JOIN USOne of the most prominent features of the early European maps of India is the Kingdom of ‘Narasinga’ that covers much of the southern peninsula. Most people will have difficulty identifying this name because it refers to what is now best remembered as the Vijayanagar empire.
It was ruled by Narasingha Raya when the Portuguese first arrived in India. Note the difference in spelling, ‘Narasinga’ as spelt in the maps. He was not an important monarch in the history of Vijayanagar, but his name stuck and Europeans continued to mark it on their maps long after he and his empire were gone.
Narasimha Raya (1503-1505), also known as Immadi Narasimha or Dhamma Tammaraya, has spent the entirety of his 'reign' in confinement at Penukonda, while Tuluva Narasa Nayaka holds true power.
On the general's death, his son takes over as regent, and has to face several rebellions by regional lords who think that their time for independence has come. When Narasimha Raya is murdered at Penukonda, Viranarasimha Raya is able to proclaim himself king in name as well as fact, founding the Tuluva dynasty.
One of the most remarkable remains is that of Ugra Narasingha or Narasimha - a giantic sculpture of Lord Vishnu as half-lion and half-man. Unlike the Egyptian Sphinx, it has the head of a lion and body of a man. Given that the Vijayanagar empire was known as Narasingha by the early Europeans, this sculpture is particularly appropriate.
MP