Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 25, 2025

Statement 1 is correct: Harihara and Bukka, the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire, did initially serve in the Delhi Sultanate, possibly under Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Statement 2 is correct: Vijayanagara rulers were great patrons of Telugu literature, and their reign is considered a golden age for Telugu literary works. Krishna Deva Raya himself was a noted scholar.

Statement 3 is correct: While the Battle of Talikota (1565) was a major defeat for the Vijayanagara Empire, it did not lead to its immediate and complete disintegration. The empire continued under the Aravidu dynasty, although with reduced power and territory.

Statement 4 is correct: Vijayanagara’s economy was primarily agrarian, but trade, both inland and maritime (especially through ports like Bhatkal), played a crucial role. The empire actively participated in trade with other regions, contributing to its economic prosperity.

Statement 1 is correct: Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, a military commander, seized the throne from the weakened Sangama dynasty amidst internal strife and external threats, establishing the Saluva dynasty around 1485 CE.

Statement 2 is correct: The Saluva dynasty witnessed territorial losses to the Gajapatis of Orissa, particularly under the rule of Prataparudra Deva.

Statement 3 is correct: The Saluva dynasty’s short reign was plagued by internal power struggles and factionalism among nobles, which weakened their authority.

Statement 4 is incorrect: While the Saluva dynasty did face challenges from the Bahmani Sultanate, their downfall was primarily caused by internal instability and the subsequent usurpation of the throne by Narasa Nayaka, who established the Tuluva dynasty. The Bahmani Sultanate was not the direct cause of their downfall.

Statement 1 is incorrect: While Hampi eventually became the renowned capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, it wasn’t the initial capital. The empire was first established with its capital at Anegondi, on the northern bank of the Tungabhadra River. Hampi, located on the southern bank, later became the capital and flourished as the empire’s center.

Statement 2 is correct: The Vijayanagara Empire is renowned for its significant contributions to art, architecture, and literature. The empire’s distinctive architectural style, known as Vijayanagara architecture, is characterized by its grandeur, intricate carvings, and impressive scale. The empire also saw a flourishing of Telugu and Kannada literature.

Option (a) is incorrect: Rock-cut temples carved directly into cliffsides were a feature of earlier South Indian dynasties, such as the Pallavas, Chalukyas, and Rashtrakutas. The Vijayanagara period predominantly saw structural temples built from stone blocks, not carved out of rock. Their innovation lay in elaborate halls, mandapas, and pillared enclosures rather than cliff-side excavation.

Option (b) is incorrect: While vimanas (sanctum towers) were important, Vijayanagara temples are especially renowned for their mandapas, which became more elaborate and larger than in earlier periods. The emphasis shifted to spacious assembly halls and ceremonial spaces rather than focusing primarily on the height or grandeur of the vimana.

Option (c) is correct: Vijayanagara temples are distinguished by elaborate Kalyanamandapas (marriage halls) with intricately carved pillars, ornate friezes, and decorative motifs. Examples include the Vittala Temple and Virupaksha Temple at Hampi. These mandapas served both ceremonial and social functions and represent the hallmark of Vijayanagara temple architecture.

Option (d) is incorrect: Apsidal (horseshoe-shapetemple plans were characteristic of early Buddhist chaitya halls and some early South Indian temples like the Lomas Rishi Cave. Vijayanagara temples, in contrast, followed rectangular or square plans, focusing on large pillared halls and open courtyards rather than apsidal layouts.

Option (a) is incorrect: Harihara II (r. 1377–1404 CE) was an early ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire who expanded the northern territories and engaged in wars with the Bahmani Sultanate. While he strengthened the empire, he is not particularly credited with major irrigation works or the Tungabhadra dam.

Option (b) is correct: Deva Raya I (r. 1406–1422 CE) is credited with consolidating the empire’s southern territories and initiating extensive public works. He constructed a dam across the Tungabhadra river to improve irrigation and provide water supply to the capital, supporting agriculture and urban needs, which significantly strengthened the empire’s economic base.

Option (c) is incorrect: Deva Raya II (r. 1424–1446 CE) is known as the “Lord of the Three Seas” for his military conquests in the south and overseas trade expansion, but the construction of the Tungabhadra dam is attributed to his predecessor, Deva Raya I.

Option (d) is incorrect: Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–1529 CE) was a Tuluva dynasty ruler celebrated for his military conquests, patronage of arts, and cultural achievements. However, he did not construct the Tungabhadra dam; his focus was more on expanding territories, temple patronage, and administration rather than large-scale irrigation projects initiated by Deva Raya I.