MADURA

[s. 446] : A city (and district, the city being the capital of the district) in the Madras presidency, India, situated on the S. bank of the Vaigal River, about 275 miles south-southwest from Madras. The population of the city is (1901) 105,984, of whom 94,000 are Hindus. The language of the Hindus is Tamil, tho with the progre of education the rising generation of natives is more and more familiar with English. Madura has long been a most important place. It was the seat of an ancient dynasty of Hindu kings (the Pandyan), whose history stretches back into prehistoric times, and is adorned with the usual wealth of myth and legend. As the Mohammedan power stretched south in the 15th and 16th centuries this Hindu kingdom was overthrown, tho no Mohammedan dynasty took its place; but on the ruins of the old state rose another Hindu dynasty that of the Nayaks which culminated in the 17th century, when most of the architectural works at Madura, which still attest the power and wealth of this line of princes, were completed. During the political chaos of the next century the Nayak kingdom in its turn crumbled. Mahratta and Mohammedan armies succe ively overran the region, until at last the British came, and in 1801 — Madura pa ed into their The po e ion. religious history of the place chiefly concerns us now. It contains one of the most famous Hindu temples that of the godde Minakshi in India. The temple enclosure is 847 feet long and 744 feet broad, and contains, besides the shrines of the godde and of the god Siva, a vast collection of buildings halls, bazars, etc. occupied by — — — — Madras Presidency Mahltsy 429 the priests and temple attendants. The conspicuous features of the temple are the great in towers, 9 number, which rise above its outer vfalls, in one case reaching to the height of 152 feet. The Christian history of Madura is of much interest. The famous Roman Catholic mi ionary Francis Xavier gathered a little church here in the 16th century. In 1606 a Jesuit mi ion was begun here by Robert de Nobilis, who lived as an ascetic, was renowned for his sanctity and learning, and his complete mastery of the Tamil Following him were men of like language. spirit, notably John de Britto, who suffered martyrdom in 1693, and Beschi, who prepared the first Tamil grammar, and whose writings are regarded as models of pure Tamil style. The native converts in the region about Madura were estimated at a million or more, won largely by the great conce ions to Hinduism which the mi ionaries made. The number of Catholic Christians now in the district has greatly dwindled, hardly 70,000 being returned in the census of 1881. The history of Protestant effort begins in 1834, when the place was occupied by Me rs. Todd and Hoising ton, connected with the ABCFM mi ion in Jaffna, Ceylon, which had been founded in 1816. The work of the American mi ionaries has been carried on vigorously and succe fully ever since. In proce of time they occupied most of the important towns in the district round Madura as mi ion stations, established schools of different grades, gathered congregations of Christian adherents and founded churches, composed of such as gave credible evidence of piety. They have labored as preachers on their tours and in the churches, as teachers in their schools, as writers, and editors through the medium of the pre , as physicians through their labors in hospitals and dispensaries. This Society now (1902) has at Madura 2 mi ionaries and their wives, 3 women mi ionaries, 140 native workers, men and women; 18 outstations, 14 preaching places, 13 day schools, 3 high-grade boarding schools, 2 hospitals, 2 dispensaries and 700 profe ed Christians. It is a station also of the Leipzig Mi ionary Society (1874), with (1903) 2 mi ionaries, one with his wife; 1 woman mi ionary, 22 native workers, men and women; 14 outstations, 10 places of worship, 5 day schools, 1 boarding school and 727 profe ed Christians, of 697 are communicants. The SPG also has a native evangelist here. whom MADURANTAKAM A town in Madras, India,: situated about 50 miles S. by W. of Madras. Station of the WMS, with (1903) 1 mi ionary, 46 native workers, 10 outstations, 13 chapels, 21 day schools, 14 Sunday schools, 1 theological cla , and 174 profe ed Christians, of whom 108 are communicants. MAEBASHI. See Matebashi. 447