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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Kizhanilai, Pudukottai

Kizhanilai, Pudukottai
The place, Kizhanilai ('kee-zhaa-ni-lai') contains a dilapidated fort. From the days of the imperial Chozhas and the Pandyas upto the 19th century, Kizhanilai was an important military station. 
The name Kizhanilai means 'the eastern gate', as distinguished from the adjacent village called Melanilai ('the western gate'). Between them is Pudhunilai ('the new gate'). 

Historical Background
According to Mahavamsa, the Srilankan chronicle, a line running from Ponnamaravathi to Kizhanilai and then to Manamelkudi, divided the Chozha and Pandya in the 10th and 11th centuries, before the final subjugation of the Pandya kingdom by the Chozhas. This line marks the northern limit reached by the Sinhalese in their invasion of South India.
Parts of the 12th - 13th century strategic road leading from Kizhanilai to Aranthangi in the east and to Tiruppathur and Ponnamaravathi in the west can be seen even now. About the middle of the 12th century, the Ceylonese general, Lankapura, who was in alliance with Parakrama Pandya, defeated Kulasekhara, a rival claimant to the Pandya throne, who had killed Parakrama (c. 1162 AD) and placed Virapandya Parakrama's son, on the Madurai throne.
During this campaign, a sanguinary battle was fought at Kizhanilai in which, according to the Mahavamsa, the slaughter was so great that the corpses of the slain covered a space of four leagues. Kizhanilai was one of the frontier forts of the Thanjavur kingdom under the Nayaks. Vijaya Raghava, the last Nayak ruler, is the reputed builder of the fort, now in ruins. 
History of the Fort
The Statistical Account of Pudukkottai (1813) informs us that the fort, which had an arsenal, was built about 1683 by a Sethupathi. It is probable that this Sethupathi, who got possession of the fort, repaired or extended it by adding an arsenal. In 1756 when Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman of Pudukkottai temporarily occupied the place, a granary was built in which to store provisions against sieges. 
The fort passed through different hands over a time, including Thanjavur and Ramanathapuram, before coming to Pudukkottai. It was afterwards part of the debatable land, which passed from Ramanathapuram to Thanjavur in 1750 and 1763 and again in 1771.
Thanda Thevan of Ramanathapuram promised the fort and district of Kizhanilai to the Pudukkottai Tondaimans in 1723, if he succeeded in gaining the throne with Tondaiman's assistance. Tukoji, Raja of Thanjavur (1729-36) also appears to have granted it to the Tondaiman, who sold it back to Thanjavur on certain conditions. The conditions were violated and the Tondaiman attempted to recapture it.
In 1749 Manoji the Thanjavur general, ceded it to the Tondaiman on his own account in return for military assistance, so that the Tondaiman actually got possession of it. But the Raja of Thanjavur refused to ratify Manoji's act and ordered its recovery in 1756.
Hyder's forces seized and occupied it for a time in 1781, but the Tondaiman recaptured it in the same year at the request of Colonel Braithwaite of the Madras Army. When, soon after this, the whole of the Thanjavur territory was annexed by the British. Kizhanilai, which originally formed part of Thanjavur but had all along been claimed by the Tondaiman, was finally ceded to Pudukkottai.
The only condition imposed was the payment annually of the tribute of an elephant. This, however, was never paid, on the ground that the stipulation was inconsistent with previous treaties, and with the rank and status enjoyed by the Tondaimans. It was formally waived in 1837 by the Court of Directors themselves. 
The Fort
This extensive but now dilapidated fort, covering an area of 43.61 acres, is built of laterite, quarried close by in the extensive Sengirai and Sakkottai patches. The first place of interest that a visitor observes within the fort is a small temple of Hanuman then he approaches the Ariya Nayaki Amman, which is the principal one. There are other temples dedicated to Vishnu and Munisvara. 
Sections of walls have fallen down. According to the tradition, an underground passage near south gate, now blocked, leads to a fort in Sakkottai in the Ramanathapuram district. A fairly large gun lying on one of the ramparts is all that now remains of the efficient military equipment with which the fort was once fitted. 
There is a small hamlet within the fort surrounded by flower gardens.
Connectivity
Kizhanilai is a village, 33 km from Pudukkottai.  One can reach this place via Thirumayam and Kanadukaththaan.