Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/87

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H. H. The Maharajah of Jeypore.
67

1885. In 1860, for the 1st time, the British interefered in the administration."

Jeypore (Jeypuram, "the city of victory"), town in the Jeypore Samastanam, Vizagapatam District, Madras Presidency, Lat 88° 55' N, and Long. 82° 83' is situated at an elevation of about 2,000 feet above the sea 7 miles to the north of the northern wall of the plateau of the Vizagapatam hills.

The Royal family of Jeypore traces its origin to Jammu (Cashmere) and to a date many centuries ago. Kumbhirajah Deo a descendant of Kanakasena of the solar race was once the King of Jammu. He had three sons and the second of them, Vinaik Deo, who could not succeed his father, while the eldest son was alive, repaired to Benares on a pilgrimage, where it is traditionally believed he made a penance and after twenty, one days of hard and rigid penance the god, Kasi Wisweswar, appeared in his dream, and bade him go to Nandapur, telling him at the same time that he would obtain the throne of that kingdom. In obedience to the mandate of Kasi Wisweswar, Vinaik Deo left at once for Nandapur. The journey to that place was not easy then, for there were not so many facilities for travel as thare are now; nevertheless, he did not feel the wearines of travel, as the enterprise he had embarked on was such that if he should achieve his object he would be raised to a high position. He would be an independent king ruling over a large state with a number of feudal lords under his control. As the journey was anything but pleasant, he underwent many difficulties and privations, and ultimately reached the place whither he was enjoined to proceed without delay by god, Kasi Wisweswar. On reaching the place, he