Part 15 - Betaraja and Ganapamba (A.D. 1241-1251)

Betaraja was the son and successor of Rudradeva. His earliest inscription is from Yenamadala dated A.D. 1241 mentioning him as mahamandalesvara Kota Retaraja. From another inscription at Yenamadala mentioning Beta and Ganapamadevi, it appears that Ganapamba was ruling with Beta from the beginning. The next inscription of the reign is from Narasaraopet registering gifts to Attaluri Bhimesvara for the merit of Kota Betaya maharaja Ganapamadevi figures in a record from Kakanix, dated A.D. 1246 issued in the reign of Kakatiya Ganapati. In the Madala record of A D 1247 figures Sadamuraja, the lord of Amutunuripura and subordinate of Beta The last record of Beta’s reign is from Yenamadala, at present preserved in Guntur, dated A.D. 1251 mentioning Beta as ruling at Mahishamurdhanagari i.e. Yenamadala. As:Beta was not heard of as king after A.D. 1251 and Ganapama was ruling singly, Beta must have ceased to rule in that year and died soon after.

The Political Relations of Beta and Ganapama

The Kota loyalty to the Kakatiyas in this period is borne out by the records of Beta and Ganapama mentioning Ganapati of the Kakatiyas. Ganapama, the queen of Beta, was the daughter of Kakatiya Ganapati, This marriage must have taken place in the reign of Rudra and assured permanently the allegiance of the Kotas of Yenamadala to the Kakatiyas and the protection of the Kakatiyas to the Kotas against their enemies.

Beta and Ganapama must have maintained friendly relations with the Kotas of Dhanyakataka and the Natavatis besides other local rulers. The Yenamadala inscription says that Beta was a great warrior and dispelled all the enemies by his splendour. Victorious Beta died after ruling with Ganapama and acquiring everlasting fame. He has been suggested already, probably he accompanied Ganapati of the Kakatiyas in the expedition to Kanchi and there lost his life fighting the enemy.