Madurai Nayak Dynasty - Vijayanagar Domination, 1365 AD

Vijayanagar Domination, 1365 AD

Muslim rule of the region was overthrown in 1377 AD by the new Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar, which had been founded at Hampi. For the next two centuries, this empire withstood repeated Muslim invasions from the north.

Kampana Udaiyar, a Vijayanagar prince and an agent of Bukka Raya who also served as a General in the Vijayanagar army, marched into Madurai in 1372. He expelled the Muslim sultan out of Madurai and started a dynasty, subordinate to the court of Vijayanagar that lasted until 1404. The immediate effect of this victory was the reopening of the Siva and Vishnu temples. The rule was continued by Vijayanagar-appointed governors who had "Nayaka" as a title. King Krishna Devaraya (1509–1529 AD), the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagar dynasty, exercised close control over this part of his empire.

After ruling for sometime, Kampana Udaiyar left his son Embana Udaiyar in charge of Madurai, who was succeeded by his brother-in-law Porkasa Udeiyar. Around 1404 AD, Porkasa Udaiyar was succeeded by a man named Lakkana Nayakkan, thus bringing the dynastic rule of Kampana Udaiyar to an end. Lekkina Nayakkan jointly ruled Madurai with another Nayaka named Mathanan until 1451 AD.

Between 1451 to 1499 AD, the Madurai regions were ruled by four persons brought by Lakkana Nayakkan whom he declared to be of true Pandya stock. The four persons were Sundara Tol Maha Vilivanathi Rayar, Kaleiyar Somanar, Anjatha Perumal and Muttarasa Thirumalai Maha Vilivanathi Rayar. A commentator, James Nelson, mentions that all the four persons belonged to the same family, and were illegitimate sons of a petty Pandyan chieftain. However, all four of them enjoyed kingly powers for 48 years from 1451 to around 1499 AD and are said to have built four gopurams of the Madurai temple which was destroyed by the Mohemmadans. After the ouster by the Muslims, the Vilivanathis are said to have retired.

The existing four gopurams were built by the following:

• East Gopuram was built by Pandiya King Maravarman Sundara Pandiyan in 1216 AD. This is the oldest of all Gopurams.
• West Gopuram was built by Parakirama Pandiyan between 1315–1347 AD. This is the second gopuram built without steps to bring goods inside.
• South Gopuram was built by Sevvandhi Moorthy Chettiar of Srimalai in AD 1559.
• North gopuram was built by Krishna Veerappa Nayakkar between 1564–1572 AD, and left without completion hence it is still called Mottai gopuram meaning Flat tower.