Vijayanagara (Progress of Research 1987-1988) An Old and Rare Book

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Vijayanagara, the most extensive city of the medieval period, offers excellent opportunities to understand the pattern of a medieval city. The Government of Karnataka have envisaged a project "Resurrection of Hampi to bring to light the importance of this city Under this project the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums in Karnataka has taken up large scale excavations, conservation and research at Vijayanagara. Progress achieved in this respect since 1979 has been published periodically for the benefit of the people, scholars and students

Government of Karnataka, who have initiated the project, under the guidance of the Hampi Resurrection Authority, headed by the Hon'ble Chief Minister, have been giving continuous support for the project. Inspite of his extremely busy schedule, the Hon'ble Chief Minister has blessed this publication with an illuminating foreword. We would like to record our deep debt of gratitude to the Government of Karnataka and the Hon'ble Chief Minister.

The publication Includes the excavation, conservation and research carried out during 1987-88, when Dr. M.S. Nagaraja Rao was the Director of Archaeology and Museums. Since this was not edited and published then, we have compiled, edited and now are publishing for the benefit of scholars.

Dr. C.S. Patil, Registering Officer of this Directorate has spared most of his time and energy and assisted the Director in giving a proper shape to this publication. Sri Balasubramanya. Archaeological Assistant incharge of the Hampl excavations, has assisted the Director not only in conducting the excavations, but also in managing the camp at the site. Supervision of excavations has been assisted by Sriyuts T.M. Manjunathaiah and D. Shivappa.

Conservation of monuments has been successfully carried out under the guidance of Sri B. Jayappa, the then Assistant Executive Engineer (Conservation Wing) who is no more with us and Sri Prahlada Rao, Junior Engineer. The works connected with photography and drawing have been excellently done by Sriyuts Balaraja Naidu and G. Jayaprasada Rao respectively.

The manuscript has been neatly typed by Sriyuts S. Jothirlingeswarappa, D.J. Ganesh, S. Shamasundar and Smt. K.R. Shobha. Sri T.S. Gangadhara and Smt. V.S. Kamala Bai have gone through the proofs and attended to the press work. To all of them my grateful thanks are due.

Dr. George Michell and Dr. John Fritz have not only contributed the results of their field work in the form of progress reports but also research articles. Other participants also have con-tributed articles to enrich the value of this volume. I am thankful to all these well known scholars.

Vijayanagara, the capital of the large empire covering the entire South India, was a seat of multifarious cultural activities like art, architecture, religion, literature etc., from 14th to 17th centuries. This magnificent city covering about 25 sq. kms. attracted the people from all over the world during that period. The Dasara Festival introduced by the Vijaya-nagara kings at this site was inherited by the Wadiyars of Mysore and now it is being celebrated by the Government of Karnataka as a State Festival.

This great city of Vijayanagara was plundered by the enemy forces during the 16th Century and since then it is known as Forgotten Empire" and "Hampi Ruins". This site had not received the attention of the scholars till recently. Now the Government of Karnataka has established Hampi Research Project for the resurrection of this city and restoration of its grandeur. Dasara Festival is also being celebrated at this site by the Government to revive the cultural tradition.

The Directorate of Archaeology & Museums in Karnataka has taken up a programme of excavations, conservation and re-search at Hampi (Vijayanagara). The work carried out by the Directorate is published periodically in the form of progress reports. The work carried out during 1987-88 has been reported in this volume, further under this series, for people, scholars and students. The information contained in this volume is co-mmendable and I hope that the Directorate will continue its efforts to bring back the past glory of Vijayanagara.

The splenderous city of Vijayanagara is unfolding many new things to excavators and explorers. Many scholars of diverse interest are at work at Hampi. The progress reports of research conducted by these scholars have already been published in three reports. This is the fourth report in this series. Apart from these this Directorate has published comparative study of photographs taken by Alexander Greenlaw in 1856 and John Gollings in 1983.2 Results of the research conducted in the Urban Core of the City by Dr. George Michell have also been published separately. A photographic exhibition on excavation, conservation and discoveries has been put up at Hampi for the benefit of the visiting scholars. Photographs taken by Col. Alexander Greenlaw and John Gollings have also been exhibited at the site.

Excavations have been continued in the Noblemen's Palaces area. Two palatial structures and a temple have been excavated in this area. One structure in the area north of the Hazararama temple has also been ex-cavated. The results of these excavations have been reported in this volume.

The excavated structures are being conserved simultaneously. Two Palaces excavated in Noblemen's Palaces area last year have been conserved this year. The fortification north of the Hazararama temple has been partly conserved. The conservation wing of the Directorate has completed conservation of Southern Mantapa Nos. 2 and 5, Nandi Mantapa and a portion of paved road in the Virupaksha Bazar.

Epigraphical studies, bringing to light new inscriptions, form an interesting chapter in the series. It may be recapitulated here that only three small inscriptions were published in the first report. This number Increased to eighty in the second report and one hundred and eighty in the third report. The present report contains a single inscription in the form of a set of eight copper plates. This set discovered at Anegondi is very interesting. This does not contain any historical information but is of literary value. This record of about 13th century A.D. contains two legendary stories Girijā Kalyāņa and Amrita Mathana.

Vijayanagara has been attracting several foreign scholars. The Michell - Fritz team have continued to document the architectural and cultural remains of the city. Reports on the field work done during the year of this report by Drs. Michell, Fritz and Sinopoli have been published here.

The chapter on research articles includes articles on the road system, agricultural features, chipped stone tools, irrigated valley, a platform and a small settlement contributed by the members of the Michell Fritz team. The young scholars of this Directorate have contributed articles on several temples and sculptures. Dr. C.S. Patil, Registering Officer of this Directorate has taken up a study of the problem of Kampilaraya. This Chief who fought twice successfully against the Sultan of Delhi but lost to him finally and associated with the origin of Vijayanagara, is known to the historians as having ruled from Kampili and fought with Muslims at that place. But the study by Dr. Patil which incorporates several literary sources, inscriptions and field investigations proves beyond any doubt that Kampilaraya was ruling from Kummata and fought against Muslims from that place.