Historic sources mention Hariharapura to have been an Agrahara ruled by Harihara Maharaya, the second ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. As per the 14th Century inscriptions, the place was renovated by the Maharaya and was named after him. Harihara Maharaya and the other Rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire had been very devoted to the Shankaracharya Dharmapeetam at Hariharapura and had donated many lands and villages to Sreemath as an expression of their reverence to the then Peetadhipathis. The Gazettes compiled during the beginning of 19th Century by Mr. Luis Rice (in 1916) and later by Sri C.Hayavadana Rao (in 1928) are major historical documents that present similar details:
‘ From the inscriptions at the place, it appears to have been an Agrahara established in 1418 by Sambanna Wodeyar in the reign of King Harihararaya of Vijayanagara kingdom and later named after him. The religious establishment at Sringeri was intimately connected with the foundation Vijayanagar empire. And King Harihararaaya, one of the brothers from whom the Royal line had descended, gave his name to the Agrahara of Hariharapura’.