Indian Antiquary Vol 43

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 12

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(JANUARY, 1914.
us that it began in S. 1287, i.e., 1365 A. D.33 The Madura31 chronicles, on the other hand, assign it to S. 1293 (1371 A. D.). Perhaps the conquest was commenced in the former year, and completed in the latter.
The Continuity of Vijayanagar Rule over Madura. From this time onward to the close of the 16th century, the Pandyan kingdom, like the rest of South India, was under the rule of Vijayanagar. It is not possible to go into the details of every emperor's actions in the South,-first we have no materials for such a work, and secondly it is outside our province. It is sufficient if we note that, in spite of wars and troubles in the north, in spite of invasions and disputed successions, the grip of the imperial power never relaxed. At one time, indeed, the control was strong, owing to the strong personality of the emperor and the comparative weakness of the vassal, and at other times, weak owing to the weakness of the emperor and the self-assertion of the vassal; but it never ceased altogether. Unaffected by dangers from without and revolts from within, the imperial rule was maintained, first through the Udayars and then the Naiks. Sometimes the Viceroys themselves, generally relations of the royal family, proved rivals, and usurped the imperial crown. The usurpation of the Saluva chief Narasingha Naik 35 in 1485 during the weak rule of Virupaksha, and that of the Tuluva, Narasa Naik, in 1501, afford illustrations. But the usurpers themselves, when once their position became secure and unassailable, signalised their valour by the maintenance of a strong control over the provinces. The Tirupatûr36 and Trichinopoly inscriptions of the Saluva emperor, Immadi Narasingha Raya, the son of the usurper, for instance, prove that his power was felt in the far south, Similarly the Tuluva accession was followed by the strong and all-embracing imperialism of Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1530). Usurper or right ruler, then, the sovereign of Vijayanagar was the suzerain of the south, and he took care, to display his power by a lavish distribution of patronage and a generous series of endowments in his vassal territories.
SECTION III.
The Udayars, 1371-1404.
Kampana Udayår and his successors. The history of Vijayanagar supremacy naturally falls into two periods,-the period when Kampa a Udayar and his descendants ruled as the Viceroys, and the subsequent period when a number of nominated Naiks or Governors ruled the country. The dynasty of Kam. pat a was a short lived one, and lasted from 1365 to 1404. “After subduing the South and taking possession of Raja Gambhira Rajya," says Mr. Krishna Sastri, "Prince Kumara Kampaņa 37 appears to have ruled as an independent sovereign. His rule must have extended
3) The Madura Gazetteer, p. 38. Wilks is wrong in saying that the conquest of Dravida was achieved by Narasingha in 1490 : (I. p. 10).
4 The Pand, Chron. ; the " Supple, MS." The Köyilolugu, etc. 35 Epig. Ind. VI: Madr. Ep. Rep. 1909-10; '1908-9, etc. 36 Mad. Ep Rep. 1908-09 and 1909-10.
37 The title of Udayar, says Mr. Venkaiyah," seems to have been generally applied to Vijayanagara princes sent out as viceroys of provinces." (Madr. Ep. Rep. 1904-8, 1907, p. 83). On another occasion ho says: “It seems to have been the title which the kings of the first Vijayanagara dynasty originally boro as foudatories of Hoysalas" (Mdr. Ep. Rep. 1899 p. 22) Maha Rajah is a higher title (ibid, 1905, p. 58). Mr. Stein Knew also says that the Udayar title was assumed by such Vijayanagar princes as were sent out as viceroys. According to Wilks it was first assumed by governors of a small district, generally 33 villages, but later on by powerful kings. Soo Wilka, I, 21, footnoto.