The history of Andhra country (1000 AD - 1500 AD)

by Yashoda Devi | 1933 | 138,355 words

This book recounts the History of the Andhra Pradesh Country from 1000 to 1500 A.D. including many dynasties (for example. the Reddis of Korukonda and the Eruva Chola of Rajahmundry)....

Part 7 - Later Velanandu Chodas: successors of Prithvisvara (A.D. 1210—1343)

The main line of the Velanandu dynasty ended with Prithvisvara and no sons or direct successors of his are heard of. But some later chieftains bearing Velanaedu names, titles and prasartis are found exercising local sway over various parts of Andradesa, acknowledging the suzerainty of the Cholas, the Kakatiyas and the Reddis. The earliest and latest dates from inscriptions for these chiefs were A.D. 1210 to 1343 respectively. Some of the rulers were related to Prithvisvara of the main line.

The earliest Choda chieftain of Velanandu extraction after Prithvisvara was Manmagonka ruling in Bapatla in A.D. 1210. He was the nephew of Prithvisvara as his mother Akkamahodevi, was the sister of Prithvi gonka.

A Velanandu Sagi Dorayaraja is heard of from an inscription at Yenamalakuduru dated A.D. 1215. This is no doubt a Chagi chief prefixing Velanandu to his name.

A Velananti choda is mentioned in a record from Peddapulivamu. He is stated to have presented rich spoils of war to Bhimesvara at Draksharama. His father whose name and exploits are lost in the damaged portion of the record, appears to have ruled over the Fifty Lakh Andhra country. The record is dated A.D. 1229 and the expression Ganapati kshitisa samsevya occurs with reference to the donor. Hence it becomes clear that Velananti choda was a subordinate of Ganapati. Another record of this choda is from Draksharama bearing the date 1237 A.D. A Kulothunga Rajendra Chodayarajulu is mentioned in a record dated A.D. 1242 from Draksharama. From the names of the two chiefs and the dates, Velananti Choda may be identified with Kulothunga-rajendrachodyasrajulu tentatively. Accepting this it may be concluded that after Prithvisvara’s death, the father of Velananti Choda and afterwards Velananti choda himself rilled the territory from Bapatla to Draksharama subject to Kakatiya suzerainty from A.D. 1210 to 1242 A.D.

A Velanandu Rajendra Choda is known from a record at Tripnrantakam dated 1149 A.D. His identification with. Prithvisvara is wrong. He may be identified with Rajendra Chola of inscriptions mentioned above in which case his rule, will be lengthened by seven years from A.D. 1284 to A.D. 1149.

We hear of a Kulottunga Chodagonkaraju in 1253 A.D. and afterwards. From two records of that year at Draksharama, a relative of Gonka is heard of and Pandanayaka, uncle of Kulottunga Chola from another. This Kulottunga Chola is identified with either Gonka of the earlier records or Rajendra Chola of A.D. 1249. Kulottunga Rajendra Chodayaraja figuring in a Draksharama inscription of A.D. I270. Perhaps, he is identical with Rajendra Chola of above records.

From an inscription at Tiruttant, mahamandalesvara Timvengalantha rajadeva cholamaharaja of Velanandu is known. The record has no date. Tiruvengalanatha is a chieftain of the Velanandu descent whose ancestors must have settled in these part of Telugu land.

A Kulottunga Choda Conkaraja is heard of from a record at Draksharama dated A.D.; 1255. It mentions his minister Kandravadi Morampudi Dotmayaka. The earliest date for this Gonkaraja is |239 and 2nd year of Kulothunga choda deva mentioned id' two inscriptions at Draksharama. In these inscriptions he is called mahamandalesvara Kulothunga Chola gangeya gonkaraju and was subordinate to Rajaraja II whose-23rd year corresponds to A.D. 1239.

Mallela Hemadri reddi, a subordinate of Ganapati had the titles-Kakati Ganapatidevadivya sripadapadmardhaka, and Kulothungarayarajendra Chodagankadisapatta. These are mentioned in his Draksharama (?) inscription, Kalapanayadu, another subordinate of Ganapati (?) in a record at Inumella (?). dated 1256 bore the epithet Velananti Kulothunga Rajendi a Choda nisteraka. These epithets of the Kakatiya (?) subordinates referring to the Velanandu, ch??f??ins perhaps shows that the Velanandu Chodas—the gonkas and the Chodas had no faith in Kakatiya suzerainty as they had in that of the imperial Ch??s, and made time and again unsuccessful attemts to shake off the Kakatiya yoke. So a V??nant? Conka was vanquished by Komad? in 1?3? A.D. and a Rajendra Choda by Kulp?nay?du in A.D.??34. As??e?? 1253(?) a Chodagonka owed loyalty to Rajaraja III of the Cholas.

After A.D. 12?0 the Velanandus are heard of again in A.D. 1343. For an inscription at Talagadadivi mentions a Velanandu chodayanadu. As almost the entire Andhra Country came under the sway of the Reddi dynasty of Kondavidu by this time, the Velanandu chief must have owed allegiance to the celebrated Vema, the first ruler of the Reddi dynasty.

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