We may briefly refer here to the circumstances which prompted the rulers of Hindu states of South India to make united effort to drive out the Muslim invaders from the north. Eventually, it led to the foundation of the Vijayanagar Empire which will be discussed in detail in the next chapter. Hindu kingdoms had fallen one by one but the Hindu population had, on the whole, remained silent spectator.
But now when their religion was at stake they rose determinedly to throw off the Muslim yoke. The Hindus of Tiling and Karnataka, most of whom belonged to Saiva sect, were the first to rise in rebellion against the tyranny of the Muslim invaders. Musunuri family inhabiting the east coast, rose in rebellion and drove out the local Muslim garrison.
Their leader was Prolaya Nayak who was succeeded by the brave and capable Kapaya. He was realistic enough to realize that it was not an easy job. He knew he would have to encounter stiff resistance not only from the local Imperial governor and their forces but also from a large number of nobles and merchants and their followers who had settled down in the south, besides Hindu converts to Islam. It was a formidable combination. Kapaya, therefore, thought of uniting the Hindus of the south into a pan-Hindu federation.
The active help of Ballal III, the most powerful of the Hindu Kings of the south, was essential for the success of this project. Kapaya, therefore, paid a secret visit to Dwarasamudra and was able to elicit the support of Ballala. He agreed to join hands with Kapaya to seize Mabar, Kapila and Dhorasamand or Dwarasamudra while Kapaya would take possession of Warangal.
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According to plan, Kapaya captured Warangal, the Muslim governor Imad-ul-Mulk fled away to Daulatabad. The Delhi sultan now thought it prudent to appoint a person of his choice as the ruler of Kampila who might be related to the Raya of Kapila. There were two brothers Harihara and Bukka at his court who were related to the Raya Ramanatha and had also served his father Prataparudra.
They had been taken prisoners during the conquest of Kampila, later converted to Islam and kept at the Imperial court. The Sultan appointed Harihara, ruler of the province and sent him there with large army. Harihara and his brother were well received by the people who rejoiced at their return.
Shortly afterwards Harihara renounced Islam and declared himself independent. Harihara defeated Ballala after a fierce battle and recovered Chandragiri. The conquest of Nellore and Udayagiri by Bukka followed. It was before A.D. 1336 that Harihara captured Anegondi (Kunjarakona) which became his capital.
To commemorate his victory over his enemies and “the restoration of the country to the Hindus”, he gave it the name of Vijayanagar. We shall take note of these developments in the chapter on Vijayanagar Empire.