A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c17.73

c17.73

Viśvanātha Nāyaka, son of Nāgama Nāyaka, was regarded by his descendants in later times as the founder of the celebrated Nāyak dynasty of Madura. He must have followed Achyuta in his southern campaign and fought in the wars against Sāluva Vira Narasimha, Tiruvaḍi and others, until he was finally appointed representative of the emperor in the Pāndya country. He was governor of the Madura country from 1533 to the end of Achyuta’s reign (1542) when he gave place to another officer. There is nothing to show that he established the separate Nāyak kingdom of Madura; that came later and may have been the work of his son Krishnappa.