2016/07/19 by N.H. Rao · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Indian and Buddhist Studies #Historical and Architectural Studies #Eurasian Exchange Networks #Hinduism #Monarchy #Politics #Dharma #Pilgrimage #Power (physics) #Bazaar #Ideology #Feudalism #Law #History #Aesthetics #Sociology #Religious studies #Ancient history #Philosophy #Political science #Archaeology #Buddhism
paper · pdf · doi:10.1186/s40613-016-0030-z
openalex publication_date 2016/07/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The aim of the paper is to understand the role of royal charitable gifts or dāna in the background of Hindu religious ideology of dharma , temple urbanism and political power in pre-modern South India. It examines the phenomena of large royal charities between the 14 th and 16 th centuries ACE under the Vijayanagar kings in the capital city of Vijayanagar (modern Hampi). The temple cities in the capital city owed their wealth largely to royal benefaction which was a continuation of Hindu religious tradition from ancient times. Drawing on iconographical, inscriptional and literary sources the paper explores the symbolic and religious values of benevolence which can shed light on temple patronage and Vijayanagar kingship. With the help of artistic and historical evidences, it provides a glimpse into the workings of mahādānas (large gifts) and relationship between the palace, bazaar and the temple. Through the mechanism of ritual gifting as an intrinsic aspect of ‘ dharmic’ kingship, the Vijayanagar kings were able to maintain a complex set of interrelationships and networks of power. The institutionalization of traditional system of gifting, represented in official architecture and visual imagery reflects the dyanamism of a complex system of royal gifting that played an important role in the maintenance of religious and political power.