Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 174

166
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[OCTOBER, 1916
SECTION II.
The Mysore War. Almost the first act of Tirumal Naik after the assumption of the royal dignity was an indiscreet attempt to throw off the yoke of Vijayanagar supremacy. True, in desiring che separation of his province from Vellore, then the headquarters of the phantom Empire, Tirumal desired a verbal expression to what had already been a fact during the past thirty years. Fer, ever sinca a generation back, the weakn333 of Veikatapati Râyalû had compelled the transfer of his capital from Pennakonda to Vellore, the bond that had united the province with the central authority had been loose, and the ayment of tribute irregular and uncertain. With the decay of the imperial power, remissness in the remittance of tribute had become a common place occurrence. But no provincial chief had so far dared to turn his province into a kingdom and his viceroyalty-into a royalty. The real sovereigns of their territories, they had no interest in assuming the title of kings.
In fact, even after the cessation of annual tributes the various governors used to send presents, as well as assurances of loyalty, to their nominal suzerain. Tirumal Naik was evi. dently the foremost man to desire to end this political hypocrisy and to proclaim himself an independent king. Inspired by this view he made grand preparations. He repaired the old forts of the realm, constructed new ones on the frontier and mustered 30,000 troops. At the same time he took steps to make disaffection a widespread movement and to persuade his brother chiefs of Tanjore and Gingi to imitate his example. These chieftains had hitherto refrained from open defiance to the Emperor, chiefly owing to want of precedent and lack of self-confidence. Both were now supplied by the Naik of Madura, and the three rulers entered into a confe leracy, with the objest of withytanding by arms any attempt on the part of the Emperor to enforce his suzerainty.
Chama Raja Udayar, Everything was thus ready for a formidable rebellion, when an event led to its collapse. Tirumal Naik became involved at this time first in a war with Mysore, and then in the subjugation of a dangerous rising on the part of the Setupati. These affairs engaged his arms for the long space of fifteen years. Mysore was then, as has been already mentioned, under the rule of the great Châma Raja Udayar (1617-1637). A youth of 15 at his accession, Chama Raj, famous95 in literary history as the author of Chamarajókti Vilas, acquitted himself with the skill of a good soldier. His mind was always engaged in the revolving of schemes for the expansion of Mysore at the expense of his neighbours, and it seems that about 1625 (?) he despatched his general,96 Harâ gura Nandi Raj, through the Gazelhatti Pass, to seize the important and strategic fort of Dindigul. He conquered the country below the Ghats, but failed to take Dindigul by storm. The general of Tiruma! Naik, the capable Ramappaiya, took advantage of this change in the tide of war and, joined by the great Polygar Ranganna Naik of Dindigul, came up with Nandi Raj, and inflicted on him such a disastrous defeat that he abandoned his conquests, and made a precipitate retreat into his country. The valour of Råmappaiya and the dignity of Tirumal Naik were not content with the expulsion of the enemy, but desirous of assailing him in his
* That he acknowledged Rama IV is clear from epigraphical evidences. See Mys. Arch. Rep. 1908, p. 23.
" See the History of the Polygars by Kannivadi. Ranganna Naik, the son of Nadukkuttalai Chinna Kadir Naik, the contemporary of Tirumal Naik, and proved an able and enlightened Polyger of excellent character. The MS. wongly givas the aim of the Myao:a king as D.va Baj. Tho real king Was Cháma Raja Udaiyar VI.