sentences:  The Kandy Nayaks were practicing Shaivite Hindus, however were also patrons of Theravada Buddhism and paid tribute to the Buddhist sanghas.The stability and power of the Kandyan Nayaks were heavily reliant on the support from the Madurai and Thanjavur branches of the House, particularly in the form of military assistance against the Portuguese and Dutch- alliances cemented by intermarriage between Kandy and South India.Thus, intermarriage across the Palk Strait became a matter of policy for Kandy in 17th and 18th centuries.