(i) The tank was constructed at the mouth of two hills. It was constructed that place so that all the water coming from either one side or the other use to collect three (at mouth of both hills).

(ii)    The sources of water for the tanks were the following :

(a)    Firstly, the all water was checked which use to come from either one side or the other side use to collect at the mouth of the hills.

(b)    Secondly, water come to tank from more than three leagues (near about 15 kilometres-from the tank points)- By pipes which ran along the lower parts of-the range outside. This water was brought from a lake which itself overflow into a little river.

(iii)    The advantages of constructing tanks :

(a)    This water was used by the people for the different day to day purposes.

(b)    The people and the state Government had to irrigate their garden and rice-fields. The tanks water could be use for irrigation purpose.

(c)    Whenever tanks were constructed people in thousands used to get employment.

(d)    Tanks were very helpful to check flood and they could be used for harvesting rain water. During drought tank water was blessing for each and every people, agriculture and industry also.

The social and economic conditions of Vijayanagara were as follows:
Social Condition:

(i)    Respect for Brahmans : The Brahmanas were greatly respected in the state of Vijayanagara. They attained a supreme position in the state. Even when they committed a crime, they were not given the punishment of death. They led a pious life. They were vegetarian. They never touched meat and wine. They were an ideal and role model for others.

(ii)    Place of Women : The women were given a lot of respect in Vijayanagara. They could get even higher education. They had no purdah system. They were also educated in warfare and fine arts.

(iii)    Several malpractices were existed : The society of Vijayanagara had many malpractices. The animals were sacrificed to please gods and goddesses. The practice of sati was very popular in the society. Even the Telugu women were buried alive after the deaths of their husbands. Besides there was an evil of prostitution. Deva Raya II had twelve thousand queens. He had married three thousand queens on the condition that they would perform sati after his death.

Economic Condition : The economic condition of Vijayanagara was prosperous. Its land was fertile. So there was enough trading activity. The rulers of Vijayanagara had good relations with the Portuguese. There was a trading of Arabian horses. The sea-coasts of Vijayanagara had many ports. Calicut was a famous sea-port during those days. It was used to trade with Burma, China,. Iran, Arabia, Portugal and South Africa. It was used to export cloth, rice, sugar, iron and spices. It imported horses, elephants, copper, silk and diamond jewellery. The merchants had established their trade centres. There was a currency of gold and silver. It facilitated exchange of goods. Besides the trade, there was a great progress in industry and agriculture. The main occupation of the people was weaving cloth, mining of minerals and to prepare metal goods.

Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 AD. Its founders were two brothers called Harihara and Bukka Raya. They founded a city called Vijayanagara on the banks of river Tungabhadra. Gradually this city was transformed into a large Hindu Kingdom.
Rulers:Some of the famous rulers of Vijayanagara kingdom are given below:

(i)    HariharaI : Harihara I himself founded the Vijayanagara with the help of his brother Bukka Raya. He belonged to Sangama dynasty. He expanded the frontiers of his kingdom from Krishna river till Kaveri river and from Eastern Ghats till Wester^ Ghats.

(ii)    Bukka Raya I : After Harihara I, Bukka Raya became the next king. He also belonged to Sangama dynasty. He beautified the city of Vijayanagara. He also fought wars with Bahmani rulers.

(iii) Harihara II and Devaraya II : These two were last famous rulers of Sangama dynasty. Devaraya appointed Muslims in his army. He greatly increased the prestige of Vijayanagara.

(iv)Krishnadeva Raya : Krishnadeva Raya was the most famous ruler of Taluva dynasty. He ruled from 1509 till 1530 AD. First of all he suppressed the revoltee Nayakas. Then he conquered the region of Raichur Doab. Under his reign, prestige of Vijayanagara spread every where.

(v) Sadashiv Raya : He was the last ruler of Taluva dynasty. During his reign, rulers of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar made an alliance and attacked Vijayanagara. Army of Vijayanagara was defeated in 1565 AD in the battle of Talikota. The victorious army sacked the city of Vijayanagara and conquered its area. In this way Vijayanagara kingdom completely came to an end.

I. Meaning of Nayakas : In Vijayanagara Empire among those who exercised power in the empire were military chiefs who usually controlled forts and had armed supporters. These chiefs often moved from one area to another, and in many cases were accompanied by peasants looking for fertile land on which to settle. These chiefs were known as nayakas and they usually spoke Telugu or Kannada. Many nayakas submitted to the authority'of the kings of Vijayanagara but they often rebelled and had to be subdued by military action.

Meaning of Amara : Amara believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word Samara, meaning battle or war. It also resembles the Persian term amir, meaning a high noble.

II. Description of role of Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas in Vijayanagara Empire:

(a) Nayakas were military chiefs usually mentioned law and order in their areas of control. They maintained forests and kept armed supporters. They use to control and expand fertile land and agricultural settlements. They usually submitted to kings (to the authority of Vijayanagara). They were not well disciplined. They generally rebelled whenever they use to find suitable occasion. The king used to take military actions against them to bring again them under their control.

(b) The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is likely that many features of this system were derived from the Iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate. The amara-nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the raya. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons and traders in the area. They retained a part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants. These contingents provided the Vijayanagara kings with an effective fighting force with which they brought the entire southern peninsula under their control. Some of the revenue was also used for the maintenance of temples and irrigation works.    

(c) The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the kings annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty. Kings occasionally asserted their control over them by transferring them from one place to another.         

(a) The site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. The northern end of the city touched the banks of the Tungabhadra. It was a rocky and hilly area. According to a local tradition, the kingdoms of Bali and Sugriva, mentioned in the Ramayana, existed in these hills. There is another tradition that Pampadevi, the local mother goddess, did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom. The marriage was annually celebrated in the Virupaksha temple. Besides there were Jaina temples in the pre-Vij ayanagara period. In other words, this area was associated with many sacred traditions. Hence it is called the Sacred Centre.

(b) The very choice of the site of Vijayanagara was inspired by these sacred traditions and temples. The kings of Vijayanagara claimed to rule on behalf of the god, Virupaksha. They signed all royal orders as “Shri Virupaksha.” They often signed in the Kannad script. However the rulers ofVijayanagara not only developed but also innovated the earlier traditions. They displayed royal portrait sculpture in the temples. The visit of the kings to temples was treated as an important occasion. So he was accompanied by all the important nayakas.