Jinamanjari 2000 04 No 21

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 60

Odeyāditya Cengāļva who bore the name of his Coļa master Kulotunga Coļa (1070-1122 C.E.). 46
Coming to the twelfth century, Cengāļvas had to bear the brunt of Hoysaļa attacks on their territory. Hoysaļa Viśnuvardhana humbled the Cengāļva rulers."7 Later, they rallied soon and survived the frequent raids of the Hoysaļas. Narasimha-I, the Hoysaļa king, declared a war on Cengāļva king who was killed in the fierce battle and carried away their horses, elephants and a vast booty. 48 King Narasimha's General Bokumayya further suppressed the Cengāļvas and the Kongāļvas and also the Coļas and the Kerala Chiefs. Another Hoysaļa General, Govinda inflicted humiliating defeats on the Cengāļvas.49 In order to avoid such frequent attacks by the Hoysaļas, the Cengāļvas shifted their capital from Bettadapura to Palpare in Coorg district."' In the course of time, Hoysaļas appear to have established matrimonial relationship with the Cengāļvas,' and due to this relationship, Mahādeva Cengāļva rushed to the help of Balļāļa-II whose kingdom had faced the threat of a civil war. Later, Balļāa-II led another attack on the Cengāļva king Mahādeva, 52 who was killed in the battle.
The next Cengāļva king Penumavira tried to reconquer his territories from the Hoysaļas with the help of the Kodava leaders. He was not only repulsed by the Hoysaļas but they dealt him with heavy losses."
The Cengāļvas moved yet to another capital. In the middle of the thirteenth century, Somadeva and Boppadeva ruled together from Srirangapatna." The then Hoysaļa king, Someśvara accepted the Cengāļvas as feudatories and entrusted them with the administration of Srirangapatna.” Thereafter followed a period of cordial relationship between the Hoysļas and the Cengäļvas. In the sixteenth century, the Cengāļvas appear to have become independent rulers - Nanja and Mahadeva ruling jointly from 1503-1525 C.E." After the disappearance of the Hoys!as, the Cengāļvas became the feudatories of Vijayanagara empire." Nanja Cengāļva founded a new capital Nanjarājapatna, named after himself, on the banks of river Cāveri."
The next Cengāļva ruler, Nanjunda not only rebuilt Periyapatna, 60 but also was a great patron of literature. His son Śrikanța had titles like rajādhirāja and parameśvara. 61 His son Virarāja (1560-1585 C.E.), a strong ruler, gave bis daughter in marriage to Rāmarājiah, son of Tirumala of Aravidu dynasty. The next Cengāļva ruler, Periyarājrudrānga (1585-1625 C.E.) strengthened the capital Periyapatna by commissioning a fort in stone. 69 After Krishnarāja, the Cengā!va genealogy is not clear.
The names of Nanjunda, Mallarāja and Virarāja (1619-1644 C.E.) 64 -- the last Cengāļva -- appear in their history. Virarāja was related to the Hāveri kings of Kodagu. He was defeated by Kanţirava Wodeyar of Mysore for not paying the annual tribute.65 Being humiliated with the defeat, he killed all the members of his family and himself. And that is the end of the Cengāļvas.
The Cengā!vas ruled over a vast area for about six centuries, and their rule was under constant attack by the Hoysaļas. Besides, their clashes with the Kongāļvas weakened them. From their religiosity, they were great patrons of Jainism and they were great patrons of literature. In their courts, poet Nanjunda wrote Kumārarāma Sānghtya; Rāmarudradevappa wrote Rāmavijaya; Rāma wrote Gitārāghava, Mangarasa composed Supāśāstra, Samyaktva Kaumudhini
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