Indian Antiquary Vol 46

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

Page 287

NOVEMBER, 1917]
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
273
to Râmnâd, he had an interview with the Sêtupati's padhâni, (velian, sérvaikaran), a man of absolute loyalty and honest bravery, and expressed the purpose of his visit. The Marava Minister was transported with joy at the turn of his master's fortune. He immediately took Muda Miyan to Srirangam where, Dorasâmi Tandavaraya Pillai heartily joined them. All the three officers then went to Vellai Kuruchchi, and congratuianng Vijaya Kumâra on his change of fortune, escorted him in pomp to his capital. Then in accordance with the custom of his ancestors, he received, from the hands of Goddess Minakshi, the sceptre, and the symbols of sovereignty in Aigirasa Mârgali. Mounted on an elephant, seated on a howdah, he was taken in procession around the city, and to the great joy of the people, crowned with pomp. Almost all the Polygars graced the occasion with their presence, and hastened to perform homage. They prostrated themselves before him as if before a divirity, and showered on him gold and silver flowers.
Muhammad All's final overthrow of it.
Vijaya Kumâra enjoyed his kingdom only for the space of two years according to one account and six months to another. Even during this short period he seems to have been merely a nominal king. The Mohammadan officers of Chanda Sahib, Myana, Muda Miyan and Nabi Khan, either remained in the Madura fort or jâgîrs near, and made no hesitation in ignoring the power of the restored monarch and treating him as their tool. But so long as Chanda Sahib was alive, they at least nominally obeyed the Nâik king. But late in 1752 Chanda Sahih was captured and killed, and the Carnatic became the undisputed possession of Muhammad Ali. A man of a mean and unscrupulous temperament, Muhammad Ali at once took steps to remove Vijaya Kumâra. With a bribe of a lakh of rupees, he pursuaded a Muhammadan saint, Asafu'ddin Sahib by name, to proceed to Madura and give Muhammad Miyan, the son-in-law of Myana, a written document in which he mentioned that he would offer a jagir of the value of a lakh of rupees and a cash of Rs. 50,000 in case he treacherously seized the person of the king. Myana was consulted in the matter by his son-in-law, and was mean enough to readily yield to it. The project, however, was looked upon with disfavour by Hussain Khan, a brother of Myana. He expressed in a bitter invective his contempt and abhorrence for the author of such a crime, rebuked his brother for his treachery towards a master whose salt he and his ancestors had eaten, and pointed out how his treason, which deserved death, was detestable in the eyes of both God and man, while it would bring eternal shame on the whole family of which he was the head, But the obstinacy of Myana, seconded by the passions and interests of his colleagues, Muda Miyan and Nabi, ignored the advice of his brother. Hussain saw that it was hopeless to reform his brother or to prevent the conspiracy. He therefore secured an audience with the king and, after making known to him the evil machinations of the Nawab's emissaries and the treachery of his own servants, pursuaded him, for the sake of his life, to leave Madura, for the present, to a more seoure locality. The fears of Vijaya Kumara were alarmed by the view of the least danger. A coward of a despicable character, he held life more precious than 'honour and yielded a ready consent to the proposal of his Musalman friend. The village of Vellai Kuruchchi in the Sivaganga Zamindary became, thanks to the constancy of the Setupatis, once again the place of exile. It was soon however exchanged, in accordance with the advice of the same chief, to a place, more remote from
T The 1st is Cam. Lards and the 2nd the last Mish MS. The latter distinctly says that he was restored in Angirasa Margali and that he ruled in the Kamataka fashion down to Se'mukha.