Inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Rulers, Volume III (A.D. 1569–1682)

About the Book
Inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Rulers, Volume III (A.D. 1569–1682) is the third and final volume in the series of Kannada inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Empire, compiled under the “Inscriptions of India Programme” of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).This volume contains 148 inscriptions from the last phase of the Vijayanagara Empire, a period marked by political transition following the empire’s peak. While smaller in number compared to the earlier volumes, these inscriptions are of considerable historical importance, documenting the later developments of the empire and the emergence of regional powers.The inscriptions are predominantly in Kannada, with some copper-plate records written in Nagari script and incorporating Sanskrit alongside Kannada. Geographically, the majority of the inscriptions originate from present-day Karnataka, with additional records from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.Together with the first two volumes, this publication completes the Kannada inscription corpus of the Vijayanagara rulers, making a total of nearly 1,900 inscriptions available in a consolidated and accessible format. These inscriptions provide critical primary data for reconstructing the political, cultural, and socio-economic history of the Vijayanagara period and continue to offer scope for fresh interpretations and research.
 
About the Editor
Dr. Shrinivas Ritti (b. 1929)
Dr. Shrinivas Ritti is a distinguished epigraphist who began his career at the Government Epigraphist’s Office, Ootacamund (1955–1964). He later served at Karnatak University, Dharwad, as Lecturer, Professor, and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Epigraphy.
He has been associated with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and has made significant contributions to the study of South Indian epigraphy. His major works include studies on the Seunas (Yadavas of Devagiri) and edited volumes of inscriptions from districts such as Nanded, Solapur, and Kolhapur. He also edited the Descriptive Glossary of Administrative Terms in Ancient Karnataka.
Dr. Ritti has served as Chairman of the Epigraphical Society of India and presided over its 18th Annual Congress. He has been honoured with a Copper Plate Charter in recognition of his contributions to Indian epigraphy.
 
Dr. B. R. Gopal (1930–1997)
Dr. B. R. Gopal began his career at the Government Epigraphist’s Office in 1955 and later joined Karnatak University, Dharwad, where he worked alongside Dr. Ritti on major historical and epigraphical projects.
He authored and contributed to significant works including History of Karnataka and A History of Ancient India, and published multiple volumes of Karnatak Inscriptions. At Mysore University, he led the revision of the Epigraphia Carnatica series, producing several volumes in rapid succession.
In 1986, he joined Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, as Professor and Head of the Department of History, where he continued his contributions to South Indian historiography. His notable works include studies on the Chalukyas of Kalyana and the Kalachuris.
Dr. Gopal also presided over the 15th Annual Congress of the Epigraphical Society of India and was honoured with the Society’s Copper Plate Charter for his contributions to the field.
 
About the Series
This volume is part of the “Inscriptions of India Programme” launched by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). The programme seeks to systematically collect, edit, and publish inscriptions from different regions and dynasties across India. Given that inscriptions are often dispersed across multiple publications and archives, the series provides consolidated, annotated, and accessible volumes arranged chronologically and dynasty-wise. The Vijayanagara inscriptions project forms a dedicated sub-series within this programme, covering inscriptions in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Sanskrit across multiple volumes.
 
Book Specifications
Title: Inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Rulers
Volume: III
Period Covered: A.D. 1569–1682
Editors: Dr. Shrinivas Ritti, Dr. B. R. Gopal
Publisher: Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Southern Regional Centre, Bangalore
Year of Publication: 2009
Number of Inscriptions: 148
Primary Language: Kannada (with Sanskrit and Nagari script in select records)
Format: Hardcover scholarly volume
Price (Original): ₹500