Part 20 - The Kotas of Draksharama

A Kota Gandabhupati and his wife Bhuramadevi, mistakenas Bhutama. Devi by Sewell are known from some inscriptions. His descent is as follows. In the lines of Dhanamjaya, after many famous kings had passed away was born choderaja. His son was Ganda. a great warrist His son was Mummadi Bhima his son was Ganda II whose wife was Bhuraman. Gandau titles are similar to those of Rachura Daraparaju. His records dated A D. 1160 and 1175 are at Peddamakkenu. His son was Mummadidevaraja figuring in the record of A.D. 1211. Kota Mummadi Nandaraju. Odaraju and Gandapa-raju. figuring in a super record, were probably the sons of another branch of the Kotas comes to light from a few inscriptions at Draksharama. The members of this branch had the epithet Kota prefixed to their names, though their relationship to the other branches of the Kotas is not apparent. The earliest mention of the Kofas is in A.D. 1140 in an inscription at Draksharama.

Bhimaraja was the first prince of the family. His son by Vinjambika was Potabhupala. A record of Pota at Draksharama dated A.D. 1140 and the 13th year of Kulottunga Chodadeva mentions him as Gota Vinjama potaraju and his subordinate Vuyyuri Rajanayani. Probably Pota’s rule lasted up to A.D. 1179, when his son Chodaraja was found ruling. King Pota was a feudatory of the chola emperor kulottunga II and would have maintained friendly relations with the Kotas of Dhanyakataka.

Mahamandalesvara Chodaraja was the son and successor of Kannadevada Kota Vinjamapotaraja. His prasasti is different from the usual prasasti of the Kotas and has the epithets—chalukyarajyasamuddharanasiddhi mastaka parabalaradhakas, rah chchedaka, gandarolugsanda, sangrama kanthirava, parachakrabhairava and kakati prolanirdahuna. His record dated A.D. 1179 is issued in the reign of emporor Rajaraja identical Cholas. This Kota choda, was thus a subordinate of the cholas, and must have maintained friendly relations with Choda II of the Velanandus. He must have achieved his victories fighting on the side of the Velanandus, over the Telugu cholas, the Kakatiyas and others. No sons and successors of choda are khown.