Varunakulattan

Varunakulattan (also identified as Khem Nayak or Chem Nayak) was a 17th-century feudal lord and military commander from the Jaffna Kingdom.[1] He led a rebellion as the military commander of Thanjavur Nayak against the Portuguese in their conquest of the Jaffna kingdom in 1619.[2] Although the nominal king was Cankili II, Varunakulattan was described as the king of Karaiyars, and wield the real power in the Jaffna Peninsula.[3]

Origin theories

Varunakulattan is known in various letters under names such as Varunakulattan, Chem Nayak and "the King of Careas" as pointed out by scholars such as Chandra de Silva and Rev. Gnananaparakasar. The name "Varuna Kulattan" means "he of the clan of Varuna".[2][4] Varuna is the sea god of the Neydal Sangam landscape and the totem of the Karaiyars (maritime martial caste).[1][5]

Life

First appearance

After the death of Jaffna king Ethirimana Cinkam, three men claimed the throne; Arasakesari the king's brother, Periya Pillai Arachchi a powerful Karaiyar chief and Cankili II the nephew of the king. Cankili II killed the other two triggering a local uprising against him.[2] Migapulle Arachchi, the son of Periye Pillai Arachchi, with the aid of the Portuguese, raised a revolt against Cankili II and drove him to Kayts in August-September 1618. Cankili II sought help from Raghunatha Nayak, the king of Thanjavur Nayak. Raghunatha Nayak sent a troop of 5000 men under the command of Varunakulattan who put down the uprising.[4][6]

Second appearance

The Portuguese hanged Cankili II in Goa and conquered the Jaffna Kingdom in 1619. Six revolts were led by Karaiyar chieftains from 1620-1621.[2] After the failure of the first revolt in March 1620, the second failed revolt was led by Migapulle Arachchi with the aid of Prince of Rameswaram and one thousand Thanjavur Nayak soldiers who came with 12 dhonies.[7] Migapulle Arachchi started a third revolt on 5 December 1620 with the aid of two thousand soldiers of Thanjavur Nayak kingdom under the command of Varunakulattan, again resulting in another defeat.[4]

Third appearance

Varunakulattan led the fourth revolt. His new army landed in Achchuveli and was ambushed and destroyed by Portuguese admiral Antao da Motta Galvao and his force on 11 February 1621.[4][6]

References
  1. Raghavan, M. D. (1971). Tamil culture in Ceylon: a general introduction. Kalai Nilayam. pp. 137, 140.
  2. Vriddhagirisan, V. (1942). The Nayaks of Tanjore. Annamalai University: Annamalai University Historical Series. pp. 80, 81, 91. ISBN 9788120609969.
  3. Rambukwelle, P. B. (1996). The Period of Eight Kings. P.B. Rambukwelle. p. 96. ISBN 9789559556527.
  4. DeSilva, Chandra Richard (1972). The Portuguese in Ceylon, 1617-1638. University of London: School of Oriental and African Studies. pp. 73, 109, 111, 113.
  5. Shanmugarajah, Srikanthan. "Ethnohistory Through Intracultural Perspectives: A Study of Embedded History of Karaiyar of Jaffna Peninsula (Sri Lanka) and Coromandel Coast (India)". Man in India. Department of Anthropology, Puducherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture. 94 (1–2): 31–48.
  6. Journal of Tamil Studies. International Institute of Tamil Studies. 1981. pp. 44–45.
  7. Abeyasinghe, Tikiri (1986). Jaffna under the Portuguese. Lake House Investments. p. 12.
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