The rise and fall of the Vijayanagara Empire / Mulk Raj Anand -- Old myth and new myth / Mulk Raj Anand -- History or myth / George Michell -- Man in nature / George Michell -- From power to pleasure / George Michell -- Gods and men / George Michell -- Muslim influence / Antony Hutt -- Paintings / George Michell -- The transformation of earthly beings into symbols of aspiration / Mulk Raj Anand -- Socio-economic and political background / G.S. Dikshit and Sumitra Srinivasan -- Inscriptions / Vasundhara Filliozat