270 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. XI. thereto and prior to the English occupancy does the Tamil 



dominion seem to have extended over any part of the plateau. 

 History. The wars between the Rajas of Mysore and the Nayaks of 



Madura — the former generally aided by the Narasinga kings (the 

 fading representatives of the Vijayanagar house), the latter by the 

 Mussulmfvns — continued at intervals, and with varying success, 

 during the reigns of the three following princes, Immadi Raja, 

 R, Narasa Rdja, and Dodda Deva Rdja/ a period extending from 

 1637 to 1672, but they eventuated in the permanent annexation 

 to Mysore of a large portion of Coimbatore, Karur and Erode 

 in 1667, and also Darapiir. Colonel Wilks' account necessarily 

 loses sight of the Mysorean reverses whilst it magnifies their 

 successes. The other, or Madura, side of the picture is given 

 by Mr. Nelson.^ Chikka Deva Rdja (1672-1704) succeeded to 

 the throne. His yoath was passed at Yelandur, where he 

 became acquainted with the celebrated Jain pundit Visha 

 Laksha. He was for a long time a prisonei at Hangala, a fort 

 south of Gundulpet. His father died here, and over his tomb he 

 raised a pagoda to Aparamita Paravasa Deva (the god of 

 perpetual exile). This spot is otherwise of historic interest, for 

 near it is Tirkanambi, once the seat of a prince of the Kadamba 

 line, and the temple, Tri-Kadamba, is said to mark the trijunc- 

 tjon of the Kadamba, Kerala and Kongu territories.^ The 

 Kongus, it will be remembered, probably gained possession of all 

 South Mysore in the seventh century, whilst the conquests gained 

 by the Malayalams probably followed the decay of the Kadamba 

 empire in the fifth century. Chikka Deva, whose early life was 

 spent within view of these blue hills, was perhaps the most 

 able monarch of the Mysore dynasty. He established a post, 

 reformed the revenue system, and developed the administra- 

 tion generally. His energy raised the Jangamas against him, but 

 they were ruthlessly reduced to submission. Early in his reign 

 he came in contact with the Mahrattas. He managed, however, 

 to divert their attention from his dominions whilst they ravaged 

 the eastern portions of the Dekhan and the Carnatic. Meanwhile 

 he strengthened his position and added to his prestige by an 

 alliance with the Emperor Aurangazib. To him history must 

 award the praise of having established a secure and prosperous 

 state, " extending from Palni and Anemale in the south to 

 Midagesi in the north, and from near Karnatic Ghur of Baramahal 

 in the east to the borders of Coorg and Balam in the west." * 



' This rija came to the throne in the year the great Tirumala Ndyak died, 

 1659. 



- Madura Manual. Part III. Chapter VI. 

 3 Mijsore Gaz^.ttn^r, Vol II. p. 279. 

 * Mijxore Oa-.ettP<>r, Vol I. p. ^47. 



