The origin of the kingdom of Vijayanagar is still a matter of controversy. According to tradition, the kingdom was founded by the five sons of Sangama of whom the two most prominent were Harihara and Bukka.
Harihara and Bukka, sons of the last of the Yadava king, Sangama, were in the service of the Kakatiyas of Warangal. When Warangal, fell the two brothers were taken to Delhi where they embraced Islam and became the favourites of the sultan.
Eventually they were sent back as governors to restore the sultan’s power. At this time, they came in contact with Vidyaranya and his brother, Sayana who brought them back to the Hindu fold. They declared independence, founding the state of Vijayanagara with Harihara as the king, and it soon developed into a powerful empire.
According to Father Heras, this kingdom was founded by the Hoysala king, Vira Bailala III. However, it seems certain that the kingdom owed its origin to a reaction to the devastating Muslim raids which threatened to overwhelm the Hindu civilisation in southern India. The capital of the kingdom was Hastinavati (Hampi).