________________
178
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[NOVEMBER, 1916
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA. BY V. RANGACHARI, M. A., L.T., MADRAS. (Continued from p. 171.)
The Plan of Campaign.
With such a strong array, Râmappaiya set out on his campaign. Proceeding along the Vaigai, the army fixed its camp at the end of the first day at Chinna Râvuttan Palayam. The next day it reached Vandiyûr. From thence two days' march brought it by way of Tiruppuvanam to Vâna Vira Madura in Alagar country, the strong and fortified place where the Mâvilivânan had lived and ruled. The van of the Madura army-600 elephants, 700 camelry and 6,000 cavalry-no sooner reached the banks of its magnificent lake than the spies of Sadayakka carried the news to him. They described in glowing and eloquent language the formidable nature of the invading army; but the Sêtupati got more furious than afraid. Had he not conquered and enslaved kings at Paramakudi? Had they forgotten their experiences so early? Did he not conquer Sûrappayya and Arupanâtha? He would never cease fighting unless and until he captured and chastised this foolish Brahman, this brainless adventurer, this dabbler in war.. He would sacrifice his throne, his very life, if he did not before long tie a cocoanut to the Brahman's knot of hair and paraded him in shame before a jeering and pitying world. With this commendable resolution the Marava chief prepared to meet the enemy. Nothing deterred him from his resolve to fight to the bitter end. The Pandaram of Ramalingas vâmy, indeed, said that, as a result of his consultations with the divinity, he anticipated defeat in case of war, and therefore advised him to yield and pay tribute. But Sadayakka was more in a mood to give reproof than to take advice, and the priest had to leave the royal presence in sullen anger. All the men of the Marava land were immediately called to arms. The fierce. Vannimalai Kumâra Vîran, the tiger-like Magattilân (?) (user), the Kurumba of Konḍamkottai, the chief of Sembi Nadu and Mangala Nâḍu, the Râvuttas,-all assembled under the general leaderships of Vishakantha Dêva, Mottai Udayân, Karutta Udayân, and above all, Vanniya, the son-in-law of Sada-yakka and the bravest fighter of the day. Bold and daring, fierce and aggressive, these chieftains looked on their Brahman opponent with contempt and hatred. They vowed either to capture him or to die in the field. They asked if he had no god to perform puja to, and what right he had to take up the occupation of the soldier! Vanniyan vowed to take away his sacred thread and use it to tie up cows! Inspired by such feelings they marched in different directions to meet the enemy. Kumara Vira went to the defence of Ariyândipura-Kôtai, Motta Udayan, Karutta Udayan and Râvutta Kâttan occupied Pogalûr. Pottai Uḍayân and Vishakantha Têvan, went to Pudu-kil-Kôtai(?). The next day, Vanniga saw the Madura army at Ariandipur Kattai. An engagement immediately followed,-the first in the war-and ended in the victory of the Marava. The Madura camp was plundered, and 300 men lay dead, while the Maravas lost 60. Ramappaiya, however, renewed the attack on the place the next day. His ariny was in 18 divisions, while the enemy's in five divisions, under the respective
1 See p. 312 of Taylor's Rest. MSS., Vol. IV. (Line 16). It is later on called in the MS. Mândmadurai.
15 It evidently refers to some local chiefs. In the reign of Kumara Krishnappa it was under a Turnbuchchi Naik, as we have already seen. Perhaps the Setupati had distinguished himself by subduing certain turbulent chiefs of the place.
