Indian Antiquary Vol 46

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

Page 41

FEBRUARY, 1917)
THIE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
41
Chokkanatha always had beforo him projects of a visionary nature, undertakings, which neither his capacity nor his resource was adequate to meet. He lacked that calmness that quick understanding of facts, that intellectual nimbleness and resource, which is necessary for a successful politician. To this incapacity he added an extraordinary amount of self. pride, which detected insult where there was none. The result was, he left his kingdom at his death, in a most unhappy and dilapidated condition, a prey to rival powers and contending parties, and a home of bloodshed and anarchy.
His war with the Muhammadans. The tendency of Chokkanatha to act on impulse and ignorance is seen in his very first act. Immediately after his assumption of the royal robes, he proclaimed a war with Bijapur, with a view to drive that power from its stronghold of Jinji, to restore the Naiks of that kingdom, and to revive the greatness of the Karnataka raj. It is highly probable that, in his precipitate move, Chokkanåtha disregarded the cautious advice of his ministers. At any rate, there is evidence to show that, soon after Daļa vai Linganua Naik proceded with his 40,000 cavalry to the frontier against Sagosi, the Muhammadan general of Jinji, a plot of a formidable nature, in which the ministers themselves played a prominent part, took place. The origin of the conspiracy lay either in the spirit of independence which the king displayed, or in his youth, which inspired the ambition of unscrupulous men. The leaders of disaffection were the Pradhani and the Rayasam, the former il Brahman. Under the name of guardians, they deprived the young chief of his power and freedoin and banished or imprisoned all those whoge loyalty was a sourco of danger to their power. Nor did they display wisdom in their administration. They exercised authority with the cruelty of tyrants and the greedinoss of upstarts. Allying themselves with the Dalavai Linganna, a man who, in his ambition and avarice, sold the interests of his country to the Muhammadan and was conducting a sham campaign, they organised a formidable triumvirate with the object of removing Chokkanatha and raising his younger brother to the throne in his place. The prospect of success was very near at hand, when an accident betrayed the nefarious plot and brought its authors to justice and ruin. The fidelity of a palace lady apprised the young king of the real state of things. He at once entered into secret communications with his friends in exile, and, with their help, eventually contrived to surprise and seize the traitors in the palace. The Rayasam was immediately put to death, but the caste of the more heinous criminal obtained for him the comparatively mild punishment in the loss of his eyes. The other accomplice Linganna Naik, however, was still at liberty. With a reckless disregard of his country and crəed, he joined hands with those whom he was sent to conquer, and marched against his master. Thus it was that a host ile Muhammadan army, of 12,000 foot and 7,000 horse, commanded by Sagosi and guided by the NÂik general, assenbled at the foot of the Trichinopoly fortifications. The place was at once invested and every attempt was made to take it. To the arbitration of the sword was added the temptation of bribery, and the camp of Chokkanatha once again became a scene of treasonable activity. A kinsman of the old minister, who was in the king's service, took advantage of this opportunity to entertain designs of revenge, and sell his conscience and good name. The ability of the besiegers and the play of treason
61 These details are not found in any of the indigenous chronicle. Mr. Nelson has taken these from Joguit sources, and my account of the reign is based on his.