Administration of Vijayanagar Empire

Harihara and Bukka, two brothers who had served in Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s army founded the Vijayanagar state in 1336. In 1336, they declared independence from the Delhi Sultanate and created an independent kingdom in Karnataka, with Vijayanagar as its capital on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. For the formation of their empire, Harihara and Bukka were assisted and inspired by Vidyaranya, a contemporaneous scholar and a saint. 

• Vijayanagar had a centralised administrative structure. The Vijayanagar empire was divided into two governments: a central and a provincial government.
• The King was the state’s most powerful figure and the ultimate decision-maker in all things.
• A Council of Ministers was also in place to assist the King with administrative tasks.
• Six provinces made up the Vijayanagar Empire. Each province was administered by a Governor known as ‘Naik.’
• The provinces were also subdivided into districts. These districts were then further subdivided into smaller entities known as villages.
• Various hereditary officers, such as accountants, watchmen, and weights men, as well as officers in command of the forced labour department, administered such villages.
• There was also a ‘Mahanayakacharya‘ officer who served as a link between the villages and the central government and administration.

Vijayanagar Central Power: King as the Monarchial Head

• Vijayanagar Empire was established by Harihara and Bukka, sons of Sangama, in 1336 with its capital on the banks of the Tungabhadra river.

• The origin of the Vijayanagar rulers is debated: some scholars believe they were of Telugu origin, while others argue they were from Karnataka.

• One theory suggests Harihara I and Bukka I were employed under the Kakatiya ruler. After Warangal was taken by Ulugh Khan in 1323, they worked for Kampildeva of Anegondi, and when Anegondi was conquered by the Delhi Sultan, they founded the Vijayanagar Empire.

• Another theory posits they were feudatories of the Hoysalas and became their successors after the dissolution of Hoysala power in 1342.

• Nilakanta Sastri observed that the empire was a hereditary monarchy, but due to external and internal pressures, strong rulers were required, or else usurpations occurred by royal family members or military commanders.

• During the reign of weak king Mallikarjuna (1447-1465), Saluva Narasimha overthrew him, ending confusion in the Kingdom and establishing the Saluva dynasty.

• The last ruler of the Saluva dynasty was assassinated by Vira Narasimha, a powerful noble, who founded the Tuluva dynasty.

• Krishnadevaraya, an important ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, was succeeded by the Aravidu dynasty in 1572, the fourth dynasty, which was related to Krishnadevaraya through Rama Raya, his daughter’s son.

• The king was advised by a council of ministers, but had the supreme authority to accept or reject advice. On certain occasions, the king punished powerful ministers, such as Saluva Timma, punished by Krishnadevaraya.

• Royal princes were often appointed to important positions to train them in administration. Some princes, like Krishnadevaraya, became highly efficient and well-versed in state affairs.

• Krishnadevaraya authored the didactic text Amuktamalyada, emphasizing the importance of encouraging commerce, improving harbours, and ensuring merchants were treated well to avoid trade going to enemies.

• The king’s army was stationed at the capital and included elephant corps, cavalry, and infantry.

• There were two treasuries at the capital: one for current remittance and withdrawal, and a large reserve used only in times of great need. Each king added to this reserve.

Administrative Divisions: Provinces, Sime, Sthala

• The territory of the Vijayanagar kingdom was organized into administrative units called rajyas or provinces from the very beginning of the kingdom’s establishment.

• The rajyas were put under pradhanis, who were superior officers. Initially, pradhanis were princes of the royal line, but later, the post was occupied by military officers.

• According to Subbarayalu, the headquarters of each rajya was called uccavadi or cavadi, which denoted a rajya. These rajyas incorporated existing divisions like nadu and parru from the Tamil region.

• The exact number of rajyas in the Vijayanagara Kingdom has not been definitively determined. However, it is suggested that the rajyas were important administrative and revenue units.

• The rajyas ceased to serve as important administrative units when the nayaka system was established during the reign of Krishnadevaraya.

• Despite this, the names of the rajyas continued to appear in records as geographical names.

• In the later stages, the headquarters of the earlier rajyas, along with other towns, became fortified garrisons under military officers called amara nayakas.

• Apart from rajyas, there were other smaller divisions such as sime, sthala, and nadu.

• In some records, the terms rajya and sime are used interchangeably, such as Terekanambi sime and Terekanambi rajya.

• Some divisions existed within another division with the same territorial nomenclature, like Kundahatta Sthala within Nagavali Sthala.

• The complex nomenclature and administrative divisions prevent the establishment of a clear hierarchy of administrative divisions.

• The use of varying territorial names suggests that for administrative convenience, the authorities introduced a peculiar nomenclature system to identify different territorial divisions.

• The changes in nomenclature indicate variations in the administrative machinery over different periods.