Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 91

MAY, 1016)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
83
badge of greatness, a gifted individual like Kumâra Krishnappa could not but make his influence felt. Endowed with a hardy nature, which unfolded, during the heat of war, a marvellous energy and an active enthusiasm, Krishộappa had also the noble moderation and the gallant chivalry of his father. With rare personal heroism he combined a generous heart, which opened readily to the fallen and sympathised with the weak. Able by nature, he had also the advantage of the discipline of his youth, the training he had undergone both in war and in the art of government, under his illustrious father. To crown all, he had the further advantage, throughout his reign, of the judicious precepts and thoughtful counsels of the great statesman Aryanatha. No better example have we in Naik History of a natural capacity so incessantly helped by the wisdom of experience : and the result was a great and successful reign. Much of the credit of Kộishnappa's rule was due to his predecessor and to his minister, the one bequeathed to him a strong government and a sound policy, and the other gave him the weight of his counsels Nevertheless, not a little of the success must be attributed to his own powerful personality and vigorous intelligence.
The Battle of Tallkotta and Krishnappa's part in it. The first and foremost event which distinguished the period of Krishnappa's rule, and created a new epoch in the history of the whole of South India, was the Muhammadan invasion and sack of Vijayanagar in 1565. It is unnecessary to describe the events that led to it and the events that followed it. It is enough for our purpose if we consider how they affected the relations between the Empire and Madura. Kumara Krishna was too good a man to forget his father's indebtedness to Sadasiva Raya to desert his standard at a time of disaster and danger. His loyalty is clear from an inscription 10 of A. D. 1561 recording a gift of his in tho Tinnevelly temple, where he mentions the great minister Râmaraya. He therefore took a prominent part in the operations of the Talikotta campaign. It is true he did not personally attend the emperor with his levies, but he did the next best thing in sending Aryanatha to theil seat of war. discretion (s. e., before he was 10 years old). He made a journey with his guardians into the Tinnevelly country and was much pleased with the immense plains covered with rich plots and fruitful orchards. He accordingly travelled farther into the Southern country. On his return he saw the place where his father died, and was 80 affected by the said story that he killed himself on tho spot." This story, says Whooler, in from the MSS. I have searched for it in vain. Wheeler is of opinion that the story gives false information.
The real fact is, he continues "Kumara Kishnappa Ndik must have attained his majority. He was the father of a child two years old. He was becoming impatient of his guardians. Accordingly they took him away from the City of Madura, and put him to death. They then built an agrahara as an act of Atonement. (Wheeler Vol. IV, Part. II, p. 575). The absurdity of all this will be clear when tha real history of the reign, as given in the text, is studied.
Epigraphical evidences regarding Kumfra Krishnappa are very meagre. In his Antiquities (1, 316) Sewell mentions only one. It is an inscn. in an Aiyanar Shrine in the village of Vijayapati, 20 miles S. E. of Nangunêri, Tinnevelly District. It bears date 1569 (Q. E. 745). The only other inson. I have been able to get concerning him is in Madr. Ep. Rep. 1912-13, p. 41. It is dated s. 1485, but the year given Krodhana is wrong. It says that he gave the villages of Ariyakulam, Puttaneri alias Tiruvêngadanallar, Siramankulam, Pottaikulam, Köţikkuļam, etc., to the temple of Tiruvêngadanatha Diva of KrishnApuram for the merit of his father Visvanatha.
The Kdilolugu says that in S. 1447, during the rule of Kộishnappa, he presented many jewels to Ranganatha, and his agent Narasimha Desika, son of Vathula Debika, is said to have built steps on the gouthorn bank of the Kaveri and made for the god a coat of jewels and a crown at a cost of 100,000 gold pieces.
9 The detailed history of the Penukonda-Chandragiri Empire based on chronicles and inscriptions and literature from 1565 to 1650 is shortly to be published by me in the Journal of the Bombay Royal Asiatic Society. The present history of the Naik kingdom of Madura is strictly speaking, a part of that history, as Madura was throughout this period, like Mysore, Gingi and Tanjore, & province of the Empiro. 10. Insen, 28 of 1894.
11 Life of Aryandtha Mudaliar in the Mirt, MSS.