India Post today released a stamp and miniature sheet on Krishanadeyaraya.Krishnadevaraya who ruler the kingdom of Vijayanagara in between 1509-1529 was one of the greatest statesmen which medieval South India had produced. Called variously as ‘Kannadaraya’, ‘Sri Karnata Mahisa’ and ‘Kannada Rajya Ramaramana’, his rule saw all round prosperity of South India, culturally and materialistically. He was the son of Tuluva Narasanayaka
and after the death of his brother Vira Narasimha ascended the throne of Vijayanagara in 1509.At the time of Krishnadevaraya’s accession to the throne, the condition of the empire was unstable. Not only he had to deal with rebellious subordinates but also the aggression of the Gajapatis of Orissa and the Muslim kingdoms in the north. But he came out successfully against all his adversaries.
The Vijaynagar Kingdom rose to its highest peak of glory during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya. Not only he was an able administrator and a great warrior but he was also a scholar, a poet, a musician and a kind king. He was loved very much by his subjects and he even treated his enemies with honor. He won all the wars he had waged during his rule. His empire extended from Cuttack in eastern India to Goa in the west and Raichur Dobe in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south.
During Krishna Deva’s reign the European ( mainly the Portuguese ) traders came to India and he encouraged foreign trade with the visitors. He built the famous Vithalswami and Hazara temple in Hampi. These temples and many other more are magnificent specimens of the Vijaynagar style of Hindu architecture.