2023-02-17 20:22:07 by ambuda-bot
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1
INTRODUCTION
67
Under Bukkarāya I this region was the eastern march
of the kingdom of Vijayanagar. It came to be the seat
of government for the Kolar province.
3. Maratakanagara: This used to be identified
with Virincipuram in the North Arcot district on the
basis of the name of a local goddess called Marakatha-
valli. But if the Madhurāvijayam were closely looked
into, Kāncipuram would appear a better choice. Bukka,
in the course of his exhortation to Prince Kampaņa on
the eve of the Tondaimandalam campaigns, asks him
to "march successfully to Tundira (Tonḍaimandalam)
and overcome the people headed by the Sambuvarāya
who are preparing for war." Then the king continues:
"Then establish yourself at Kānci and rule there with
due regard to the wishes of the people, even like the Lord
of Wealth does in the city of Alaka." (Canto III, slōka
41). Again there is this information in the last stanza
of Canto IV: "Having thus killed the Sambuvarāya in
the field of battle, King Kampana received the decree
of his father that he should rule the conquered terri-
tory. With the fame of his victory duly established in
Kanci, he inaugurated a just and prosperous rule over
Tondaimandalam destroying all confusion in castes and
religious orders." Immediately following this Marataka
is mentioned as the "great city" in which "Kampaņa
established himself and ruled the earth peacefully and
well." Therefore, there can be no doubt that Kanci-
puram and Marathakanagara are identical. It is not
possible to say when this alternate name for Kanci-
puram became well-known. Kāncīpuram was the capi-
tal of the Sambuvarāyas and Kampaņa's residence in
it after the destruction of the Saṁbuvarāya rule is quite
normal.
INTRODUCTION
67
Under Bukkarāya I this region was the eastern march
of the kingdom of Vijayanagar. It came to be the seat
of government for the Kolar province.
3. Maratakanagara: This used to be identified
with Virincipuram in the North Arcot district on the
basis of the name of a local goddess called Marakatha-
valli. But if the Madhurāvijayam were closely looked
into, Kāncipuram would appear a better choice. Bukka,
in the course of his exhortation to Prince Kampaņa on
the eve of the Tondaimandalam campaigns, asks him
to "march successfully to Tundira (Tonḍaimandalam)
and overcome the people headed by the Sambuvarāya
who are preparing for war." Then the king continues:
"Then establish yourself at Kānci and rule there with
due regard to the wishes of the people, even like the Lord
of Wealth does in the city of Alaka." (Canto III, slōka
41). Again there is this information in the last stanza
of Canto IV: "Having thus killed the Sambuvarāya in
the field of battle, King Kampana received the decree
of his father that he should rule the conquered terri-
tory. With the fame of his victory duly established in
Kanci, he inaugurated a just and prosperous rule over
Tondaimandalam destroying all confusion in castes and
religious orders." Immediately following this Marataka
is mentioned as the "great city" in which "Kampaņa
established himself and ruled the earth peacefully and
well." Therefore, there can be no doubt that Kanci-
puram and Marathakanagara are identical. It is not
possible to say when this alternate name for Kanci-
puram became well-known. Kāncīpuram was the capi-
tal of the Sambuvarāyas and Kampaņa's residence in
it after the destruction of the Saṁbuvarāya rule is quite
normal.