A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c12.29

c12.29

Adigaimān, also called Neḍumān Anji, the opponent of Irumporai and lord of Tagaḍūr, was one of the ‘seven patrons’ and the supporter of the celebrated poetess Auvaiyār who has left many songs about him and some about his son Poğuṭṭeḷini. Evidently patron and poetess did not get on well at first start, for one poem gives expression to Auvaiyār's vexation at having waited a long time for a present. Soon, however, a perfect understanding grew up between them; the poetess is all praise for the hero and his achievements in the field, and undertakes a diplomatic mission to the Tondaimān on his account. On his side Anji showed his devotion by many valuable presents including a rare myrobalan fruit believed to prevent the ailments of old age and to assure longevity. According to Auvaiyār, Adigaimān was born of a family which honoured the gods by pūjā and by sacrifices, which introduced into the world the sugar-cane from heaven, and ruled the world with great ability for a very long time. Adigaimān fought with success against seven opposing princes and destroyed amongst other rebellious strongholds that of Kōvalūr. The Chera invasion of Tagaḍūr, however, is not mentioned by Auvaiyār in her poems, evidently because she did not like to advert to the misfortunes that befell her patron; the event formed the theme of a poem of later times, the Tagaḍūr Yāttirai, now known only from quotation in other works. Adigaimān was aided by the Pāndya and Chola monarchs against the Chera, but their help made no difference to the result. The war led to Adigaimān's acknowledgement of the suzerainty of the Chera on whose behalf he subsequently led an expedition against Pāḷi, the capital of Nannan, where, after inflicting great losses on Nannan's forces, he was killed in battle along with Āy Eyinan, another Chera feudatory, by the intrepid general of Nannan, known as Ñimili or Miñili. Auvaiyār laments his death without mentioning its occasion, and bewails the desolation of the days that remained to her after Adigaimān had earned his title to a hero-stone, a clear, statement that he fell on the battle-field.