Vijayanagara and Muslim Rule in Goa PDF

Vijayanagara and Muslim Rule in Goa Background Vijaynagara was the Hindu kingdom founded by two brothers Hukka and Bukka, sons of Sangama (1336). A decade later, the Bahmani kingdom was established. Both kingdoms fought against their enemies’ endless wars in the Deccan. Goa too was influenced by the...

Vijayanagara and Muslim Rule in Goa Background Vijaynagara was the Hindu kingdom founded by two brothers Hukka and Bukka, sons of Sangama (1336). A decade later, the Bahmani kingdom was established. Both kingdoms fought against their enemies’ endless wars in the Deccan. Goa too was influenced by these wars. Both the kingdoms captured Goa. Madhav Mantri and Harihara Raya II of the Vijanagara empire recaptured Chandrapur, defeating the Bahamani Kingdom. The folk song and dance, Musal-khel of Chandor commemorates this historic event. The Vijaynagara ruler was known as ‘ray’ or ‘rai’. Governors conferred with vast powers were sent from their capital Hampi to the outlying provinces such as Goa. The rais of Vijaynagar wanted the port of Goa basically for its lucrative horse trade which fetched heavy revenue for the state. Madhav Mantri, the Vijaynagara governor is credited for re-establishing the Saptakoteshwar linga at Narva-Diwar desecrated by the Bahmanis. The tradition of Veerbhadra performed in Ponda, Sankhlim and Sanguem could be the legacy of the Vijaynagara rulers, if not of the Kadamba dynasty. By 1391, Ponda, Pednem, Bicholim and Sankhlim were added to the Vijaynagara Empire. Vijaynagara governors in Goa were vested with political authority over their outlying provinces. In around 1403/1404, a Goan named Mhai Sinai Wagle from Kunkalye village in Antruz (Ponda) was given twin responsibilities; as an administrator of the Konkan and second, as the senapati. During the reign of King Devraya I, not less than five governors administrated Goa. Some of these included: Viranna Wodeyar, Savanna and Najanna Gosawi. Incidentally, the Vijaynagar rulers were bounded into matrimonial relations with their vassals, the kings of Antruz, or Soundekars. The Shivtirth palace and Nageshi temple are a testimony of the Soundekar legacy in Goa. Relics of the Vijaynagara era can be viewed within the precincts of the Nageshi temple. A Jain basti within the vicinity is evidence of Jainism in the region in the territory. Administration in Goa was streamlined to some extent along the lines of the Vijaynagara system in the Deccan. Account keepers or record keepers were given the title of Nadkarnis and hence the surname Nadkarni features popularly in Goa, suggesting their role in financial matters. Old Goa (Ela) and Raibandar emerged as flourishing ports during this period. Back to Bahamani Control In 1472, the Prime minister of the Bahmani Kingdom Mahmud Gawan brought Goa under his control. The Bahmanis used Persian as their official language and some linguistic influences were reflected in Goa. After the death of Muhammud Gawan, the Bahamani Empire faced a decline, paving way for political instability and chaos. These circumstances led the Adil Shahi dynasty to take control of Goa in 1498. The Adil Shahi Dynasty Rules Goa Early Life. Yusuf Adil Khan, the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty and Kingdom of Bijapur (in Northern Karnataka ruled Goa from 1498 to 1510. He was a Turk, in modern Turkey. Under the prevailing custom, only one male child was allowed to survive his father and thus, there was an order for Yusuf to be killed. But young Yusuf was saved by the trick of the Queen Mother who with the help of a merchant sent him to Persia and placed another child in his place to meet the unfortunate fate. Yusuf, therefore, was educated at Sava in Persia. Later, he was brought to India and sold as a slave to Mahmud Gawan, the Prime Minister of the Bahmani Kingdom. Under Gawan, Yusuf proved himself clever, accomplished, and skillful at administration. He soon rose to high positions, till he was appointed Governor of some provinces. After Gawan’s death Yusuf was made the Governor of Bijapur. In Portuguese records, he was addressed as the Hidalcão and Sabaio. Ruler As the Bahamani Sultanate declined, Yusuf Adil Khan established himself as a semi- independent ruler at Bijapur. (In 1489), he officially declared independence from the Bahmani Kingdom and founded the Adilshahi dynasty and the kingdom of Bijapur. He took up the title of ‘Shah’ which in Persian means a king. He began to extend his territorial limits and expanded his kingdom till finally in 1498, he made Goa a part of his kingdom. He called upon the Bahmani Governor of Goa, Mallik-Ein-Ool-Mulk Gilani to owe allegiance to him. Gilani who knew the strength of the Adil Shah consented without any hesitation due to the confused situation in the Bahmani Kingdom. Goa Under the Adil Shah Yusuf Adil Shah was pleased to have the beautiful and lucrative port town of Goa. He made Ella (Old Goa), on the banks of river Mandovi his headquarters and fortified the entire city with a strong wall. Till date, the Adil Shahi heritage survives at some locations in Goa. Old Goa for instance provides evidence of the palace site with a stone entrance, and its fortified wall. Here, the king also built an arsenal, a gunpowder factory and mosques. Summer Palace of the Adil Shah In the then village of Panaji, Yusuf Adil Shah constructed a summer palace-cum-fortress in around 1500, whose spectacular setting was further enhanced by the river Mandovi. Till 2005, it served the Secretariat and the Goa Legislative Assembly. There was an underground tunnel leading up to the zennanakhana (harem) of the Adilshah which until recently housed the Fazenda (Directorate of Accounts building), facing the scenic hillock from its rear view. Goa grew prosperous under the Adil Shah. Old Goa or Ella became the leading centre of trade and commerce.Import duties on horses from Ormuz (present-day Muscat) in the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia brought in massive revenue to the state. Ships from Mecca, Aden, Ormuz, Malabar and Cambay region gathered at this prosperous port. Yusuf Adil Shah was tolerant towards his subjects, a policy that he pursued even in Bijapur. He appointed Hindus to the highest offices based on their merit and ability. He continued the reforms introduced by Bahmani Prime Minister Mahmud Gawan. Care was taken to maintain the age-old ‘gaunkaris’ of Goa.  Yusuf Adil Shah divided each district into sub-divisions, and they bore semblance to Persian terms like ‘pargana’, ‘mahal’, and ‘taluka’. A popular Persian word used in Goa to date is ‘taluka’. Similarly, in the Mandrem village of Pednem mahal, one finds reference to a Persian term, manj or madhla manj, signifying a local administrative units. Yusuf Adilshah strengthened his power over Goa by bestowing civil and military authority to several Hindu landlords. He gave them titles like ‘Sardesai’. Many Saraswats were awarded the title of the ‘Sardesai’. The ruler had also begun the construction of a dockyard at Ella (Old Goa) with the help of the Sultan of Egypt. The land tax raised by the Adil Shah was not received well by some Hindu landlords in Goa. Hence, one of the richest Sardesai of Goa, belonging to the village of Verna, Mhalu Pai Vernekar raised the banner of revolt against the Sultan in 1510…………...This proved to be a watershed event in history-a prelude to the European colonization of Goa.