Mattinadu

The Mattinadu, also called Mathodu (modern Mathodu), line family of Paleyagars is said to have been founded by one Giriyappa Nayaka, a handsome man of great stature and strength, which he exercised for catching the wild beasts of the neighbourhood.(158) He was made the Paleyagar of Lakavanhalli, his native place, and granted some villages yielding a ravenue of 9,000 pagodas, by Venkatapati Raya in about 1604, in appreciation of his having brought under control an irritated elephant which had broken loose and was playing havoc in the capital, Penugonda. In 1710, Dodala Nayaka, a descendant of his, built the fort at Mathodu. He was the first to adopt the Lingayat faith in the line. His son, Sangappa Nayaka, is said to have distinguished himself at the court of Srirangapattana by his daring feats. Next succeeded Halappa Nayaka and, after him, Siddappa Nayaka. This Siddappa Nayaka had an elder brother, Dodala Nayaka, who was dissatis­fied by this arrangement. He repaired to Chitradniga, the Paleyagars of which took up his cause, and, defeating his brother, installed him in his place, subject to the payment of a tribute to Chitrndurga. On Siddappa Nayaka being taken prisoner to Chitradiirga, the Paleyagar's daughter is said to have fallen in love with him. Eventually he married her and his territory was restored to him. His son Halappa was induced by the growing power of Haidar Ali to assist him against Chitradurga in his first siege of it. On Haider's withdrawal, the Paleyagars of Chitradurga, in revenge, took Mathodu by assault, plundered the town and carried Halappa as prisoner. On the fall of Chitradurga, Halappa was released ; but he never regained his territory.

There are a few inscriptions in this district belonging to this family, all of them coming from the Holalkere region. According to one of tliem(159) the Founder of the family was one Halappa, who is said to be a contemporary of Harihara (14lh century). His son was Doddanna, "whose son was Sangappa, whose son was Halaraja, whose sons were Siddarama and Doddanna."

Courtesy : Gazetteer of India, Chitradurga District, 1967.