16th Century Copper plates discovered in Tiruvallur

Sub: History

Sec: Ancient History

Context:

A set of copper-plate inscriptions dating back to the 16th Century CE have been discovered at the Sri Singeeswarar temple at Mappedu village in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu recently.
The two leaves of the copper plates were strung together using a ring that had the seal of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.
According to Archaeological Survey of India, the inscription was written in Sanskrit using the Nandinagari script. It was engraved in 1513 during the reign of King Krishnadevaraya.

About Vijayanagara Kingdom:

The Vijayanagar Empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka.
Initially serving under the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal, they later declared their independence and established a new city on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River, naming it Vijayanagar (city of victory).
The Vijayanagara Empire witnessed the reign of four dynasties: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva, and Aravidu.
The kingdom reached its zenith under Krishna Deva Raya during which it held military superiority over rivals like the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda Sultanate, and the Gajapatis of Odisha.
During the reign of Rama Raya, he was defeated at the Battle of Talaikotta in 1565 by the combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golconda, and Bidar, marking the decline of the Vijayanagar Empire.
The last ruler of Vijayanagar was Sri Ranga III.

Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529):

Krishnadevaraya of Tuluva dynasty was the most famous ruler of Vijayanagar. His rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation.
He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula by defeating the sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Gajapatis of Odisha.
Titles: Andhra Bhoja, Mooru Rayara Ganda, and Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana
The Portuguese travellers Domingo Paes and Duarte Barbosa visited the Vijayanagara Empire during his reign.
He Promoted Telugu literature and was a patron of poets like Allasani Peddana His era is called the Golden Age of Telugu literature.
The Ashtadiggajas was a group of eight renowned poets in his court, who played a key role in enriching Telugu literature and arts.
Amuktamalyada written by Krishnadevaraya is considered a classic in Telugu literature.
Initially a follower of Shaivism, he later embraced Vaishnavism and constructed temples for both Shiva and Vishnu, exemplifying religious tolerance.

Nandinagari script:

Nandinagari, a variant of Nagari script, is mostly confined to the Karnataka region.
The Nandinagari script was used in South India between the 8th and 19th centuries for writing manuscripts and inscriptions.
It is written from left to right.