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NOVEMBER, 1916]
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
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commands of Karutta Udayân, Vishakantha, Pottai Udayân, Mada 14 Tevan and Katta Têva. The battle was indecisive, each losing 300 people. During the next two days, the valour of Mappillai Kondappaiya and Venkata Krishộaiya took the offensive, and though the poem, with its onesidedness, attributes greater loss to the Naik army, succeeded in breaking through the enemy. Then the struggle began in fuil fury. The Maravas were first put to immense trouble. "Like deer caught in a net and water in the midst of mountains," they fumed and raged, toiled and moiled. The men of Ariyandipur and Kalândakudi. however, came for their rescue, and in the subsequent engagement, they were, we are informed, successful, and inflicted, besides the loss of 200 horses, 10 elephants and 3,000 men, death on the chiefs of Virů pâkshi, the Tondamân, Kâ mâkshi Naik and three others. The next day, however, Råmappaiya besieged Ariyândipur Kottai and took it.
Purguing his success, he came to Kâdânda kudi, crossed the Vaigai and at 'Attiyuttikottai " (Ramnad Taluk) came up with Sadayakka himself. A furious engagement followed, in which Sadayakka was seriously wounded, and compelled in spite of Vannigan's bravery, to retreat with all his forces, treasure, palanquin and state paraphernalia to the Pamban channel. Râmappaiya promptly took " Attiyutti-kôttai" and pursued his adversary. The Setupati therefore crossed the channel to Râmêsvaram, and trusted himself, as the poem .says, to Ramanatha Svâmi's grace !
A Diversion to the North. At this stage, while Râmappaiya was enjoying a well-earned rest from his recent campaign, he received the terrible tidings from his master that 30,000 men of the 'Mugila' (Mughal ?) and the Padshah of Golconda' had crossed the pass into the Râya's clominions, laid waste the country around Velur and Vijayapuram, and were about to invade the Nåik kingdom. With characteristic promptness, Râmappaiya resolved to go to the north. Leaving the seat of his recent war with the promise of returning in eight days and with the strict orders to the Polygars to keep a vigilant watch over the ports and forts, he proceeded to Madura, had an interview with Tirumal Naik, and at the head of 1,000 horse, hurried to the north. The poem gives his route of march, -Sôla Vandan, Vadamadurai, Dindigul, Tikkamalai Maņappârai, Rattaim alai, Trichinopoly, Srirangam, Samayâ varam, Kannanûr, Ottattûr, Vâlikonda pura, and Vélar. The gallant general had an interview, we are told, with the Râya 17, received the pán superi of supreme command from him, and hurried towards Bangalore. There he joined Ikkêri Venkata Krishộaiya and assisted him in driving the Muhammadans across the river and defeating them with great slaughter. With 1,000 cavalry, 50 camels, and 60 elephants as the spoils of war, he returned to the Raya, after, we are told, going as far as Bijapûr and Ânagundi. At Vêlûr he was received with magnificent cordiality and pressed by the Râya to stay, but he naturally refused, and promising to go there at least once a year; set out on his return journey, and by the same route, reached Solavandân and Pillaippalayam.18 The gratitude of Tirumal Naik had arranged for a grand welcome through the hero's brother Vaidyanatha ; but waiving that pleasure and honour to the time when he would return as the victor from Râmêsvaram,
16 The name of this chief is not quite clear in the MS. He is always given the title Madurai-vali. kanda, i.e., who saw the way to Madura.
17 This must be Venkatapati II, who ruled till 1642. (See Arch. annual, 1911-2). Ikkeri and the neighbouring powers were of course involved in war with Bijapur, but it is difficult to say how far the story of Rim uppriya's cooperation with them is tru. It is curious that the poem ignores Mysore. It is also very inaccurate in its topography, for it places Vijayapura and Anagundi on the way from Veldr to Oftattur!
18 I have not been able to identify this place.
