Sri Krishnadevaraya

In news : The first-ever epigraphical reference to the date of death of Vijayanagara king  Sri Krishnadevaraya has been discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumkur district.

Key updates on Honnenahalli inscription

• According to the inscription, Krishnadevaraya, one of the greatest emperors of India who ruled from the South, died on October 17, 1529, Sunday, and incidentally this day was marked by a lunar eclipse. 
• This inscription is engraved on a slab kept on the north side of the Gopalakrishna temple at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district and is written in Kannada
• The inscription also registers the gift of village Honnenahalli in Tumakuru for conducting worship to the god Veeraprasanna Hanumantha of Tumakuru.
• The Kalahasti inscription refers to the date of Achyutaraya’s coronation as October 21, 1529 AD

About Sri Krishnadevaraya(-1509-1529)

• He is one of the greatest kings of Vijayanagara kingdom
• He consolidated and expanded the empire through astute use of his massive military, successfully campaigning against the kingdoms to his north.
• His titles:  Rajya Rama Ramana, Moorurayaraganda (meaning “King of three kings”), Andhra Bhoja  
• He was the ruler of Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagara kingdom and son of Tuluva Narasa Nayaka,an army commander under Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya
•  He was married to Srirangapatna’s princess Tirumala Devi and Coorg princess Chinna Devi. 
• He was father to Tirumalumba (from Tirumala Devi), Vengalamba (from Chinna Devi) and Tirumala Raya (from Tirumala Devi). 
• His daughters were married to Prince Aliya Rama Raya of Vijayanagara and his brother Prince Tirumala Deva Raya.
• He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula of India by defeating the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Gajapatis of Odisha, and was one of the most powerful Hindu rulers in India.
• Foreign travellers visit: Portuguese travellers Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz also visited the Vijayanagara Empire during his reign.
• The South Indian poet Muku Timmana praised him as the destroyer of the Turkics
• He was assisted by the abled prime minister Timmarasu, who was regarded by the emperor as a father figure and responsible for his coronation. 
• The administration of the empire was carried along the lines indicated in his Amuktamalyada. He was of the opinion that the King should always rule with an eye towards Dharma

Art and literature

• His rule was an age of prolific literature in many languages, although it is also known as a golden age of Telugu literature. Many Kannada, Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil poets enjoyed the patronage of the emperor. 
• He had ashtadiggajas in his court , Among these eight poets, Allasani Peddana is considered to be the greatest and is given the title of Andhra Kavita Pitamaha (the father of Telugu poetry)
• Krishna Deva Raya himself composed an epic Telugu poem Amuktamalyada.
• He patronised Kannada poets Mallanarya,  Timmanna Kavi, Vyasatirtha
• Krishna Deva Raya himself an accomplished scholar wrote Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya and Rasamanjari and Jambavati Kalyana in Sanskrit

Religion & culture

Herespected all sects of Hinduism and lavished on the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, numerous objects of priceless value, ranging from diamond studded crowns to golden swords. For this he is honored with installing his statues along with his two wives at the temple complex