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JUNE, 1916]
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
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only for a few months. For in 1602 Lingappa followed his brother to the grave. The dates of this series of events are of course themes of controversy, but a right and definite conclusion is easy enough. According to the History of Carnatic Dynasties, and Supplementary MS., Visvanatha died in S. 1458, Manmatha, and Liigappa ruled for the next 17 years, from S. 1458 to S. 1475. All this is of course absurd. The Pandyan Chronicle, the Mirtanjiya MSS. an. epigraphy, on the other hand, clearly attribute the events to A.D. 1601 and 1602. The former are indeed inaccurate in mentioning Lingappa alone, and one of thom particularly inconsistent in attributing the end of his reign to Pilava Chitrai and his death to Subhaksit Vyakusi; but this can be easily reconciled by the fact that Visvanatha III. died in Pilava Chitrai and Lingappa in Subhakrit Vyaka'i.
Usurpation of Kastari-Ranga and Muttu Kļish appa's accession,
In any case the decease of Liigappa was followed by a disputed succession between his son, Muttu kishilappa, and his brother Kastüri Ranga. The latter had had, as has been already mentioned, a share in the administration of the kingdom as his brother's second : and having tasted power, his ambition grasped at the crown itself at the expense of the real heir. Muttu Kţishna was a bare youth, and he could not make an efficient defence against the designs of his uncle. The consequence was, the latter succeeded in assuming the reins of government. The usurper, however, could not enjoy his exalted dignity for long. The illegal seizure of the crown raised a strong and influential party against him, and these vowed to resort to any means for the restoration of the grown to the regular line. They found a suitable opportunity when the king was defenceless and absorbed in his devotions in the secluded Sandhyâ vandana mantapa at Krishnapura, a small town north of the Vaigai, and had him murdered, in the midst of his meditations. by hirelings. The murdered chief had sat on the throne for the short space of eight days.
It should be acknowledged however that the indigenous chronicles are not unanimous in this version. Tae History of Carnatic Dynasties ascribes to Kastüri Ranga a reign of 17 years (S. 1458-1475, from Dunmuki to Paritapi), as second in power to Lingayya ; and adds that, after the death of the latter in 1553, his son Muttu Krishnappa succeeded ; but as he was a child, Kastari Ranga ruled as sole monarch for 3 years i. e., from Pramadhicha to Siddharti (1560); and that on his death in that year Muttu Krishna came to the throne. It would taus appear from this chronicle that Kastāri Ranga was not a usurper; that he ruled in the capacity of guardian ; and that he did not undergo a tragic death. The Pandyan Chronicle however, is explicit on the point, and its version of a short, tragio reign of 8 days, is taken by Nelson to be the more correct one. It is curious, however, that it makes no mention of Muttu Krishnappa at all It passes direct from Liúgappa to the short rule of Kastûri Ranga and then to Muttu Virappa Naik. Nor does it mention the relation between Muttu Virappa and Lingappa. In other words it seems to imply that Muttu Virappa ruled from 1601 to 1623 ; but the fact is that Muttu Krishna ruled till 1609, and Muttu Virappa ruled after him for 14 years. (Wheeler who claims to have baced his aocount on MSS. leaves out Muttu Krishộa altogether and says that Muttu Virappa Naik ruled from 1604 to 1636).
