________________
210
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(SEPTEMBER, 1917
devotee across the Pamban. Festivals in honour of his favourite god never tired him. On one occasion he vowed that the revenue of one whole season's pearl fishery should be devoted to the adorning of the image. Almost every year saw the grant of extensive lands and estates to the temple. The orthodoxy of Raghunatha secured from his suzerain Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha the image of Durga, for whose reception he built a temple at Râmnad, which attracted thousands of pilgrims. An idol of the Brahmans, Raghunatha had a veneration for Vedic rites and ceremonials, thereby reviving the ancient days of Hinduism.
His persecution of Christians. It is not surprising that, under the regime of such an orthodox ruler, there came into existence a period of vehement opposition to the proselytising labours71 of the Christian fathers. During the last years of Kilavan, the missionaries of Christ had enjoyed not only perfect freedom of worship, but a felicitous opportunity for active proselytism. Hundreds of people had forsaken the religion of the gods and of their ancestors. The spread of Christianity alarmed the orthodox, and their agitation converted Vijaya Raghunatha from a passive spectator into a zealous persecutor. The prospects of the religion of Christ became gloomy, but the timely support of a prominent member of the royal family saved it from ruin. The Setupati had an elder brother, Vaduha Natha, who felt in the doctrines of Christianity greater chances of salvation than in the worship of the Hindu gods. So zealous was he in his belief that he gave up ail his prospects and ambitions, and became a Christian. The position and the character of the illustrious convert was a tower of strength to the Father, and though their recent period of prosperity did not return, yet the future was not absotutely dark and clouded.
The rebellion of Bhavà: i and Tondaman.
• Great as Vijaya Raghunatha was as a man of God, he was equally great as a soldier. His martial activity was a matter of necessity; for the repose of his rule was constantly disturbed by the intrigues of his rival, Bhavani Salikara, a man whose unusually sanguine temperament scoffed at failures and persevered in his aim of acquiring the crown. The Setupati in self-defence divided his kingdom into 72 military divisions, placing each under a feudal chief who paid service instead of tribute. He established a chain of forts throughout the realm, -at Rajasir gamangalam, Orûr, Arantaigi, Tirupattûr, Kamerdy and Pamban. He organized an artillery service, his two guns, Rama and Lakshmana, being a terror to his adversaries and an inspiration to his own soldiers. An Army so zealously maintained could not but bring success to the setupati arms, and from Tiruvâlûr in the North to the District of Tinnevelly in the South he reigned supreme. However, in 1720, Bhavani obtained the assistance of the Tondaman and the Maratha king of Tanjore once again attempted the recovery of his crown. The combined armies of Pudukkottai and Tanjore soon encamped at Arantângi. The Sêtupati promptly marched against them, and defeated them, but when he was about to return an epidemic of a virulent nature broke out in the camp. The dread visitant struck down a large number of men and then seized the royal family. Eight children and eight wives of the Setupati succumbed to it, and soon the Setupati himself became a victim. At the point of death he was taken to Râmnâd, only to breathe his last there.
11 Nelson and Chandler.
