The Vijayanagara Empire flourished in South India between 1336 and 1565. Conveying the depth and creativity of Hindu religious and literary expression during that time, Vijayanagara Voices explores some of the contributions made by poets, singer-saints, and philosophers. Through translations and discussions of their lives and times, Jackson presents the voices of these cultural figures and reflects on the concerns of their era, looking especially into the vivid images in their works and their legends. He examines how these images convey both spiritual insights and physical experiences with memorable candour. The studies also raise intriguing questions about the empire's origins and its response to Muslim invaders, its 'Hinduness', and reasons for its ultimate decline. Vijayanagara Voices is a book about patterns in history, literature and life in South India. By examining the culture's archetypal displays, by understanding the culture in its own terms, and by comparing associated images and ideas from other cultures, this book offers unique insights into a rich and influential period in Indian history.

William J. Jackson is Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Purdue, University of Indianapolis, USA.

Contents: Introduction; The legend of Vijayanagara's historical origins; Vidyaranya: sage, political adviser, music theorist, philosopher and biographer; Reflections on Vidyaranya, and the 'Hinduness' of Islamicate Vijayanagara; The Goddess' sword: Queen Ganga Devi's rousing story; and the archetype; Two poets of the people: Shripadaraya and Atukuri Molla; Popular worldly wisdom in the oral literature of Vemana and Baddena; Krishnadevaraya in the night kitchen: realizing his power at the peak of chaos' edge; Krishnadevaraya's legendary court jester and his dancing women; Poet: Kanakadasa's eloquent responses to caste prejudice; Achyutaraya: the coronation after the coronation; Conclusion: bad blood - wounded pride and retaliations; Index.