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An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara
NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED

1.What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In
what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of
the Virupaksha temple?
Ans. The engineer and antiquarian Colonel Colin Mackenzie brought the ruins of Hampi to light in
1800. He worked for many years in East India Company and prepared the first Survey maps of this
site. His earlier information were based on the memories of priest of the Virupaksha temple and
shrine of Pampadevi. From 1856 onwards, photographers started to record the pictures of
monuments. The picture of the sites helped the scholars to study them. Dozens of inscription were
collected from Virupaksha temples and other temples situated around temples.
Historians collected information from these sources other sources such as accounts of foreign
travellers and literature composed in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit languages used by the
historians so that the History of the city could be reconstructed. These functions complemented the
information given priests of Virupaksha temple.
2.How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?(or)

Explain how the people of Vijavanagara obtained water for their needs.
Ans. The requirement of water in Vijayanagara was fulfilled from the natural basin formed by the
river Tungabhadra. This flowed in the north-eastern direction and was surrounded by stunning
granite hills. It flowed down to the river Tungabhadra.
So the rulers of the Vijayanagara got built large embankments to store water. They also constructed
reservoirs of varying sizes. They also make arrangements to store the rainwater as this was the
most arid zone of the peninsula. A very large tank was found built in the fifteenth century to store
water. The water tank presently known as Kamalapuram tank. The water of this tank was used for
several Royal centre purposes.
(i)The water from the tank was used to irrigate the nearby fields.
(ii)The water of tank fulfilled the needs of the Royal centre.
(iii)The Hiriya canal drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra river which was used for
irrigation.
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3.What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within
the fortified area of the city?
Ans. Advantages of enclosing agriculture land within fortified area:
(i) It had an elaborate canal system which drew water from the Tungabhadra to provide irrigation
facilities.
(ii) It enclosed agricultural tracts, cultivated fields, gardens and forests.
(iii) This enclosure saved crops from being eaten by wild animals.
(iv) In the medieval period, sieges were laid to starve the defending armies into submission. These
sieges lasted for many months or many years. So the rulers of Vijayanagara adopted and elaborated
a strategy to protect the agricultural belt and built large granaries.
Disadvantages
(i)This system was very expensive.
(ii)During adverse, circumstances this system proved inconvenient to the farmers.
(iii)The farmers had to seek the permission of gate-keeper to reach their field.
(iv)If enemy encircled the field the farmer could not look after their field.
4.What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the mahanavami dibba?
Ans. The mahanavami Dibba was the King’s palace in Vijayanagara though there is no definite
evidence. From the available source we can guess that it had very beautiful wooden structure with
base of the platform was covered with relief carvings. The Mahanavami Dibba had a very impressive
platform known as “the audience hall”. It was surrounded by high double walls a street running
between them.
Many rituals were associated with the Mahanavami dibba. Here the Hindu Festival Mahanavami or
Navaratri were celebrated with a great pomp and show in the months of September-October. This
festival continued for 9 days. The rulers of Vijayanagara Empire displayed their power, prestige and
suzerainty. On this occasion several ceremonies were performed this included:
(i)Worship of the different gods and goddesses
(ii)Worship of the state horse.
(iii)The sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
(iv)The main attraction of this occasion were:
(a)Dances
(b)Wrestling matches
(c)Processions of horses, elephants, chariots and soldiers.
All these ceremonies presented before the king and his guests. On the last day of the festival, the
king inspected his army as well as the nayakas of the army. He also accepted gift from the nayakas.
5.Fig. 7.33 is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral
motifs? What are the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human
figures shown.
Ans. Given illustration of the pillar from the Virupaksha temple has pictures of plants bearing
flowers and different animals-birds.Animals, birds include peacock, horse, duck, etc. These pictures
were probably carved out on gateways to attract people. These pictures also express devotion,
religiousness and-love for art of patronage ruler.Except this various kinds of animals and birds were
associated with different gods and goddesses.
That was why they were also worshipped.Human pictures include both deities and their worshippers
respectively. A god is shown wearing malas and crown. He also has gadda in his hands.Probably he
was the destroyer of Rakshashas. In another picture devotee is shown near the ‘Shivlinga’ His
method of worship is also strange which is not applicable in any form.

6.Discuss whether the term “royal centre” is an
appropriate description for the part of the city for
which it is used.
Ans.The term “royal centre” is an appropriate
description for the part of the city for which it is
used because the Royal center had more than 60
temples. Most of these temples were constructed
by the ruler of Vijayanagara Empire to express their
supremacy. The royal centre had 30 palaces. These
were made of perishable material. A brief
description of the building of Royal centre are as
given below:
(i) One of the most beautiful buildings in the royal
centre is the Lotus Mahal. It was named by British
travellers in the nineteenth century. While the name
is certainly romantic, historians are not quite sure
what the building was used for. One suggestion,
found in a map drawn by Mackenzie, is that it may
have been a council chamber, a place where the king
met his advisers.
(ii) Most temples were located in the sacred centre.
One of the most spectacular of these is the Hazara
Rama Temple. This was probably meant to be used
only by the king and his family.
7.What does the architecture of buildings like the

Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us about the
rulers who commissioned them?(or)
Attempt a brief note on Lotus Mahal and elephant
stables.(or)
What does the architecture of building like Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us about the
rulers who commissioned them?(or)
Give a brief description of Lotus Mahal, situated in Royal centres of the Vijayanagara a Empire.
Ans. The architecture of buildings like the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us that the rulers
had adopted Indian traditional symbol, signs and totems. They were Hindu by faith but they were
liberal by nature.
Lotus Mahal: Lotus Mahal was so named by the British travellers in the 19th century.
Historians have different opinions regarding the use of this building. According to a few this building
was used as a council of chamber where the king met his advisers.

In this regard, they gave the evidence of a map drawn by Colonel Colin Mackenzie. This building is
constructed in Indo-Islamic style of architecture. The pillars and arch were built in Muslim style
while the wall and roof were constructed in Indian style wood and stone figures were engraved on
the walls and roof to give them a decorative appearance with the passage of time to the most part
of this building got destroyed, hence it is difficult to guess its grandeur.
Elephant stables: The Rayas (rulers) of the Vijayanagara maintained a very large army and troops.
There were a large number of elephants in the army. To keep these elephants, Elephant stable was
constructed near the Lotus Mahal in which a number of rooms were lined.
8.What are the architectural traditions that inspired the architects of Vijayanagara? How did they
transform these traditions?
Ans. The rulers of Vijayanagara were known for their many innovations in the sphere of architectural
traditions. They built many new temples which presented their architectural skills. They also added
many new features in the temple architecture. For example, they built gopurams and royal
gateways. The towers of the central shrines signalled the presence of the temple from a great
distance. But the royal gateways surpassed the kings. They showed that the kings had full
command over the resources, techniques and skills.

Other distinctive features of architectural style includes the constructions of mandapas or pavilions
and pillared corridors that ran around the shrines. There were two main temples. The Virupaksha
temple and the Vitthala Temple.
The Virupaksha temple was constructed in the 9th-10th centuries. But after the establishment of
Vijayanagara Empire, it was substantially enlarged. Krishnadeva Raya built one of the most powerful
ruler of the empire, built a hall in front of the main shrine to mark his accession to the throne. It was
decorated with delicately carved pillars. Many temple complexes had chariot streets. These streets
extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line. They were paved with slabs of stone and lied
with pillared pavilions. In which merchants have set up their shops. In other words, the rulars of
Vijayanagara built impressive buildings.
9.What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara can you cull from the
various descriptions in the chapter?
Ans. Ordinary people were those people who did not take part in power structure. They spoke
different languages and follow different religious traditions. They consisted of small traders and
local merchants. They use to live in cities, trade centres, port , towns and villages. Local
communities of merchants known as kudirai chettis or horse merchants participated in exchanges.
People such as peasants, workers, slaves, etc. were also included in ordinary people.
The workers were known as “Vipra viodin”. This group of ironsmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters,
sculpture-makers, etc. Who often quarrelled mutually for their right. It seems that during that period,
need was felt to frame laws for the society to execute social justice.
Kaikkol known as the weavers were in large numbers. They lived near temples. They played
significant role in running the administration of the temple. In Vijayanagara state there were
Gadarias known as Kambalattar. They followed the customs of polyandry. The special characteristic
was that the wife was elder to the husband. Their women had physical relations with the husband’s
kinsmen like father, brothers were prevalent.
There was an orthodox bigot section in Vijayanagara called as reddis who owned the land. They had
enough influence in the Telugu region of Vijayanagara. In the society there were a few low class
people, who were non-influential. They were Domber, Marva,Jogi, Paraiyan, Boi Kallaar, etc. Some
low caste people converted into Christianity under the influences of Portuguese.
10.On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia.
Ans.Followed by routes to reach Vijayanagara from Italy and Portugal:
The travellers crossed the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and then, they taken land route to reach South

India.
Atlantic Ocean touching the Cape of Good Hope and then Indian Ocean to reach Malabar of India.
From here they took land route to reach Vijayanagara.
The Italian travellers crossed the Arabian Sea and then Indian Ocean and through Malabar coast
they reached Vijayanagara. From Iran via Afghanistan and modern Pakistan they would have taken
land route upto Karnataka, India.
Russian came to India via Afghanistan. They crossed modern Punjab in Pakistan, central India
crossing Vindhyachal, Satpura to Karnataka.

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An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED

2.How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?(or)

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7.What does the architecture of buildings like the

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