Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 38

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
.
FEBRUARY, 1931
huma torre fortissima, which was literally translated " a strongly fortified tower,"according to the terminology common in those days among Portuguesa and Spanish writers alike, simply means "a well-equipped fortress." Accordingly it naturally supposes high, strong walls encircling the premises, with several sentry boxes on the top of the walls—these sentries are also mentioned by Couto-and a palace inside to serve as the dwelling of the emperor; for, as the Portuguese writer expressly mentions, Sadasiva was there treated as a king. Moreover the fact mentioned by Frederick, that the young emperor was shown to his subjects once a year while in prison, seems to suggest a high tower which wouid enable a great number of his subjects to see their unfortunate monarch. And since it was not the intention of Rama Raya to betray the fact that Sadasiva was imprisoned, this place would have to be inside the royal enclosure. All this proves, moreover, that this so-called fortress would not be very oxtensive, but only sufficient for the king's palace and some gardens for his enjoyment.
After much examination I could not find any place agreeing with these details, except the so-called Zenana. Now it is evident that this enclosure would not be large enough to afford shelter and amusement to the hundreds of women that formed the harem of the emperors of Vijayanagara. Hence most probably it is not the Zenana at all. Let us kee what else it is likely to be.
The so-called Zenana is a quadrangular enclosure surrounded by very high walls, the construction of which is totally unlike that of the walls encircling the seven enclosures of Vijayanagara. This enclosure contains two main buildings and four secondary ones. Almost in the centre of these is the base of an edifice exactly like the bases of other buildings we come across within the royal enclosure. This building was apparently of the same style and belonged to the same period as the edifices of the royal enclosure. But the other five buildings, including that which we have classified as one of the main buildings of this enclosure, belong to an altogether different style of architeoture. These five buildings are the Lotus Mahal or Council Hall; three sentry towerg in the north-eastern. south-eastern and south-western corners, and a small oblong house attached to the northern wall, apparently destined for the servants.
The fact that these five buildings are in a different architectural style naturally foroes us to compare it with the style of the other civil buildings of Vijayanagara. This new style has been called "Indo-Muslim style," and has been explained as dua to Musulman influence at the Vijayanagara court. In the book above referred to I advanced the theory that these buildings were put up by the Decoani Sultans during their six months' stay at Vijayanagara, after the battle of Raksasatagadi." Yet a more careful examination of these buildings has forced me to change my view. In the Lotus Mahal itself, at the point of the arches of the ground floor, one discovers the kefrtimukha, which is a purely Hindu feature, and what is still more decisive, inside the oupola of the same building there are several Hindu images plaoed in niches, that form part of the original design of the build. er of that edifice. Moreover, there are three buildings in the Tamil country, built in the same style, which were not built by the Musulmans. These are the great and the small mahal at Chandragiri and the square tower in the inner enclosure of the Gingi fort.
Now the two mabals of Chandragiri were beyond doubt built by Venkata II, who first became Viceroy of the Tamilakam there, and then established the capital of the empire in the same place. The Hindu Muslim buildings of Vijayanagara were most likely built during the same period. They evidently disclose a marked Muslim influenoe in the capital of the Hindu empire. Such Muslim influence was evident during the regency of Rāma Raya, when the capital itself gave shelter to Ibrahim Quib Shah. then . fugitivo prince of Golkonda8; and received with great honours 'All 'Adil Shah II bimself, the Bultan of Bijapur, who went to pay & visit to Rama Raya:
6 Cf. Sewell, A Forgotten Empire, pp. 247-248, 370, 382. Longhurst, Ruins of Hampi, p. 78 ff.
1 Heras, O.C., p. 227. & Ibid., pp. 81-83.
9 Ibid., p. 87.