Mysore and Coorg from the Inscriptions c8.s19.15

c8.s19.15

The inscriptions are chiefly concerned with his successes in war. One of the earliest (Ch 92 of 1675) describes him as seated on the throne of the Karṇāṭa dominion like the great Indra. In the east, defeating the Pāṇḍya king Chokka (Nāyak of Madura), he seized Tripura and Anantapuri; in the west, smiting the Keladi kings, with the Yavanas, he took Sakalēśapura and Arakalgūḍu (both in Hassan District); in the north, defeating Ranadulha-Khān (the Bijāpur general), he captured Kētasamudra, with Kandikere, Handalakere, Gūlūr, Tumukūr, and Honnavalli (all in Tumkūr District). Defeating in battle Mushtika, who was aided by the Morasas (people of Kolar District) and Kirātas, he captured Jaḍagana-durga and changed its name to Chikkadēvarāyadurga (now Dēvarāyadurga). The Varāha (or Boar) which was lost in the Yavana invasion, he brought from Śrīmushna (South Arcot) and set it up with devotion in Śrīrangapaṭṭaṇa (Seringapatam—it is now in Mysore, where it was removed in the time of Pūrnayya). He also (Sr 151) conquered Timmappa-Gauḍa and Rāmappa-Gauḍa and took Maddagiri, Midagēśi, Bijjavara and Channarāyadurga. Then he is said (in Sr 14 of 1686) to have defeated the Mahrattas from Panchavaṭī (Nāsik, in the north of the Bombay Presidency), and of their leaders he slew Dādōji and cut off the limbs and noses of Jaitaji and Jasavanta.¹ He also reduced to abject terror Śambhu (Sambhōji, son and successor of the celebrated Sivaji), Kutupu-Shāh (one of the Sultāns of Golkoṇḍa), Ikkēri Basava (Basavappa-Nāyak, adopted son of Channammāji, widow and successor on the throne of Sōmaśēkhara-Nāyak), and Ekōji (or Venkōji, the half-brother of Sivaji, who seized Tanjore and founded the line of Mahratta rulers there). We are also informed (in Sr 64 of 1722) that he conquered the lord of Madhura, and withstood Sivaji at the time when the rulers of the countries around Āgra, Delhi, and Bhāgānagara (Haidarābād) were falling down before him and presenting tribute. He thus acquired the title Apratima-vīra (unrivalled hero), which is one of the distinctive epithets of the Mysore Rājas. He is moreover said to have defeated attacks from every point of the compass, made by Turukas (or Muhammadans), Morasas (Telugu people of the Kolar District and north-east), Āreyas (or Mahrattas), Tigulas (Tamil people), Koḍagas (Coorgs), and Malegas (hill tribes in the west). In addition to Kutupu-Shāh (of Golkoṇḍa), he is said to have driven off Edulu-Shāh (Ādil-Shāh of Bijāpur).