6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

-5TH GLORIOUS EPOCH 357
MAHARAJADHIRAJ KRISHNADEVRAI
891. To the above-mentioned Tuiuv dynasty of Naresh
•of Vijaynagar belonged the mighty emperor Krishnadevrai
-who ruled from A.D. 1509 to 153C. He was well-educated
and his address was clever and pleasing. He impressed even
the greatest of scholars of the time. The learned scholars of
•of Sanskrit, Telegu, Tamil and Kannad literatures were
.generously patronized by his court*". In his court were
eight great poets whom he called '5r^af^«t' ("Elephants of
the Eight Directions".) He himself was a great writer. His
Telegu book named 'sng^T ^c*)^' is very well-kno-wn".
Maharaja Krishnadevrai was equally fond of architecture
and sculpture. He it was who got the famous Ram Mandir
of Vijaynagar built, besides the many forts, ramparts, temples
•courtyards, monasteries and caravan sarais throughout his
empire**. He made munificent grants to the Brahmins and
temples**. His career shines with his various virtues such
as courteous behaviour, dexterity in discourse, prudence in
politics, his long-range view in chalking out plans and
formulating policies and last but not the least, his sternness
and valour in respect of the enemies. Western and other
foreign historians have unanimously praised him as an
unrivalled great ruler** !
892. If Maharajadhiraj was most civil with the gentle
folks, he was unrelenting and merciless when he fought
bravely with the enemies of his religion or those of his
nation ! Victory graced him in his bitter war with Adilshah**,
whereupon the treaty he effected with the Adilshahi Sultan,
laid down such acrid terms as completely crushed down the
Muslim swaggering claims of invincibility**, established the
superiority of the Hindus, and were accepted by the abject
Muslim rulers with great reluctance.
893. His army was vast and powerful. It comprised of
seven hundred thousand foot, twenty-two thousand cavalry
and five hundred and fifty-one elephants ever prepared for
"war*'.
894. The glory of Vijaynagar reached its zenith in the