Part 5 - Pota II (A.D. 1199-1230)

Pota II ruled the kingdom for thirty years. He was associated in the governance of the kingdom from A.D. 1197. The extent of the kingdom is seen from the provenance of inscriptions. The record from Bewada dated A.D. 1197, mentions his grant of Jakkampudi in Kondapadumati. In the record dated A.D. 1197, Pota is mentioned as Narasimhavardhana Tyagipota, ruler of Natavadi and Vijayavativishyas. Pota is spoken of as a valiant statesman and destroyer of enemies. His last records are from Navabpeta with dates A.D. 1230 and in them Pota and Ganapati were mentioned together.

From A.D. 1212 to 1230 Pota II and Ganapaya ruled conjointly. This Ganapaya was the younger brother of Pota II and son of Dora II. What brought about this establishment of dual kingship in the middle of a reign, it is not easy to see—Probably political exigencies of the time. Ganapaya’s record from Amaravati dated A.D. 1216 mentions a grant by chagi Ganapaya maharajulu. Ganapaya was the crown prince from the beginning of the reign of Pota II and then became joint ruler issuing inscriptions by himself and in conjunction with Pota II.

His foreign relations

The Velanandu kingdom was in decadent condition, after Prithvisvara death in A.D. 1210. The Kondapadumati kingdom had ended as the last date for Marda III is A.D. 1173. This explains Pota’s making grants in Kondapadumati tracts almost from the beginning of his reign. Matavadi Rudra, Kota Keta II, Konkandravadi Bhima were contemporaries of Pota II Konkandravadi Bhima’s ancestor was a Chagi Pota.

The Kakatiya contemporary of Chogi Pota was Ganapati. The Palnad war which affected adversely the kingdoms in Vengi was followed by Rudra I’s invasion of Vengi. Ganapati continued Rudra’s policy of expeditions and conquests. The Kakatiya influence in Vengi was growing steadily though perhaps imperceptibly. From one of the last inscriptions dated A.D. 1230 of Pota II and Ganapaya, it is clear that a servent of Somayasahmi made gifts the very next year in A.D. 1331 at Navabpet. This is an unmistakable sign of Kakatiya encroachment into Chagi kingdom for Somaya sahini was none other than a general of Ganapati. There is no evidence showing either Pota’s opposition or submission to the invader. Joint rule with Ganapaya was a precautionary measure against the Kakatiya inroads.