Part 9 - Kusumaraja (A.D. 1222)

Like Nambaya II, Kusumaraja was a ruler of some importance. His only inscription is from Prattipadu dated A.D. 1222 mentioning him as Mahamandalesvara Kusumaraja and his queen Sabbamadevi. He bore the usual Parichchedi prasasti, one of the titles being—the lord of the town of Virarajapuri. Probably his father was Ganda, after whom he built the Gandisvara temple. Kusumaraja’s reign may have lasted up to A.D. 1230—the earliest date for his successor Bhimaraja.

His Political Relations

Kusumaraja was of enterprising nature and achieved some victories. His title the lord of Virarajapuri implies his conquest of it from his enemies. He extended the kingdom and shifted: his capital from Kollipaka to Virarajapuri. It has been said that “Virarajapuri might be the same as that town the conquest of which is attributed to the Eastern chalukya king Kollabhiganda Vijayaditya IV. “It is not known who the enemies were whom Kusumaraja had to f ght in extending his kingdom. Probably he owed allegiance to the Chola emperor Raja-Raja III (A.D. 1216-1246) and maintained friendly relations with the local dynasties in Vengi-the Velanandus under Prithvisvara, the Kondapadumatis, the Chagis and the Kotas.