Nayakas of Keladi

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Keladi Nayaka Kingdom
1499–1763
Bidanur
Official languagesKannada
Religion
Hinduism
GovernmentMonarchy
Raja 
• 1499–1530
Chowdappa Nayaka
• 1757–1763
Queen Veerammaji
Historical eraPost-medieval
• Established
1499
• Disestablished
1763
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Vijayanagara Empire
Kingdom of Mysore
Haleri Kingdom
Today part ofIndia
Gandaberunda sculpted on roof, Rameshwara temple, Keladi
Shivappa Nayaka's palace
, Shivamogga, Karnataka
Front view of darbar hall of the Shivappa Nayaka palace
Kasargod
in Kerala, was built by Shivappa Nayaka

Nayakas of Keladi (1499–1763), also known as Nayakas of Bednore and Ikkeri Nayakas, were an

Coorg between 1600 A.D and 1834 A.D. was founded by a member of the Keladi family.[5]

Nayaka clan

Chaudappa Nayaka, originally Chauda Gowda, (1499–1530), was from a village called Pallibailu near

Keladi. He was the son of couple Basavappa and Basavamambe, who were into farming.[6] He was the earliest chieftain to rule the area surrounding Shimoga, rose through self capability and acumen and was a feudatory of Vijayanagara Empire
.

Sadashiva Nayaka (1530–1566)

Aliya Rama Raya
for his heroics in the battle of Kalyani. The coastal provinces of Karnataka came under his direct rule. He moved the capital to Ikkeri some 20 km. from Keladi.

Sankanna Nayaka (1566–1570), succeeded Sadashiva Nayaka.

Chikka Sankanna Nayaka (1570–1580) was an opportunistic ruler who took advantage of the confusion in the Vijayanagar Empire following its defeat at Tallikota and grabbed a few provinces in Uttara Kannada district.

Rama Raja Nayaka (1580–1586)

Hiriya Venkatappa Nayaka (1586–1629) is considered by scholars as ablest monarch of the clan. He completely freed himself from the overlordship of the relocated Vijayanagar rulers of Penugonda. Italian traveller

Vaishnavas and Jains and a mosque for Muslims. He defeated the Portuguese in 1618 and 1619.[8]

Virabhadra Nayaka (1629–1645) faced many troubles from the start, including competition from rival Jain chieftains of Malenad for the throne of Ikkeri and invasion by the Sultanate armies of Bijapur. Ikkeri was plundered by the Bijapur army during his time.

western ghats helped expand the kingdom to its greatest extent, covering large areas of present-day Karnataka. He gave importance to agriculture and developed new schemes for collection of taxes and revenues which earned him much praise from later British officials. A statue of him and the palace built by him containing many artifacts of his times are reminders of the respect he has earned even from the present generation of people of the region. He destroyed the Portuguese political power in the Kanara region by capturing all the Portuguese forts of the coastal region.[9]

Chikka Venkatappa Nayaka (1660–1662), ruled for a short span of time after Shivappa Nayaka.

Bhadrappa Nayaka (1662–1664), succeeded Chikka Venkatappa Nayaka. During his reign the rule of Vokkaligas came to an end and was replaced by the rule of Banajigas.[2]

Somashekara Nayaka I (1664–1672) The King who was once a good administrator, gave up his interest in administration after his association with a dancer named Kalavati. Bharame Mavuta, a relative of Kalavati slow poisoned the king which eventually led to his death.

Keladi Chennamma (1672–1697) She was an able ruler who some scholars claim was allied with the Maratha Shivaji and later his son Sambhaji to defeat all rival claimants to the throne. She gave shelter to Chhatrapathi Rajaram when he fled from the Mughal army. Chennamma of Keladi is well remembered by local people through tales of her bravery.

Basavappa Nayaka (1697–1714) He was a brave ruler and was adopted by Rani Chennammaji from their relative Markappa Shetty of Bedanur[10]

Somashekara Nayaka II (1714–1739)

Kiriya Basavappa Nayaka (1739–1754)

Chenna Basappa Nayaka (1754–1757)

Queen Virammaji (1757–1763) was defeated by Hyder Ali who merged the Keladi kingdom with the Kingdom of Mysore. The queen was captured by Hyder Ali and was kept in confinement along with her son in the fort of Madugiri.[11] They were however rescued in 1767 when Madhavrao I of the Maratha Empire defeated Hyder Ali in the battle of Madugiri. Later, they were sent to Pune the capital of the Maratha Empire for protection.[11]

Decline and end

For more than two hundred years the kingdom controlled the coastal and malnad regions of present-day Karnataka and fostered a rich tradition of trade with the English, the Portuguese, and the Dutch.

Marathas
finally drained the treasury and resulted in the end of the kingdom.

Literature

Kannada

  • Keladinripavijayam by Linganna
  • Shivagita by Tirumalabhatta

Sanskrit

  • Shivatattvaratnakara by King Basavappa
  • Tattva Kausthuba by Bhattoji Dikshita
  • Ashvapandita by Manapriya.

Architecture

Aghoreshwara temple at Ikkeri
Rameshwara Temple in Keladi
Mahisha Mardhini, a sculpture in the Shivappa Nayaka Palace and museum

The Keladi Nayakas built some fine temples in Ikkeri and Keladi using a combination of late

Hoysala, Vijayanagar, and Dravida styles. The use of granite for their construction shows they simply followed the Vijayanagar model of architecture. The Aghoreshwara temple at Ikkeri and the Rameshwara temple at Keladi are the best examples of the Nayakas' art. Vijayanagar-style pillars with hippogryphs are common; called yali columns (depiction of horses and lions as seen in Hampi) is found here. These are pillars with lions, either with their forepaws raised or simply in a sitting position, and pillars with a mythical horse-like animal with front legs raised, balancing on its rear legs, and with an armed rider on its back which are worth seeing at Ikkeri. A roof sculpture depicting a Gandaberunda
, the mythical two-headed bird of Karnataka, is found in Keladi. Also, in the Rameshwara temple, a pillar sculpture shows Maratha Rajaram with Keladi Chennamma (history has it that Rajaram was protected by the queen when he was on the run from the Mughals).

Religious tolerance

The Keladi Nayakas were

Hindu
denominations. The Keladi Nayakas invited Kazi Mahmoud who was a grandson of chief kazi of Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur to settle in Bhatkal. The revenue of Tenginagundi village was given to Kazi Mahmoud. The kazi family of Bhatkal is popularly known as Temunday Family due to the ownership of lands in Tenginagundi. Many Nawayath Muslims were appointed in the administrative positions. The families of these nobles Nawayath still use their surnames as Ikkeri and are mainly settled in and around Bhatkal. The Golden Kalasa on the dome of Bhatkal Jamia Masjid popularly known as 'Chinnada Palli' meaning 'Golden Mosque' is believed to be a generous gift from Keladi rulers.

Gallery

  • Granite yali pillars, Rameshwara Temple, Keladi, Shimoga District
    Granite yali pillars, Rameshwara Temple,
    Shimoga District
  • Granite yali pillars, Aghoreshwara Temple, Ikkeri, Shimoga District
    Granite
    yali pillars, Aghoreshwara Temple, Ikkeri
    , Shimoga District
  • Wall motif, Rameshwara Temple, Keladi, Shimoga District
    Wall motif, Rameshwara Temple, Keladi, Shimoga District
  • Parrot feeding nestling in frieze, Rameshwara Temple, Keladi, Shimoga District
    Parrot feeding nestling in frieze, Rameshwara Temple, Keladi, Shimoga District
  • Sarpabandha, the snake chain
    Sarpabandha, the snake chain
  • Nandi Mantapa
    Nandi Mantapa
  • Monolith of Nandi the bull inside the Nandi mantapa
    Monolith of
    Nandi
    the bull inside the Nandi mantapa
  • Another view of Nandi Mantapa from the closed mantapa adjoining the sanctum
    Another view of Nandi Mantapa from the closed mantapa adjoining the sanctum
  • Another view of Nandi Mantapa
    Another view of Nandi Mantapa
  • Aghoreshwara Temple
    Aghoreshwara Temple
  • Aghoreshwara Temple
    Aghoreshwara Temple
  • side view
    side view
  • side view
    side view
  • Rangamantapa, the stage for performance
    Rangamantapa, the stage for performance
  • Close up view of Nandi Mantapa
    Close up view of Nandi Mantapa
  • Bidanur or Bednore fort, Hosanagara
    Bidanur or Bednore fort, Hosanagara
  • ruins of Bidanur or Bednore fort, Hosanagara
    ruins of Bidanur or Bednore fort, Hosanagara
  • Kavaledurga fort, Kavaledurga, Thirthahalli.
    Kavaledurga fort, Kavaledurga, Thirthahalli.
  • curved shape wall of the Basavaraj durga fort built by Shivappa Nayaka.
    curved shape wall of the
    Basavaraj durga fort
    built by Shivappa Nayaka.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 9788120603868
    . Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b c The quarterly journal of the Mythic society Vol.XI. Bangalore: The Mythic Society, Daly Memorial Hall. 1921. pp. 47–48.:”Venkatappa. ruled from 1504 to 1551. His son Bhadrappa died before him. During his reign the Moghals under Ranadullakhan seized Ikkeri and set up a, viceroy there. Then Virabhadrappa Nayaka ascended the Gadi and -retiring to Bidarur ruled over his country more peacefully than before.* His rule lasted for 15 years from 1551 to 1566. During his reign the rule of Vokkaligas came to an end and was replaced by the rule of Banajigas”
  3. ISBN 9788126901272. Retrieved 22 May 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  4. ^ a b "Rulers of Keladi". Udupi Tourism. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  5. ^ "On Haleri Trail". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ^ "History of Shimoga District, page 16" (PDF). District Gazette of Shimoga, Gazetteer Department, Government of Karnataka. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  7. ISBN 9780871843081
    . Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  8. ^ Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.34
  9. ^ Portuguese Studies Review (ISSN 1057-1515) (Baywolf Press) p.35
  10. ^ A journey from Madras through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar Vol 111 – 1807 – Francis Buchanan -from page 254 "[1]"
  11. ^ a b Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707–1813 by Jaswant Lal Mehta p.458
  12. ISBN 8170228484
    .
  13. ISBN 9788170998679. Retrieved 22 May 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  14. ^ "Though a minority, they make their presence felt". The Times of India. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Brihanmath Chitradurga". Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Mysore and Coorg, a gazetteer - Keladi". Benjamin Lewis Rice. 1876. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Beluvai's historic lake is now a beautiful swimming pool". News Karnataka. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.

Sources

  • K.R. Venkataraman. The throne of transcendental wisdom: Śrī Śamkarācārya's Śāradā Pìtha in Śringeri, Page 58.
  • Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
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