Viswanatha Nayak
Encyclopedia
Viswanatha Nayak was the Vijayanagara
viceroy to Madurai
in south India
during the 16th century. He later became the ruler of Madurai after the fall of the Vijayanagara
empire. He is the founder of the Nayak dynasty of Madurai.
He was supported by his general Ariyanatha Mudaliar
who led Viswantha Nayak's army became second in command and took power along with the latter in Tirunelveli
in southern India. Viswantha Nayak was then succeeded by his son Krishnappa Nayak who along with his father's able minister Ariyanatha expanded the Madurai
Kingdom under the Nayaks and brought most of the ancient Pandyan territory under its rule.
He was the son of Nagama Nayaka, the successful general of Krishnadevaraya
in the Vijayanagara
empire. In the early 16th century, the Chola ruler Veerasekara Chola invaded the Madurai
country and deposed the Pandya king Chandrasekara Pandyan.
The Pandya king was under the protection of the Vijayanagara
empire and he appealed to the court of Vijayanagara
, and an expedition under Kotikam Nagama Nayaka was sent to his aid. Nagama easily suppressed the Chola ruler and took Madurai, but then suddenly he threw off his allegiance and declining to help the Pandya king, usurped the throne. The Vijayanagar emperor demanded that someone cure the defection: Nagama’s own son, Viswanatha, volunteered, and the king sent him with a large force against the rebel. He overthrew his father and handed him over to the emperor and as a reward for his loyalty the king appointed Viswanatha Nayaka as the governor of Madurai
and other provinces in the Tamil country thus leading to formation of the Nayak Kingdom of Madurai in 1529.
under the direction of Dasari Narayana Rao
. Superstar Krishna portrayed the title role, white Shivaji Ganesan as his father and Krishnam Raju
as Krishnadevaraja.
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
viceroy to Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
in south India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during the 16th century. He later became the ruler of Madurai after the fall of the Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
empire. He is the founder of the Nayak dynasty of Madurai.
He was supported by his general Ariyanatha Mudaliar
Ariyanatha Mudaliar
Ariyanatha Mudaliar was the Vellala Delavoy and the able Chief Minister of the greatest of the Nayaka domains established by the Vijayanagar viceroy and later ruler of Madurai, Viswanatha Nayak...
who led Viswantha Nayak's army became second in command and took power along with the latter in Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
in southern India. Viswantha Nayak was then succeeded by his son Krishnappa Nayak who along with his father's able minister Ariyanatha expanded the Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
Kingdom under the Nayaks and brought most of the ancient Pandyan territory under its rule.
History
Krishnadevaraya
Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
in the Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
empire. In the early 16th century, the Chola ruler Veerasekara Chola invaded the Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
country and deposed the Pandya king Chandrasekara Pandyan.
The Pandya king was under the protection of the Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
empire and he appealed to the court of Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
, and an expedition under Kotikam Nagama Nayaka was sent to his aid. Nagama easily suppressed the Chola ruler and took Madurai, but then suddenly he threw off his allegiance and declining to help the Pandya king, usurped the throne. The Vijayanagar emperor demanded that someone cure the defection: Nagama’s own son, Viswanatha, volunteered, and the king sent him with a large force against the rebel. He overthrew his father and handed him over to the emperor and as a reward for his loyalty the king appointed Viswanatha Nayaka as the governor of Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
and other provinces in the Tamil country thus leading to formation of the Nayak Kingdom of Madurai in 1529.
Telugu film
This historical event was made as Telugu film in 1987 entitled Vishwanatha NayakuduVishwanatha Nayakudu
Vishwanatha Nayakudu is a Telugu Historical film of 1987 directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. Superstar Krishna portrayed the role of Viswanatha Nayak, while Sivaji Ganesan played his father role as Nagama Nayak.-The Plot:...
under the direction of Dasari Narayana Rao
Dasari Narayana Rao
Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao B.A. is a politician, film director, and film producer. Narayana Rao directed about 150 films, produced 53 films and worked in more than 250 films as a dialogue writer and as a lyricist.Beside graduating with a BA degree, he used to take part in scores of drama competitions...
. Superstar Krishna portrayed the title role, white Shivaji Ganesan as his father and Krishnam Raju
Krishnam Raju
Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju is a former popular Telugu film actor. He was popularly known as 'Rebel Star' for his rebellious acting style...
as Krishnadevaraja.