Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 61
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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DECEMBER, 1932 1
THE VIJAYANAGARA CONQUEST OF CEYLON
223
THE VIJAYANAGARA CONQUEST OF CEYLON.
BY B. A. SALETORE, M.A., PH.D.
(Continued from page 219.) Who was the “Danaik" who went to the frontier of Ceylon? And what was the object of his mission ? The word "Danaik” is evidently & shortened form of dannayaka, or dandandyaka, the official designation given to & commander in pre-Vijayanagara and Vijayanagara days. The late Mr. Venkayya wrote the following: “The mahapradhana Lakkanna Udaiyar mentioned in an inscription of Dêva Raya at Tirthomalai (666 of 1905) was perhaps the same Lakkanna Dannayaka, 'lord of the Southern Ocean,' mentioned in paragraph 31, Part II, of the last year's Annual Report. The 'Danaik' who was vizier and who went on a voyage to the frontier of Ceylon during the reign of Déva Raya II (Sewell, op. cit., p. 74) might also have been the same."48 The late Mr. Krishna Sastri, however, took this assumption in the light of a fact. For Mr. Sastri wrote " One of his (i.e., Deva Raya's) ministers was Dandanayaka Lakkanna, who is stated to have gone on a voyage to the frontier of Ceylon." Dr. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, in his introduction to the History of the Ndyaks of Madura by Mr. Satyanatha Iyer, writes : “ The next time that the viceroyalty of Madura comes into prominence is under Dêva Raya JI, when we hear of two brothers, known by the names Lakkana and MAdana, in charge of the whole of the Tamil country, the former held high office at headquarters, probably with the government of Madura as his province, the administration of which he carried on by deputy. At one period about 1440 he is found in the south, and is given the title of Viceroy of Madura,' and 'Lord of the Southern Ocean ... From this high commission Lakkana was recalled back to the headquarters. after a defeat sustained by the imperial armies at the hands of the Muhammadan Sultans of the Dekkan, to reform the army, and to reorganise the resources with a view to final victory. It is apparently this Danaik (Dandanayaka) that is spoken of in suoh glowing terms by the Muhammadan traveller, 'Abdur-Razzaq, who was in Vijayanagara in 1442-1443."50 Mr. Srikantha Sastri also writes to the same effect: "Lakkanna justly styles himself the 'increaser of the wealth of Deva Raya, and saptárga-rajya-vardhana-kaladhara and unnata keleya (intimate) friend of Deva Raya.' We know from other sources that he conquered Ceylon and Gulbarga.":1
On what grounds this identification of Lakkanna with the Damaik mentioned by 'Abdur Razzaq rests cannot be made out. Evidently the lead given by the late Mr. Venkayya has been implicitly followed. Dr. Krishnaswami Aiyangar does not give the source of his information. The two brothers, Lakkanna and Madanna, were no doubt governors over the Tamil country during the latter part of their career: but we may aoquaint ourselves with their history since it will be of some use to us hereafter. Lakkanna comes into prominence as the great minister in charge of the Maļbâgal kingdom in 1416 A.D.53 In 1428 A.D. Lakkanna Odeyar granted a dharma-sdoana to Singarasa's son AnnadAt4.66 In 1430 A.D. he was still (under Déva Raya) governor over Malbagal.65 In the next year we have some information about his lineage : the epigraph styles him as well as his brother Madanna, Heggade-devas of
48 Mad. Ep. Report for 1906, p. 64. 49 Ibid. for 1916, p. 139. - 50 Dr. S. K. Aiyangar in his introduction to Mr. S. Iyer's History of the Nayaks of Madura, p. 6. 81 Srikantha Sastri, Indian Antiquary, LVII, p. 78.
53 The authority obviously is the Pandyan Chronicle, as given in Taylor's Oriental Historical M88., 1, p. 37. Cf. Heras, Aravidu Dynasty, pp. 107-8.
88 Ep. Oar., X. Mb. 7, p. 72. There is a Lakanna Odeyar mentioned from about 1397 A.D. till 1402 A.D. in the reign of Harihara II, Ep. Oar., IV. He. 48, p. 88; Ep. Oar., V. On., 178, p. 201 : Mysore Arch. Report for 1911-2, p. 47. If this dignitary could be identified with the general we are dealing with, the latter must have been quite old when he terminated his official career as "Lord of the Southern Ocean."
64 Ep. Car., X, KI. 104, p. 31. 56 Ibid., Bp. 72, p. 162.
