<P> Physical exercises were popular with men and wrestling was an important male preoccupation for sport and entertainment . Even women wrestlers are mentioned in records . Gymnasiums have been discovered inside royal quarters and records speak of regular physical training for commanders and their armies during peace time . Royal palaces and market places had special arenas where royalty and common people alike amused themselves by watching matches such as cock fights, ram fights and wrestling between women . Excavations within the Vijayanagara city limits have revealed the existence of various types of community - based activities in the form of engravings on boulders, rock platforms and temple floors, implying these were places of casual social interaction . Some of these games are in use today and others are yet to be identified . </P> <P> The Vijayanagara kings were tolerant of all religions and sects, as writings by foreign visitors show . The kings used titles such as Gobrahamana Pratipalanacharya (literally, "protector of cows and Brahmins") and Hindurayasuratrana (lit, "upholder of Hindu faith") that testified to their intention of protecting Hinduism and yet were at the same time staunchly Islamicate in their court ceremonials and dress, as Philip Wagoner points out in his 1996 article "Sultan Among Hindu Kings" published in the Journal of Asian Studies . The empire's founders, Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, were devout Shaivas (worshippers of Shiva), but made grants to the Vaishnava order of Sringeri with Vidyaranya as their patron saint, and designated Varaha (the boar, an Avatar of Vishnu) as their emblem . Over one - fourth of the archaeological dig found an "Islamic Quarter" not far from the "Royal Quarter". Nobles from Central Asia's Timurid kingdoms also came to Vijayanagara . The later Saluva and Tuluva kings were Vaishnava by faith, but worshipped at the feet of Lord Virupaksha (Shiva) at Hampi as well as Lord Venkateshwara (Vishnu) at Tirupati . A Sanskrit work, Jambavati Kalyanam by King Krishnadevaraya, called Lord Virupaksha Karnata Rajya Raksha Mani ("protective jewel of Karnata Empire"). The kings patronised the saints of the dvaita order (philosophy of dualism) of Madhvacharya at Udupi . </P> <P> The Bhakti (devotional) movement was active during this time, and involved well known Haridasas (devotee saints) of that time . Like the Virashaiva movement of the 12th century, this movement presented another strong current of devotion, pervading the lives of millions . The haridasas represented two groups, the Vyasakuta and Dasakuta, the former being required to be proficient in the Vedas, Upanishads and other Darshanas, while the Dasakuta merely conveyed the message of Madhvacharya through the Kannada language to the people in the form of devotional songs (Devaranamas and Kirthanas). The philosophy of Madhvacharya was spread by eminent disciples such as Naraharitirtha, Jayatirtha, Sripadaraya, Vyasatirtha, Vadirajatirtha and others . Vyasatirtha, the guru (teacher) of Vadirajatirtha, Purandaradasa (Father of Carnatic music) and Kanakadasa earned the devotion of King Krishnadevaraya . The king considered the saint his Kuladevata (family deity) and honoured him in his writings . During this time, another great composer of early carnatic music, Annamacharya composed hundreds of Kirthanas in Telugu at Tirupati in present - day Andhra Pradesh . </P> <P> The defeat of the Jain Western Ganga Dynasty by the Cholas in the early 11th century and the rising numbers of followers of Vaishnava Hinduism and Virashaivism in the 12th century was mirrored by a decreased interest in Jainism . Two notable locations of Jain worship in the Vijayanagara territory were Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli . </P>

Vijayanagar state came into existence during the reign of