Part 23 - Anuguraja (A.D. 1134-1147)

According to the palm leaf MS, Anuguraja was the son of Vikramendra and had three younger brothers—Artharaju, Teppaliraju and Tejassuraju. But Virabhadra mentions, Anugu, as the son of Sundara Chakravarti. It has been suggested that as Anugu’s son was Vikrama, his grandfather’s name must have been Vikramendra and not Sundarachakravarti.But probably Vikrama was the name and Sundarachakravarti a title and Virabhadra mentioned the title instead of the name of the king.

Anuguraja, is said to have ruled at Balamachapuri alias Jambhanapuri in northern India. To free himself from the effects of sins of Kartavirya says Viracharitra Anuguraja started on a pilgrimage taking with him his armies, ministers and family deity. He reached Andhradosa and rid himself of the sms by bathing in the Krishna near Amaravati. He married Mailamba, daughter of the king of Tsandavole and became the nder of Palnad—given as dowry to Mailama—with capital at Gurizala.

Chronology: Anuguraja may be fixed approximately with the help of inscriptions. The earliest date for his son and successor—Nalakama is A.D. 1147 which also must have been the latest date for Anuguraja. As for the lower limit of his reign, it must be after A.D. 1134, the last date for Beta II. Two inscriptions of Anuguraja, are at Kottapalle and Dronadula, with no dates, in which he is mentioned as mahamandalesvara (Anugu)raja and Pallinativiva Anugudeva maharaja respectively. Anuguraja was the lord of Kammanadu.

Mis Political Relations

Anugu’s father-in-law was Gonka II of Tsandavole mentioned as Dhavalasankha by Virabhadra. Anugu with Gonka’s support, extended his kingdom. From being the lord of five divisions in Palnad he became the lord of Kammanadu,towards the close of his reign. He owed no allegiance to the Chlukyas of Kalyam. On the other hand he must have fought Somesvara III and his generals in Vengi on behalf of Gonka II and the Cholas—Vikramachola and Kulottunga II and had a share in ending Chalukyan rule in Vengi by A.D. 1140. Thus Anugu owed allegiance to the Cholas and the Velanandu.

Anuguraja by Queen Mailama had a son Nalakama or Virakama II, three sons—Pedamallideva, Pmamallideva and Balamallideva by queen Viravidya and four sons—Kamaraju, Narasingaraju, Jhettiraju and Perumalraju by Queen Bhurama. According to Virachantrya Ms, Kamaraju and his three brothers prior to the birth of all these sons, Anuguraja adopted Bodanayadu alias Peddanna, son of minister Rachade Doddanayadu and married him to Lavamba, daughter of Krishnagandharva, a kshatriya lord of Kancherla.