The Vijayanagar Empire did not perish after the Battle of Talikota as is commonly believed. It lingered on for another century before it was completely extinguished. Tirumala ruled in the name of the Sadasiva Raya whatever territories had been left.

He tried to satisfy the lust of the sultans and handed over to them all those places which his great brother had conquered from them. But still the attacks from the sultans continued and pillage and plunder was frequently resorted to.

The Vijayanagar treasury was completely empty, the economic prosperity had gone and the revenues were not forthcoming. This was indeed a very sorry state of affairs. But Tirumala tried to keep the Vijayanagar alive and even moved his capital to Penugonda to avoid daily Muslim encroachments.

In 1569, he seemed to have enthroned himself as the King in place of Sadasiva Raya, who was in all probability killed by Tirumala’s son Venkata (?). Thus ended the great Tulva dynasty and the fourth and last dynasty to rule over Vijayanagar known as Aravidu came into existence.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Tirumala ascended the throne in very difficult times. His state was an easy prey to the raids of the sultans who wanted to parcel it out amongst themselves. Aware of their designs, he divided his empire into three divisions which were more or less based on linguistic considerations.

He entrusted its administration to his three sons, Sri Ranga, Rama and Venkatapati. Ranga looked after the Telugu area; Rama governed the Kanarese districts from his heaqduarters at Srirangapatnam while Venkatapati administered the Tamil region from Chandragiri. His charge included the powerful nayakas of Madura, Tanjore and Jingi.

Tirumala tried as best as he could to ward off the Muslim attacks and keep the residuary state intact. But his meagre resources did not permit him to go to the help of Hindu chieftains when they appealed him for help against Muslim aggression.

He deserves praise for preserving the cultural tradition of the Vijayanagar rulers. He built temples and bathing ghats and gave grants to Brahman priests. He enjoyed the company of scholars and poets. He passed away in early 1572 and was succeeded by his eldest son Sri Ranga.