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SEPTEMBER, 1917)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
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THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA.
BY V. RANGACHARI, MA, L.T., MADRAS.
(Continued from p. 190.)
Kilavan Setu pati's death. At this crisis, the great man, who had guided the destinies of Râmnâd with such conspicuous ability for the space of 25 years, passed away. It seems that to the calamities of flood and famine were added the calamities of war during his last years ; for we hear of a war which he had to wage, for reasons as yet unknown, with Tanjore. As usual, he secured victory for his arms. But the combination of ills which afflicted his country soon told on the octogena - rian, and hastened his death. Noble and generous, tactful and wise, Kilavan was the only man who could have freed the kingdom from its miseries. His sympathy and liberality would have revived the drooping spirit of his ryots, and his martial skill would have kept the king dom safe from the encroachments of neighbouring powers. But it was not so to be. He çlied, leaving the kingdom not only amidst the visitations of famine and pestilence, but bequeathing to it a legacy of trouble in the form of a succession dispute. Forty-seven of his wives followed him to the other world through the funeral pyre, and the scene of the tragedy is even now visible in the vicinity of Ramnad.
Accession and administration of Vijaya Raghunatha. At the point of death Kilavan Setupati appointed his illegitimate son, Bhavani Sai.. kara Têvan, as his successor. But no sooner was the body of the great chief cremated than the Maravas set aside his choice and chose an adopted son (in reality the son-in-law) of the deceased, Vijaya Raghunathaco by name, as the Setupati. Vijaya Raghunatha (1709-23) was an able soldier and abler statesman. He was perhaps the most versatile of the Setupatis.10 In a time when the Pâļayams were, as a rule, tottering down, he laid the foundations of the permanence of his State by his wise reform of the revenue administration. In place of financial chaos he introduced an orderly system, and in place of exaction, a definiteness of demanu. The kingdom was divided into eight revenue districts, and the villages which composed each were provided with able accountants of the Vellâļa caste from Madura, and made to maintain regular accounts. This salutary measure created an era of comparative contentment among the people, which seems to have been the secret of the immense resources and the numerous buildings and charities for which Vijaya Raghunatha became famous. The chronicles narrate with eloquence the grandeur of his palace, the size of his establishments, and the liberality of his charities. Endowed with a religious turn of mind, he took a personal interest in the extension of the Râmêsvaram temple. A staunch devotee of Ramanatha, he did not allow a single day to pass without a visit to the shrine. In spite of a pressure of business he would leave Ramnad every day some time before sunset, and arrive at Râmêávaram in time for evening devotions. A watchful staff kept in readiness horses at intervals on the road leading from the Capital to Tôņitturai, and an efficient boat service to convey the royal
69 He was the Muttu Vijaya Raghunatha Setupati Katta Tevar of the inscriptions. A copper-plate grant of his dated 3. 1635 (Vijaya) records the gift of houses and lands at Attiyuttu to 14 Brahmana families. Vijaya Raghunatha is said there to have performed the Hiranyagarbha sacrifice. Madr. Ep. Rep., 1911, P. 15.
TO See Antiquities II, 231 based on Raja Rama Rao's Munual.
