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Islamic Jihadfound it ‘‘large as Rome and very beautiful to the sight’’; it was ‘‘the best-provided city in the world… for thestate of the city is not like other cities, which often fails of supplies and provisions, for in this everythingabounds.’’ 502 As goes the legend, it was ‘a kingdom so rich that pearls and rubies were sold in the marketplacelike grain,’ notes Naipaul. 503 Razzak’s eyewitness account somewhat affirms this legend, saying: ‘Thejewellers sell their rubies and pearls and diamonds and emeralds openly in the bazar.’ 504 In late 1564, fourneighboring Muslim sultanates joined hands to destroy the great Hindu civilization of Vijaynagar that hadlasted over 200 years. In a five-month seize, it was burnt to ashes in January 1565. English historian RobertSewell noted of the destruction that ‘‘so splendid a city; teaming with a wealthy and industrious population inthe full plentitude of prosperity… seized, pillaged and reduced to ruins, amid scenes of savage massacre andhorrors begging description.’’ 505 On the massacre and pillage of the fleeing Hindus, notes Ferishtah, ‘theriver was dyed red with their blood. It is computed by the best of authorities that above one hundred thousandinfidels were slain during the action and in the pursuit. The plunder was so huge that every private man in theallied army became rich in gold, jewels, tents, arms, horses, and slaves…’ 506Let us return to the tolerance of the Vijaynagar kings. In order to fortify his army to stave off Muslimattacks, King Dev Raya II (1419–49), records Ferishtah, ‘gave orders to enlist Mussulmans (of his kingdom)in his service, allotting them estates, and erecting a mosque for their use in the city of Beejanuggar(Vijaynagar). He also commanded that no one should molest them in the exercise of their religion andmoreover, he ordered a Koran to be placed before his throne on a rich desk, so that the faithful (Muslims)can perform their ceremony of obeisance in his presence without sinning against their laws.’ 507 However,this tolerance and promotion of treacherous Muslims in the army eventually proved costly for Vijaynagar, theonly standing Hindu civilization in India. By the mid-sixteenth century, Muslims had become a significantforce in the army. When the confederate force of the surrounding sultanates attacked Vijaynagar in 1564–65,two large Muslim battalions, each having 70,000–80,000 soldiers, deserted King Ramraja. Because of thesetwo Muslim commanders’ treachery, Ramraja fell into Muslim hands. Sultan Hussein Nizam Shah ordered hisbeheading immediately. This led to the collapse of Vijaynagar, noted Caesar Frederick, who visited the placetwo years later in 1567. 508It should, however, be acknowledged that some degree of intolerance had been sinking in Ramraja’sarmy. He had become very powerful and started capturing domains from the neighboring Muslim sultanates,threatening latter’s existence. In the course of incursions into Muslim domains, his forces started paying in thesame coin as Muslims had been doing ever since they started attacking India in the 630s, and moreimportantly, against Vijaynagar over the previous 200 years. His forces started disrespecting mosques,offering Hindu prayers in them and even destroyed some; they even violated Muslim women in the 1558attack of Ahmednagar, ruled by Hussein Nizam Shah, records Ferishtah. 509 However, these sacrilegious acts,it appears, were not approved by the Hindu monarch. On one occasion, his Muslim soldiers sacrificed acow—sacred to Hindus—in the Turukvada area in Vijaynagar offending the Hindus. Ramraja’s offendedofficers and nobles, including his own brother Tirumala, petitioned to him about the sacrilege. To be notedthat even today a similar offence against Islam in a Muslim-majority country, say in Bangladesh or Pakistan,will incite Muslim mobs to violence, even probably bloodbath. Ramraja, however, refused to prohibit the502. Nehru (1989), p. 258503. Naipaul VS (1977) India: A Wounded Civilization, Alfred A Knopf Inc., New York, p. 5504. Elliot & Dawson, Vol. IV, p. 107505. Nehru (1989), p. 259506. Ferishtah, Vol. III, p. 79507. Ibid, p. 266508. Majumdar RC ed. (1973) The Mughal Empire, in The History and Culture of the Indian People, Bombay, Vol. VII,p. 425509. Ferishtah, Vol. III, p. 72,74161