Bangaru Thirumala Nayaka
Bangaru Thirumala Nayaka, also known as Bangaru Tirumala and Vangaru Thirumala (as per European Records and notes), was a member of
Family origins
Bangaru Tirumala was a member of royal family of
Beginnings
When Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha Nayak died in 1731 without an heir, one of his queens Meenakshi adopted Bangaru Thirumala’s son Vijayakumara then a young boy as an heir for the Madurai Throne and became Queen Regent for the adopted prince. During this time
Queen Meenakshi
When Queen Meenakshi took over the administration, the Kingdom was in deep trouble, with enemy troops of Delhi Sultans, Mysore armies and Maratha armies attempting to seize the throne. Also pilferage of enemy spies and widespread anarchy prevailed in the kingdom. The palace administrators were rampant on treason and corruption. The queen attempting to bring order, sacked many troublesome officials and commanders, and replaced them with better ones. She was also assisted by her brother Venkata Perumal Nayak and things looked better for a period.
Madurai throne claimants
Hardly a year or two passed when Bangaru Tirumala, feeling that he deserved the throne, instigated an insurrection against the queen. He was also joined by Queen Meenakshi’s recently ousted Minister "Dalavay Venkatachari". Their first attempt at ousting the queen by attacking the Tiruchirapalli fort ended in a failure.
Bangaru Tirumala operated from Madurai Fort while the Queen held court from the Tiruchirapalli Fort Palace. During this period the Madurai Kingdom was a feudatory of Mughal empire, whose representative in the south was the
Bangaru Tirumala approached Safdar Ali Khan, son of the
End of Nayak dynasty
Bangaru Tirumala‘s withdrawal was only temporary as he collected a good number of discontents from the army and
Chanda Sahib, after the victory over Bangaru Tirumala, proclaimed himself ruler of Meenakshi’s kingdom, after locking the queen up in her palace, later driving her to consume poison, thus putting an end to over 200 years of Nayak rule in Madurai.
With the Tanjore Marathas
Bangaru Tirumala still undaunted joined with the Tanjore Marathas to oust Chanda Sahib. Tanjore Kingdom was recently (1740) attacked and subjugated by Chanda Sahib, compelling them to cede Karaikal to the French, who were Chanda Sahib’s new ally. Also Chanda Sahib was left on his own by his Uncle Carnatic Nawab, but still suspicious over the former's ambitions.
Bangaru Tirumala and the
Finally in 1751, Chanda Sahib was captured after a series of
Madurai again
The Marathas disregarding the claims of Bangaru Tirumala appointed a Maratha
Relationship with Kandy Nayaks
One section of Bangaru Thirumala’s family came to rule Kandy through marriage alliances with the Sinhalese royalty. They were the last dynasty to rule Sri Lanka. They are often mentioned as
Background:
Three kings of the
The bride was accompanied by her father, mother and brother (who was young a child), and her family continued to reside there. Later in 1732 Narendra Sinha falls critically ill, and being childless, he adopts the brother of his queen who had grown up in the Kandyan court, as son and heir.
The new king Sri Vijaya Rajasinha, married princess Upendramma, daughter of Narenappa Nayaka, who was the cousin of Bangaru Thirumala (i.e. their mothers were sisters). This queen too is accompanied by her father, mother and 2 young brothers, who all take residence in Kandy.
Sri Vijaya Rajasinha too dies childless, and his wife's brother, i.e. Narenappa's son, ascended the throne, under the name
Other descendants
Several of Bangaru Thirumala’s
In the 1820s, a descendant of Bangaru was reported to be in Madurai seeking pecuniary assistance from the government. Also it is reported, every year they conducted a ceremony of reciting poems of their royal forebears of their valour and deeds on the first day of Tamil month of Chittirai.
See also
- Nayaks of Madurai
- Madurai
- Nayaks of Kandy
References
- ^ History of the Nayaks of Madura, R. Sathianathaier, Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar; pages 97, 136, 151 and 232
- ^ The Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka, 1707-1782: Author: Lorna Srimathie Dewaraja, pages 29 -36
- ^ The history of Sri Lanka, By Patrick Peebles, page 39
- ISBN 9788120601611. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
Sources
- Biography of Dhandavarayan Pillai:Pradhani of Sivaganga Zamin; Author: Mu.Balakrishnan M.A.,M.Ed.; published by Manickvasagar Pathipagam, Chennai in 2005
- The Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka, 1707-1782: Author: Lorna Srimathie Dewaraja M.A.(Ceylon), Ph.D.(London). ISBN 9555520186, Colombo, Sri Lanka : Lake House Investments, 1988