Q47 · UPSC Prelims 2015 · Set A · History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)

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Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?

A Amoghavarsha I
B Ballala II
C Harihara I
D Prataparudra II

Correct answer: (c) Harihara I

Explanation

  1. A

    Amoghavarsha I

    (a) Amoghavarsha I. Rashtrakuta emperor of Manyakheta; a Jain patron, not the founder of a Krishna-south sacred capital of this type.

  2. B

    Ballala II

    (b) Ballala II. Hoysala king of Dwarasamudra; not this foundation story.

  3. C

    Harihara I

    (c) Harihara I. Harihara I (with Bukka) founded Vijayanagara on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra, a Krishna tributary, and the kings ruled as agents of Virupaksha, to whom the land south of the Krishna was dedicated. That is the official key.

  4. D

    Prataparudra II

    (d) Prataparudra II. Kakatiya king of Warangal, not this Vijayanagara foundation.

Summary. Official key is (c) Harihara I. Vijayanagara was founded on the Tungabhadra’s south bank and the Sangama kings presented themselves as Virupaksha’s agents for the land south of the Krishna. Amoghavarsha, Ballala II and Prataparudra belong to other dynasties. Only Harihara I fits the stem.