Temple paintings unravel historic Tamirabarani battle

Q Why did you chose Thirupudaimaruthur temple paintings for your research?
As part of a project, we documented many 16th-century and 17th-century murals in Tamil Nadu, including the one in Naarumpoonatha Swamy temple at  Thirupudaimaruthur, Tirunelveli district. The four of the five floors in the tower of 1,100 year-old-temple consists of hundreds of murals portraying scenes from Mahabharata and Ramayana and episodes from Thiruvilayadal Puranam. But the murals on the second floor which depicted a historic event with kings and battle scenes attracted me the most. They were like a puzzle.

Q What is the puzzle?
The entire second floor was painted around one historic event. Historians have mentioned about these murals for the last two centuries in various books, but no one knew about which war was depicted here, where it took place and what happened. So, I started my research.

Q How many years did it take for you to find the answer?
It took me more than six years to know what was depicted in the second floor.  After going through many literary works and epigraphs, I proved that the murals here portrayed 'Tamirabarani battle' in 1532 C.E. (Common Era) between the King of Travancore, Bhoothala Veera Udaya Marthanda Varma and Emperor of Vijayanagara,  Achyutadeva Raya. As per records, the battle was at Aralv aimozhi Pass, near Thovalai in Kanyakumari district.

Q Why was this battle?
The war erupted when the king of Travancore Udaya Marthanda Varma after refusing to pay tributes to Achyutadeva Raya, annexed to his Venad kingdom much of the territory of Tenkasi Pandya ruler Jatila Varman Sri Vallabhan. The Tenkasi Pandya approachedVijayanagar emperor for help. Chellappa, the Mahamandaleshwara of Cholamandalam, who married off his daughter to Udaya Marthanda Varma, and Thumbichi Nayaka, Poligar of Paramakudi, also joined hands with him against Vijayanagar emperor.

To teach them a lesson the emperor himself undertook a 'Dhikvijayam' with his enormous army. The joint armies were defeated by Vijayanagar army and they were captured. Marthanda Varma and Thumbichi Nayaka were produced before  Achyutadeva Raya at Srirangam who pardoned them after a light punishment.

Q What is the historical importance of your findings?
Those who wrote the history of Tamil Nadu and Vijayanagara empire registered that Achyutadeva Raya won this war. But some historians who wrote Kerala and Travancore history gave a different version that Udaya Marthanda Varma won. In this context, these murals assume historical importance as they clearly portray
that Achyutadeva Raya won the war.

Q What were the weapons used in the war?
Guns were used. The weapons came to India only in 16th century through Portuguese traders. So many types of swords and spears were used in those times.

Q What about the style of paintings?
The paintings were based on both Vijayanagara and Nayaka schools inheriting various regional qualities. So, I would say this was based on unique 'Venad' style.