Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 46
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
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AUGUST, 1917)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
183
In the foregoing discussion, we hope we have advanced cogent arguments for Asserting that the Natyzóastra of Bharata was composed not later than the 5th century A. D. If it be conceded that Kalidasa had in mind the work of Bharata, then the latter must have been composed at the beginning of the Christian era, if not earlier. We do not mean to asseru that the Nalya iastra as composed by Bharata has come down to us intact. We are quito prepared to admit that interpolations may have been inserted from time to time. What we contend for is that the main outlines of the work were just the same about the 7th century as they are now. We have seen that comparatively ancient writers like Anandavardhana, Rudrata and Abhinavagupta refer to particular portions of the Natya sastra. We sue that Abhinavagupta regarded Bharata as a very ancient sage and that according to him Bharata spoke of the two figures, Yamaka and Upamā It has been our endeavour to establish that the Natyajlstra of Bharata is at all events older than A. D. 500. There is no other extant work on the Alanlarasastra that can be placed before A. D. 500. We may therefore provisionally regard that the Nátyaédsira of Bharata contains the oldest extant treatment of Alankaras.
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA.
BY V. RANGACHARI, M.A., L.T.,; MADRAS.
(Continued from p. 163.) So ended the Tanjore war; and the two powers became not only tacit observers of peace, but positive allies, offensive and defensive. In the enthusiasm of their new alliance, they even prepared for war with a third power. The Raja of Mysore had just constructed a dam across the Kâveri and caused thereby untold hardship to the people of the Tanjore and Trichinopoly kingdoms. Cultivation had to be suspended, and the grim prospect of famine loomed large in the horizon. The two powers therefore at once resolved to send a joint expedition against Mysore. But fortunately at this crisis, Providence intervened and averted the war. A timely flood50 of the river swept away the Mysore dam and furnished the parchod kingdoms with water, copious enough for irrigation.
The Successful revolt of the Setupati. 1702. The last military undertaking of Mangamma! (1702) was against the turbulent Marava .chieftain, Raghunatha Setupati, 51 whose policy of persecution we have already seen. The arms of Madura were not attended with the accustomed success in this war. The loosely combined mercenaries of the Naik army could hardly prevail against people who, owing to their community of race, language, religion and interests, had a strong sentiment of national solidarity. The war in consequence resulted, in spite of the assistance which Tanjore rendered on this occasion, in a serious diminution of the prestige of Madura. The great general, Narasappaiya himself, fell in battle, and the confederates were driven in disgrace into their kingdom. Tanjore suffered more. The brunt of the war fell specially on the South and Eastern districts of that kingdom which were devastated with fire and sword by the exultant Maravas.
50 Soo E. G. Buchanan, I, p. 427, where he describes a dam built by “Cavery Cada Raya, one of the family of Chika Dava Raja of Mysore" at Naringapetta. It is, of course, not at all certain that this dam is the intended one.
51 In 1700, one Daļav&i Sébupati repaired the Siva temple at Tirumokar, 6 miles north of Madura. Ho wm evidently a general of Raghunatha and then in friendly terms with the Central Governmont. 30. Antiquities, I, p. 295. The war pregumably took place after this.
