Chapter 114: Reclaiming Puri
Narasimha Nayak deployed a brigade to secure Cuttack and then redirected his forces towards Bhubaneswar, an ancient city in Odisha.
Bhubaneswar, situated very close to its capital Cuttack, boasts a rich heritage and is renowned for preserving some of the most significant ancient Hindu temples in the northern part of Bharat. Gaining the moniker "Temple City of India," Bhubaneswar is adorned with a multitude of ancient temples, dating back around 2000 years, making it a prominent centre for Hindu pilgrimage. Among these temples, the Lingaraj temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands out with its magnificent architectural brilliance that continues to captivate even modern observers.
Throughout the medieval period, Bhubaneswar flourished under the rule of various dynasties, notably the Gangas and the Gajapatis. Temples like Mukteswar and Rajarani, adorned with intricate carvings and sculptural masterpieces, stand as testaments to the artistic brilliance of that era. The city retained its significance as a hub for culture, religion, and trade during these historical times.
Although it was raided many times by Islamic invaders, they were not able to destroy the city's culture and foundation, as it only made the city more resilient. Even in Vijay's past timeline, Bhubaneswar became the capital of Odisha in 1948, replacing Cuttack. The decision was made because of a strategic vision to foster balanced regional development and administrative efficiency. Bhubaneswar's central location, coupled with its historical significance and cultural heritage, played a crucial role in this decision.
As soon as Narasimha set foot in the city, he was immediately captivated by the enchanting sight of this ancient metropolis bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun. The golden rays illuminated its myriad architectural wonders, turning the entire city into an endless masterpiece of art. Despite encountering some resistance from Mughal soldiers patrolling the area, their efforts proved futile against the overwhelming might of the Vijayanagara army.
Narasimha decided to rest in this city for a while before he would set off on the expedition again. He visited various temples and architectural marvels to calm his mind down. Seeing Lord Shiva in the temple made his temperament more tranquil. The priests were overjoyed by the arrival of the Vijayanagara army, as it had been many decades since this ancient city had been a part of a Hindu Kingdom.
There was a huge festive atmosphere that evening. Narasimha took this time to reanalyze the strategy for his next endeavours. Soon, he received good news that Vijay was successfully able to occupy the southern side of Mumbai Island and is currently busy in naval warfare, and by the information received, it is looking good.
"Well then, let's get a move on now, shall we?" he said to his deputy as he assembled the army again and continued his march. Two battalions were left in Bhubaneswar for security purposes.
His next destination was the sacred city of Puri.
Puri, nestled on the eastern coast of Bharat along the shores of the Bay of Bengal and near the Chilika Lake, holds a venerable and ancient history. This region has been a focal point of religious and cultural significance for centuries. The Jagannath Temple, a sacred Hindu shrine with roots dating back to ancient times, was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century.
Even during the medieval period, Puri flourished as a pilgrimage site. The Gajapati rulers of Odisha played a significant role in the development and patronage of the Jagannath Temple. The temple complex expanded, encompassing various shrines, and Puri emerged as a hub for religious and cultural activities.
Puri holds immense significance in Hinduism as one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, representing one of the four sacred abodes of the deity Vishnu. The Jagannath Temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Vishnu. The annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, attracts millions of devotees from across the world who gather to witness and participate in the grand procession of the deities; it is even said that this gathering could be noticed from space.
The popularity of the Jagannath Temple transcends geographical boundaries. The temple's architecture, rituals, and the unique deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra contribute to its allure. Pilgrims consider a visit to Puri and a darshan of Lord Jagannath as highly auspicious.
Unfortunately, it was not all good news. During the Mughal era, the region faced challenges, including instances of religious conflict. While there are historical accounts of Mughal rulers engaging in military campaigns in different parts of Bharat, the temple had been raided at least 15 times, and more that has not been documented in the long river of history.
One of the notable invasions occurred in 1568 when the Afghan general Kalapahad, under the Mughal Emperor Akbar, attacked Puri. The temple faced extensive damage during this invasion, with reports of destruction and desecration. The main deity's idol was hidden to safeguard it from being vandalized.
Another significant episode unfolded in 1631 when the Mughal Subedar of Bengal, Islam Khan, invaded Puri. The temple faced devastation once again, and the main deities had to be concealed to protect them from harm. One more notable incident from a parallel Earth timeline was during the reign of Aurangzeb, known for his policies against non-Muslim religious structures. The Jagannath Temple once again faced threats of destruction during this period. However, the temple was fortunately successfully protected by the local Hindus, and the main deities were again hidden to safeguard them from potential desecration.
Despite these challenges, Puri's significance endured, and the Jagannath Temple remains a symbol of resilience, drawing millions of devotees each year, making it one of the richest temples in modern Bharat with annual revenues of up to 4 million US dollars.
Vijay knew all this information and didn't want the tragedy to repeat. So He repeatedly mentioned to Narasimha the importance of reclaiming the sacred land of Puri.
Narasimha also complied with His Majesty's request. Taking back Puri was not difficult, as he had equipped himself with two brigades of soldiers, along with support from the Western Front at the Chilika Lake, where he had previously stationed his troops.
Without any surprises, Within a day, Puri was retaken. This good news was quickly sent to Vijay through some secret channels.
Within the week, three strongholds were occupied in Odisha, solidifying Vijayanagara's rule in this state.
Back in Mumbai:
A week had passed since the war started, and Odisha had come under Vijayanagar rule. Vijay, once again successfully launching the war against the rest of Mumbai, emerged victorious.
Because of the advantage of popular public support, the whole area of Mumbai Island was mapped out. Using this information, squads of gunmen, with grey uniforms, successively launched targeted attacks on the Mughal camp. They used advanced guerrilla tactics to get the job done. Mughals did not know what to do, as it was the first time they had witnessed any war conducted like this. Some of the higher-level Mughal officials even scolded the Vijayanagar army for being cowards.
But Vijay did not mind those words and continued with the same tactics. Since Vijayanagar started to employ guerrilla tactics, it had been sleepless nights for Mughal higher-level officials. Even the Mughal North Front army commander was helpless, as he had no clue what to do. When he went to pursue the enemy, they would run away, and when he returned to his camps, gunshots would be heard, taking away their soldiers bit by bit.
He couldn't hold on anymore and repeatedly asked for reinforcements. But the imperial capital clearly informed him that it would still take two more days for their army to arrive from the capital.
The Mughal-controlled Mumbai North army commander, upon receiving this disheartening news, sank to the ground in despair. The most pressing challenge he faced was the scarcity of time. Despite the relatively similar sizes of their respective forces, he acknowledged the disadvantage his army held against the Vijayanagara forces, who possessed superior knowledge of the terrain. Even though they ruled this place, they were not clear about its terrain because who would be willing to map the land where those untouchables stay. Now, he deeply regrets it. Coupled with the mysterious weapon capable of unleashing fire, it instilled a profound sense of dread in him. Time, or the lack thereof, emerged as a formidable adversary.
His mentality slowly collapsed as he saw his army getting reduced bit by bit. He now understood the meaning of the words "death by a thousand cuts"; he was clearly experiencing the same thing. Living every moment in fear, he desperately wanted to run away, but that would brand him a deserter, and the punishment for desertion was death for himself and the shame of turning his family into slaves. So, he endured, persisting in constant fear, relying on luck. Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. His fears came true the next day when the Vijayanagara army launched a surprise attack on the Mughals' camp, completely shattering his mental defences and the will to fight.
Despite heavy casualties, the Vijayanagar army was fully able to occupy the northern part of Mumbai Island as well.
Vijay, finally freed from the ongoing operations, left the weed-cleaning duties to Ramaiya. However, the news he received from Narasimha filled him with immense joy. It was the victories in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Paradip, and, most importantly, Puri. He felt a deep sense of relief, knowing that he had at least prevented the tragedy from befalling these ancient cities. Though pleased, he couldn't shake off his concern for the central region, awaiting progress reports on the ongoing campaign. In haste, he pulled out a piece of paper and penned down further instructions.
The general was not idle either, as Mumbai was turbulent. With Ramaiah, the gardener, setting out to leave no weed in his wake, Mughal officers were being poked into holes left, right, and centre. Following this, Vijay ordered a concrete wall to be built in the east of the island to establish a stronghold and pave the way for the conquest of the rest of Maharashtra.
Chapter 115: Panhala Fort Battle! Part: 1
One week ago:
The time the naval vessels departed from Visakhapatnam and Mangalore Port, General Kiran Pujari also left for his expedition. He started his march in Belgavi at the northern border of the Vijayanagara Empire. His destination is not very far, as Panhala Fort is only 132 km from Belgavi. Marching at a steady pace, he was able to reach the Mughals' stronghold within a day. There had been a lot of skirmishes near this area throughout the decades because of the friction between Vijayanagara and the Mughal Empire.
The arrival of Kiran and his company quickly caught the attention of the scouts around Panhala Fort. As the Mughal Empire was about to wage war soon on the Vijayanagar Empire, they had their instructions to be alert at all times. Soon, the information was conveyed to the higher-ups of the Mughal army in Panhala Fort.
The Mughal commander, Amir Ali Khan, who was resting quietly in his room, was jolted awake by the news brought by his servant. He is a seasoned general of the army, stationed in Panhala Fort year-round. Unlike the pesky nobles who obtained their positions through nepotism or political favours, he got there relying solely on his talent and hard work.
Scars could be seen on his naked upper chest, resembling wounds left after being slashed by a sword. He had a majestic grey beard that covered his entire neck, giving him the appearance of a dignified veteran warrior.
"Tell me, where is their camp?" Amir asked in contemplation. The guard, in a kneeling position, quickly answered, "Sir, they are just 2 km to the Southwestern direction of us." The scout replied in a steady voice.
"And what of their strength?" Amir asked what he considered the most important question.
The scout, being an experienced and well-trained veteran, answered the question as he had already prepared. "Sir, from the rough estimation, we were able to conclude that there were at least 15,000 soldiers from what we could observe. We are unsure if there is any other hidden strength they have not revealed."
Amir frowned, as the number of troops dispatched by Vijayanagara was very less to take over his fort. He would not be so naive to think that Vijayanagara had no idea about his standing army of 30,000 soldiers. Maybe if it was anyone else, they could have overlooked it, but he was aware of the deeply integrated spy network of Vijayanagara in the Mughal Empire.
Although many times he wanted to warn the Minister of War about the same issue, the Minister of War got offended by being pointed out by a junior, so he was kicked to the frontline against Vijayanagara.
Even under his own jurisdiction, he tried a lot to curb the spy network in his management, but no matter how many rats he caught, there would be more to help the Vijayanagar Empire. Even a common farmer could be a spy of the Vijayanagar Empire. He knew the exact reason for this; it was because of the overly oppressive rules his Majesty the Emperor had promulgated, which led to the common people of the Mughal Empire having no belonging to the empire and always longing for their own freedom. But he couldn't say all these things to those stuck-up nobles, as he was sure that he would be beheaded the next moment.
"Sigh, what do you have up your sleeve, Logananda Senapathi?" He thought to himself, recalling his old rival, Logananda Senapathi.
The scout, who was silent till now, suddenly spoke out. "Sir, there is one more detail that is very suspicious."
"What is it? Tell me."
"I don't know why the Vijayanagar army brought with them 10 elephants in tow, and these elephants were pulling a single carriage each. Unfortunately, I was not able to determine what they were carrying as it was covered in a tight tarpaulin," he said in a confused expression.
But Amir was sharp; intuition told him that this was the reason for Vijayanagara's lack of soldiers. Thinking about the cannons that were recently sent by the capital, his heart started beating fast as he feared that Vijayanagara was able to not only conquer their cannon technology but was also successful in advancing the technology, and creating a better weapon.
"Allah bless your child," he said to himself in prayer, wishing that his guess to be false.
Being a qualified military commander, he wouldn't leave the fate of his and his army's existence to the hands of luck. So, he quickly began taking measures in case his fears came true. Secretly, he began to make another defence line inside the fort in the confines of the housings. Because he knew if his fears were true, the wall would be as good as breached. He could see that if the cannon had better firepower, it would also have better range, rendering his own cannons useless. By taking cover behind the buildings, at least they could be saved from the direct bombardment of the Vijayanagara army.
Due to his years of careful management, the fort began to roar in efficiency as cannons were towed and fixed over the city wall, and a secret defence line was built inside the city. Bed crossbows and archers were densely packed in this defence line. All this was done within half a day. If Vijay had seen the method this man used, he would have been jealous of his talent and would have wanted to recruit him to his own side. Amir, seeing the preparations about to be completed, slowly walked towards the city wall, where he could see the Vijayanagara army once again on the move as they slowly marched towards the city wall 500 meters away.
It was a cloudy day; there was no rain, but it was quite windy. Commander Amir's beard danced because of the breeze. The commander stood there, glancing at the small figure in the distance; he felt vaguely familiar. He had seen this kid in his previous battle against Logananda. If he remembered correctly, he was still working under Logananda.
As he closely observed the movements of the Vijayanagara army, a small delegation emerged from their ranks, prominently carrying the flag of Vijayanagara along with a white flag—an unmistakable signal of a messenger. This group approached, bearing a message from the Vijayanagara Empire. The messenger, with due formality, announced, "His Majesty, the Emperor Vijay Devaraya, has declared war on the Mughal Empire in response to the atrocities committed against his people and their way of life. The Emperor requests the honourable Commander of the Mughal Empire to surrender the Paradip Fort. In return, no harm will befall any Mughal official, and they shall be safely sent back to the Mughal Empire."
Upon hearing these words, a deep furrow formed on Aamir Ali Khan's brow, distorting his countenance. Before Amir could respond, one of his subordinates, a fiery young man, erupted with indignation, his face flushed with anger, and bellowed, "How dare you! Behead him!" The command hung in the air, just as the soldiers poised to fulfil the order, ready to be executed. Aamir Ali Khan intervened, and in his skeptical gaze on the messenger, he uttered two decisive words: "I reject it."
The Messenger, who felt scared just now hearing that he was going to be beheaded, soon felt relieved by the commander's words. He slightly bowed as he left quickly with the message from the Mughal Empire. Kiran Pujari, who got the reply, did not change his face, as he was already anticipating the failure of the small diplomatic mission. But he felt like these small things should be done against a respected opponent. "Bring the cannons," Kiran said. Soon the large cannons were swiftly positioned for launching an attack. A total of seven large cannons were brought with him, seven carriages of cannons along with three carriages of ammunition. These cannons were the exact reason why he dared to launch an attack on the Mughals with only half the troop size.
To be Continued...
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