The military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya in the Vijayanagara Empire were called as __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Amara-Nayakas
Option (1) Rayas — Incorrect. The rulers of Vijayanagara called themselves rayas. They were the ones who gave the territories, not the commanders who received them.
Option (2) Zamindars — Incorrect. Zamindars were the landed proprietors of the Mughal countryside who enjoyed certain social and economic privileges, not military commanders of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Option (3) Amara-Nayakas — Correct. 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, and kept a part for personal use and for maintaining horses and elephants.
Option (4) Sultans — Incorrect. Sultans were the rulers of the Deccan Sultanates such as Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda, the rivals of Vijayanagara.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.3 The rayas and the nayakas … 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 part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants.… 2. Rayas, Nayakas and Sultans … Ruling elites in these areas had extended patronage to elaborate temples such as the Brihadishvara temple at Thanjavur and the Chennakeshava temple at Belur. The rulers of Vijayanagara, who called themselves rayas, built on these traditions and carried them, as we will see, literally to new heights.…” |