Question

<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> Vijayanagara empire is considered as the cultural capital of South India. Elucidate.

Answer 1

Answer:

Introduction:
Vijayanagar Empire was established in 1336 in the wake of the rebellions against Tughluq rule in the Deccan, it lasted for more than two centuries as the dominant power in south India. Due to prolonged stability and heavy investment in infrastructure, long-term architectural projects were carried out and there was a visible attempt to promote the sponsorship and patronage of musicians, writers, poets, sculptors, painters, religious and even athletes.

Body:
Salient Features of different cultural elements of Vijayanagar period
Architecture can be broadly classified into religious, courtly, and civic architecture.
Artistic style is an organic combination of the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya, and Chola styles that evolved in earlier centuries.
Local hard granite was the building material of choice.
Literature and paintings showcase the religious and social life of the period.
Different cultural elements of Vijayanagar Kingdom making it cultural capital of south
Temples
The temple building activity of the Vijayanagara rulers produced a new style called the Vijayanagara style.
The Gopurams or towers erected at the entrance gates of the temples became the highest structure in the temples.
For performing the marriage of the God-Goddess, a separate pillared hall, (Mandapa) was constructed for the performance of this ritual.
The constructions of this period can be noticed in the temples of Madurai, Srirangam, Chidambaram, Kanchipuram, Tadipatri, Tiruvannamalai, etc.
At Hampi several temples were constructed, the most important of them being the Vithala temples and the Hazara Ramaswamy temple.
Certain secular buildings at Hampi such as the King’s Audience Hall, lotus temples were built.
Sculptures
The figure of Narasimha is the most found sculpture during this time.
Two feminine Dwarapalikas, Ganga and Yamuna, can be seen at the entrance of most temple gates.
Portrait sculpture of Krishnadeva Raya and his queens is seen at Tirumala is a fine example of sculpting talents of this period.
Paintings
The Vijayanagar school of painting is renowned for its frescoes of Hindu gods and goddesses and scenes from Hindu mythology on temple walls and ceilings.
The earlier practice of applying water to the wet plaster gave place to pigments which were mixed with lime water and applied to the dry plaster on the wall.
It gradually evolved into many styles of painting in South India such as the Mysore and Tanjore schools of painting.
Mysore paintings are famous for their elegance, muted colours, and attention to detail and are characterized by delicate lines, intricate brush strokes, graceful delineation of figures, and the discreet use of bright vegetable colours and lustrous gold leaf.
Vijayanagar painting is most commonly represented in elaborate manuscripts and wall paintings in Hindu temples.
Vijayanagar art includes wall paintings such as the Dashavatara (the Ten Avatars of Vishnu) and the Girija Kalyana (the marriage of Parvati, Shiva’s consort) in the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi; the Shivapurana murals (the Tales of Shiva) at the Virabhadra temple at Lepakshi; and those at the Kamakshi and Varadaraja temples at Kanchi.
Literature
Many literary greats flourished under various rulers.
Vijayanagara is often claimed as the Golden Age of Telugu literature.
A great number of works were also written in Tamil, Kannada and Sanskrit.
literary works of all kinds were published ranging from Prabandhas( collection of stories) to works on religion, medicine, grammar, music to biographies.
It was not just poets and scholars, many rulers of Vijayanagara empire, court nobles, soldiers too contributed to the literary works.
Krishnadeva Raya himself was a famous author and wrote Amuktamalyada.

Conclusion:
Owing to these developments the Vijayanagar Kingdom is considered to be the Capital culture of Southern India.