Indian Antiquary Vol 43

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

Page 47

MARCH, 1914.]
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA.
By V. RANGACHARI, M.A., LT, MADRAS.
(Continued from p. 36.)
SECTION VI 1500-1530.
The Empire under the Tuluvas, We have already seen how the great Tuluva regent Narasa Naik deposed the Emperor Sâļuva Immudi Narasimha and established a new dynasty on the throne of Vijayanagar. Men of great capacity and industry, the monarchs of the Tuluva line took prompt steps to bring the various provinces and feudatory states under the control of the central authority. It is true that Narasa Naik died within a year or two19 after his exaltation to the imperial dignity; but even within this short space of time, he made his name a real power throughout the Empire. His eldest son and successor, Vira Narasimha, the Busbal Rao of Nuniz, ruled till 1509 A.D. According to copper plates and inscriptions, he was a virtuous emperor who made gifts at various places, such as Râmêśvaram, and Srirangam; but according to travellers and chroniclers, a weak and incompetent sovereign, whose repose was constantly invaded by either external or internal enemies. Free from the dominance of the strong personality of Narasa, the feudatories of the various provinces shewed signs of disaffection and independance, and defied the central authority. Many of the Kanarese chiefs of upper Karnata or Mysore, for example, became overbearing. The Musalman governor of Goa openly made war with his suzerain.20 The chief of the small, but strategically well situated, feudatory state of Ummathûr in Mysore rebelled, and after a victory over the Emperor, made himself independent 21 at Terkanambi and the surrounding country. Taking advantage of these troubles, the Gajapati king carried his arms into the empire, and seized the fortresses of Kondavidu and Udayagiri. The sultâns of the Trans-Tungabadra region naturally exulted in their immunity from chastisement and opportunity for aggression.
The Empire under Krishna Deva Raya 1509–1530. It was under such circumstances that the great Krishna Deva Raya22 came to the throne. It is beyond our province to give a detailed account of the greatness, the magnificencu and the achievements of this remarkable man. Nowhere in the world's history do we find a more striking example of a king who deserved to be king not because of his inheritance, but because of his kingly qualities. Soldier and statesman, administrator and conqueror, poet?) and patron of arts and letters, Krishna Deva was undoubtedly the greatest monarch that ever sat on the Vijayanagar throne. The works of Akbar seem to face into insignificance before the glories of this monarch. Numerous are the romances that have
19 In the latter part of S. 1424 1. e., 1502 A. D.: See Arch. Sur. 1908-09, p. 171. 20 Ep. Carna. VI; Arch. Suru. 1908-09.
21 Terianambi is Gundlupot Taluk of Mysore. The Kongudesa Rdjdkal also mentions the growth of the power of this chief at the expense of the Empire See Ep. Car. III, 95, which says that a chief named MATA RAID was so aggressive as to extend his territory as far as Penukonda. Inscriptions 578 and 579 of 1908 point out that Narasa Raja Udayar held territory as far as Tirumuranjampûndi in Coinbatore in 1499 A. D.: (see also Ep. Rep. 1900).
22 He was about 20 when he came to the throne. Being the son of Nagala, a queen of inferior status, Krishna Deva was considered by many wrongly to be illegitimate. His predecessor had tried to deprive him of his eyes and, according to one version, to kill him; but såļuva Timma seved him. For details see Ibid, 174-186. Mr. Krishna Sastri bases his account or Sewell's antiquities; Viresalingam. lives of Telugu Poets; Poet Venkataraya's Krishnard ja Vijayamu, the account of Nuniz; Forgotten Empire and Ep. Reports.
» Eg. Krishna Deva himself composed the poem Amuktamdlydda, besidcs some Sanskrit works, He also patronised many writers and came to be known as the 2nd or Andhra Bhoja. (See lives of Telugu Poets, Arch. Suru. 1908-09, p. 185-186. also Ep. Ind. I, 370-1; Ibid 398-402.)