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DECEMBER, 1914.] THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
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residence and received his blessing after laying gold and silver flowers at his feet. The coronation ceremony was then once again gone through in the temple. A diadem of virgin gold beset with jewels, and a sceptre of gold, first worn by the goddess, were now presented by the priest to Visvanatha; and he, after the worship of the deity and prostration before his father, assumed the sceptre and the diadem. Eighteen bands of music then filled the air with harmony. From the temple Visvanatha proceeded to the court of Lakshmî and there, amidst the panegyrics of heralds, took his seat on the throne of the Pandyas, gave presents to Brahmans and invested Aryanatha with the two rings of the Dalavâi and Pradhani.
Wheeler's Version of the Naik Advent. Such is the account, usually given, of the origin of the Naik dynasty of Madura. There are also some versions not so authoritative or true. Wheeler, for instance, a historian with more imagination than capacity, gives, on the basis of doubtful authorities, a version quite different from that which we have just seen. He attributes the foundation of the dynasty to the reign of Krishna Rai.'91 The latter, he says, lightened the burdens of the imperial office by dividing his empire into various administrative divisions each of which he entrusted to a favourite servant. To his chief favourite he gave Mysore, to his betel-bearer Tanjore, and to the overseer of his cattle, Någama Naik, the kingdom of Madura. On the death of Krishna Dêva, his son and successor Rama Raja (Wheeler is of course wrong) could not, in consequence of his troubles with the Muhammadans attend to his dominions in the South. They, therefore, thanks to the ambition of the provincial chiefs, became practically independent or subject to disorder. The affairs of Madura drifted into chaos. "The twelve kings of Malabar " ceased to pay tribute. A vassal, Tumbichchi Naik, set up the standard of rebellion. Oppressed by these revolts, the Pandyan felt himself unable to remit the tribute he owed to the emperor.. Nagama Nájk communicated this state of things to the emperor (whom Wheeler inconsistently calls here Krishna Rai and not Rama Raja). The latter promptly despatched Visvanatha the son of Nagama Naik, together with the gallant and faithful Aryanatha Mudali, to restore order in Madura. Khoa Pandya,92 the then Pandya king (!) received the imperial leacler with joy. The latter easily defeated the kings of Malabar and compelled them to pay tribute to the Pandyan. He vanquished the troops of Tumbichchi Njik at Paramakudi, and beheaded that chief in the Pândyan's presence. Visvanatha's services were thus valuable and disinterested. But success turned his head and inspired schemes of ambition in his mind. The saviour became the spoiler. Forgetful of loyalty and justice, ho turned against the very person whom he had come to save, and seized the crown. With a wise promptness he then took precautions to secure his usurpation. He distributed his army throughout the kingdom, put the forts in defence, and killed such of the king's troops
9. Wheeler has evidently taken this version from one of the histories which Wilson refers to in his article on the Pandyan kingdom in J. R. A. S. III. Wilson also attributes the whole to the reign of Krishna Deva Raya. It is unfortunate that the original MSS. on which Wilson dopended are not Available. If available, we can find out how far Wheeler is true to them. Wilson' based his article on Muttiah's Hist. of the Kings of Madura; Hist. of Telugu Rulers of Madura, translated by Wheatley; eto The Madu. Manu. gives & very good eummary of the circumstances under which the Naik Raj was established and the correct dato 1659; but it wrongly says that it took place in the time of Krishna Diva See also for very short but modern account Madr. Gazr., chapter on Political History.
9 This is absurd,
19 In reality tho Paramakudi affair took place in the time of Visvanatha's son and succedeor Kumara Krishnappa. See Chapter IV.
