Rise of Feudatories (in Tondaimandalam)

One of the striking features in the south Indian political scene especially in Tondaimandalam, during the Thirteenth Century was the rise of many feudatories like the Telugu Cholas, the Kadavarayas, the Yadavarayas and Sambuvarayas. These Chieftains virtually shared the Tondaimandalam region and ruled acknowledging the suzerainty of the Cholas in beginning and eschewing it gradually until they became independent.

Towards the end of the region of Rajaraja-III, the Telugu Chodas were rising into prominence in the Chengalpattu Dstrict and its surrounding districts of Nellore, Cuddappah and Chittoor. They were the most prominent among such independent or quasi-independent feudatories who left their mark on the political history of Tondaimandalam. The Telugu Chodas belonged to the Royal family of the Cholas who migrated towards north and carved out petty principalities there. During the closing wars of Kulottunga-III, Nalla Siddha, the Telugu Choda Chief rebelled against the Central authority and held Kancheepuram under his independent rule for a short period and this was undone by Kulottunga-III, himself by an invasion.^[1]

Kadavarayas who claimed to be the descendants of the Pallavas were another important feudatories of the Chodas, who came into prominence during Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries, in the North Arcot and some parts of Chengalpattu District. Though they were feudatories from the days of Vikrama Chola, it was under the leadership of Kadava Kopperunjinga, they the position of an independent power, though only for a short time. Kopperunjinga’s inscriptions have been found in Kunnathur, Velacheri, Kancheepuram and Tirumazhisai. Kopperunjinga, utilised the weak rule of Rajaraja-III for strengthening himself.

Yadavarayas were a set of other feudatories who had their principalities in and around the district. Their inscriptions are found in Tirupasur (near Tiruvallur), Gudivallam, Thiruvothiyur and Koyampedu of the district. The firstYadavaraya ruler was probably Ghattideva Maharaja alias Kulottunga Choda Yadavaraya who lived during the reigns of Kulottunga-III and RajarajaIII. The most celebrated Yadava ruler was Vira Narasinga Yadavaraya whose tenure of Chieftainship lasted for a long period. He served the Chola kings, Kulottunga-III, and Rajaraja-III and his jurisdictions covered the districts of Chittoor, North Arcot, South Arcot besides the Chengalpattu Districts. The last known Yadavaraya chief was Sriranganatha Yadavaraya. He ruled for 24 years his territorial jurisdiction was extended over the northern portion of Tondaimandalam comprising parts of Chengalpattu and North Arcot and Chittoor districts.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

S.I.I., Vol.III, No.88.