Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 205

DECEMBER, 1916
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
197
Tirumal's alliance with Bijapur and the latter's treachery. Muhammad Adil Shah (1626-1656) embraced cordially an opportunity which promised at once the humbling of his Musalman rival and his supremacy over the Hindu princes of the south. We have already seen how uniformly the Sultans of Bijapur tried, ever since the campaign of Talikotta, to conquer the Vijayanagar provinces, but in vain. Thanks to the rivalry of Golconda, to the domestic trubles caused by frequent rebellions and the valour of the Hindu chiefs. the Bijapur arms had hardly been successful. Nevertheless, by the year 1638, the army of Bijapur had advanced as far as Bangalore and conquered the districts around it. It would have taken Srirangapatam itself, but for the stout defence and martial skill of Kanthirava. Three years, later, this invitation came from Tirumal Naik. Nothing was better calculated to fulfil the Sultan's objects. An army of 17,000 horse left Bijapur and reaching the Maclura kingdom by way of Bangalore, or its neighbourhood, where the arms of Rendulla had very recently gained a triumph over the local Gauda chief, joined with the 30,000 foot of Tirumal Naik somewhere near Madura. The combined army, an inefficient and heterogeneous medley of Telugus and Tamils Musalmans and Marâttias, advanced to the relief of Ginji, now Jesieged by the Golconda troops. The conflict of class and creed, of interests anil olicies, of customs and modes of life among the allied forces impaired their strength and flagged their zeal. An army united under such a frail hond, and disabled by such a lack of units, interest, and discipline, could not be sure of beating an enemy, whose past victorien had implanted in his breast an idea of invincibility. The Golconda general, however. preferrel intrigue to fighting, and diplomacy to arms. He tampered with the loyalty of the Bijapur men, appealed to their religious feelings and won them over to his side. Community of religion prevailed over political jealousy, and Bijapur joined Coleonda for the spoliation and exploitation of the Hindu kingiloms.
The fall of Gingi. The immediate result of this shameful apostasy was the fall of Ginji. True, immeWiately after the desertion of his ally, Tirumal Xaik had a cause for satisfaction in the necessity of the Golconda troops to withdraw further north, owing to the revival of the war in that region by Sri Ranga Raya with the help of Kanthîrava Xarasa Raj; and true he was able, on occount of this, to find his way into the beleaguered fort ; but this triumph proved a curse in disguise. For, as his men were “ of different castes to those of the garrison," quarrels cropped up every moment; and Tirumal had to devote as niuch attention to the maintenance of harmony and discipline among his own men as to the encounter with the enemy. His endeavour to maintain harmony, however, failed, and as a result "a general riot took place. During the confusion which resulted, the forces of Bijapur gained possession of the fort almost without a blow and proceeded to pillage it of all the enormous wealth it contained." And Tirumal Naik had to congratulate himself on bis bare escape. In great precipitation and alarm, he took the route to his capital. History gives hardly a better example of treachery so soon chastised and want of patriotism so promptly punished.
The partition of South India between the two Musalman powers. Toe colours of Bijapur waved triumphantly over the impregnable walls of Ginji. By a strange chance, the mastery of the lower Carnatic was now within the grasp of Bijapur, lately the ally and champion of its chiefs. For Golconda, as we have already seen, was