Who were Hukka Bukka ?

Question

They are related to vijayanagara dynasty in history

Answer 1

Hukka & Bukka were two brothers, soldiers of fortune in the employment of the then Bahmani sultanate, the chief kingdom of Deccan in 13 & 14 centuries. Their real names were Harihara Raya and Bukka Raya. They were converted to Islam but they appear to not to stick to Islam.

In search of better fortune they were one day travelling by the banks of Tungabhadra River. They saw a strange sight of a fox being chased back by rabbits. Surprised, when they chanced upon a sage's hermitage they asked the sage for an explanation of the strange event.

The sage, Vidyaranya swamy told them, that land they stood on, has that 'courage'. Any city established at that spot as the capital of kingdom, will repulse attacks from even the most powerful kings. He encouraged the brothers to start their own kingdom there. He was intent upon having a Hindu kingdom that can withstand the muslim Bahmani kingdom to the north, and preserve the Hindu culture and way of life. The brothers Hakka Bukka took upon the task with vigour and set about building a fort or citadel. Vidyaranya who was their Guru (spiritual priest-advisor) consented and fixed an auspicios moment ('timing instant') to dig the foundation for the structure, as an inauguration rite for building the city of dreams. The city was 'Hampi' Vijayanagara. In the night, the brothers then waited for the Guru's signal that was to be the blowing of the Conch-shell. Guru was observing the movemnet of stars and planets in the night sky looking for the expected configuration in the sky, when it almost was dawn.

After hearing the signal Conch-blowing sound, the brothers turned the first sod of earth, auspiciosly. But after a few minutes they heard the sound again. Puzzled, they approached the Guru who is in the open. Guru explained that the first sound was fake, given by an itinerant religious mendicant (Jangama) annoncing dawn by the sound of Conch-blowing, following which they performed mistakenly the inauguration rite. And actually the second time when the Guru blew was the right moment. He said the kingdom would last 3600 years had they followed the correct moment. This was fated. In the mean time Bahmani sultanate got split into - Ahmednagar, Bidar, Berar, Bijapur and Golconda kingdoms.

As a result the kingdom and empire of Vijayanagara that covered the southern part of Deccan peninsula lasted 360 years. It was defeated in the battle of 'Talikota' in the villages of Rakshasa & Tangadi when the alliance of 5 Bahmani Sultanates conquered and destroyed the city on January 26, 1565. The magnificent ruins of 'Hampi' in the central Karnataka is a world heritage site & tourist place.