Religious Condition Under Vijayanagar Empire
The Vijaya Nagar
rulers encouraged all religious faiths. Their most favorable religion
was Hinduism. Many areas of Tamilnadu were relieved from Muslim
sultan’s rule and were placed under the Vijaya nagar Hindu
rulers.
Temples of Madurai, Srirangam. Thiruvarur, Rameswaram, Chidambaram,
Tirunelveil. Thiruvannamali. and Sirvilliputhur were repaired and
rebuilt. Some of them were enlarged with an additional gopurams,
praharas, entrance towers, corridors and mandapas. New temples were
built in Kanchipuram, Kumbakonam and Vellore. Sculptures were carved
on pillars. Maharasankaranihi, Mahanavami, Ugadi, Deepavali, karthigai
and holi were celebrated. Coins issued by Vijaya Nagar kings proclaim
their conviction towards Vaishnavism. King Achyutaraya made liberal
grants to the Varadaraja and Ekmahareswarar temple at Kanchi. He
built the image of Lord Thillai Govindaraja at Chidambaram, Jain
temples were built. Muslim dargas were respected. Christian missionaries
were functioning in Tuticorin, Vellore and other areas. The early
Vijaya Nagar kings were saivites and the later kings were vaishnavites.
So both saivism and vaishnavism flourished during this period. This
reflected in Tamil country also. Vadaglai and Thengalai: Vadagalai and
thengalai groups were there among the vaishnavites. The Vadagali group
was led by vedhanta Desikar. They followed Sanskrit vedas. Thengalai group
was led by Manavala Mahamuni. The Thengalai group followed Tamil Prabandhams.
Vadagalai people believed in caste system but Thengalai people did not
believe in caste system.