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JUN, 1914
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
117
Koppaiya Naikenûr,61 Tóttiyan Kottai,62 Gandama Naikenûr,63 Bodhi Naikenúr.c4 Periyakulam,cs Kombai, Kambam, Kûdalûr and Erašakka Naikenûris were all Kambala Tóttiyans who migrated to the south with their families, followers and castemen, either along with, or some time before, Nâgama Naik, the father of the great Visvanatha. The period of their settlement can be roughly assigned to the latter part of the 15th and the former part of the 16th century. The same is more or less the case with the chiefs of the Palayams of the Madura division known as Ottappa Naikenûr,&9 Doddappa Naikenûr, Tu Vellayakundam, 11 Puļiyankulam,2 etc.
The Palayams of Tinnevelly. In and about the district of Tinnevelly, a large number of the palayams were in Tamilian hands, and were therefore more ancient than those of the Tóttiyans. The majority of tho Tóttiyans owed their settlements to either Nâgama or Visvanatha Naik, while the Tamilian Pôlygars held their position from ancient times, primarily owing to their martial valour. They belonged to the Marava and Palļi castes, and were once evidently so serviceable to the country as to be rewarded with the semi-sovereign powers and privileges of feudality. The most important of them73 were the Marudappa Tévas of Ottumalai, the Tirtapatis of Singampatti, the Sâļuva Têvas of Orkâdu, the Vanuiyans of Siyagiri and Elâyirampannai, the Tiruvonatha Pandyans of Sêttur, the Indra-Talaivas of Talaivan-Kottai, the Valangaipuli Têvas of Chokkampatti and the Puli Têvas of Neikattanáêvval. The MS histories of these estates begin from legendary and pre-historic times and narrate in detail the feats and adventures of the early chiefs. The Polygars of Sivagiri, for instance, are said to be the descendants of Siva. They, it is said, were originally pigs, but transformed by Parvati into great warriors! They then entered the Pandyan service, and helped Babruvâhana in the defeat of his father Arjuna in the
61 Ibid, p. 296. Appendix. IV., Section 14. 62 This is six miles W. S. W. of Nilakðttai Madura Gazr. 298. No MS history of this estate is available. 63 A Zamindari in the S. E. corner of Periyakulam Taluk. Ibid p. 317. Appendix IV, Section 16. 64 This is 15 miles S. W. of Periyakulam. Ibid. 313-6 Appendix IV Section 16.
65 The Taluk centre. The Zamindari referred to is that of Råmabadra Ndiken of Vadagarai, Appendix IV, Section 17.
66 Four miles N. W. of Uttamapalayam, close under the great wall of the Travancore hills. The palayam was resumed by the English. Ibid, 319-20. Appendix IV, Section. 18.
67 Six miles S. W. of Uttamapaļayam. Its history is similar to that of Kombai. Ibid,' p. 818-19. Appendix IV gives a legend about it. No MS history is available.
63 Four miles E. of Uttamâ pâļayam in Periyakulam Taluk. A living Zamindari. Ibid. 316-17. Appendix IV, Section 20. gives what is known about this.
69 In the Tirumangalam Taluk. A living Zamfndari. See Madura. Gazr. p. 330. See Appendix V.
70 Chief village of the Zamindari of the same name in Tirumangalam Taluk, Ibid, p. 326, and Appendix V. Seo: 2.
71 A Zamindari, 8 milos N. N. E. of Madura, in Madura Taluk. Ibid, p. 281. See Appendix V, Sec. 3.
72 Thirteen miles S. S. W. of Tirumangalam. Ibid. p. 328 and Appendix V. Sootion 4. I have been. able to get no MS history of Kaochailatti.
3 The MS histories of all these have been translated and given in the appendix. Singampatti and Orkadu are within 3 miles of AmbAsamudram. Ottumalai or Sri-keralam-bQdhur is about 15 miles from TonkAsi, and Surandai 10 miles. Talaivankottai, Neikattan Sevval, Sivagiri, and Settur can be visited by taking the road from Tenk si to Srivilliputtar. Their pioturesque situations and vicissitudes I have described in detail in Appendix VI. See also Chap. II.
