RAYA : Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara

by Srinivas Reddy

In 1509 Krishnadevaraya, a prince from humble origins, ascended the throne of Vijayanagara. The empire he inherited was weak from two messy dynastic succession, and ambitious enemy kings loomed large on all sides – a haughty king of Orissa in the east, five upstart Deccan Sultans to the North, revolting Tamil rajas in the South and enterprising Portuguese soldiers from the West. But Krishnadevaraya quickly rose to the challenge, and in the course of his remarkable twenty-year reign, he changed history forever. He won every single battle he fought and unified the whole of South India under his banner. Krishnadevaraya is remembered today as one of India’s greatest kings, not only because of his successes on the battlefield or the dazzling splendour of his empire, but because he was India’s first truly global leader. He had to confront very modern problems, such as building international alliances and negotiating overseas trade deals, while grappling with the challenges of globalism and multiculturalism. The Deccan of his time was a cosmopolitan place where Hindus and Muslims, North Indians and South Indians, Persians and Portuguese, all intermingled as they made their lives and fortunes. This cultural dynamism also inspired Krishnadevaraya to look back at India’s past and reflect on her histories and traditions. As a philosopher-king who was also a celebrated poet in his own right, he presided over an Indian Renaissance, when ancient texts and traditions were reinvigorated and infused with a fresh and modern vitality. Five hundred years after krishnadevaraya’s death, he is still remembered and loved as a compassionate and wise king, one who is immortalised in films and folk tales, poems and Ballads. This fascinating and riveting book is meticulously researched and beautifully written. Based on Portuguese and Persian chronicles, as well as many overlooked Telugu literary sources, Raya is the definitive biography of one of the world’s greatest leaders.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, India, Biography, Indian Literature

264 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 2020

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okayish book. I really wanted to love this book. I didn't enjoy it that all. On the face of it, the subject matter of the book was deeply fascinating. Our view of history is so overwhelmingly Delhi-centric, that I looked forward to a well-written, concise, and readable history of the Krishnadevaraya or Vijayanagara. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

I also did not enjoy the writing style. It felt like writer wanted to inject some of his own ideas. There are perfunctory references to cultural or social history, but these references hardly added much to my understanding. There is a lot of ground to cover. I feel that an introspective and detailed approach would have strengthened the narrative much more. Such a golden opportunity wasted by the author. We Indian deserve more of South Indian history.

I will also read the following books to know more of South Indian history which i have with me.
1. A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar by Robert Sewell
2. History of South India - From Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar by K.A. Nilakanta Sastri
3. Splendours Of Royal Mysore: The Untold Story Of The Wodeyars by Vikram Sampath

In case those who want to read history fiction of Krishnadevaraya can go for Naan Krishnadevarayam by Ra. Ki. Rangarajan available in Tamil and I, Krishnadevaraya in English translated one.

[Srikar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt like a half-hearted, half-academic, half-popular history book. Works about kings and kingdoms south of the Vindhyas are pretty rare; I was pretty excited to read this. But this book fell flat.

The writing is super bland and repetitive. The author also sets out to disprove many misconceptions that people hold about the time and the king. This was entirely unnecessary and avoidable. It adds nothing to the layman other than suspecting an ulterior motive behind the book.

All in all, a massive disappointment but thankfully short read. This book is not recommended. Time to scout for a serious, academic and objective biography of the period.

[Prathyush Parasuraman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is too loose, perhaps because the source material is so sparse, scattered, and the available material doesn't correlate perfectly, or perhaps the inability of the writer to string these stories into a cohesive narrative.

I fear it is a bit of both.

For the former, I wish there was wider consultation, and more texts and sources cited even folk traditions to build a sense of who Raya is. After reading the book I was unable to grasp who this person is, their sense of power and dynamism doesn't come across. The stories also are so few for the author to reference that I don't blame him but I feel if he had stuck with this story for a few more years something richer would have come up.

On the writing front, it was hard to visualize a lot of what he was writing, especially the wars. I wasn't getting the visual barbarism of the moment or even the tension of that. There was a listlessness in the narrative style.

That said, of course any study of history that is done earnestly is welcome. I am glad that I got to read it but was left wanting because of perhaps my sharp expectations, especially for a book on a south indian legacy, something not oft written about.

[Abhishek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highly disappointed by this half-hearted attempt to write about a king we knew so less about. The book is inundated with hyperboles, silly "poems" of the great king translated by the author from his previous works, trying to reason out awkward facts of the king and presenting the abnormalities in a good way, the whole thing being about Telugu pride — this doesn't a good writing make. There are hardly any connections made to the heritage that is left in Hampi, except for a few. If you go to Hampi, the local guides tell you a much better biography of their revered king. The whole comparison with Prataprudra Gajapati was undoubtedly superfluous and too much of mental effort went into it — it actually stands out. It's suddenly only in the last chapter that the author depicts the king in a human light filled with wrongs and bad temper, calling him a megalomaniac, ignoring his lifetime temperamental issues. I hope Krishna Raya gets better authors to write his biography. Utterly frustrating, highly disappointed.

[Nayaz Riyazulla · Rating 3 out of 5]

ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರ ಆಡಳಿತ ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಸಂಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿಕೊಡುವ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಾಮನ್ಯ ಶ್ರೇಣಿಯದ್ದು.

ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯನಂತ ಅಪ್ರತಿಮ ವೀರನ ಕಥನವನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಓದಲೇಬೇಕು, 310 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಬೃಹತ್ ವಿಜಯನಗರ ಇತಿಹಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುವರ್ಣ ಯುಗವೆಂದರೆ, ಈತನ ಆಡಳಿತವೇ. ಈ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಸರಳ ನೋಟ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮಗೆ ದಕ್ಕುತ್ತದೆ.

ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರ ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಅನೇಕ ಕವಿಗಳು ವೈಭವಿಕರಿಸಿ ನೈಜ ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಸಡಿಲಗೊಳಿಸುವ ದಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳು ನಡೆದಿವೆ. ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗೆ ಅಲ್ಲಸಾನಿ ಪೆದ್ದಣ್ಣ, ಈತನಂತೂ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರನ್ನು ನಾರಾಯಣನ ಅವತಾರ ಅಥವಾ ಬದುಕಿರುವ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ದುರ್ಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ನಟರಾಜರ ಸಮ್ಮಿಲನ ಎಂದೆಲ್ಲ ಕರೆದು ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಕಾವ್ಯಮಯಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ, ಇದು ಕವಿಯಾಗಿ ರಾಜನನ್ನು ವೈಭವಿಕರಿಸುವುದು ತಪ್ಪಿಲ್ಲದ್ದಿರಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ದಾಖಲು ಮಾಡುವ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಬದಿಗಿರಿಸಿ ಇಂತವಕ್ಕೆ ಬೆಲೆ ಕೊಡುವುದು ಮೂರ್ಖತನವೂ ಹೌದು. ಇದರ ಪರಿಣಾಮವಾಗಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳು ದೇವರನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಆತನನ್ನೇ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣದೇವರಾಯರನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿ, ಮೆರೆಸಿದರೇ ಹೊರತು, ಅವರ ಆಡಳಿತದಿಂದ ಒಳಿತನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಇದರ ಕಾರಣವಾಗೇ ವಿಜಯನಗರ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾನ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರ ನಂತರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಸಾನವನ್ನು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದು.

ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರ ನಂತರ ವಿಜಯನಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಹಲವು ಉಪದ್ರವಗಳು ಅಂಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ, ಕಾರಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರ ಸಮರ ಉತ್ಸಾಹ ಮತ್ತು ಸಿಟ್ಟು ಅನೇಕ ಶತ್ರುಗಳ ನಿದ್ದೆ ಕೆಡಿಸಿರುತ್ತದೆ ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ, ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರು ಬಿಜಾಪುರದ ಸುಲ್ತಾನ ತಮ್ಮ ಆಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ತಮ್ಮ ಕಾಲನ್ನು ಚುಂಬಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದಿದ್ದು ಸುಲ್ತಾನನ ನುಂಗಲಾರದ ತುತ್ತಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಇದರಿಂದ ಬಹಮನಿ ಸುಲ್ತಾನರು ಒಗ್ಗೂಡುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ವಿಜಯನಗರದ ಅವಸಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣರಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಬಹುಷಃ ಅರವಿಡು ಸಂತತಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯರಂತೆ , ಆಧುನಿಕ ಸಮರಕಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯದೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಭುಜಬಲದ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೊಂದನ್ನೇ ನಂಬಿದ ಕಾರಣವೇ ವಿಜಯನಗರದ ಅವಸಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರಣವೆಂದು ನನಗೆ ಅನಿಸೋದು.

ಇನ್ನೂ ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯನು ಶೂದ್ರ ಕುಲದಲ್ಲನವನೆಂದು ಸಮಜಾಯಿಷಿ ಕೊಡುವ ಕಥೆಯೊಂದು ಹೀಗಿದೆ, ಯಾಯತಿಯು ಮೊದಲ ಪತ್ನಿ ದೇವಯಾನಿಯಿಂದ ಎರಡು ಪುತ್ರರು ಜನಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ, ಯದು ಮತ್ತು ತುರ್ವಸು, ಯದು - ಸಂಗಮ ವಂಶದ ಮೂಲ ಪುರುಷನಾದರೆ , ತುಳುವ ವಂಶಕ್ಕೆ ತುರ್ವಸು, ಈ ಕಥೆಯ ಕರ್ತೃ ಮತ್ತದೇ ಆಸ್ಥಾನ ಕವಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಸಾನಿ ಪೆದ್ದಣ್ಣ.

ಹೀಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಥೆಗಳನ್ನೇ, ನಾವು ಓದಿರುವ ಅನೇಕ ಪ್ರವಾಸಿಗಳ ಟಿಪ್ಪಣಿಗಳ ಆಧಾರದ ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಅವಲಂಬನೆಗೊಂಡು ಬರೆದಿರುವ ಪುಸ್ತಕವಿದು, ನನಗಂತೂ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಇದಾಗಲೇ ಓದಿರುವ ಇತಿಹಾಸದ ಪುನರಾವರ್ತನೆಯಷ್ಟೇ. ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಯನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟೇನು ತಿಳಿಯದವರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪ್ರವೇಶ.

[Niveditha · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book whose subject is Krishnadevaraya- the King of Kings, one whose image in popular memory is almost unparalleled- this book really falls flat. It didn't have to be this way- the prologue actually opened in a very promising way. But as the book unfolded, the writing unraveled. One also couldn't make out what this book wanted to be- a narrative of Raya with dramatic flourishes for the amateur reader, a serious academic work or a bland newspaper report (yes, the writing was that uninteresting at some parts). Moving on to the positives- the book is sufficiently short to get the reader through otherwise unengaging writing. It's an efficient source if one wants to know about Raya's life in a chronological fashion, instead of the scattered bunch of stories that are a part of popular history. I did enjoy some of the bits on literature and culture of Vijayanagara, which only goes to show that this could have been a much better book. 2.5 stars.

[Nagarajan Madeswaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great lost opportunity! The history could have been easily presented in a more engaging fashion. The narrative never finds a strong footing. It just slithers away without making a strong point anywhere with any conviction.
It is hard to tell which is fact which is legend.
Adding one additional star out of the respect for history and the subject of this narrative.

[Mansi · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting take on the very popular southern king. Book based on foreigners accounts and the raja's own "Amuktamalyada", his court poet Peddana etc. Towards the end of the book it marks how any powerful ruler is , but , a frail mortal. A destiny he too, realizes. For he says :

rajyante narkam dhruvam --> hell surely awaits at the end of an empire

[Manish · Rating 2 out of 5]

The age in which Krishnadevaraya ruled was complex. With the Portuguese looking for a toehold and the Deccan kingdoms encircling all around, it was no mean feat to carve out a kingdom that was glorious and subjugated vast swathes of enemy territory.

Reddy's work summarizes the key aspects of Krishnadevaraya's life and times. But the work wasn't gripping and the narration was a tad bland.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information and had good moments but poorly written.

[Chandra Shekar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected to read a biography but it felt more like a report. I did learn some new things about Raya and Vijayanagara but on the whole, it could have been better.

[Abhishek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Raya by Srinivas Reddy is a biography of the legendary Indian King of the Vijayanagara Empire, Krishnadevaraya. The book references "Rayavacakamu,""Amuktamalyada," and various sources from foreign travelers and merchants who visited the empire during its heydays under his reign in the early 16th century. While the book serves as a basic introduction to Raya and the life and times of that era, it lacks depth and tries too much to "secularize" the narrative that falls flat.

We learn about Raya and the history of the Vijayanagara kingdom from Harihara and Bukka, establishing it with the guidance of sage Vidyaranya, to the Saluva dynasty, which preceded the Tuluva dynasty of which Raya was part. We also get a good sense of the geopolitical landscape and the challenges to the empire - The Gajaptis to the east and the Bahmani Sultans to the north, who were 5 distinct kingdoms.

The book is divided into three parts and speaks about Raya's dream to fulfill Saluva Narasimha's desire to capture the three fortresses of Udayagiri, Mugdal, and Raichur, and how he successfully led his troops under challenging terrains and leveraging allies, including the Portuguese with their high precision snipers to expand his empire. The critical battles covered are those between Gajapati King Prataparudradeva and Bijapur Sultan Adil Shah.

There is also an undercurrent exploration of his low-born caste, the dynamics of Hindu-Muslim "unity," and how things weren't black and white as portrayed in history books. These parts fall flat as they lack depth and research from the author on well-established facts.

Overall, the book is a passable read.

[Siddharth Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Political leadership has perhaps been the most controversial of ships to sail in. The very shroud of mystery that encapsulates them, also deprives them of the link that allows human connections. Couple this with the vagaries of history, and you have a potent combination of either superhuman or inhuman personalities, exhibiting rather extreme shade of emotions and traits. To that extent, the insights that a biography of a historical figure offers, are unparalleled.

Raya, aggrandised as Sri Krishna Deva Raya, is revealed to be...a good man. That’s a rather anticlimactic yet concise summary. That Raya is ordinary, that he is just as much a slave to human pain, search for solace and other fallibilities as any other. This process of retrospective humanisation is a fascinating lesson for examining modern day leaders in a far more holistic outlook. What also gratified me was the objective calling out of the subject’s problematic decisions and borderline megalomania.
Another fact that leaped out to me was this beautiful yet strange human need for a sense of belonging, to the extent that even a mighty king feels out of place due to the static constraints of his birth, and his career is centres around carving out a legacy by ironically fulfilling the wishes of his predecessors. The class/caste divide that drove the expansion of the kingdom, was also loaded with context to explain the sense of misplaced belonging for Raya, magnificently demonstrating the human insecurities of perhaps the mightiest man of his time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAuFsKZgG...

[Vijay Saravanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

His life story is given in simple and abstract way ..Am glad to learn abt the kings greatness ...Book is Good to read !! But I feel , author went over board in his eulogy of the king ..

[Prajakta · Rating 5 out of 5]

History was one of my favourite subjects in school and I was always fascinated by the historical stories I have read and heard.
While growing up, I had read stories of Krishnadevaraya and Tenali Raman, thus increasing my admiration of the Celebrated King and the Kingdom of Vijayanagara!
✨
Raya is the Biography of this Prominent King who is remembered even today, not only because of his glorious empire but also for his literary accomplishments.
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The book traces Krishnadevaraya's 2 decade long reign, right from his coronation till his death caused by a hereditary disease. It is interesting to read how a Just and Compassionate King may turn into a proud one, given to the Overgrowing Power possessed by him.
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The author has referred Portuguese and Persian chronicles and vernacular literary works to put together this book, thus including different perspectives.
The book describes Raya's life in vivid details using simple language, making it an enjoyable read for History Lovers!

[Roshan Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life of Krishnadevaraya simplified. Although this is a bit too personal and simplified. Doesn't give much info into administrative, economic, social life of the empire during the king's period.
A simple read, and a lot of information still. And very much recommended.

[Visalini Kumaraswamy]

A stellar read, from Srinivas Reddy as always!
Detailed Review to follow soon.

[Sujani S · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Raya” written by Srinivasa Reddy is a well-narrated biography of Kavi-Raja (poet king) Krishnadevaraya, the illustrious ruler who brought a major portion of the Southern India under his flag between 1509 to 1529. Starting with the formation of Vijayanagara empire by Harihara and Bukka, their fascinating connection to Vidyaranya, the book leads you on a journey through the life and times of the monarch. Krishnadevaraya’s coronation and his marriage to the courtesan Chinnadevi, his relationship with his Minster Timmarasu who was the guiding light for the ruler are clearly set out. Raya wanted to capture Udayagiri, Mughal and Raichur. The former brought him to clash with Prataparudradeva, the Gajapathi lord, who was his arch nemesis. Their battle lasted for six years. Contrary to popular belief, religions co-existed and absorbed practices of each other during Vijayanagara era. It is clear that Hindus and Muslims fought amongst themselves much more than with each other. Raya succeeded in capturing Kondavedu, Gajapathi kingdoms and also entered into a treaty with Portugese and Bijapur Sultan Adil Shah.


Apart from his impressive expansion and war strategies, the King was known for his innumerable contributions to temples, his devotion for Lord Vishnu and his patronage for arts and poetry in multiple languages. The King was extremely well-educated and the author describes his court of culture and learning with his chief sire of Telugu literature Allasani Peddanna. Raya’s ‘Amuktamalyada’ - the story of Tamil poet Andal written in telugu is well known. The story of Raya is incomplete without the mention of Tenali Ramakrishna of course! The author states that there’s no historical backing that he existed, though the tales are widespread even today. The book is a must-read for the clear writing and the way historical facts and references are expertly presented throughout. Engaging!

[Richa]

It is my first read in the south india history with that much detail. For a beginner like me, it was a light read. The book has lot of to and fro in different era ( -50 years, Raya's time and 50+ years) . The last few pages was fastened to the point that one could see the struggle of fitting everything in 2 pages kind of effort. The Adil shah episode required more detail and perspective. Book gives a preface of what Raya was but subject of the book and content are linear, much like a clickbait. The book either should have been more detailed and with depth, or if it was to be kept small, then selection of subject to highlight of Raya should have been clearer. An extra star for the efforts to bring focus on true Indian history.

[Hemanth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A racy read, finished it in one sitting. Lacks depth and seems like an ordinary retelling of the myth and mysteries surrounding Krishnadeva Raya. The Biography fails to do justice to the rich life of Raya.

[Sundarraj Kaushik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice historical piece about the Vijayanagara Empire.

The book starts with the possible scenarios under which Krishnadevaraya might have come to the throne of the empire. There doesn’t seem to be enough clarity on this front, only possibilities.

It then goes on to describe the conquests of Krishnadevaraya main ones being the capture of Udayagiri, Kondapalli, Kondavidu and finally Cuttack.

It highlights the fact that although he has been hailed as an Hindu king most of his battles have been against the Hindu kings. His fights with the Sulanates of Bijapur and Golconda have been minimal and these have been towards the end of his reign.

Krishnadevaraya apparently had no royal background. He was not even a Kshatriya and to think that he became a king in an era when caste mattered a lot speaks loudly about his capability. He was not just a brave king who built an empire, but he was also a literate and intelligent king who not only encouraged arts, but also engaged in them. His Amukatamalyada a poem in Telugu about the Tamil saint Andal is considered to be literary masterpiece. He was also a very devoted person who donated generously to the temples as was the wont in that era. He apparently write the Amukatamalya apparently because God, Andhra Vishnu as he is called, came to him in his dream and asked him to compose it.

Krishnadevaraya himself was a Tulu and he seemed to be well versed in Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit and possible Tamil too.

Throughout his reign he had been ably assisted by this minister Timmarasu whom he almost considered to be his father. Timmarasu seems to have played a big role in the success of Krishnadevaraya. He assisted the king on all fronts including war, arts and justice.

There is only a passing mention of the famous brainy jester Tenali Rama.

He seemed to have maintained a good composure through his reign and has been compassionate towards the kings that he has conquered and had been considerate towards the citizens of the empires he conquered. Towards the end of his reign he seems to have grown arrogant and the destruction of the Vijayanagara empire has been attributed to his arrogance. During this phase he also suspected Timmarasu and blinded him and later towards the end of his life regretted his actions.

A very nice book providing an unbiased perspective of one of the greatest kingdoms of the South India. Worth reading.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of its kind I read. Well researched and written. Easy and quick read. One can find notes and bibliography to support research and further reading.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Raya: Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara
Author: Srinivas Reddy
Publisher: Juggernaut
Language: English
Hardcover: 264 pages
Item Weight: 295 g
Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 4 cm
Country of Origin: India
Price: 428/-

vijayanagara-vṛttāntamu
sujanalache vinnayaṭṭi sūnṛta-vākyul
prajalaku teṭapaḍaṅgā
sṛjiyiñciti kṛṣṇrāya śekharu-carital

So that the people may clearly know
the history of Vijayanagara,
I have put together the deeds of King Krishnaraya,
in true and pleasing words
that one might hear from virtuous men. [Rāyavācakamu I.1]

Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara is remembered as the iconic king of south India. Most histories render him as a Hindu warrior who crushed Muslim invaders, some paint him as a peasant who rose to become an emperor, and yet others remember him as a perceptive statesman, a gleaming poet or a compassionate ruler.

Each of these identities contributed to the king’s incredible facade, but he was much more than any one of these readings.

It is simple to oversight Krishnadeva Raya for a character straight out of a fable — a king whose conquests and traits are exaggerated to make a great story. Just, munificent, bighearted, a patron of arts and architecture, a poet — how could one man possess all these qualities and still manage to be a flourishing military commander under whom the empire reached its zenith?

What makes Krishnadevaraya so exciting is that his life embodies all the vibrant dynamism of his era, a time that witnessed fundamental alterations in the societal, intellectual and political life of South Asia, and the world at large.

His two-decade reign from 1509 to 1529 falls in what scholars call the early modern period, a crag of world history when new global networks were being forged – cultures merged and cultures clashed, but the vast lands of the earth were not yet claimed by European colonialism.

Krishnadevaraya thus symbolizes a critical makeover from ancient king to modern politician.

And in that sense, he was India’s first global leader.

He had to confront very modern dilemmas such as building international alliances and negotiating overseas trade deals while grappling with the tests of globalism and multiculturalism. The Deccan of his time was a place where Hindus and Muslims, north Indians and south Indians, Persians and Portuguese, all amalgamated as they made their lives and fortunes.

This book is just one telling of Krishnadevaraya’s life. It is based on the available historical archives, but it listens with sympathy to the legends, songs and memories of people.

To quote the author: ‘I was first enchanted by Krishnadevaraya when I read the remarkable poetry of his Amuktamalyada. Although literary texts like these are often viewed as works of pure imagination, rarely if ever mined as historical sources, I believe a sensitive reading of such material gives us a unique window into a poet’s mind, and in this case, the spirit of a great king. With this array of materials, I have tried, in the most genuine way I can, to present Krishnadevaraya as he might have seen himself, at the very heart of a magnificent world.’

The author divides his book in three sections, each section comprised of five chapters.

Part I deals with the ascension and early trobles of Raya. The chapters included are:

1. Coronation
2. The Early Days
3. The Medieval Deccan
4. The Expanding Empire
5 Bijapur and the Sultans

Part II deals with the intermediate perios of Raya’s rule and focusses on his administrative acumen as well as the troubles faced and handled by him. The chapters included are:

6. The Eastern Mountain
7. Tirupati and Temples
8. Kondavidu Fort
9. Rival Kings
10. The Lion Mountain

Part III leads us through the mature stage of his rule right up to the end of his life. The chapters included are:

11. Court of Culture
12. Road to Raichur
13. Battle on the Krishna
14. City and Palace
15. The Final Years

In the eyes of the world, Vijayanagara was the epitome of oriental opulence. It was a cosmopolitan metropolis, the best provided city of the world, more magnificent than Rome, and so exceedingly rich that diamonds were traded in the streets by the basket load!

And at the height of the empire’s glory there ruled a magnificent monarch, the most feared and perfect king that could ever be!

The myths surrounding Krishnadevaraya began in his own lifetime, nurtured by sycophantic court poets, horse-trading Portuguese chroniclers and travelling storytellers.

But myths are not antithetical to the discipline of history; indeed, they are critical components of how history is made and why it is propagated.

Disentangling fact from fiction is but one part of historical research, contextualizing and interpreting that material is another part, for good history is not the pursuit of an absolute truth, but rather a search for meaning.

The legends of Krishnadevaraya’s exploits spread widely after his death, but he consciously set them in motion, particularly through his Amuktamalyada, a glorious epic poem that the king did in fact compose in honour of Andhra Mahavishnu. That fateful dream of 1515 was no mere fiction – it was divine inspiration for an unforgettable empire.

The book is enormously readable and charming. You would almost feel the complete cosmos of Vijayanagara come alive.

The author has left no stone unturned in his minuscule research. Consequently, the reader would be privy to new material in almost every chapter.

[Chetan Kalyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to learn about South indian history

Short, yet filled with detail about the life of a legend. Makes me want to visit all the places mentioned in the book and see for myself where history was made

[Utkrisht Fella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Srinivas Reddy’s Raya: Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara is an essential addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in South Indian history, especially the golden age of the Vijayanagara Empire. Moving beyond the often-eulogistic folk tales and cinematic portrayals, Reddy successfully attempts to craft a nuanced, historical portrait of the Tuluva dynasty’s greatest emperor (1509–1529). The book is meticulously researched, drawing on an impressive array of sources, including overlooked Telugu literary works (like Krishnadevaraya’s own Amuktamalyada), Persian chronicles, and the famous accounts of Portuguese travelers Domingo Paes and Fernão Nunes.

One of the book’s most crucial contributions is its re-evaluation of Krishnadevaraya’s political landscape. Reddy subtly challenges the simplistic narrative that Vijayanagara was solely a Hindu bastion defined by its opposition to the Deccan Sultanates. Instead, he convincingly argues that the emperor's most intense and personal rivalries were often with fellow Hindu rulers, particularly the Gajapati king of Odisha, Prataparudra Deva. This rivalry, rooted in complex issues of identity, status and caste with the Gajapati allegedly sneering at the Raya as a dasi putra (son of a servant) provides a fascinating lens through which to view the internal power struggles of the age.

The biography is structured chronologically, detailing Krishnadevaraya's military campaigns, including the decisive Battle of Raichur, in the first half. While this section is rich in detail about warfare and diplomacy, the second half truly shines as it explores Krishnadevaraya as the ‘poet-king’ (kavi-raja). Reddy expertly covers his patronage of temple architecture (like the temples at Tirupati), statecraft and the vibrant literary court known as the Bhuvanavijayam. This depiction highlights the emperor's pluralistic approach to governance, showing a king who was a devout Sri Vaishnava yet maintained a welcoming, multicultural court that engaged with Portuguese and Persian cultures.

However, the book does not shy away from the darker aspects of the Raya's reign, particularly towards its end. Srinivas Reddy touches on the king's growing arrogance and vulnerability surrounding succession, culminating in the tragic and brutal blinding of his long-time, trusted minister, Timmarasu. This fallibility rounds out the portrait, preventing the book from becoming mere hagiography. While some historical purists might find Reddy's use of literary and folk sources which he terms "soft" to be heavily reliant on inference, his approach succeeds in painting a rich, relatable picture of a magnificent and complex leader who successfully navigated the challenges of what Reddy calls India’s first truly global age. It’s a compelling read that breathes life into the ruins of Hampi.

[Ankush Rai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raya

Written by - Srinivas Reddy

Published by - Juggernaut



India history which is always written in a Delhi-centric perspective often finds less mention of Kingdoms from Southern India. The book ‘Raya’ is not a mere biography of the mightiest Hindu ruler of Medieval India - Krishnadev Raya but an exquisite detail about the ‘Golden age’ of the Vijaynagar Empire and his illustrious life. It deals with the novice kingship period of Krishnadev Raya, accounts of foreign travellers, diplomacy with the Portuguese and feudatories, wars of accession, art and culture under Krishnadev Raya’s meritorious regime. The writer has taken a painstaking effort to translate Krishna Dev’s couplet from ‘Amuktamalyada’. The narration is separated into three parts in which the initial part succinctly deals with King’s early years, second part with governance, lifestyle, architecture and the third deals with later years and conquests. The writer has not included any fictitious story attributing to the emperor, the jester Tenali Raman is mentioned just once which makes the book too raw at times. More emphasis is given on Timmarasu, his minister. However on one occasion a reference to a scene from a south movie is provided. The author makes sure that the geographical locations mentioned can be understood to a person not hailing from that part, supplemented with vivid description. It endorses foreign accounts of administration of the empire and the burgeoning capital city of Hampi. It mentions that Krishnadev was the sworn enemy of the Prataprudra Gajapati, having fought a long 7 years war with the Orissan Kingdom which ended by a peace treaty and matrimonial alliance. Krishnadev Raya was amongst the very first Indian rulers to have used cannons in a battle, using it in the battle of Raichur against the Bijapur Sultans. More could have been covered on the trade and commerce part.
Book Review by - Get the facts History
Instagram -@getthefactshistory

[Rohit Kumar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hope the writer is not a historian. His sense of seeing things is not even dumb, it's hilarious.
I couldn't even read the whole book. Just 25%, life is certainly easier once I have made the decision to not waste time on books that are not worth it.

The first observation of his where he made an insane mistake was, he called krishnadev raya's India's first global leader who negotiated and made relationship with other countries and kings. Actually not true, chandragupta maurya did that already. He was the first to do that according to our official history which means there were more before him which they don't teach us because they started our history with a "secular" empire. Buddhist, Jain, ajivikas they were all kings in the mauryan empire, no hindus tho. That's why they carefully picked and started official history from there.

Second observation of his that I don't agree with is he called his global leader things as a bigger achievement than being a hindu king who crushed muslims and a peasant who rose to become an emperor. First of all he wasn't a peasant he was the son of a king, his father belonged to a lower caste, yes. And since he became the king in his own lifetime ofc is more than enough proof that upward mobility in castes were never restricted. But anyways, no global leader is worth anything if they don't solve the domestic problems and Islam was that problem and it's that problem even now.

Third, he says bijapur had a yearly policy of jihad against infidel hindus. And then in the same chapter he quotes farishta where everything is love and peace, people worship their gods and he says there is no reason to not believe it's not true so, they did yearly campaign to kill hindus and then we also don't have any reason to believe that they were bigots??

I hope this guy was on drugs when he wrote all this, or he is retarded.

[VENKATRAMAN C K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book - precise and fast paced . In just 176 pages, tells the story of the greatest king of south India in the 16 the century. While all of us have come across the name of Krishnadevaraya in our school history books, for me he was shrouded in mystery .

The book is a must read for anyone interested in Indian history. The author manages to capture both the man and the king.

The book also busts the myth that in those days the wars were fought along religious divides ( Manu Pillai too points this out in his excellent work - the rebel sultans). It was all a matter of politics and power play and alliances were made and broken accordingly without any other consideration.

I have seen Krishnadevaraya’s image in Tirupati many times but it did not register any emotion ... look forward to seeing him again and also visit the magnificent ruins of Vijayanagara at Hampi !! I did Google all the images as I was reading the book.

I will also read translation of krishnadevaraya’s work by the same author !!

[Amrut · Rating 4 out of 5]

A king who is held closely by the southern peninsula, was instrumental for cultural progression of two South Indian languages. The last major independent southern king (Tipi sultan too later). Krishndevaraya is a fascinating character. The author does great justice in maintaining the integrity of the title character. He strips the grandness associated and looks at the king through a human eye. Examines the behaviour , the drive , the kindness and later the pride and misgivings. The progression is well captured.

The author also tries to maintain a sanctity for the actual history and makes a differentiation to only state what is supported by facts , observations and writings by people who were present close to the king. This gives the book an edge.

However the ending is quite abrupt, maybe for the lack of knowing what transpired. Conjuring or leaning on what is publicly spoken of would have dented the theme of the book. Overall a great read of a grand character. Wish we knew more of Raya

[Thanmaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know only a Telugu person can know how much he is loved. You can trust a Telugu person to dig up the facts. In this case Srinivas Reddy does an excellent job here. This book humanizes Krishnadevaraya. You know, as someone who is surrounded by him, I read about his legends, snippets of his world, idealized romanticized stories of his. This book sort of tells the truth of how it all happened, but this also proves how those legends are true to his character. The more I read about Krishnadevaraya, surprisingly his image only grows higher. It does not shatter like it does with others. It makes me love him more.

Moon of the Tuluva dynasty,
Stealer of every maiden’s heart,
Steadfast as the mighty Meru mountain,
Protector and nurturer of poets, like the wish-fulfilling Mandara tree.

Destroyer of enemy kings,
You alone embody all romance, all charm, all grace.

Why this delay?
Make up your mind.
I am yours alone,
Protect me!