Footprints of Kumara Kampanna around us
To have ancient temples in the neighbourhood is a blessing.
It is even more so, when we have temples with inscriptions bearing the names of Superheroes from the Pages of history.
The year was 1342 CE
From the records of Ibn Batuta, Chronicler
of the 14th century:
Ghiyathu -d-din was the then
ruler of Madurai. His wife’s sister was married to Ibn Batuta.
*“He gives some interesting details of Ghiyathu -d-din’s doings which throw a lurid light upon the character of Muhammedan rule in the South.
While Ibn Batuta accompanied him, when he moved from the camp towards the capital, he happened to fall in with a number of idolators with their women and children in clearing a road through the forest.
He made them carry a number of stakes sharpened at both ends, and when the morning broke, he divided these prisoners into four groups and led one party to each gate of the four entrances to the camp.
The
stakes that they carried were then driven into the ground at one end and the
unfortunate wretches were impaled alive thereon. Their wives and children had their throats cut
and were left fastened to the posts.
Ibn Batuta exclaims in horror, ‘it
was for this reason that God hastened the death of Ghiyathu -d-din’.
It is hardly necessary to add to
this the blood curdling story, others from Ibn Batuta.” * *
Veera Kumara Kampanna Udaiyar
Kumara Kampanna, Son of Bukka Raya, one of
the founders of the Vijayanagar empire, was the Mahamandaleswara , governing Mulbagal, an area comprising of Mysore, and Salem
areas extending to South Arcot.
The fifty-year Sultanic rule in Madurai
established by Ulugh Khan, was causing immense hardships to the native
population. An attempt to liberate Srirangam by Hoysola King Veera Vallala Maharaja, ended in his murder in a most gruesome manner.
Veera Vallala III was a great devotee of
Annamalaiyaar. To this day, his sacrifice is remembered as part of the temple tradition.
Tiruvannamalaiyar himself performs the
rituals of shraddham ceremony every year recalling that fateful day.
Kumara Kampanna was chosen by King Bukka Raya for this challenging endeavour.
His Generals were
Saluva Mangu,
Somappa Dandanayaka,
Vittappar of Anegondi, and
Gopannaarya.
His wife Ganga Devi accompanied
him and had recorded the events and her observations in her book Madura
Vijayam.
Kumara Kampanna passed by the holy city of Kanchi, and it
is said Goddess Meenakshi had appeared in his dream describing the horrors
people were subjected to, by the rulers of different religious belief systems. She
had ordained him to undertake the campaign to liberate the land, establish
Dharma and had blessed him.
He had to consolidate his forces for the
Madurai campaign.
The Sambuvarayars
Sambuvarayars once the feudatories of the Cholas, after their dawnfall, were ruling the territory known as Rajagambheeram, an area comprising of Chengalpattu, North Arcot, parts of South Arcot.
Virinjipuram and Kanchi were their alternate
capitals. Padaiveedu was their hill fortress.
They had provided a safe haven for people who faced
persecution in the Madurai Sultanate.
The ruler Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya, wished for
his territory to remain an independent kingdom. But Kumara Kampanna considered consolidation
of forces vital for defeating the Sultanate and was constrained to attack his
kingdom.
Rajanarayana Sambuvaraya was defeated, but he
could retain his territory as a feudatory of Kampanna.
Kumara Kampanna, around 1371, successfully liberated Chidambaram, Sri Rangam and Madurai
and many other holy places. Many temples, including these important ones had remained
closed for over 50 years without the right to worship.
Temples being opened, with the sacred Murthies
duly consecrated, is an important landmark in the history of the South. It was one
of the prime reasons for Tamilnadu continuing to be the land of temples.
The Urchavar of SriRangam, Azhagiya
Manavalapperumal, after great ordeals, safeguarded at Tirumala, was taken back
to SriRangam by Gopanaarya, a general of Kumara Kampanna, with a brief stopover
at Singavaram, near Senji.
Kumara Kampanna was then appointed the
Mahaamandaleswara of Northern Tamilnadu then known as Rajagambeera Rajyam and
Pandya Rajyam.
Madambakkam
Dhenupuriswarar Temple
Era Vijayanagar - Kumara
Kampanna Udayar Son of Bokkanna Udaiyar, founder of the Vijayanagar Empire
ARIE No 324/911
Gift of the village of Medanpakkam to the
temple by Vittappar, with the permission
of the king. A number of Obligations and limitations have been imposed on the
temple.
Senkanmaleeswarar Temple
Vijayanagara Era - Veera Kumara Kampanna
Udaiyar, Son of Veera Bokkanna Udaiyar founder of the
Vijayanagar empire
ARIE No 226 / 1916
“Registers
a sarvamaanya grant of certain taxes by the king, for worship and repairs of
the temple of Sengalmaaleesuramaiya Nayinar at Rajakesarinallur alias Taiyur in
Ayiraveliparru of Amoor Kottam, Jayamkonda cholamandalam.
The order regarding the grant
was issued by Somaya Dennaayaka in accordance with the written order of
Rajanarayanan Sambuvaraiyar.”
Pattipulam
A slab set up in the village Pattipulam
Era of Veera Kumara Kampanna Udaiyar
ARIE
No 106 / 1933-34
Registers the Royal order remitting the
taxes on the village Pattipulam in AayirvelipaRRu in favour of the temple of
Mudisuramudaiya Nayanar at Kaalingaraayarur alias Taluvakkuzhaindaan nallur
which was separated from Sirudavur, to provide for worship and repairs in the
temple.
ARIE No 107 / 1933-34 Reverse of the same slab - Telugu version of the above inscription 106.
Why do we need to know about the Inscriptions?
Inscriptions had been made in the walls of the temples so that, we devotees imbibe the spirit of Altruism, Valour, Power.
Inscriptions help us understand the workings of our ancient society better. Bhakthi and Devotion upheld by our ancestors would help us uphold the Indic philosophy for our future generations.
The successful management of All Three aspects of life – அறம், பொருள் & இன்பம் is the best formula for lasting happiness.
Ref
·
*Page 166 of South India
and her Mohammaden Invaders by S Krishnaswamy Iyengar
·
ASI publications
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