# Muhammad Shah III's Raid upon Kanchi

In A.D 1481, Muhammad Shah III launched an invasion territories of Saluva Narshima Dev Raya plundered his territories then Marched towards Kanchipuram temple and completely sacked the temple while he was returning to Bidar Iswara Nayaka led a surprise attacked on him taking away all the loot he has looted. He then despatched Yusuf Ali Shah and Fakhr al-Mulk to reduce Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya .

## Prelude
### Collision between Saluva Narshimha and Muhammad Shah III

While Saluva Narasimha seems to have gained acceptance by the southern populace, the population in the North utterly resented being placed under the heel of a Muslim ruler. They often revolted against the Bahmani officers and appealed for help from other powers of the region, such as the king of Orissa and the chieftain of Chandragiri. Moreover, Purushottama Gajapati was looking for the restoration of his hereditary territories, whereas Saluva Narasimha was aiming at territorial aggrandizement. With these aims in mind, Gajapati entered Telangana and defeated Nizam-ul-Mulk Bahri at Wazirabad and moved further west to Kowlas. Narasimha, meanwhile, concentrated on the Circars region captured Kondaveedu and, quite likely, Kondapalli before camping outside the walls of Rajamahendri that placed him at odds with the Bahmani Sultanate. Knowing the gravity of the situation, the Sultan, as described by Ferishta, first repelled the king of Orissa back into his territory and imposed a treaty upon him. He then turned his attention southward to confront Narasinga. Reaching Rajamahendri, the Sultan witnessed what the Muslim chronicler vividly describes as "a vast city, beyond which the infidel Narasimha Raya, with an army of 70,000 infantry and 500 elephants resembling iron mountains, had taken position."
On the bank of the river, a deep ditch was dug, surrounded by a wall similar to the rampart of Alexander. This fortification was equipped with cannons, guns, and other war apparatus. Despite all these preparations and display of military strength, Narasimha Raya, on hearing the news of the Sultan's army advancing, decided it wise not to confront him and retreated. Hence, Rajamahendri was taken captive and the governor was made a slave with others who belonged to Turkey, Telangana, and Habbi. Soon, Kondapalli and Kondaveedu also fell into the hands of the Sultan. After having consolidated his position in the region, Muhmmad Shah Bahmani now looked towards the south in order to face the last of his enemies, Narasimha. The historian Ferishta observes that Narasimha 's repeated advice to the local zamindars on the frontier of Bahmanis to raise rebellion against Bahmanis triggered the war. In addition, Narasimha, of late had shown reluctance and negligence in manifesting loyalty toward the Brahmins court especially by delaying tributes and offerings. Feeling that the end of idolatry and curbing of the non-Islamic activities was something to be pursued, the Sultan decided to set out on an expedition to capture Narasimha 's land. The strategy involved leveling the land and destroying its very infrastructure. Motivated by this plan, Muhammad Shah Bahmani left Kondaveedu around 1480 CE, having judged the time perfectly for the operation.

## Raid upon Kanchi
### First Expedition upon Kanchi

Muhammad Shah next turned his attention southwards. All the eastern seaboard below the Krishna River was in the possession of Saluva Narasimha, who ruled over it virtually as an independent prince, though professing allegiance to Virupaksha II. Saluva Narasimha, being an enemy of Muhammad Shah, frequently stirred up disorder by inciting the zamindars on the Bahmani boundary to revolt. Having established his supremacy over a substantial part of the coastal Telugu region, Muhammad Shah chose to further consolidate his rule over the remaining regions under Saluva Narasimha's authority. After handing over the administration of Rajahmundry and Warangal to Nizam-ul-Mulk Bahri and A'azam Khan, respectively, Sultan Muhammad Shah marched towards the territory of Narasimha. His first destination was Kondavidu, where the local population had recently rebelled and sought the protection of Narasimha. The Sultan subdued the rebellion and pardoned the inhabitants, who expressed remorse for their actions.
During his sojourn in Kondavidu, Muhammad Shah was informed of the vast treasures kept in the temples of a city nearby. He became interested in the information and resolved to undertake an expedition to plunder the treasures. With a pick force of 6,000 cavalry, the Sultan marched fast on the city. He arrived at the city on March 12, 1481. Following a brief tussle, the temples were looted and Muhammad Shah confiscated large amounts of gold, silver, and precious jewels.

### Second Expedition of Kanchi

Muhammad Shah could not return to his capital with the considerable booty he had amassed in safety. News of what was happening at Kanchi reached Saluva Narasimha, who was away from this part of his territory. He sent his general, Isvara Nayaka, in pursuit of the Sultan. Isvara intercepted the Sultan's army at Kandukur, which is in the northern part of the Nellore district, and defeated them decisively. The camp of the Sultan's forces was plundered, and it is likely that a good part of the loot taken from Kanchi was recovered. Muhammad Shah was highly incensed by the turn of events that he had not anticipated from his plundering expedition. On his return to his military headquarters, he planned a two-pronged attack on Narasimha's territory. He first resolved to personally lead an expedition against Masulipatam and its surrounding regions, which were part of Narasimha's dominions at the time. At the same time, he sent Yusuf Adil Shah and Fakhr-ul-Mulk, commanding an army of about 15,000 soldiers, mostly foreigners, to capture another part of Narasimha's land. This action was probably designed to draw his attention away as the Sultan prepared to capture the coastal regions.
According to Ferishta, who is the only one to speak to this issue, the Sultan captured Masulipatam with its dependencies and returned to Kondapalli. Ferishta is, however, characteristically silent about the exploits of the two commanders whom the Sultan had sent out to face Narasimha. The Saluva Abhyudaya, on the other hand, mentions the siege of Penugonda, undertaken by the allied forces of a Sabara chieftain and the Turuska (Turk) king.

## Result

It is said that Narasimha visited a sage living in Kutuavala before proceeding with his elephant forces (nagamaşdala) towards Penugonda to capture the fort. When he approached the fort, his advance was halted by the armies of the Sabara and Turuska (Turk) kings. The Varaha Purana refers to Penugonda as one of the places captured by Saluva Narasimha's general, Iswara. Moreover, the Jaimini Bharata reports that Narasimha defeated the forces of a certain Pikkillu (perhaps Fakhr-ul-Mulk) and other foes at Penugonda. The Muslim armies described in these accounts, which laid siege to Penugonda, may correspond to the contingent dispatched by Muhammad Shah under the command of Yusuf Adil Khan and Fakr-ul-Mulk against Saluva Narasimha. If so, it suggests that, despite penetrating deep into the Vijayanagara Empire, these forces were ultimately defeated and repelled.
According to Modern Sources, In a state of sheer terror, Narasimha reportedly surrendered without putting up any resistance. Then news regarding the wealth of the temple and the city of Kanchi reached the Sultan. On 12th March 1481 A.D., he led a select force and laid siege to the city. He succeeded in plundering it, returned to his homeland. In celebration of this famous victory, he ordered an elaborate poetic narrative to be composed and circulated across his territories.