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{{Short description|16th-17th century rulers of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu}}
{{use dmy dates}}
{{use Indian English}}
{{Infobox country
|native_name =
|conventional_long_name = Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty
|common_name = Thanjavur Nayak
|year_start = 1532
|year_end = 1673
|p1 = Chola Empire
|flag_p1 =
|p2 = Vijayanagara Empire
|flag_p2 = Flag of vijaynagara.jpg
|s1 = Thanjavur Marathas
|flag_s1 =
|s2 = British India
|flag_s2 =
|image_map = Tanjore Nayak Kingdom.jpg
|image_map_caption = Approximate extent of the ''' Thanjavur Nayak Kingdom''', c. 1572
|capital = [[Thanjavur]]
|common_languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|government_type = [[Monarchy]]
|title_leader = King
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
The '''Thanjavur Nayak kingdom''' or '''Thanjavur Nayak dynasty''' were the rulers of [[Thanjavur]] in the 15th and 17th centuries.<ref name="Nayaks of Tanjore">{{cite book |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=GD_6ka-aYuQC }} |title=Nayaks of Tanjore}}</ref> The Nayaks, who belonged to the [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking [[Balija]] social group,<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Irschick |first=Eugene F. |url=https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Politics_and_Social_Conflict_in_South_In.html?id=R0K98afLnhAC&redir_esc=y |title=Politics and Social Conflict in South India |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |pages=8 |language=en |quote=The successors of the Vijayanagar empire, the Nayaks of Madura and Tanjore, were Balija Naidus. |author-link=Eugene F. Irschick}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Velcheru Narayana |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?redir_esc=y&id=znFuAAAAMAAJ |title=Symbols of Substance: Court and State in Nāyaka Period Tamilnadu |last2=Shulman |first2=David Dean |last3=Subrahmanyam |first3=Sanjay |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-563021-3 |pages=10 |language=en |quote=Originally part of the great Telugu migrations southward into the Tamil country in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Balija merchant- warriors ... These mobile, aggressive, land-hungry, Telugu-speaking warriors helped to build the Nāyaka state-system and to impregnate it with their particular cultural vision; strong surviving traditions; supported by contemporary evidence, assert Balija origins and / or marital connections for the major Nāyaka dynasties in the Tamil country quite apart from the well-known Balija role in restructuring the revenue systems of Nāyaka Tanjavur and Madurai. |author-link=Velcheru Narayana Rao |author-link2=David Dean Shulman |author-link3=Sanjay Subrahmanyam}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Richman |first=Paula |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=7RW6MrAiJ-0C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA166#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition |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><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Sreenath |first1=J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U0uAAAAAMAAJ&q=Thanjavur |title=All India Anthropometric Survey: Analysis of Data. South Zone |last2=Ahmad |first2=S. H. |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |pages=26 |language=en}}</ref> were originally appointed as provincial governors by the [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara Emperor]] in the 15th century, who divided the territory into Nayak kingdoms which were Madurai, Tanjore, Gingee and Kalahasthi. In the mid-15th century they became an independent kingdom, although they continued their alliance with the Vijayanagara Empire.<ref>''Harmony of Religions: Vedānta Siddhānta Samarasam of Tāyumānavar'', Thomas Manninezhath</ref> The Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and the arts.<ref>[http://www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in/Thanjavur/Thanjavur_Nayaks/thanjavur_nayaks.html Thanjavur Nayak kings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618091440/http://www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in/Thanjavur/Thanjavur_Nayaks/thanjavur_nayaks.html }}</ref><ref>[http://www.tanjore.net/history.htm Tanjore History]</ref><ref name=hindu1/>
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Origins of Nayak rule==
With the demise of the [[Chola dynasty]] in 1279, Thanjavur was ruled by a branch of Chola dynasty, until the Vijayanagara Empire conquered all of [[South India]] by the late 14th century. The Vijayanagar rulers to rule over various parts of the empire. In 1532 CE, [[Achyuta Deva Raya]], the brother and successor of [[Krishnadevaraya|Krishna Deva Raya]] of Vijayanagar granted Sevappa Nayak, the governor of Thanjavur, permission to establish a feudatory kingdom.

The Thanjavur Nayaks belonged to the [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-speaking [[Balija]] caste.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Callā |first=Rādhākr̥ṣṇaśarma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rY4OAAAAYAAJ&q=literature+tajavur+nayaks+telugu |title=Landmarks in Telugu Literature |publisher=Lakshminarayana Granthamala |year=2007 |language=en}}</ref> The ''Mannaru'' (Vishnu) of the [[Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi|Mannargudi temple]] was their ''kula daivam'' (family deity).<ref name="Tanjore p.26">''Nayaks of Tanjore'', by V. Vriddhagirisan, p.26</ref>

{{TNhistory}}

==Literature==
{{Expand section}}
Telugu and Tamil literature flourished during the reign of Nayakas in Tanjavur which was referred to as the Southern School of Tamil and Telugu Literature.<ref name=tel1>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&q=literature+tajavur+nayaks+telugu&pg=PA269|title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1998|isbn=9780824049461|language=en}}</ref> Many Tamil and Telugu Musicians and Pandits were part of their court.<ref name=tel1 />

==Nayak kings==

===Sevappa Nayak===
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}
[[Sevappa Nayak]] (1532–1580), also known as Sevappa Nayak, was the first Thanjavur Nayak king. He was the son of Timmappa Nayak, a Vijayanagara viceroy in the [[Arcot]] region from his wife Bayyambika. The work ''[[Raghunathabhyudayam]]'' written by Vijayaraghava Nayaka gives some genealogical details of Timmappa. Timmappa or ''Timmabhupati'' was the ruler of North Arcot with his capital at Nedungunram.<ref name="Tanjore p.27">''Nayaks of Tanjore'', by V. Vriddhagirisan, p.27</ref> The epigraphs of all of the Tanjore Nayaks show that they belonged to Nedungunram.<ref name="Tanjore p.27"/> One of Krishnadevaraya's epigraphs mentions that Timmappa also had the high privilege of serving him as a door keeper (vasal) and was the emperor's ''dalavay'' (commander) who took part in the Raichur campaign.<ref>[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=GD_6ka-aYuQC |page=26 }} ''Nayaks of Tanjore'', by V. Vriddhagirisan, p.27]</ref> According to historian V. Vriddhagirisan, Timmappa Nayak was the brother of Nagama Nayak.<ref>''Nayaks of Tanjore'' by V. Vriddhagirisn, p.151</ref> Nagama Nayak was the father of [[Madurai Nayak Dynasty#Visvanatha Nayakka Ayyar .5B21.5D|Visvanatha Nayak]] (founder of the Madurai Nayak dynastic line). Hence Viswanatha Nayak and Sevappa Nayak were cousin

Before assuming power of the Tanjore kingdom, Sevappa had distinguished himself under Krishnadavaraya as an administrator and a builder. Sevappa's wife Murtimamba was the sister-in-law of [[Achyuta Deva Raya]] and the sister of the Vijayanagara Queen, Thirumalamba. Some sources suggest that Sevappa acquired the Thanjavur Kingdom as ''[[Stridhana]]'' from Achyutadeva Raya. Sevappa was also a ceremonial [[betel]] bearer to [[Achyuta Deva Raya]], the brother of [[Krishnadevaraya]].

According to the book ''Arunachala: A short history of hill and temple in Tiruvannamalai'' (pg 54–55), the "position of a ceremonial betel bearer or ''adaiappan'' (''thambul karandivan'') was a post given to a very trusted subordinate.. and Sevappa being a powerful and influential man of the locality was appointed the first nayak". The position of a betel bearer was usually not given to an outsider, as this position would make the man privy to all of the king's personal details. Therefore, the position was usually given to a trusted member within the family.

His contributions include building the prakaras at Vridhachalam and Kanchipuram, gilding with gold the Vimanas of Srisailam and Thirumala (Tirupati), construction of the tallest gopura at Tiruvannamalai, and repairing the Sivaganga Fort and Tank at Tanjore.<ref name="recordoffice">Madras (India : State). Record Office. (1957). Tanjore District Handbook, p. 51. Superintendent Government Press.</ref><ref name="nakacami">Irāmaccantiran̲ Nākacāmi, R. Nagaswamy. (2003). Facets of South Indian art and architecture, Volume 1, p.192. Aryan Books International. {{ISBN|8173052468}}</ref>

===Achuthappa Nayak===
Sevappa's son, [[Achuthappa Nayak]] (1560–1614), was named in memory of Achyuta Deva Raya. He led a peaceful reign of 54 years. Up until 1580 Achuthappa Nayak co-ruled with his father under the Yuvaraja title while immediately after that he was joined by his heir, son Raghunatha Nayak. He was said to be deeply religious and was well considered a master in the art of warfare. His minister was [[Govinda Dikshitar]], a great scholar and a shrewd administrator. His long reign was of comparative peace apart from the internal struggles enabling him to contribute much to spiritual and public utility development.

==== Conflicts and wars ====

===== Wars with Madurai =====
During the reign of Achuthappa, the Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by the [[Deccan sultanates]] armies at the [[battle of Talikota]]. Later when the Vijaynagara rulers re-established their capital in Chandragiri and Vellore under Sriranga Rayas, Achuthappa Nayak continued his loyalty while Gingee and Madurai Nayaks intended to break free by refusing to pay tribute. This would also lead to bitter animosity between the [[Madurai Nayaks]] and the Tanjore Nayaks ultimately leading to the Battle at Vallamprakara where the Tanjore army with the Rayas fought against Veerappa Nayak of Madurai by defeating the latter. This happened at the same time as when the Rayas of [[Chandragiri]] were waging wars with the Deccan Sultanates in southern [[Andhra Pradesh]], Achuthappa Nayak provided support.

===== Wars with Portugal =====
Portugal controlled the [[Nagapattinam]] territory as well as the Colombo province in [[Ceylon]] and the entire West Coast of India. The King of [[Jaffna kingdom]] went into a war against Portugal against the methods adopted by the missionary conversions in Jaffna. Later King of Jaffna sought help from the Tanjore Nayaks in repelling Portuguese advances through many battles<ref>['Nayek of Tanjore sends an army of Vadugas with King Varuna Gulata (Varnakula Aditya/Nilayitta) of the Karieas to assist'; The temporal and spiritual conquest of Ceylon, Fernão de Queyroz, p. 468]</ref>

===== Public contributions =====
Achuthappa Nayak was deeply religious from his young days and the fertile nature of his country helped him make large contributions in gifts and infrastructure to major Temples and also important irrigation systems. The main benefactor was the Srirangam Temple. His assistant and advisor was his [[Minister (government)|minister]] Govinda Dikshita.

===== Srirangam Temple =====
[[File:Srirangam 1909 stonecarving.jpg|Stone carving at Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. Source: ''The National Geographic Magazine'', November 1909|thumb|right|230px]]
The [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam)|Srirangam Temple]] towers (Gopurams) of the North and West and the eighth Prakara (temple Wall Street) and several Halls (Mandapam) inside the Temple complex were built by him. The Golden Vimana of the inner most shrines (Temple Flag) and the image of God studded with Crown jewels was presented by Achuthappa Nayak.<ref name="Nayaks of Tanjore"/>

=====Other Temples=====
His other major contributions include the Pushyamantapas (Halls) with steps leading to river [[Cauvery]] in [[Mayavaram]], [[Tiruvidaimarudur]], Tiruvadi and [[Kumbakonam]] and Golden Kalasas of [[Tiruvannamalai]] Temple Gopurams (Towers) some of the Gopurams in Rameswaram. Several temples in Arcot and [[Tanjore]] regions namely Temples in Tiruvidaimarudur and [[Chidambaram]] received villages as grants.

=====Irrigation=====
His one remarkable contribution is the construction of a dam across Cauvery near Tiruvadi leading to efficient irrigation in its vicinity.

=====Housing=====

Numerous [[Agraharam|Agraharas]] (housing for [[Brahmin]]s) in [[Tanjore]] country were built in his period.

====Final years====
During his last days the Rayas now ruling from Chandragiri and [[Vellore]] had rival claimants within the family to the title and were heading for a war with the other Nayak kings taking sides with some suited to their vested interests.

===Raghunatha Nayak===
[[Raghunatha Nayak]] (1600–1634) He is the Most Powerful King of [[Nayaks of Tanjore]]. He is famous for his patronage of literature other scholarly research. One of his wives, Ramabhadramba was highly educated and a gifted poet. During his time he granted military assistance to the [[Chandragiri]] ruler [[Venkatapati Deva Raya|Venkata II]] to recover most of his lost areas from the [[Golconda]] forces. In 1620 Raghunatha Nayak permitted a Danish settlement at [[Tarangambadi]]. This encouraged the English to seek trade with the Thanjavur Nayaks. The Tanjore cannon or Raghunatha cannon, supposed to be the largest cannon in the world was installed during Raghunatha Nayak, built with Danish metallurgy know how.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web|title= Living History: A cannon in monumental neglect - The Hindu
|url= http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/living-history-a-cannon-in-monumental-neglect/article2848696.ece|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

[[File:Thanjavur cannon.jpg|thumb|[[Thanjavur cannon]] installed during <ref name="The Hindu"/>
reign]]

Raghunatha was a gifted scholar in [[Sanskrit]], [[Kannada]] and [[Telugu language]]s, as well as a talented musician. His court was distinguished for its assembly of poets and scholars. Ragunatha is credited with writing several books on music and literature.<ref name=raghunatha1>{{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005102500551700.htm&date=2005/10/25/&prd=br&
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106031237/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005102500551700.htm&date=2005/10/25/&prd=br&
|url-status=usurped
|archive-date=6 November 2007
|title= Cultural heritage of Andhra region |work=The Hindu |access-date=2008-06-14}}</ref> Maduravani and Ramabhadramba were two famous poets in his court, while Sudhindra and Raghavendra were two famous Madhva gurus patronised by him. [[Govinda Dikshita]]'s son Yajnanarayana has written an account on Raghunatha's rule in his work ''Sahitya Ratnakara''. Raghunatha was a gifted scholar and an expert in the art of swordplay, a fine marksman and a skilled master in horse riding. In the field of music, Raghunatha created new ragas, talas, and melas like Jayanta sena (Ragam), Ramananda (Talam), Sargita vidya and Raghunatha (Mela). His Sanskrit treatise on music, ''Sangita Sudha'' opened the secrets of music to all. Raghunatha also composed kavyas and dance-dramas like Prabandkas, Parijatapaharana, Valmika Charitra Kavya, Achyutendrabhyudayam, Gajendramoksham, Nala Caritiam and Rukmini Krishna Vivaha Yakshagana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilartsacademy.com/journals/volume18/articles/article7.htm |title=Introduction To Sangitasudha |publisher=Tamilartsacademy.com |access-date=2013-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=GD_6ka-aYuQC |page=108 }} |title=Nayaks of Tanjore - V. Vriddhagirisan - Google Books |access-date=2013-09-25}}</ref>
It was during Raghunatha's reign that a palace library was established. Sarasvati Bhandar is where the manuscripts of Raghunatha's prolific court scholars were collected and preserved. This library was developed and enriched later by Rajah [[Serfoji II]] into the currently famous [[Saraswati Mahal Library]].<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news
|title= The colourful world of the Nayaks |work=The Hindu }}</ref>

====Civil war in Vellore====
During Raghunatha's rule, a civil war involving succession to the throne was taking place in the Vijayanagara Kingdom, now based in Vellore and Chandragiri. Gobburi Jagga Raya, brother of the previous ruler Venkata II's favourite Queen Obayamma claimed her putative son as the King and murdered [[Sriranga II]] along with his family in the Vellore Prison. Jagga Raya was strongly challenged by Yachamanedu, the chief of [[Nayaks of Kalahasti|Kalahasti]] who claimed the throne for Rama Deva, the rightful heir whom he had smuggled out from the Vellore Prison. Jagga Raya sought help from the [[Nayaks of Gingee|Gingee Nayak]] and Muttu Virappa of [[Madurai Nayaks|Madurai]] to attack Yachamanedu and Rama Deva. Yachamanedu and Ramadeva sought support from Raghunatha, who still treated the Vijaynagar as his authority.

==== The Battle of Toppur ====
{{main|Battle of Toppur}}
Jagga Raya assembled a large army near [[Tiruchirappalli]], the capital of Muttu Virappa comprising the armies of [[Nayaks of Gingee|Gingee]], [[Chera Dynasty|Chera]], [[Madurai Nayak Dynasty|Madurai]], and some Portuguese from the coast. Yachama led the forces of [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagara]] and [[Nayaks of Kalahasti|Kalahasti]] from [[Vellore]] and was joined midway by [[Tanjore Nayaks|Tanjore]] forces headed by Raghunatha.Yachama's army was further strengthened by nobles from [[Karnataka]] and (according to some accounts) Dutch and [[Jaffna]] armies.

Both the Armies met at the Toppur, at an open field on the northern banks of River [[Cauvery]], between Tiruchirappalli and [[Grand Anicut]] in late months of 1616. The huge assembly of forces on either side is estimated to be as many as a million soldiers (according to Dr. Barradas in Sewell's Book) and considered to be one of the biggest battles in southern India.

==== Result ====
In the Battle Jagga Raya's troops could not withstand the aggression generated by the imperial forces. Yachama and Raghunatha, the generals of the imperial camp led their forces with great discipline. Jagga Raya was slain by Yachama, and his army broke the ranks and took flight. Yethiraja, the brother of Jagga Raya, had to run for his life. Muttu Virappa tried to escape, he was pursued by Yachama's general Rao Dama Nayani who captured him near [[Tiruchirapalli]]. The Nayak of [[Gingee]] in the war lost all his forts except [[Gingee Fort]] and the putative son of [[Venkata II]], cause of all trouble was captured. The Victory was celebrated by the imperial armies headed by Raghunatha and Yachamanedu, who planted pillars of Victory and crowned Rama Deva as Rama Deva Raya, in early months of 1617. Rama Deva Raya was barely 15 years old when he ascended the throne.

===Vijaya Raghava Nayak===
[[Vijaya Raghava Nayak]] (1634–1673), was the last of the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur. He was also called ''Mannaru Dasa''; and like the rest of his family, he built prakaras, gopurams, mandapams and tanks in the Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy temple.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/05/23/stories/2004052300310400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041118011437/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2004/05/23/stories/2004052300310400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=2004-11-18 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Shrine in the forest | date=2004-05-23}}</ref> Vijayaraghava's long reign witnessed a large amount of literary output both in music and Telugu literature. Vijayaraghava's court had a number of poets and literary scholars. Vijayaraghava Nayak wrote more than thirty books in Telugu.<ref name=raghunatha1/> His long reign was sadly brought to an abrupt end by [[Chokkanatha Nayak]] of Madurai.

==End of Nayak rule==
{{See also|Chokkanatha Nayak}}
The end of the Thanjavur Nayak dynasty was brought on by Chokkanatha Nayak, the [[Nayak of Madurai]]. The dispute was due to the refusal of Vijaya Ragava Nayak to give his daughter in marriage to Chokkanatha Nayak. Chokkantha determined to fetch the maiden by force back into their capital, successfully stormed the Thanjavur palace in 1673 after flattening much of the fort walls by cannons. But Chokkanatha Nayak was thwarted in his attempts by Vijaya Ragava Nayak, when he, in a gruesome act of defiance, blew up his daughter and all the other ladies of the palace. He then charged at the attacking army with his son and his body-guard. He was captured after a brief fight, and was beheaded by the Madurai General Samukham Venkata Krishnappa Nayak.

==Maratha conquest==
Chokkanatha placed his younger brother [[Alagiri Nayak]] on the throne of Thanjavur, but within a year the latter threw off his allegiance, and Chokkanatha was forced to recognise the independence of Thanjavur. Chengamala Das, the son of Vijaya Raghava induced the Bijapur Sultan to help him get back the Thanjavur throne.<ref name="vink">Vink, Marcus (2015). Encounters on the Opposite Coast: The Dutch East India Company and the Nayaka State of Madurai in the Seventeenth Century, pp.424-425. BRILL, 2015. {{ISBN|9004272623}}.</ref> In 1675, the Sultan of Bijapur sent a force commanded by the Maratha general [[Venkoji]] (alias Ekoji) to drive away the Madurai usurper. Venkaji defeated Alagiri with ease, and occupied Thanjavur. He did not, however, place his protege on the throne, but seized the kingdom and made himself king due to the disintegration of the Bijapur state.<ref name="vink"/> Thus ended the reign of Nayaks and the start of [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom|Maratha power]] in Thanjavur.

==See also==
* [[Madurai Nayak dynasty]]
* [[Nayaks of Gingee]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Nagaswamy, R ''Tamil Coins- a study'', (1970), State Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu
* Vriddhagirisan V, ''Nayaks of Tanjore'', {{ISBN|8120609964}}, Reprint Annamalainagar 1942 edn., 1995
* Velcheru Narayana Rao|Rao, David Shulman and Sanjay Subrahmanyam. ''Symbols of substance : court and state in Nayaka period Tamil Nadu'' (Delhi ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1998) ; xix, 349 p., [16] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 22 cm. ; Oxford India paperbacks ; Includes bibliographical references and index ; {{ISBN|0-19-564399-2}}.
* Sathianathaier, R. ''History of the Nayaks of Madura'' [microform] by R. Sathyanatha Aiyar ; edited for the university, with introduction and notes by [[S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar]] ([Madras] : Oxford University Press, 1924) ; see also ([London] : H. Milford, Oxford university press, 1924) ; xvi, 403 p. ; 21 cm. ; SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project item 10819.
*''The Political Career of E.V. Ramasami Naicker: A Study in the Politics'' page 79 by I. Vicuvanatan, E. S. Visswanathan
*''The Mysore Tribes and Castes'' by L Anantha Krishna Iyer and H.V Nanjundayya
*''Encyclomedia Indica'' by Jagadish Saran Sharma
*''Gazetteer of the Nellore District: Madras District Gazettees'' - Page 105, Government Of Madras Staff - History - 2004 - 384 pages
*''Questioning Ramayana: A South Asian Tradition'' by Paula Richman
*''Literary Cultures in History'' by Sheldon Pollock
*''Castes and Tribes of Southern India'' by Edgar Thurston and Rangachari
*''Caste and Race in India'' by G.S.Ghurye
*[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=7RW6MrAiJ-0C }} Questioning Ramayanas - by Paula Richman]
*[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=xowUxYhv0QgC }} The Literary Cultures in History - by Sheldon I Pollock]
*[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=FqLfdZ0gcoEC }} Further Sources of Vijayanagara History By K A Nilakanta Sastry]
*[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=4Ju6z8PbTuAC }} Penumbral Visions - by Sanjay Subrahmanyam]
*[{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=ya4JAAAAIAAJ |page=144 }}]
* "Thanjavur - A Cultural History", Pradeep chakravarthy, Niyogi books

==External links==
* {{cite web
|title= Minister, mentor and philanthropist |work=The Hindu }}
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/01/28/stories/2005012802020300.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406090409/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/01/28/stories/2005012802020300.htm
|url-status=usurped
|archive-date=6 April 2005
|title=The Hindu : Images of stunning beauty |work=The Hindu
|access-date=2008-06-14}}
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/yw/2002/01/05/stories/2002010500050200.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021104160732/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/yw/2002/01/05/stories/2002010500050200.htm
|url-status=usurped
|archive-date=4 November 2002
|title=The Hindu : Crafted coins |work=The Hindu |access-date=2008-06-14}}
* {{cite web
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5348/is_200401/ai_n21343752/
|title=A Marvel of Medieval Indian Metallurgy: Thanjavur's Forge-Welded Iron Cannon by Balasubramaniam, R, Saxena, A, Anantharaman, Tanjore R, Reguer, S, Dillmann}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thanjavur Nayak Kingdom}}
[[Category:States and territories established in 1572]]
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu under the Vijayanagar Empire]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Telugu monarchs]]
[[Category:History of Thanjavur]]
[[Category:1532 in India]]

Thanjavur Nayak kingdom - Revision history

Subhash Rama: Just published an informative work.