Indian Antiquary Vol 46

SR No.: 032538
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 508
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 88

76
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[APRIL, 1917
Ekoji's raid into the Madura kingdom.
The Maratha conquest of Tanjore was followed by the Maratha invasion of Madura. To the ambition of Ekoji the acquisition of a tract of territory was an incentive to further acquisition. The spoils of Tanjore inspired therefore a longing for the spoils of Trichinopoly. Great as the mutual enmity of the Naiks had been, they had belonged to the same nationality, and had some sympathy towards each other. They had been, moreover, equally strong and equally weak, and none could thoroughly beat the other. Very different was the case with the Marathas. The occupation of Tanjore was in their eyes, a step to the occupation of the other parts of South India. It is not surprising, therefore, that immediately after the pacification of Tanjore, Ekoji marched against Trichinopoly. The vigilance of Chokka nátha, however, frustrated his attempt. He therefore diverted his forces on the people." The ravages of the Marathas were not less destructive than the hostilities exercised by the Muhammadans. Without making the least endeavour to varnish their proceedings with the colour of fairness or moderation, they stained every moment of their invasion by acts of cruelty and rapine, which made the atrocity of the Muhammadans mildness itself. The masses were harassed by a repetition of claims, plunders and inroads. The sword of destruction was unsheathed on the peaceful villagers, and all limit was transcended in the demand of the surrender of their riches.
The Mysore conquest of the North-west.
T..e irruption of the Marathas was, however, only one of the causes which afflicted the kingdom of Madura at this time. Early in 1676 an army98 of Mysoreans descended, on a sudden, from their mountains and seized at one blow the whole province of Satyamangalam. The soul of this movement was king Chikka Dêva00 (1672-1704), the successor of Dêva Raja, a king of singular valour and ambition. Inspired by him, we are told, his general, Arasumalai, promptly accomplished his purpose, and carrying everything before him, reached Madura itself and captured it. We do not know whether this was the fact, but there is no question that the whole kingdom between the frontier passes leading to Mysore and Coimbatore was now under the occupation of the Mysoreans, 100 as an inscription at Davalagiri (near Satyama: galam) dated 1676 (Nala) testifies. The Mysoreans, we are told, followed up their success with an attack on their Maratha rivals on the one hand and the city of Trichinopoly, the only remnant of Chokkanâtha's kingdom, on the other. An inscription of Chikka Dêva', dated 1674, distinctly claims that he vanquished "Sambhu, Kutapa Sahu-Basava of Ikkêre, Ekoji, Dadôji, Jaitaji and Jasavant."
97 Nolson's Madur. Man.
98 Wilks does not refer to this in detail. The date he gives also seems to be very late. See his Mysore. I. p. 58. That Chikka Dêva began his southward movement even earlier seems to be demon. strated by the fact that his Dalavâi Kumara Raya built an aniout at Belûr, 10 miles south of Hosur, in 1673. Soe Antiquities, I., 194.
99 For the circumstances of Chikka Dêva's accession, his dealings with the Ellandur Pandit, hi early reforms in the administration, his conversion to Vaishnavism at the instance of Tirumalaiyangar see Wilks I, 53-56.
100 Insens. 201 and 209 of 1909. Vide Madr. Ep. Rep. 1910, p. 116. Seo Mys. Ep. Rep. 1915, p. 57,