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MADHURAVIJAYAM
 
Chingleput districts.¹ They figure very prominently in
the Cola inscriptions as feudatories of the Colas. They
distinguished themselves by leading the important
campaigns on behalf of their overlords. Edirili Cōļa
Sambuvaraya of the period of Rājādhiraja Cola secur-
ed the departure from the Tamil country of the
Singalese General, Lankāpura Dandanayaka who had
invaded the southern part of the Cola empire.²
 
12
 
After the decline of the Cōla imperialism the
Sambuvarayas, like the Kādavarayas, successfully carv-
ed out an independent principality for themselves
possibly after a short period of subservience to the
Pandyan empire. Kulasēkhara Sambuvarāya, who may
be placed between 1278 A.D. and 1304 A.D. was the
first Sambuvarāya whose inscriptions are found with
regnal years.³ Kulasēkhara was succeeded by Vira
Champa, also known as Rājanārāyaṇa Mallinātha.¹
 
We do not know the relationship between Kula-
sēkhara and Vira Champa, but in all probability Vira
Champa was Kulasēkhara's son the assumption that
the feudatory Sambuvarāyas named their eldest son
after their overlord is correct.5
 
Vira Champa lived during a troubled period in
South Indian history, nay, in Indian history. Northern
India was subject to the Khilji imperialism. For the
 
1. For an account of the feudatory Sambuvarayas see Professor
K. A. N. Sastri, The Colas.
 
2. Dr. S. K. Aiyangar South India and her Muhammadan Invaders,
 
page 16.
 
3.
 
A.R.E., No. 77 is dated with a regnal year for Kulasekara.
4. There are a few Virachampa inscriptions extant. From the Ula
of Irattaiyar we can establish the identity of Virachampa and Mallinatha.
5. There was the practice of feudatories naming their eldest sons
after the ruling sovereign both in the Cola and in the Pandya kingdoms.