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THE INDIAX ANTIQUARY
(JUXE, 1916
CHAPTER V. The Naik Kingdom in the first quarter of the 17th century.
Introduction. In the history of South India the space of twenty three years which elapsed from the death of Aryanatha to the accession of the great builder Tirumal Naik is an epochal one. For it was in that period that the first real attempt of the provincial chiefs to make themselves rulers of independent dynasties reached fruition. It was then that the career of Mysore, Madura and Tanjore as independent States began. The important dynasty of the Setupatis again came to power in this period, and a tremendous religious revival followed by a widespread conversion and serious popular ferment, was inaugurated by the establishment of the Jesuit Mission in Madura . and the organization of it into an elaborate proselytising agency. More important than these was the advent of the European nations in the Coromandel seas, and the rivalry of the English, the Dutch, the Portuguese and the Danes in industrial and commercial exploitation of the country and in the establishment of trade treaties with the ruling powers. Thus in politics, in religion, and in commerce, this quarter of a century witnessed very important changes.
SECTION I.
Muttu Krishnappa (1602 9.) Muttu Kțishṇappa seems to have acquitted himself as a prudent and capable politician. The period of seven years during which he ruled has no history, so peaceful and eventless was it. The country enjoyed to the full the blessings of Peace, and grew in prosperity and riches. A happy and contented realm brought ample revenues; and Muttu Krishna, like a true son of his line, distinguished his reign by the benevolent profusion with which he distributed the fruits of his kingdom in the performance of charities, the construction of public works and endowments to temples. He took a singular delight and a commendable interest in the digging of tanks, which combined in themselves utility with sanctity. Many a pagoda and agrahara owed its existence and prosperity to his generosity, of which the most significant is the Muttu Kumâreśvara Temple at Kayattâr. He was also the builder of the town of Krishnapuram between Madura and the Skanda hills, the ruins of which bear melancholy testimony to his liberality. His relation with his suzerain Venkatapati seems to have been at the same time one of loyal obedience. An evidence of this is afforded by his coins. These have, on their obverse, the standing figure of Vishậu with a fish on his right, and on their reverse the name Vêókatapa in Canarese. Hultzsch believes that in consequence of the large abundance of these coins in the Madura bazaar and of their having the emblem of the Padya country, they belonged to " One of the Madura Nayakkar, who issued it in the name of his nominal sovereign Venkata, the pageant king of Vijayanagara." And that they were the coins of Muttu Krishņapra is Practically certain. For coins with the name Tiruvéngala in the obverse and Muttu Krishna in the reverse of the same type have been discovered, and show that he acknowledged the suzerain dynasty of Vijayanagar, whose tutelary deity was Tiruvêngala.
40 See Ind. Ant., Vol. XX, pp. 307-9.
