The Nayak Rule: Madurai, Tanjore, Gingee and Vellore Nayaks

• The Nayak rule in Tamil Nadu was established by the Vijaya Nagar Emperors.
• Krishna Devaraya popularised the Nayak System, the king Achyutharaya had 200 Nayaks under his control.
• Among them, the Nayaks of Madurai, Tanjore, Ginjee and Vellore were important.
• After the battle of Talikotta (1565 AD) and after the downfall of Vijaya Nagara empire the Nayaks emerged as an independent ruler.

Nayankara System: –

• Krishnadevaraya extended the system to Tamil country.
• According to this, king was considered as owner of all lands.
• Those who received land from the king were called as Nayak, in term they had to pay a fixed amount and send an army whenever the king needed.
• The Nayaks carried on administration on the name of King.
• This system is known as Nayankara System.

The Nayak Rule in Madurai (1529 AD – 1739 AD)

• On the request of Pandya King, the Krishnadevaraya sent his general ‘Nagamma Nayak’ to Madurak to help the Pandya king.
• Later Krishnadevaraya sent Nagamma Nayak’s son Vishwanath Nayak and established Nayak rule in Madurai.

Viswanatha Nayak (1529 AD – 1564 AD)

• Krishnadevaraya appointed Viswanath Nayak as viceroy or Nayak of Madurai in 1529 AD.
• Defeated many local chieftian and brought them under him.
• He introduced Poliga system, according to it he divided his principality into 72 palayams, which enabled him to collect revenue.
• Extended the territory of Madurai Nayaks which included Trichy, Salem, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli.
• He renovated Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam and Rock Temple at Trichy, the Temples of Tirunelveli.

Krishnappa Nayak (1564 AD – 1572 AD)

• Son of Viswanatha Nayak.
• He developed Krishnapuram temple which is a good model for Nayak archietecture.

Veerappa Nayak (1572 AD – 1529 AD)

• He developed the fort at Trichy and built a new fort at Aruppukottai.
• He renovated chidambaram Temple, Improvement were made in Meenakshi temple at Madurai.

Thirumalai Nayak (1623 AD – 1659 AD)

• Greatest among the Nayak of Madurai.
• Transferred the capital from Trichy to Madurai.
• He freed himself from the control of Vijaya Nagar Sovereignty and became an independent ruler.
• His kingdom included Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and some parts of Thiruvananthapuram.
• He built many forts.
• By introducing many festivals, he made madurai as city of festivals.
• Theppakulam, Thirumalai Nayakar mahal, Pudhu mandapam, Rajagopuram were some of his Contributions.

The Battle of Noses:

• Thirumalai Nayak defeated the Mysore ruler Kanthiravanarsa Nayak at Dindigal.
• Barbarious Punishment were given to the war prisoners.
• They cut off the noses and upper lips of the war prisoners.
• So, this war was called ‘War of Noses’.

Rani Mangammal (1689 AD – 1706 AD)

• She was a good administrator and courageous General.
• She had diplomatically dealt with mugal army and avoided a defeat.
• She defeated and brought king Ravivarma of Trivancore under her rule.
• Brought Trichy and Tanjore under her rule.
• She donated land to Brahmins and Muslims and also patronised christians.
• Completed many public works like built many irrigations tank, digging wells and canals, laying roads, building choultries, mandapams, planting trees on both sides of the road.

Vijayaranga Chokkanathar (1706 AD – 1732 AD)

Meenakshi (1732 AD – 1739 AD)

• Wife of Vijayaranga Chokkanathar,
• She was the last ruler of Madurai Nayak.
• Rule was brought to an end by the Nawab.

The Nayaks of Tanjore (1532 AD – 1637 AD)

Sevvappa Nayak (1532 AD – 1580 AD)

• He was the first Nayak of Tanjore, appointed by Vijayanagara king Achyutharaya.
• He renovated and repaired Tanjore Lake, later the lake was called Sevappaneri.
• He built Sivaganga fort and many temples.

Achyuttappa Nayak (1580 AD – 1600 AD)

• Son of Sevvappa Nayak

Raghunatha Nayak (1600 AD – 1634 AD)

• Son of Achyuttapa Nayak.
• He was great among Tanjore Nayak.
• He sent his army to Jaffna.
• He encoursged British, Portuguese and Dutch to establish trade.
• He Patronised Telugu and Sanskrit languages.

VijayaRagava Nayak (1633 AD – 1637 AD)

• Last Tanjore Nayak Ruler.
• Telugu Scholar, wrote book Raghunatha Bhyudyama
• Chokkanatha Nayak of Madurai defeated and annexed Tanjore with Madurai and appointed his relative ‘Alagiri’ as viceroy of Tanjore.

The Nayaks of Gingee (1526 AD – 1671 AD)

• The Region between Palar and Kollidam formed part of the Nayak Kingdom of Gingee.
• The nayaks of Gingee were relatives of Vijayanagara rulers.
• Krishnadevaraya appointed Vaiyappa Nayak as the ruler of Gingee.
• During the period of Krishnadevaraya Gingee was the Capital City.

Vaiyappa Nayak (1526 AD – 1541 AD)

• Loyal of Krishnadevaraya.
• Built temple in thirukoilur.

Thubakki Krishnappar  (1541 AD – 1554 AD)

• Son of Vaiyappa Nayak
• Built great walls around the three Hills of Gingee.
• Built great granary and a luxurious wedding Mahal.
• Constructed wall around Rajagiri Fort.
• After him small ruller ruled Gingee.
• Gingee was captured by the Sultan of Bijapur 1671 AD.

The Nayaks of Vellore

• The Vellore Rule was established by Chinna Nayak Pommer.
• After Chinna Nayak Pommar, Lingama Nayak ascended the throne.
• The Nayak ruled Vellore for short period.
• Chennappa Nayak was the ruler of Chennapatnam which later become chennai.

Social Conditions & Cultural Condition under the Nayak Rule

• Caste system prevailed and were very rigid.
• Trade and Commerce flourished.
• Valangai and Idangai continued their activities.
• Common People suffered from contagious disease like cholera and small pox.
• Poverty, Slavery and Bonded labours were their.

Education:

• Brahmins enjoyed rights of education.
• Vedic education was given in Sanskrit language.
• Ordinary village people lived under poverty, were ignorance, iliterate

Religious Condition:

• The Nayak ruler patronised Hindu Religion.
• Temples were built during this period at Thiruvannamalai, Tindivanam, Gingee were famous.
• They patronise saivism and promoted linga worship.
• Mahamahan festival, Sivarathiri and Ekathesi festivals were celebrated.
• During the period of Thirumalai Nayak Chithira thiruvizha, Theppa thiruvizha and Ther thiruvizha were introduced.

Important points to be noted

• Aruppukotai fort was built by Veerappa Nayak
• Viswanath Nayak was consideredas the real founder of the Nayak rule in Madurai, and he was appointed by Krishnadevaraya
• Nayankara System was introduced by Krishnadevaraya
• Last Nayak ruler of Madurai was Meenakshi
• The Nayak rule in Vellore was established by Chinna Nayak Pommar.
• The Founder of Nayak rule in Tanjore was Sevvappa Nayak.
• The ruele of Nayak was established in the year 1526AD
• Poliga System was introduced by Viswanath Nayak
• The First Nayak ruler of Ginjee was Vayappa Nayak
• Vijaya ragava Nayak last nayak ruler of Tanjore
• Arunachala Kolambakkam written by Ellappanavlar
• Ariyanathan was the first Dalavoy (minister and military general) during the regime of Vishwanath Nayak
• Renovation of Meenakshi Temple done by Vishwanatha Nayak
• Rani Mangammal – Grand Mother of Vijaya Ranga Chokkanathar