The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c12.143

v1.c12.143

13. On account of these military exploits of the young Visvanatha, he "was honoured on earth as the foremost of great heroes". This is stated on the Kuniyur plates of Venkata III ¹. These exploits were the beginning of his illustrious career in the South as Viceroy of Vijayanagara and founder of the Nayak Dynasty of Madura. The *Maduraittala-varalaru* records three different periods of his viceroyalty ². According to the *Pandyan Chronicle*, Visvanatha's rule in Madura lasted two years and four months ³. This must be a reference to the first period of his governorship; the copyist, after copying at length the first, probably forgot the other two, and passed straight to the reign of Visvanatha's successor. The other two periods must be counted within the length of 26 years assigned to him by the *History of the Karnataka Governors* ⁴; thus the second period will extend from his appointment as Viceroy of Madura, after the deposition of his father, to the demise of the old Pandya, when he took royal rank. The third period will date from this, ending with the accession of his son.