
  • Bukka Raya I: Expanded the empire’s territories significantly, ruling from 1343 to 1379 CE.
  • Harihara II: Conquered coastal Andhra and important Indian ports like Goa, continuing his predecessor’s expansion.
  • Deva Raya I: Ruled from 1404 to 1422 CE, further expanding the empire.
  • Deva Raya II (Krishnadeva Raya): Regarded as one of the greatest rulers of the dynasty, he expanded the empire and promoted art, literature, and diplomacy from 1422 to 1446 CE.

Downfall

  • Internal conflicts, particularly succession disputes, and external pressures from the Bahmani Sultanate and neighboring kingdoms weakened the dynasty.
  • The final blow came when Narasimha of the Saluva Dynasty usurped the throne in 1485 CE, marking the end of the Sangama Dynasty’s reign.

Key Features of the Copper Plates

  • These plates are unique, dating back to the coronation of King Devaraya I of the Vijayanagara Empire.
    • The king granted the village of Gudipalli, along with the hamlets Rajendramada and Udayapalli, during his coronation.
    • The village was renamed Devarayapura-agrahara and divided into 61 shares allocated to various Brahmins with expertise in Vedas and Shastras.
  • They are written in Sanskrit, Kannada and Nagari characters.
  • The seal features an image of Vamana, rather than the usual Varaha (boar), which is the royal insignia of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Historical Significance:

  • Dated to Saka 1328 (November 5, 1406 CE), the plates provide insights into the Sangama Dynasty.
  • It helps trace the lineage from Chandra, Yadu, and Sangama to the five sons of King Harihara: Harihara, Kampa, Bukka, Mãrapa, and Muddapa.
[UPSC 2023] Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city?

(a) Devaraya I (b) Mallikarjuna (c) Vira Vijaya (d) Virupaksha

 

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