Indians | Ep 8: The Vijayanagar Empire | A Brief History of a Civilization

[@zedkay5145]

Wire kindly release it on more platforms in different languages. The country need to watch this.

[@anand1pillai]

Certainly but then there would be no country. Hearing the presenter I could well imagine the attitude of the so called Hindus over the many millennia who would give their honour and ethics away for a few pennies or praise

[@HRKhan-rg1kq]

​@@anand1pillaiesa nhi hai na to be posted😊 3rr😊

[@debayanbose9983]

❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@sbaskaran7638]

Why? Wants to distort universally? Get a balanced version . Indian History is too polarised . We have to cherry pick truths from the narratives from either side.

[@Vdbail]

The Lie would be in different languages...lol. Namit Arora and his fake version..lol

[@johnalexander4982]

Like Nehru's Discovery of India..... Bharat ek Khoj

[@Vdbail]

Discovery of India is the most popular fake literature in the world....lol

[@floatingrationale]

Muslim rulers exempted Muslims but taxed only non-Muslims. Two of those taxes are jizya and Khara.

[@floatingrationale]

Sorry it was Kharaj. Given this, how did Hindu rulers of that time collected taxes? Were they at least taxed in a fair and balanced way?

[@PercivalDark]

This is a common confusion that Non-Muslims just don't understand. Under Islamic Law all citizens must usually pay taxes. For Muslims, the tax was called 'Zakat' and for Non-Muslims, the tax was called 'Jizyah'.

[@PercivalDark]

Zakat is one of the 5 pillars of Islam: 1. Iman (Faith/Belief) 2. Salat (Prayer) 3. Zakat (Tax) 4. Saum (Fasting in Ramadan) 5. Haj (Pilgrimmage)

[@pranav210591]

@@PercivalDark Not a muslim myself, but zakat is charity, not taxation. Please check authentic sources instead of RW propaganda.

[@arunanand03]

Dear Namit Ji, We are grateful u bring these history episodes and presenting a very logical pictures.

[@anand1pillai]

There is a clear slant in his theme of presentation, almost appearing paid!

[@anand1pillai]

Logic may be but the partisan agenda of favouring extrinsic forces but paining the intrinsic in a poor light is obvious.

[@arunjetli7909]

This guy is a mercenary for jihad

[@morambam9897]

I have been watching the series enthusiastically from the beginning. I would love an episode about the Northeast in the later episodes.

[@ansh_u_r]

Nobody in history could ever say that Vijaynagar was an Islamic resistance kingdom...but certainly was an powerful Hindu kingdom...very different looking than an Islamic India..

[@ghostridermallu1835]

Bribery is part of our culture😂😂😂

[@abhishekmittal5440]

Thoroughly enjoying and loving this series....awesome!

[@srinivasvaranasi1645]

Good to see a brutally objective history!

[@kunals8022]

Would reserve my opinion till I see how he portrays the Invasions of the barbarians

[@ShivanshThakur-sh8ub]

​​@@kunals8022he portrays them as liberators.

[@shahrukhali4465]

Shukriya ❤

[@arpanapalle5556]

It's an eye opener. All they were after is power and wealth. Religion never really mattered like people of current times would like to believe. Krishna Deva Raya's period of rule is described as Golden age of Telugu literature. I guess their love for indulgence in arts and literature is what made them memorable

[@criticphil]

That's partially true. If Vijayanagar empire really subjugated other regions, those regions and their descendants would remember the atrocities as part of collective history.

[@ssmot113]

The best thing about the comment section under 'Indians' series is that it's free from rude people. If it's not because of actual comment deletion by The Wire, then it's commendable...

[@ravinr9583]

Leftists never accept criticism. My comment would be deleted immediately.

[@rohitvenkateshwaran]

Agree with 50% of what has been shown here. Disagree with the rest. Caste was prevalent in Vijayanagara as it was in just about every other Hindu and Muslim kingdom in India at that time, with Brahmins forming the privileged elite. But that doesn't mean that the social system was never questioned in Vijayanagara, or that the kings of that empire never accepted meritocracy. The saint Kanakadasa (mentioned in this video) himself is a case at point. Firstly, Kanakadasaru was not a "Dalit", but Kuruba (shepherd community: they're called Dhangar in Maharashtra. The later day Holkars of Indore would hail from this community) by origin. Kurubas were considered "Shudra" as per the caste hierarchy, and not outcaste. As per Kanakadasaru's biography (that has come down to us through oral legends), his father used to be a high ranking army officer in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, which means that caste was not a barrier to merit at least in military and administrative affairs. So Kanakadasa lived a happy and prosperous childhood with his father being able to appoint Brahmin teachers to tutor him. He grew up up to become a scholar, warrior and administrator, but then various events in his life instilled a sense of renunciation in him, due to which he relinquished his administrative position in the Vijayanagara court and went on to become the Bhakti saint we know him as today. Being well lettered since childhood, Kanakadasa was always a gifted poet: in fact, those poems in which he offers his harshest critique against caste discrimination are said to belong to the "pre-renunciation" period of his life, ie when he was employed at the Vijayanagara court! Secondly, the trend of dubbing Bhakti-devotionalism as another form of Brahminism in this series of videos is inappropriate. In case of saint Kanakadasa we're discussing here, after he resigned from worldly affairs, he became a disciple of Swami Vyasatirtha, a famous Vaishnavite monk belonging to the tradition of Madhwacharya. Vyasatirtha was a Bhakti saint-poet in his own right, but was also the preceptor to King Krishnadevaraya and the high-priest of the Tirumala Tirupati temple, which made him the Rajya-guru of the Vijayanagara kingdom! Vyasatirtha was a Brahmin by origin, but he had no qualms about admitting Kanakadasa into his cloister. Coincidentally, Vyasatirtha was Guru to saint Purandaradasa (again, mentioned in this video) as well, which makes all the three saint-poets contemporaries as well as compatriots! So considering Kanakadasa's poetry as "folk" and the works of Vyasatirtha and Purandaradasa as "orthodox Brahminical" makes no sense.

[@guruprasadravi307]

Good explanation Rohit, I can talk about this episode, as I hail from Karnataka and have done lot of unbiased reading on history of Karnataka. I agree to most of your information here. Due to lot of inaccuracies, I went back to see Mr Arora's credentials, and nothing stands clear about his dept of knowledge in Karnataka history. I can't talk about other episodes, as I have not done Indepth reading. I feel, it will be the same with the rest of the episodes. I feel everybody is trying to break happiness and commonsense of simple, hardworking, people. Most people are not obsessed with religion or history (especially fake history) like what we see now. Most people want to have a peaceful and moral life and good family values.

[@Indian-xj5ww]

@rohitvenkateshwaran You say, "the trend of dubbing Bhakti-devotionalism as another form of Brahminism in this series of videos is inappropriate." Where do you see that? I think it's a gross misreading on your part. He has clearly distinguished between the two, in this and also in previous episodes. If you believe your understanding is correct, cite some quotes etc. from the episode. Of course, the two sometimes had similar effects-like pushing out the sex-positive Tantric religion-but otherwise they are rightly depicted at distinct in the series, in their origins, beliefs, and practices.

[@SudeeptaChakraborty]

Let's be clear. This isn't a doctoral thesis, but brief articulation of the highlights of an era in easily digestible and interest evoking form. The presenter has done a brilliant job in that respect. Coming to the two points you have raised, the second one is clearly a misreading (or mis-viewing). Namit hasn't called Bhakti as another form of Brahminism, in fact he has clearly differentiated between the two in earlier episodes and also de-hyphenated them here. Coming to your first objection I am a little perplexed. You are using an exception to counter the general view that casteism was the norm. Of course there would be a rare exception. In your comment you have said how Kanakadasa had his harshest criticism coming even while he himself was in the royal service. Unless you are calling him a liar, this is a first hand account what he saw around him, irrespective whether he himself suffered any burnt. Also Namit didn't say Kanakadasa was a dalit, but a shepherd (15:40).

[@kalyanimookherji8834]

Please think about compiling these episodes as a book, dvd etc before they are taken down.

[@fellowhuman4656]

Any body else gets so excited to see new episode on youtube feed!!

[@b.k.choudhary6443]

Wonderful, vivid , comprehensive elaboration of the topic of the whole subject of mediaeval history of India. Sincere applaud to your intellectual prowess and oration skills.❤❤❤

[@hsubbaiahh8233]

Wonderful explanation 🙏🙏🙏

[@maryamsukaynah559]

Thank you for setting the records of history straight

[@Vdbail]

Misinformation from this video. No truth. Namit Arora ondu bolli maga. Its in Kannada. Decipher :)

[@AnirimaGhosh]

Amazing. I always make sure to add a comment to increase the reach. Will you please do an episode on the Bengal and East region. Thanks.

[@kalyanimookherji8834]

Exactly - very little authentic research videos on history of bengal

[@ObservantLearner]

As classy as always it is👌

[@MOONLIGHT-zu4ru]

Well done wire...keep it up ❤

[@kvishnup]

Hooked to this series....very well written and directed👍

[@swarnamohanty3121]

Excellent sir.

[@vrattaluri9045]

Excellent presentation,👏👏

[@Vdbail]

Fake analysis. First learn local language Kannada and Telugu. Check their historical reference. This video is 100% nonsense.

[@ranganathanv5365]

well done and please continue with more such

[@ragup205]

Amazing narration as always ❤🎉

[@ArjunAchyutha]

Amazed by this new series on Indian history!!!...lovenit❤❤❤

[@vishaalbhatnagar3924]

Great insights, as always.

[@khursheedahmed7095]

Fascinating history.... I am always anxiously waiting for the next episode. Thanks for all the work that goes into making this series. Very enlightening, at a time when history is being distorted.

[@vkravikumar2628]

Really enjoyed

[@shrav1012]

Fantastic episode. Read Rushdie's Victory City recently and this is all the more interesting right now..

[@ansh_u_r]

15:37 there is not only one lower caste poet, you can find many lower caste poets of the era who gives glimpses of their social lives..many in marathi... as marathi was also the language in Vijaynagar Empire...the read the writings of Chokha Mela...he gives the best descriptions of Lower caste people lives in central deccan..

[@notherepim]

Great work. Please never stop telling facts.

[@shiladityabikashsingh6457]

Excellently explained and documented...Thanks WIRE

[@veerindia5359]

Intresting history telling ways ty sir👍

[@mohitanand1844]

They failed to innovate when they needed it the most

[@rkvishwakarma4459]

A Good job done

[@AdvKapatkarS]

Thanks Again as Always

[@ashok755]

Good lecture. Thanks

[@angelboy2901]

amazing history of South India

[@aks1270]

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the episodes and looking forward to the next ones. A suggestion , if these can be edited a bit to make it suitable for high-school students and published separately as such.Also if you can publish it in major Indian languages with some good voice over artist/ scholar. Most of the schools lack good history teachers and history books are boring. Your videos can be of immense help.

[@atompf24]

Excellent!

[@NRIWelfareForum]

Very nice series

[@bababijli5140]

Presentation of Mr.Arora is superb. The whole thing when finished should be brought out as one volume as a presentation to hear and as a full book to read and ponder over. Congratulations the Wire and Mr. Arora

[@prathvirajsinghpatel9918]

5:08 thank you ANAM SHEIKH JI for your such a secular video editing 😅😅😅

[@subhendudey6625]

Vijaynagara empire always fascinated me. Having vivid account of the past empire through this narration is very interesting informative and refreshing. So many misconceptions cleared and made transparent the whole idea of imaginary conceptions.

[@Vdbail]

Fake analysis. First learn local language Kannada and Telugu. Check their historical reference. This video is 100% nonsense.

[@azimshaikh8772]

I eagerly wait for your episode of Indians, an excellent factual account of our history

[@sagirahmed1601]

Very informative! I wish to see an episode on Northeast India also.

[@pudur_artspudur_arts624]

It felt like reading a history book authored by a scholar named "UNBIASED" . Netflix worthy materials. Let it come....

[@vrattaluri9045]

Excellent visuals . Thank you sir

[@mrajrajan]

Great compilation. The negative impact this kingdom created on Tamil lands is significant right from imposing Brahminic vedas in Tamil temples and sanskritisation of temple practices which Tamil kings resisted till last Pandiyas. They were more invasive, had bitter fight with Sambovarayars of Tamil northern borders. Its the weakening of Cholas let them in and rule Madurai for sometime. In fact, they have created all irreversible damages than any muslim kingdoms at least from Tamil Nadu perspective.

[@drodro7672]

As like this video, which intends to show how modern passions are distorting factual history and creating our biased dominant historical lectures, Tamil Nadu needs urgently to understand it. The "Tamil archanai" religion that Muthuvel Karunanidhi clan advocates for is no less the same as how North Indian Hindi speaking Hindutva thinkers deal with their Persianate past. The difference is that the subject of irrational hate here is Sanskrit and Brahminical Culture and Religion, targeted by Telugu speaking or issued leaders ! Pandyas never opposed the Sanskritisation of the Tamil society. In truth, we can even suspect the source of Sanskritisation process down South, with the contemporaneous rise of the "Muvendar" dynasties (Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas), who along the Tamil language and culture (before them, Tamil must have been a less spread and less dominant language than it is now), flourished or colonised tanks to them. The Muvendar seeking a religious legitimacy through their numerous Brahmadeyas and conformism to a kind of religious taught. Brahmins, who, by the way, were already well present in the Tamil society of the early sangam eras. Indo-Aryan language influence can also have been more significant than it is now, through Jainism (Ardamagadhi and Sauraseni reading and praying Samanar) and even Buddhism (Pali). Of the seven Saptapuri or holy cities of Brahmanism, the sole one in Southern India (Aryan Maharashtra and Goa, and Sanskritophile Andhra included) is Kanchipuram. Why ? Maybe the Vijayanagara legacy in Madurai can be irritating for some people now, notably due to the Polygar system and its consequences. But a little North, in the Thanjavur region, Nayaka (and their succeeding Marathas) contribution was huge and still influential positively.

[@abdulmajeedkadambot7212]

Good to see history with a different and factual perspective. To complete Indians -A brief History of ......, you need to also cover the histories of further South - 'Tamilakam' and its various periods. Different Sangan eras. Please do your research and bring out the history of this important and different region.

[@MirAli-o4s]

An excellent presentation based on research.A very valuable contribution for those who wants to rise above their prejudices and gain an insight about the actual facts recorded in India's history.Congratilations to all the team members who contributed in this presentation.Please keep up the good work.

[@Vdbail]

What research? Hahhaha Does he know the local language Kannada or Telugu? Fake video...lol

[@MirAli-o4s]

@@Vdbail you better ask the Vloggers about the languages you are interested in! We are only concerned with the contents of the presentation.A very researched and historical Vlog indeed! Not for the biased people of course!

[@Vdbail]

@@MirAli-o4s : Hope you can understand English. I am saying the research is faulty and biased. Vijayanagara Empire was in Karnataka and AP. The language spoken is Kannada and Telugu. There is a lot of literature from that time. Its obviously in the local language of Kannada and Telugu. His accounts on Sati and the way Women were treated is not found in any of them. This is based on so called foreigners account. How true can that be. The foreigners of that time would have written in Pali or Prussian language. The Author is not familiar with those languages either. So its a fake and incorrect video. Some people who hate Indian culture obviously will find it historical and useful. Get cured.

[@Vdbail]

@@MirAli-o4s : How readily you are accepting it as the Truth. On which basis? Non native fellows narrative is considered the truth. Biased people and their fake historical narrative....lol Get cured!

[@ziaurda]

So fascinating.. ❤

[@adeshshingare1159]

Mr. ARORA first of all thanks you lot for bringing this amazing series , I watched all the episodes of this series they are very fascinating and enjoyable thanks to your lucid presentation...I want to make demand for some more episodes on Chola empire, sangam age, Delhi sultanate, and Temples Architecture. ❤

[@malvindersingh6828]

Fabulous series. Thank you Mr. Arora. Much needed in today’s day and age.

[@ranasyed3205]

Thanks for your hard work sir Very good analysis

[@kaushalgagan6723]

Please release it in Hindi too. It will help many. Waiting for the next episode ❤

[@SCIENCEPARADISE]

Sir please make 2nd part of foreign travellers

[@mayabava]

why did not talk about Cheras, Cholas and Pandya Kings who were more powerful than many kings in the world?

[@mw3175]

high respect for this report

[@EustaquioSantimano]

Thank you for this enthralling series on the History of India. Very informative, educational, insightful !! The series should reach a wider audience.

[@harbrindersingh2170]

Always waiting for next episode

[@AsadKhan-ii3es]

Excellent....

[@knowledgejunction8193]

What is stopping wire to do this Series in Hindi Language if they want to change the mind of Indian Hindus then it should be in Hindi Language as well,I request them to run this series in both English and Hindi Language...!!!👍

[@Adyjetu]

Hakka raya and bukka raya were kannada feudal commanders of Telugu Kakatiyas kings

[@vchandra3721]

At 5:42, both the voice-over and text say " Anjeyanadri" instead of " Anjaneyadri". Hanuman is son of Anjani, hence Anjaneya, and the hill associated with him is Anjaneyadri.

[@sayantimitra6514]

👍👍👍 for each and every segment

[@umaghargi4765]

We Kannadigas are very proud of Vijaya Nagar empire & great king Krishna Devaraya. Such a prosperous empire which was bigger & wealthier than Rome. Even the foreign travellers were amazed by it's grandeur. When , talking about Devadasi culture, it was in practice every where in Indian culture & cannot be attributed to Vijaya Nagar only. And the practice of King's wanting to possess the beautiful women is also common for all kings, & for muslim rulers. This should not be shown as negative points of the great Kingdom. Even, Upper class & lower class residing at separate parts of the city can be seen even back in Indus valley civilization & Roman Civilization. But , accepting Muslims as soldiers in the army , trusting them ,vwas a blunder done by Ramaraya, the last King of Vijaya Nagar. Though, hindu soldiers warned against making a muslim the chief commander of the army, Ramaraya ignored it. But the Muslim chief, betrayed him & joined with Bahamani Sultan & other muslim soldiers in the army joined him. This was the cause of defeat of Ramaraya.

[@robinsingh4027]

this episode open the Pandora's box of lies and shame for both north and south Indians....yeh to dhoti khol raha hai sabki :P

[@Advaitvaadi]

Great informative episode

[@TheAbsurd_Man]

Very informative series👍

[@devidaughter7782]

when you speak about the empire with the less strong economic base being more warlike, I wonder if this is a pattern that can be generalized? would it be fair to say that economically more stable and prosperous 'kingdoms' have been (generally) less warlike? if so, this certainly could explain the invaders from central Asia (without a strong economic base?) coming into the stable, prosperous IVC.

[@debdeepmajumder9136]

Fantastic work... Loved it.

[@ranasyed3205]

Wonderful series

[@anandprasadsharma5067]

Please upload next episode its very interesting series

[@Mr303606909]

Thank you for clear growth mindset brief on south Indian history.

[@neenathapainstitutions5499]

Really enjoying this series.. Have also shared it! Thank you Sir! 😊

[@kajakaiser]

Thanks

[@Mryajurarora]

Wonderful series. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@kabiruzzaman5129]

🕊️

[@narendrababu8999]

I am waiting for next episode

[@DSMEOMARFAROOQ]

Sir, You could have used some more accounts of information from the russian traveller Afanasy Nikintin

[@rgedz6148]

Thank you sir..

[@subrahmanyamgudipati268]

Good knowledge

[@anandmohan4657]

Thanks for analysis

[@DrKamranIqbal]

History well told in a balanced realism, a nuance generally missing. Love from Pakistan.

[@ileenollukaren6244]

Thanks Namit sir i love the way you narrate. Awesome work, fantastic research.

[@fredindie]

Wonderful insight, love this series!

[@ManjunathRagupathi]

Supar

[@veed85]

Loved the whole series, great research and presentation, Bohat zabardast Namit Sahib, Samandar ko qoozay mai band kardia apnay!!

[@whiteycat615]

Brilliant series so far

[@chitrarajgopal4597]

Life in the last was more cruel an unfair than present times

[@AdityaChaudhary-oo7pr]

Very exceptional series

[@ShrekCunther]

I don't know why I get through this torture of seeing the wire vedio every time it's posted, the italian guy says no one knew how vijaynagar queens lived , immediately proceeds with women were persecuted ree..... what is Madhura Vijayam then ? Gangamba Devi not a poet how is she describing muslmans in that book ?

[@rajivchawdhry4871]

How to see earlier episodes?

[@mdimtiyaz-zl5gp]

Such a nicely done series .. This will go in history as reference material...great work.

[@pratheekrebello8319]

While I love this series, I’m curious to know why we rely so much on testimonies of travellers and foreigners. What do Indian sources say about these empires? Do their accounts agree with the foreign sources

[@DesiBhoy]

Historians use a variety of sources that complement and support each other in creating the portrait of a society. Travellers are a valuable source because they tend to record things that natives often take for granted and don’t comment on. They bring fresh ways of seeing and an eye for cultural differences. But it’s also true that travellers can often be unreliable or misinformed or prone to exaggeration. So this has to be corrected for with other sources, including literary texts, court and trade records, inscriptions, archaeology, textual analysis, and of course other travellers’ testimonies. At times, multiple sources might confirm a detail; at other times, a detail only from a traveller is deemed reasonable to accept. It depends.

[@xr55]

Testimonies of foreigners or travellers are unbiased. Also, the lower caste wasn't educated. ​@@DesiBhoy

[@bharathnaby]

Excellent analysis. Thanks for the beautiful video essay, keep continuing this great work.

[@zedkay5145]

❤