Varunakulattan
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Varunakulattan (also identified as Khem Nayak or Chem Nayak) was a 17th-century general of Tanjore nayak,
feudal Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in Middle Ages, medieval Europe from the 9th to 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of struc ...
lord and military commander from the Tanjore Nayak Kingdom. He led a rebellion as the military commander of
Thanjavur Nayak The Thanjavur Nayak dynasty (or Thanjavur Nayak kingdom) were the rulers of Thanjavur in the 15th and 17th centuries founded by Sevappa Nayak, Sevappa Nayaka. The Nayaks, who were Telugu people, Telugu Balija, Balijas,* * * * * * * * * ...
against the Portuguese in their conquest of the Jaffna kingdom in 1619. Although the nominal king was Cankili II, Varunakulattan was described as the king of Karaiyars, and wield the real power in the Jaffna Peninsula.


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''".
Varuna Varuna (; , ) is a Hindu god. He is one of the earliest deities in pantheon, whose role underwent a significant transformation from the Vedic to the Puranic periods. In the early Vedic era, Varuna is seen as the god-sovereign, ruling the sky ...
is the sea god of the ''Neydal
Sangam landscape The Sangam landscape (Tamil language, Tamil: அகத்திணை "inner classification") is the name given to a poetic device that was characteristic of love poetry in classical Tamil language, Tamil Sangam literature. The core of the devi ...
'' and the
totem A totem (from or ''doodem'') is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage (anthropology), lineage, or tribe, such as in the Anishinaabe clan system. While the word ...
of the Karaiyars (maritime martial caste).


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. 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 Raghunatha Nayak was the most powerful king of the Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty. He was the third ruler of Thanjavur, southern India, from the Nayak dynasty. He belongs to Balija caste. He ruled from 1600 to 1634 and is noted for the attainments of T ...
, the king of
Thanjavur Nayak The Thanjavur Nayak dynasty (or Thanjavur Nayak kingdom) were the rulers of Thanjavur in the 15th and 17th centuries founded by Sevappa Nayak, Sevappa Nayaka. The Nayaks, who were Telugu people, Telugu Balija, Balijas,* * * * * * * * * ...
. Raghunatha Nayak sent a troop of 5000 men under the command of Varunakulattan who put down the uprising.


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. 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.{{Cite book, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hsYLAAAAIAAJ, title=Jaffna under the Portuguese, last=Abeyasinghe, first=Tikiri, date=1986, publisher=Lake House Investments, pages=12, isbn=9789555520003, language=en 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.


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.


References

Sri Lankan Tamil rebels Sri Lankan Tamil people Jaffna kingdom Sri Lankan rebels 17th-century Sri Lankan people Sri Lankan Tamil royalty