Indian Antiquary Vol 46

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

Page 45

FEBRUARY, 1917)
THE HISTORY OF THE NAIK KINGDOM OF MADURA
Ramned affairs. It was during this interlude of ponce, moreover, that some important events took place in the history of Ramnad. The famous Tirumalai Setupati diedos in 1670, after a long and beneficent reign of 30 years. On his death, his adopted son, Raja Sûrya, the real son of the Sêtupati's half-brother Adinarayana Têve, ascended the throne. His reign was eventless except in regard to the history of the Râmêsvaram temple. He seems to have been an intriguer who schemed with Tanjore against his Suzerain. He was consequently seized by Dalavai Venkata Krishộaiya, a man of whom we shall hear presently, and taken to Trichinopoly, where, after a prisoner's life for some time, he was put to death. As he left no issue, the Maravas chose as his successor, according to one account, one Åtma Têvan, a distant relation of the deceased chief, to the gadi ;70 and when Atma was snatched away by death within a few months of his elevation, they met once again, and chose as their leader, # scion of the royal family named Raghunatha, surnamed, in consequence of his age, the Kilavan (old man). According to a second account, after the death of Sûrya Têvar without issue, the Marava chiefs could not come to a definite understanding in regard to a suocessor, and so the country was, for a time, without a Setupati. Two men, "Attana and after him Chandrappa Servaikaran, managed the affairs of the kingdom. Finally Reghunatha Te var Kilavan, illegitimato son of the last Setupathi was installed." Wilson" says simply that Chokkanatha, after putting Sûrya Teva to death, assisted his cousin Kilavan to become Setupati.
The accession of Kilavan Setupati was highly beneficial to Ramnåd. An able and efficient administrator, a fine soldier and statesman, Kilavan combined ability with experience, and tact with firmness. During the 3573 years of his rule (1673-1708), in consequence, Ramnâd was really a power in the land, practically independent of Madura itgelf. One of his first and characteristic acts was to put to death the men who, by their schemes, had brought about his elevation ; for he argued that the punishment of intrigue was more pressing than the claims of gratitude and that intriguers with him against others were not unlikely, under changed circumstances, to intrigue with others against himself. He then removed the capital from Pogaļúr to Râmnâd and fortified the latter. The fort“ was built in the shape of a square, each side being about half a mile in extent, with the main gate to the east, facing the entrance to the king's palace. The fortifications consisted of a single wall, twenty seven feet high and five thick, surrounded by a deep ditoh, now filled with rubbish. The wall was further strengthened with 32 bastions built at equal distances and loopholed, but without any ramparts. To the West of the palace was dug a spacious reservoir to collect the rain water as a provision against the droughts of the summer months, Among the people this tank is known as Mugava Urani, the tank where the face was washed, a name which arose with the rise of legend that Rama washed his face here on his way to Setu."
68 This is doubtful, as we have an inscription of Tirumalai, datod 1673 at Hanumantagudi record ing gifts of lands to a Musalman. See Antiquities, I, 298.
* Sowell's Antiquities, IT, 230, based on the Ramnad Manual. The date of this is uncertain; some attributo Sarya's death to his helping Vijaya Raghava, i. 6., they say that it took place after the Tanjore war.
TO Calouta Review 1878, p. 463. 11 RAmnad Manual ; Sewell's Antiquities, II, p. 230.
72 J. R. A. S. III. 13 The dates are not quite certain. Two inscriptions of Tiruvadanai, datod 1679, mention gifta by "Hiranyagarbha Setupati." Was this person identical with Kilayan?
71 Calcutta Review, 1878, p. 453. J. R. A. S. III, 165-8.