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JUNE, 1914]
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
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later than the beginning of the 15th century. The most important and extensive of these palayams, namely, Turaiyûr, situated strategically well and picturesquely beautifully between the two hills of Kollaimalai and Pachchaimalai,53 was founded, according to one version, by two Reddi brothers, Anna and Sûra, the alleged owners of a "Pallavole estate" in the neighbourhood of Nellore during the time of Krishna Dêva Râya, and according to another MS it came into existence between the years 1450 and 1456. The neighbouring palayam of Ariyalur, the chief of which was a Nâyanâr of the Palli or Vannian caste, was founded about 1405 A.D. by two brothers, Rami and Bhumi, the sons of one Udaya Nâyanâr of Anagundi. It is true that the chronological value of this statement is very much injured by the later statement in the MS that the exodus from Ânêgundi took place in the time of Narasinga Râya and Viśvanâtha Nâik; for, of these the former is known to have died about 1490, and the latter came to the south, as we shall presently see, between 1530 and 1560; and in ascribing both these events to 1405, the MS certainly commits a blunder. But we may fairly assume that the first immigration leading to the foundation of this palayam took place about 1405, and that it was later on confirmed first by Nara inga, and then by Viśvanatha, when he established himself at Madura and organised the various palayams so as to put them on a definite basis. We have no reliable information about the foundation of Kulattúr and Peramûr by the Tonḍamân and Tîrtakutti, Dêva; but we have authority enough to believe that the Kâmâkshi Nâiks of Iluppûr (a place 26 miles south of Trichi) belonged to a very ancient line, though as the Pôlygârs of Iluppûr proper, their antiquity cannot be traced to a period older than 1660. The story is that Iluppûr, together with the neighbouring estates of Marungâpuri and Kadavûr, which belonged to the division of Manappârai, was originally "one estate under a chieftain of the Tôttiyan caste, and that the Iluppur estate descended to one Vallavâdu Kâmâkshi Nâiken" about 1650 A. D Coming to the Maṇappârai Taluk, we find that, according to one MS., there were eight palayams, namely, Marungâpuri under Pûchi Nâiken, Nattam under Lingama, Thôhaimalai under Vasuvappa, Pillaimulungi under Mûrti, Râmagiri under Sâmi, Viramalai under Kamaiya, and two others the names of which are not given, but the chiefs of which went by the names of Lakkaya Naiken and Viranâr Kâmi Nâiken. It is not improbable that the fast is simply a repetition of Viramalai under Kâmaiya, in which case there would be seven palayams according to this MS. Two other MSS on the other hand mention only six pâlayams, and leave out the last two. One of these, however, leaves out Kâmaiya Naik of Viramalai and substitutes, in his place, one Ranga Nâik of Kumarapalayam. All the three MSS agree in regard to the five estates of Marungâpuri, Nattam, Thôhaimalai, Pillaimulungi and Râmagiri. Now, of these, as I have already said, Marungâpuri, like
53 The Kollaimalais lie chiefly in the Namakkal and Atûr taluks of Salem, and the Pachchaimalais partly in the Perambalur and Musiri taluks of Trichi and partly in the Atûr taluk of Salem. For a short but fine description, see Trichi. Gazr. p. 3-4, and for a longer one Salem Manual.
54 The Manapparai táluk till 1856 was part of the Madura District. It was then transferred to Trichi District. Manapparai is no longer taluk head quarters. It is in the Kulitalai tâluk. Marungapur is even row a Zamindari 12 miles S. of Manapparai. Kadavur also is a living estate, 28 miles S. W. of Kulitalai. Tôhaimalai is an extinct pâlayam the ruins of which can be seen 14 miles S. of Kulitalai. Pillaimuļungi is the same as Kadavûr. Viramalai is also in the Kulitalai taluk and Kumarapalayam in Salem District 15 miles N. W. of Tiruchengodu. MS. histories of four of these palayams only are available, and they have been abstracted and translated in appendix III entitled Manapparai Palayams.
