Indian Antiquary Vol 43

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

Page 15

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JANUARY, 1914.] THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
it to acknowledge the sovereign of Vijayanagar. The visits of 'Abdu'r-Razzak and Nicolo Conti at Vijayanagar took place at this time of glory and expansion. According to these and to Nuniz, not only did the powers of South India and Ceylon salute the banners of Deva Raya, but distant kings, like those of Pegu and Tenasserim, hastened to pay tribute. It seems that much of this prosperity was due to the talents of Lakkana and his brother Madana. The emperor in reward despatched them to the government of the southern dominions. Lakkana's advent to the Pâidyan region took place in 1431 A. D. Mr. Nelson is thus right in saying that in the earlier half of the 15th century, 17 Madura was the seat of two Naik Viceroys and brothers, Lakkana and Mattana (Madana ?); but, as Mr. Krishna Sastri says, the date, 1405-1451 which he, on the authority of the Pand. Chron., assigns to them is not quite accurate. For, inscriptions of Lakkana in the Madura country earlier than S. 1360 (1438 A. D.) are not yet discovered; "and there are inscriptions that shew that he was in the Muluvâyi country till at least S. 1353 (1431 A.D.) "48
Whatever was the exact date, there can be no doubt that Lakkana was a prominent viceroy at Madura, and if we may trust the Pand. Chron., a broadminded one also, as he sought for a branch of the Pâi dyan line, and entrusted it with the royalty. So powerful was he that he assumed the title "Lord of the Southern Ocean," and issued a coinage of his own. Mr. Venkaiyah attributes a copper coin with the Canarese legend (Kha) Manadanayakaru on the obverse and the initial La on the reverse, to Dandanayaka Lakkana, 19 the invader of Ceylon.
The Empire between 1450 and 1500.
With regard to the position of Madura in the second half of the 15th century, when the sons and successors of Dêva Raya II, Virupanna and Mallikarjuna, ruled the Empire, we are still more in doubt. We have already seen that, according to one version, an illegitimate branch of the Pândyan dynasty-consisting of Mâvilivana Raya, Kâlayâr Sômanâr, Anjâtha Perumâl and Muttarasa Tirumalai Mavilivana Raya-ruled till 1499 A. D. From the phraseology of the chronicle which mentions this, we infer that no viceroys of Vijayanagar were present in the South; but the evidences of epigraphical records prove that such an inference is contrary to the fact. The emperors were indeed weak at home, but their names were evidently pronounced with loyal allegiance by the princes and people of the south. The inscriptions of Mallikarjuna50 have been found at such different places as Tiruvêlangadu, Trinomali, and Kâvéripâkam, while those of his successors, Praudha Deva and Virupaksha, have been found as far South as Vêdâranyam. Nevertheless it seems that the power of these monarchs was not so very securely felt by the people.
47 Madura Manual; Sewell's Antiquities. II, p. 223.
48 Arch. Surv. 1907-08.
49 Arch. Surv. 1907-08. Mr. Venkaiyah says that in the obverse of the coin, where an elephant faces right or left, is a Canarese syllable. Hultzch thought it to be Ni, but Venkaiyah deciphered it to be La, thereby making it correspond with (Kha) Manadanayakaru on the other side. See Madr. Ep. Rep. 1905.
50 Mallikarjuna's inscriptions at Tiruvelangâdu belong to 1450 and 1451 A. D. (Inse. 470 and 473 of 1905); the Tiruvannamalai inscriptions to 1453 (570 of 1902; year Srimukha); Kaveripakam inscriptions, to 1455 (383 of 1905) and 1459 (392 of 1905 Pramadhi). The Kaveripakam or Arcot inscriptions are interest. ing. The first of them records a private agreement among certain merchants that they would set apart a sum of money, on all marriage occasions, for repairing a local temple; and the other speaks of "the great assembly" of Kaveripakam. Virupaksha's inscriptions are, at Vedâranya (1464, earliest of his) 489 of 1904; at Conjeevaram (1465 and 1470 see. Madr. Ep. Rep. 1890, May) at Gangaikonda Cholapuraz (Ibid: Inscription 83 of 1892.), etc.