Ptamansamrat: creating basic info from scratch.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name =Raghunatha Nayak
| title =Maharaja Of Thanjavur Nayak
| image=
| reign =1600–1634
| coronation =1614
| full name =
| predecessor =[[Achuthappa Nayak]]
| successor =[[Vijaya Raghava Nayak]]
| queen = Kalavati, Chenchamma [[Ramabhadramba]]
| spouse =
| issue =Vijaya Raghava Nayak
| royal house =House of Nayak
| dynasty =[[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom|Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty]]
| birth_date =Unknown
| birth_place =Thanjavur
| death_date =1634
| death_place =
|}}
'''Raghunatha Nayak''' was a Telugu king of the Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty. He was the third ruler of [[Thanjavur]], southern India, from the [[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom|Nayak dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Richman |first=Paula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RW6MrAiJ-0C&pg=PA166 |title=Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition |date=2001 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-22074-4 |pages=166 |language=en |quote=Raghunathanayaka, a Balija who ruled Tanjavur during the early seventeenth century, also wrote a Ramayana. |author-link=Paula Richman}}</ref> He ruled from 1600 to 1634 and is noted for the attainments of Thanjavur in literature, art, and [[Carnatic music]].{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=62–65}}

== Early life ==

Raghunatha Nayak was the eldest son of [[Achuthappa Nayak]] and was born after intense penance by his father. The ''[[Raghunathabhyudayam]]'' and ''Sahityanatyakara'' give a detailed account of his childhood. As a boy, Raghunatha learned the [[shastra]]s, the art of warfare and administration. He had multiple queens, chiefly Kalavati referred to in the ''Raghunathabhyudayam'' as Pattampurani. [[Ramabhadramba]], who wrote a history of the Thanjavur Nayak dynasty, was one of his concubines. {{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=62–65}}
===Wars With Golconda Sultanate===
{{Main|Venkata war with Golkonda}}
In his early days, Raghunatha won acclaim fighting the [[Golconda Sultanate]].{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=62–65}} He ascended the throne in 1600, ruled with his father from 1600 to 1614, and as sole monarch from 1614 to 1634.

== Campaigns and wars ==

In 1614, [[Sriranga II]], the Emperor of Vijayanagar, was killed by a rival claimant, Jaggaraya. Raghunatha proceeded against Jaggaraya to avenge the murder. Different accounts give varying versions of the events. According to Ramabhadramba, Raghunatha first fought a rebellious regional chieftain called Solaga, pursuing him to [[Kumbakonam]] and then besieging him in his island-fortress on the [[Kollidam]] before turning his attention to the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] and attacking [[Jaffna]]. After his victory over the Portuguese, Ramabhadramba claims, Raghunatha returned to the Indian mainland, where he pursued Jaggaraya to Toppur and defeated him. He later constructed a pillar of victory and took possession of [[Bhuvanagiri, Tamil Nadu|Bhuvanagiri]] near [[Chidambaram]].{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=66–68}}

According to Yagnanarayana Dikshita, the campaign had been preceded by a council held by Achuthappa Nayak in which Raghunatha, [[Govinda Dikshita]] and the exiled [[Jaffna kingdom|king of Jaffna]] [[Ethirimana Cinkam]] participated. The whole campaign against Jaggaraya and the Solaga was the outcome of this conference.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=66–68}}

The Battle of Toppur was dated 12 December 1616 based on the ''Raghunathabyudayam'', which states that Raghunatha was camping at [[Pazhamaneri]] in August 1616. Portuguese chroniclers dated Raghunatha's victories in Jaffna to the beginning of 1616. The campaign against the Solaga must have also taken place at this time.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=69}}

=== Campaign against the Solaga ===

The ''Raghunathabyudayam'' says that Solaga was the ruler of an island (''Antaripagataha'') and a feudatory of [[Krishnappa Nayak]] of [[Gingee]].{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=72}} He is described as a [[highwayman]] who attacked passers-by and stole their belongings.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=73}} Raghunatha's campaign was a punitive expedition to put an end to his activities.

Raghunatha attacked Solaga's headquarters near Kumbakonam. Supported by Krishnappa Nayak, the Portuguese and Muslim mercenaries, Solaga put up strong resistance but was finally defeated by Raghunatha's artillery.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=74–76}} He was captured and imprisoned along with his family.

=== Invasion of Jaffna ===

Following the victory over Solaga, Raghunatha attacked Jaffna. Enthiramana helped the re-founded [[Kandyan Kingdom]] King Vimaladharmasuriya I (1593–1604) and King Senarat (1604–1635) to secure help from [[South India]] to resist the Portuguese. Like Bhuvanekabahu VII of [[Kotte Kingdom]], through a mixture of native cunning and the ability to perform a delicate balancing act, the Jaffna king secured a surprising degree of room for maneuver.<ref name=d166>de Silva, K. M. (2005). A History of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa. p. 782. ISBN 955-8095-92-3.</ref><ref name=ta3>Abeysinghe, T ''Jaffna Under the Portuguese'', p. 3</ref> While according to Nayak chronicles, Raghunatha himself led the expedition, according to Portuguese records, the campaign was led by one [[Varunakulattan|Khem Nayak]], a general in service of Raghunatha. The Thanjavur Nayak forces were victorious in evicting the Portuguese from Jaffna. [[Cankili II]] of the [[Aryachakravarti Dynasty]] was placed on the throne. However, Cankili II ruled for barely two years before being overthrown and killed in 1619.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=80–82}}

=== Battle of Toppur ===

On his return to India, Raghunatha Nayak personally led an army against Jaggaraya, who had usurped the throne of Vijayanagar after killing Sriranga II. Jaggaraya was assisted by the [[Madurai Nayak Dynasty]] and [[Nayaks of Gingee]].{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=83}} Yagnanarayana Dikshita mentions that Jaggaraya had the support of the Yavanas and Parasikas, whose identities remain unclear. Raghunatha's army consisted of strong infantry and cavalry divisions, elephant corps, and armed soldiers. The Vijayanagar claimant [[Rama Deva Raya]] fought alongside him.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=85–86}}

The two armies met at Toppur. Raghunatha was completely victorious; Jaggaraya was captured and killed, and Rama Deva Raya was placed on the throne.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=88–89}}

=== Later campaigns ===

Raghunatha also conducted minor campaigns. Though he failed to prevent the Aryachakravarti dynasty from being overthrown, he kept up the pressure against the Portuguese by supporting rebellions. The [[Karaiyar]]s—a class of fishermen along the [[Gulf of Mannar]]—made six attempts between 1620 and 1621 to overthrow Portuguese rule. Raghunatha, himself, sent five armies between 1619 and 1621 to conquer Jaffna, but they failed. {{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=90–92}}

== Patronage of arts and music ==

Raghunatha patronized Carnatic music in his kingdom.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=108}}<ref name="thehindu_20110131">{{cite news|title=The charisma of composers|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=31 January 2011|first=T. M.|last=Krishna|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/article1142441.ece}}</ref><ref name="thehindu_20050805">{{cite news|title=The colourful world of the Nayaks|first=Pradeep|last=Chakravarthy|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/08/05/stories/2005080500390300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206120914/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/08/05/stories/2005080500390300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=5 August 2005}}</ref> The Nayak himself composed a number of [[Yakshagana]]s and was a good [[veena]] player.<ref name="thehindu_20110131" /> [[Kshetrayya]], the composer from [[Movva|Muvva]], visited Thanjavur and composed ''padas'' during his reign.<ref name="thehindu_20110131" /> Raghunatha also renovated a number of [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]] temples. He constructed the [[Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam|Ramaswamy Temple]] in [[Kumbakonam]], the popular [[Saraswathi Mahal Library]] in Thanjavur and the [[gopura]] of the [[Adi Kumbeswarar Temple]] in Kumbakonam. He expanded the [[Uppiliappan Temple]] and the [[Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi]]. The [[Ratha-Yatra|car festival]]s of [[Thiruvaiyaru]] and [[Pasupatikoil]] were conducted on a lavish scale.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=106–107}}

During the time of Raghunatha the structure of the veena also evolved and he invented the [[raga]] [[Jayantasena]] and the [[Tala (music)|tala]] Ramananda.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=108}}<ref name="thehindu_20110131" /><ref name="thehindu_20050805" /> He also composed a number of [[kavya]]s in Telugu, important ones being ''[[Parijatapaharanamu]]'', ''Valmikicharitram'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Raghunatha Nayakudu |title=Valmiki Charitramu |date=1919 |publisher=Andhra Vignana Samiti |location=Vizianagaram |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.371215/mode/2up |access-date=20 December 2020 |language=Telugu}}</ref> ''Rukminiparinaya Yakshaganam'' and ''[[Raghunatha Ramayana|Ramayanam]]''. He wrote the Sanskrit plays ''Sangita Sudha'' and ''Bharatha Sudha''. The Telugu poets [[Ramabhadramba]], [[Madhuravani]], [[Chemakura Venkataraju]] and [[Krishnadhwari]] were active during his reign. Raghunatha was also an expert sword-fighter and horse rider. {{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=108}}

Raghunatha's biographies note his generosity towards [[Brahmin]]s. Raghunatha constructed several [[agraharas]] and gave costly gifts to poor Brahmins and the disabled. A 1604 inscription from Narattampoondi records Raghunatha's gift of the village of [[Kailasapuram]] for upkeeping the Srirangam temple. He also gave lavish gifts to the [[Madhva]] pontiff, [[Vijayendra Tirtha]], and the Sri Mutt in Kumbakonam. {{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|pp=106–107}}

== Relationship with European powers ==

Raghunatha maintained cordial relations with the Danes and the English. The Portuguese had established factories at [[Santhome|San Thome]] and [[Nagapattinam]] on the eastern coast before the accession of Raghunatha, while the Dutch founded a settlement at Tegnapatnam in 1610. South Indian rulers patronized and supported the Dutch to neutralize the belligerent Portuguese. {{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=94}} [[Ove Gjedde]] of the [[Danish East India Company]] founded the settlement of [[Tharangambadi|Tranquebar]] on 19 November 1620.<ref name="Rangan">{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=Tranquebar — A piece of Denmark on the coast of the Bay of Bengal |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/exploring-the-danish-history-and-coastal-charms-of-tharangambadi-or-tranquebar-near-puducherry-in-tamil-nadu/cid/1870111 |access-date=12 October 2023 |agency=My Kolkata |publisher=The Telegraph |date=15 June 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=97}} Following a visit to Raghunatha's court, the English captain John Johnson and Brockedon, the President of the English settlements, tried to convince the directors of the [[East India Company]] to send a mission to Thanjavur. {{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=99}} Johnson wrote home:

{{quote| ... the Great Naik demands of men what the reason is that the English do not desire to trade in his land as well as Portugal, saying they shall have the pepper and anything the land doth afford and likewise buy the commodities that they do bring with them as tin, lead, iron and red cloth is well sold. Little does our nation know how they are expected all this land, and thus the Danes do trade under the name of the English and are marvelous well used.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=99}}}}

Johnson's proposal was approved; a mission landed at [[Karaikal]] on 23 May 1624 and proceeded inland to Thanjavur to seek an audience with the king, reaching the capital in June. Raghunatha received the visitors warmly and granted them permits to trade freely in Karaikal. However, Raghunatha later withdrew his concessions and demanded an annual rent of 7,000 riyals. This volte-face has been attributed to pressure from the Portuguese and the Danes. Nevertheless, Johnson rejected the Nayak's offer and returned to England, where his activities were severely censured. The English also tried to get [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]] from the [[Gingee Nayaks]] and failed.{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=103}}

== Extent of Raghunatha's kingdom ==

Raghunatha's empire extended far beyond the confines of Thanjavur district. His inscriptions have been found in Thirukkoshtiyur in [[Ramanathapuram district]], [[Lalgudi]] in [[Tiruchirappalli district]], [[Govindavadi]] in [[Kanchipuram district]], and [[Nedugunram]] and [[Narattampoondi]] in [[Vellore district]].{{sfn|Vriddhagirisan|1942|p=105}}

== Notes ==

{{Reflist}}

== References ==

* {{cite book|last=Vriddhagirisan|first=V.|title=The Nayaks of Tanjore|year=1942|publisher=[[Annamalai University]]}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Thanjavur Nayak kingdom|Nayaks of Thanjavur]]||||}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Achuthappa Nayak]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Raja of Thanjavur|years=1600–1634}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Vijaya Raghava Nayak]]}}
{{end}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1634 deaths]]
[[Category: Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category: History of Thanjavur]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:People from the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom]]
[[Category: Saraswati veena players]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian musicians]]

Raghunatha Nayak - Revision history

Ptamansamrat: creating basic info from scratch.