Pudukkottai – History
Pudukkottai was organized as a separate district, on
14th January 1974, comprising the former Pudukkottai Division of
Tiruchirappalli district with some additions from Thanjavur district. At
present, this district is composed of two Revenue Divisions, namely,
Pudukkottai and Aranthangi and nine Taluks, namely, Kulattur, Illuppur,
Alangudi, Pudukkottai, Gandarvakottai, Thirumayam, Aranthangi, Avudaiyrakoil
and Manamelkudi.
There are 765 Revenue Villages. The area of the
district is 4663 Sq.Kms. The population of the district is 14, 52,269 (as per
Census 2001 Provisional figures). The district depends a great deal on
the monsoon for its water supply.
Many of the villages are of ancient foundation.
The district was one of the homes of pre-historic man. A very large
number of burial sites found in the northern and western parts of the district
attest this fact.
A very brief sketch of political history is given here
in order to appreciate and understand the mixed legacy of antiquities, monuments,
epigraphs and the like. The history of Pudukkottai is an epitome of the
history of South India. In and around Pudukkottai, there are many
vestiges of the oldest habitations of man and some of the lithic records known
in the south. The Pandyas, Cholas, Pallavas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar and
Madurai Nayaks ruled over this part of the country and fostered its communal
organisations, trade and industries and embellished it with temples and
monuments of outstanding merit.
Sangam Tamil literatures mention some place names of the
district. Oliyamangalam (Thirumayam Taluk) is called as Ollaiyur in
Purananuru. It was the birth place of poet Ollaiyur Kilan Makan
Perumchattan and Ollaiyur Thantha Budha Pandyan. Agananuru
also mentions Ollaiyur. It seems to have been an important city of the
Pandyas.
Four other places also find place in the Sangam
classics. They are Ambukkovil, the ancient Alumbil, referred to in
Agananuru; Avur the home of the poets Avurkilar, Avur Mulamkilar; Erichi,
the ancient Erichalur which had been identified with Erichi Village in
Pudukkottai - Aranthangi road (But according to recent researches a
village near Illupur). It was probably the home of the poet Madalan Madurai
Kumaranar. Avayapatti is traditionally associated with Avvaiyar, who is
believed to have lived here for some time.
This district was under the Pandyas of the first empire
during Sangam period, but some part of its northern boundary had been under the
influence of the Cholas of Uraiyur, since a few villages here bear the prefix
like "killi" and "valavan" both of which are the titles of
the Cholas.
The district shares the large prosperity of the maritime
trade of the Tamils, Karukkakurichi, the place of find of a treasure trove of
more than 500 Imperial Roman Gold and Silver Coins, the largest ever recorded
from a single hoard deserves notice in the context of the early history of the
district. This place lies in Alangudi taluk, within a short distance north of
Aranthangi and the adjoining old ports of Mimisal and Saliyur in the same area
and Tondi further south. The site of find would mark an important
Indo-Roman trading centre, through which the inland trade route ran between the
western and eastern ports during that time.
This is indicated by a chain of such Roman coin hoard
sites such as Korkai, Kilakkarai, and Alagankulam all on the eastern sea
coast. While Karukkakurichi is a bit inland but not far away from port
like Mimisal. There are also few other sites of such finds in the east
coast. These, while pointing out the exchanges of the exportable products
for Roman gold and silver currency would also indicate the places mentioned to
have been active trade centres. The Karukkakurichi hoard contained the
issues of the Roman emperors and their queens, successively from Augustus (BC
29 - AD 14) upto Vaspasianus (69-79 AD).
From about the end of fourth century about the last
quarter of sixth, the district, like many other parts of Tamil Nadu was under
the Kalabhras. It must have come under the King Kurran, inscription of whom has
been found in Pulankurichi near Ponnamaravathi in the district.
The next phase in the history of the district follows
the overthrow of Kalabhras by Kadungon in Pandya country about 590 AD.
The first Pandya Empire inaugurated by Kadungon spread in to the
district. This is shown by the presence of inscription of the rulers of
this dynasty in Kudumiyanmalai, Thirugokarnam and Sittannavasal. The
poem, Pandimandala sathakam states that Pandya land's northern frontier
was river Vellar. The Vellar that flows north of Pudukkottai town has been from
the ancient times was the traditional boundary separating the terrains of the
Cholas and Pandyas. This dividing line formed the Konadu and Kanadu, on
the north and south respectively.
Thus the district became a kind of marchar land between
the Pandyas and Pallavas. The Pandyas and Pallavas carried on the wars by
proxy through their subordinate chiefs the Mutharayars and Velirs.
Among the Velirs the most well known are the Irukkuvels of Kodumbalur. The
Kodumbalur Velirs located in the political buffer zone between the kingdoms of
the Cholas and Pandyas and formed the family of nobility from which kings and
other chiefs made matrimonial alliance.
The period of three centuries between C 600 and C 900 AD
relates to the reign of the Pallavas of Kanchi and Pandyas of Madurai who ruled
over the entire Tamilnadu with their boundary in between their empires
oscillating on either side of river Kaveri the bone of contention being
Cholamandalam the home of Cholas and the fertile Kaveri delta that was the
granary of the south and as such always been the cynosure of all powers
contending for supremacy during the entire historical period. The Cholas
themselves were in eclipse and hibernating only to revive again in the ninth
century, when the Pallava power came to an end, the Pandyas were holding on for
some more time to yield place ultimately to the waxing Chola power.
Though Mahendravarma Pallava (604-630 A.D) inherited the
Pallava empire from his victorious father Simhavishnu that reached up to the
bank of the Cauvery, Cholamandalam could not be retained by his immediate
successor, as it was over-run by the Pandyas of the further south. The
tract north and south of river Vellar were in the hands of the Mutharayar
chieftains who till their annihilation by the resurgent Chola line of
Vijayalaya, were owing alternate allegiance to the super powers. The
Irukkuvelirs, at the end became the firm allies of the Cholas.
Thus, one cannot expect to find early Pallava monuments,
antiquities and inscriptions in Pudukkottai region but only those of the
contemporary Pandyas along with those of Muttaraiyars and Irukkuvelirs.
Later Pallavas wrested the tract from the hands of the Pandyas. The
tract come under the Pallavas from the time of Nandivarman-II (730-796 AD) when
the Pallavas power reasserted itself in Cholamandalam and the tract south of
Kaveri, reaching a little south beyond Vellar, comprising the northern half of
the Pudukkottai district. This period is thus marked by the presence of
rock cut cave temples of the Pandyas and Muttaraiyars.
The available historical evidence under the first Pandya
empire is rather scanty. The best known is the inscription at
Sittannavasal in the reign of Srimara Srivallaba (851-862 AD) and at
Kudumiyanmalai in the reign of Kochadayan Ranadheeran or Sadayan Maran (C
700-730 AD). In the reign of Maravarman Rajasimha-I (C 730-760 AD) a
number of battles were fought against the Pallavas, one of the sites was
Kodumbalur. The inscription of the reign of Nedunchadayan, (C 768-816 AD) the
greatest king of the dynasty is found in Thirugokarnam and Nirpalani. Of the
reign of three successors of Srimara Srivallaba ending with Rajasimha-II (C 920
AD) who lost his kingdom to the resurgent Cholas, there are no references
about the Pandya rulers in the district.
The Pallava references to places and incidents in the
district are equally scanty. The earliest reference of the historical events in
the district find place in the Pandya records of Velvikudi and Sinnamanur
plates which say that Maravarman Rajasimha defeated Nandivarman Pallava Malla
at Kodumbalur. The inscriptions of his successors are found in
Kunnandarkoil, Malayadippatti and Rasalipatti.
The age of Pallavas and Pandyas of the first empire, the
Muttaraiyars and Irukkuvelirs was the age of Tamil Bhakthi Movement. The
Thevaram mentions several temples in the district. The three Nayanmars
from this district were, Idangalinayanar of Kodumbalur, Perumizhalai
Kurumbanayanar associated with Devarmalai and Kulachirai Nayanar of
Manamelgudi.
Jainism well flourished in Pudukkottai area up to 11th
century. There are a number of Jaina vestiges in the district.
The Buddhist vestiges in the district come from the
former Thanjavur district. Buddha idols are found at Kottaipattinam and
Karur.
With the exit of Pallavas from the political scene and
the subsequent elimination of the Pandya power by the Cholas who established
themselves at Thanjavur as their capital at the close of 9th century. By
11th century they extended their sway even beyond, Tamilakam.
Pudukkottai among many other places come under them. Their rule extended
till about the middle of 13th century when the Pandyas staged a comeback.
Under Chola Vijayalaya, this district formed part of his
dominion but perhaps fitfully. The notion that some temples of ninth
century in the district, belong to early Chola period, is erroneous. The
Pandyas still held power in the region. It was not until the reign of
Parantaka-I (907-955 AD). Vijayalaya's second successor, that the Cholas
conquered the entire Pandya land. The Kodumbalur chiefs helped Parantaka
in his campaign and remained faithful to the Cholas thereafter.
The rule of Rajaraja-I shows a brilliant part in the
history of the district in common with that of Tamil Nadu. The full
benefaction of the Chola rule is revealed in their inscriptions in the
district. These inscriptions are of great value is showing how
effectively local administration functioned in this part of Chola Kingdom.
Rajaraja-I appointed his son the viceroy of the
conquered Pandya and Chera lands. The entire district formed part of the
Chola kingdom until the last year of Kulothunga-III (1178-1218 AD). At
the death of Rajaraja-II and the succession of Rajadhiraja-II, the Chola power
began to decline.
The Pandyas began to assert their independence from the
time of Kulothunga-I. Towards the end of the reign of Raja Raja-II,
Kulasekara one of the two contenders for Pandya throne pealed the Chola for
help. His rival Parakrama turned towards Srilanka. Pudukkottai
also become seat of this civil war. Parakrama Bahu the Srilanka king sent
an army to assist Parakrama Pandya according to Culavamsa, the Sinhalese chronicle
the Sinhalese army engaged itself in the war in the parts of the district
and burnt down the three storeyed palace at Ponnamaravathi. The outcome
of the civil war became disastrous to the Cholas.
The history of the district after the fall of Cholas
could not be told in detail for the records are comparatively minimal..
The Pandyas of the second empire spread their influence in the district
gradually.
The Pandya power reached its height in the district
under Jatavarman Sundra Pandya-I and Jatavarman vira Pandya-I the joint
rulers. The inscription of Virapandya in Kudumiyanmalai, throws much
light on his relationship with Srilanka and his kingdom across the seas.
During the reign of Maravarman Kulasekara-I who acceded in 1268 A.D, Marcopolo
the Venetian traveler visited Pandya country. Towards the end of
Kulasekara's reign Jatavarman Virapandya-II and Jatavarman Sundara
Pandya-II, the brothers quarreled. This led to a civil war in Pandya
country resulting in political unrest and confusion.
Malikafur the general of Alaudeen Khilji the Sultan
of Delhi took advantage of this and invaded Pandya country. This led to
the incorporation of the Pandya country in the Delhi Empire in subsequent
years. A sultanate was established at Madurai. There are two
inscriptions relating to the period of the Sultans of Madurai in the district,
one at Rangiam (1332 AD) and another at Panaiyur (1344 A.D).
The brief spell of Muslim rule (Sultanate of Madurai) at
Madurai lasted for about 75 years and again there was political unrest and
chaos and Pudukkottai region also shared the fate. Minor princes ruled
small territories here and there. By about 1371 AD, Kumarakampana, the
Vijayanagar prince took over Madurai and the Sultanate came to an end.
But the Pandya power did not survive on the Hindu conquest and slowly it ceased
to be a historical force in the district.
The Hoysalas of Karnataka arrived in the southern part
of Tamil Nadu and actively intervened Chola - Pandya feuds and soon they came
to occupy the region on either banks of river Cauvery with the capital at Kannanur
(modern Samayapuram). They established themselves in the area by the
middle of 13th century and much of the Pudukkottai area was under their sway
till the end of 13th century.
The Vijayanagar Rayas centered in Hampi took over
Madurai, from the Muslims when the whole of southern Karnataka, Andra and
Tamilnadu came under one rule - the Vijayanagar Empire.
Under the Vijayanagar Sangama dynasty (1336-1485 A.D)
the inscriptions in the district refer to many local chiefs such as Suraikudi,
Perambur, Sendavanmangalam, Vanadaraiyar, Gangaiaraiyar and Thondaimans of
Aranthangi. During the brief Suluva rule (1485-1505 A.D) Narasimha Raya
the first Suluva emperor, during a tour of his dominions passed through
Pudukkottai country on his way to Madurai. Vira Narasimha Nayak, the
Tuluva usurper and the general of Saluva Narasimha-I, led a campign against the
Pandya chiefs and marched through Pudukkottai.
A great Personality of the Tuluva dynasty (1505-1570
A.D) was Krishna Devaraya (1509-1529 A.D). He had visited Brahadambal Gokarnesvara
temple at Thirugokarnam on his way to Rameswaram and gifted many valuable
presents to the temple. Under his successor eastern part of
Pudukkottai district formed part of the Thanjavur kingdom for some time and the
rest was under the Madurai Nayaks. The Thondaimans of Pudukkottai rose to
power by about the end of 17th century.
The provincial viceroys of the Vijayanagar empire, the
Nayaks of Madurai and Thanjavur asserted independence after the downfall of the
empire. The Pudukkottai area thus came under the Nayaks of Madurai
nominally and under the Thanjavur Nayaks frequently.
The Thondaimans of Pudukkottai came to rule with full
sovereignty over the Pudukkottai area from the middle of the 17th century till
it's amalgamation with the rest of India after Indian Independence in 1947.
The ancestors of the Pudukkottai ruling line of Thondaimans
are migrants from Thirupathy region in the Thondaimandalam, the northern
stretch of the ancient Tamil Kingdom, along with the Vijayanagar army, which
was in engagement in this part of territory in the early 17th century. It
is probable that one among them got some lands assigned to him by the
local Pallavarayar chieftain and settled down at Karambakkudi and Ambukovil
area, and became the chieftain of the area, later came to be called as the
progenitor of Thondaimans of Pudukkottai ruling house.
According to the legendary account found in a Telugu
poem, Thondaiman Vamasavali, the Thondaimans belonged to Indravamsa and the
first ruler was Pachai Thondaiman.
Avadi Raya Thondaiman, the successor of Pachai
Thondaiman, with the favour of Venkata Raya-III (1630-1642 A.D) the king of
Vijayanagar got extended the land in his possession in the region and he was
also conferred the title Raya. The Avadi Raya Thondaiman inherited
Vijayanagar tradition and the Thondaimans of later period adopted it.
His son Ragunatha Raya Thondaiman came close to the
Nayak of Thanjavur and Rangakrishna Muthuvirappa Nayak of
Tiruchirappalli. He was appointed as the arasu kavalar of
Tiruchirappalli. Vijaya Raghunatha Kilavan Sethupathi (1673-1710 A.D) the
Sethupathi ruler of Ramanathapuram married Kathali Nachiar the sister of
Thondaiman. This marriage strengthened the ties between these dynasties.
The Sethupathi presented the tract of land to the south of Vellar to the
Thondaiman. Thus the Pudukkottai territory was enlarged. This
account is called the Sethupathi origin of Pudukkottai country and expansion of
Thondaiman rule. The Tondaiman’s rule was established south of Vellar and
Raghunatha Raya Thondaiman was in estimation to the status of a bigger
territory by about 1686 A.D., and he ruled up to 1730 A.D.
About the time that Raghunatha Raya Thondaiman became
the ruler of Pudukkottai, Namana Thondaiman, his brother became the chief of
Kulathur Palayam (present Kulathur taluk area) with the blessings of the Nayak
king Ranga Krishna Muthuvirappa of Tiruchirappalli (1682-1689 A.D) and Kulathur
continued as separate "principality - with its ruler known as Kulathur
Thondaiman " till about 1750 A.D when it was annexed to Pudukkottai.
Raghunatha also got some territories by victory, consolidating Pudukkottai rule
roughly constituting the former Kulathur, Alangudi and Thirumayam taluks.
The tract contained in these taluks, later came to be known as Pudukkottai
State (Pudukkottai Samasthanam).
Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Thondaiman (1730-1769 A.D) was
the second in the line of Thondaimans. During his period the whole of India
come under the umbrella of the Mughals. The Nayakdoms of Gingee,
Thanjavur and Madurai were subjugated and became tributaries of the Mughal rule
so also the smaller palayams which were under them. The Nizam of Hyderabad
was appointed as the Mughal representative of South India, in turn the Nizam
entrusted the Tamilnadu region then known as Carnatic, to the Nawab of
Arcot. Many of the tributary states did not remit the tributes regularly
and such provinces were invaded by the Nawab's forces. Nothing like this
happened in the case of Pudukkottai and was left undisturbed by the Nawab.
The famous war of succession to the office of Nawab of
Carnatic between Mohammad Ali and Chanda Sahib became in due course a war of supremacy
between the English and the French in South India which resulted in the
Carnatic wars. The French supported the cause of Chanda Sahib and the
English were on the side of Mohamed Ali. The war lasted for many years
mainly around Tiruchirappalli. The Thondaiman was firmly on the side of
the English at his time while the rulers like Thanjavur Marathas wavered. At
last the English emerged as the masters of this land. This firm help of
the Thondaiman to the English was rewarded by the exemption of tribute by the
victorious Nawab and later this was continued by the English.
The Tondaiman’s act of friendship towards English was continued
by the next ruler Raya Raghunatha Thondaiman (1769-1789 A.D). Because of this
the Thondaiman had to encounter the strong forces of Hyder Ali.
Vijaya Raghunatha Thondaiman (1789 - 1807 A.D) helped
the English and the Nawab. The Nawab Mohamed Ali conferred up on the
Thondaiman the title "Raja Bahadur". The political wind was in
favour of the English. The entire Carnatic region was taken over by the
English by 1800. During the process of consolidation of the English rule,
the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom was taken away, Ramanathapuram was reduced to a Zamindari
but Pudukkottai was on the firm grounds and it was allowed to be separate
principality (not as a part of British India) with honors and was high in
British favour. Pudukkottai was treated as a State and the Raja was
quasi-independent ruler with full powers of administration.
It was during the time of this ruler Vijaya Raghunatha Thondaiman;
the Poligar war took place between the English and the rebellious Palayakars of
Tirunelveli, the most significant of whom was Veerapandiya Kattabomman or
Kattabommu Nayak. Kattabomman defied the authority of English in
collecting revenues on the Sicar lands and also in remitting the tribute
regularly. Hostilities commenced against him, and Panchalankuruchi fort
was attacked. Kattabomman escaped and was proceeding to Sivaganga through
the forest in the Thondaiman country.
At the request of the English administration Kattabomman
was captured near Thirumayam by the soldiers of Thondaiman and handed over to
the English at Madurai. Later Kattabomman was hanged at Kayattar.
The defiant valour of Kattabomman came to be better appreciated with the
passage of time. While Kattabomman has risen in general estimation as a
hero, the image of Thondaiman as reflected in the events of the time, has
suffered a fall because capturing and handing over of Kattabomman and come to
be regarded as betrayal and as an unpatriotic act. Seen however in the
political background then prevailed in the context of Tondaiman’s fidelity to
the English in prosperity and adversity and to the fact that Kattabomman never
sought asylum with Thondaiman and hence the Tondaiman’s role may objectively
summed up as the reflex action of the ally and does not amount to betrayal.
The next ruler Raja Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Thondaiman
(1807-1825 AD) was crowned when he was a minor and the British Government
appointed Major John Black Burn, to undertake the management of the province of
Pudukkottai. Since he was the former Resident of Thanjavur he brought to
Pudukkottai a good deal of Thanjavur administration of Maratha mystique and
Marathi was the language of administration of Pudukkottai for about seventy
five years. Revenue and Judicial administration of same method and complexity
were introduced in Pudukkottai.
A palace with citadels and broad moat was constructed
for the Thondaiman (the old palace in the centre of the town). The town
was planned with straight roads bisecting each other in the four directions of
the palace and thus Black Burn laid the foundation for modern town of
Pudukkottai. (This palace, "The old palace" has disappeared completely;
we can see the remains of the high wall in a few places in the vicinity of the
present west Main Street and south main street (Rajaveethi)).
Raghunatha Thondaiman (1825 - 1839 A.D) was conferred
with the title "His Excellency" by the British Government. He
planned in 1830 to bring the Cauvery water to Pudukkottai through a new canal
but could not succeed due to paucity of funds. Raghunatha Thondaiman was
succeeded by his son Ramachandra Thondaiman (1839 - 1886).
His long tenure of office was marked by extravagance and
gross mismanagement. An administrator Seshaia Sastri arrived at the scene
as Dewan in 1878 and carried out many reforms. Among them was the
remodelling of Pudukkottai town incorporating the principles of town planning
which were little followed in the country at that time. The towering
administrative office building in red brick colour in Pudukkottai was constructed
under the supervision of Seshaiah Sastri. The Pudukkulam, the big lake in
the town was another creation of Seshaiah Sastri. Ramachandra Thondaiman
has renovated many temples in the State. He was succeeded by Marthanda
Bhairava Thondaiman.
Marthanda Bhairava Thondaiman (1886-1929) became the
ruler of the state at the age of 11. The administration was looked after by a
council with the approval of the British Government. He toured in Europe
extensively. He married an Australian lady. A son was born to him
though this marriage (later known as Sydney Marthanda). But his
succession was opposed by the public. The British administration also
refused to recognize the marriage. Hence the Raja abdicated his throne and
settled in Paris and died in 1928 and cremated at London.
Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) the last and
ninth in the line of Thondaiman rulers, was selected by the British
Government and was crowned when he was six years old. The administration
was looked after by English administrators, among them Alexandar Totenham was
noteworthy. The important architectural contribution of this period is
the New Palace - which was built in 1930 in Indo - Saracenic Dravidian
architecture.
This beautiful granite structure now houses the District
Collector's Office. After Indian independence in 1947, the Pudukkottai
Princely State was amalgamated with Indian Union on 04/03/1948 and became a
division in Tiruchirappalli district. The long history of the Thondaimans rule
came to an end.
Such a brief historical sketch covering a period of time
of over two millennia will beside acquainting one with the political forces and
trends of the area located at the centre of Tamil Nadu, will help to appreciate
the nature, variety, origin chronology and importance of the monuments their
inscriptions architecture, sculptures iconography and other aesthetic contents.
