Sage Vidyaranya founder of Vijayanagara Empire who coronated a dalit.

  Sage Vidyaranya founder of Vijayanagara Empire who coronated a dalit.

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18th April 1336, Sage Vidyaranya established Vijayanagara Empire by coronating Harihara a dalit as its founder King.

Mallikafur unleashed a trail of destruction of southern india through a series of expeditions, against the Yadavas in 1308AD, the Kakatiyas in 1310AD, the Hoysalas 1311AD, the Pandyas and Cholas 1311AD. Malli Kafur killed the Chola King and hanged his blood dripping head on the entrance of the Tanjore fort. Lot of temples were demolished and looted.

Sage Vidyaranya decided to revive the tradition and heritage of sanatana dharma. He installed a dalit Harihara as king of the newly established Kingdom which came to be known as " Vijayanagara Empire" that ruled the southern India for 300 years.

Sage Vidyaranya revived arts, music and bhakthi - constructed Vijaya Vittala and Virupaksha temple in Hampi during his time.

Almost all the temples in Southern India that bore the brunt of Malli Kafur were renovated, expanded and consecrations were conducted.

Important temples are that of Tanjore Brihadeswara Temple, Thiruvannamalai Temple, Rameswaram temple, Chidambaram temple, Thiruchendur temple, Vidyasankara temple and list goes on and on and on.

1000 pillored mandapam at Madurai was constructed by Sri Ariyanatha Mudaliar who worked as Dalvoy in Vijayanagara kingdom.

Sage vidyaranya wrote many advaitic books - " Panchadasi" "Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha" and Jeevana Videha Mukthi" are the famous one.

According to Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha "sketches sixteen systems of thought so as to exhibit a gradually ascending series, culminating in the Advaita Vedanta.

Prostrations at the lotus feet of Vidyaranya who revived Hindu temples and tradition.