differentiate between nayakas and the amara …

Nayakas were military chiefs usually mentioned law and order in their areas of control. They maintained forests and kept armed supporters. They use to control and expand fertile land and agricultural settlements. They usually submitted to kings (to the authority of Vijayanagara). 

The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is likely that many features of this system were derived from the Iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate. The amara-nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the raya. These chiefs were known as nayakas and they usually spoke Telugu or Kannada. Many nayakas submitted to the authority'of the kings of Vijayanagara but they often rebelled and had to be subdued by military action. Meaning of Amara : Amara believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word Samara, meaning battle or war.

Nayakas were the militants of Vijaynagar Empire. They were most powerful group as they control the protection of fortresses. They keep on moving for one place to another and often accompanied by Peasants in search of fertile land in order to settle down.

Amar Nayaka was most innovative and influential system devised by the rulers of Vijayanagar empire They are commanders who was given the independent territory to maintain. There main responsibilities is to collect the taxes from merchant peasants and craftsman and retain some of the portion for their personal use. In return they provide the dominant fighting forces to the Vijayanagar kings who brought peninsular dominion under their control.