Part 3 - Rajendra choda alias Okkettugande (A.D. 1125-1135)

Rajendra choda is the first Kolanu ruler whose records are available. His earliest inscription is from Juttiga (Duttika) dated A.D. 1125 mentioning him as Mahamandalesvara Kolani Okkettuganda. His only other record is from Draksharama dated A.D. 1132 and C.V. year 57. It mentions him as Okkettuganda, the lord of saras and named Rajendrachoda. His parents were—Damatinayakudu and Orilasani, and sister was Medasani. Though his records are not available after A.D. 1132 his reign may have lasted till A.D. 1135—the earliest date for his successor—Katamanayaka.

His Political Relations

The title of Rajendrachoda—Okkettuganda seems to indicate that he was a great hero and warrior. But the epigraphist takes the view that, “the expression presents some affinity to Ikaketu, a banner of the Rashtrakutas.” This suggests some connection between the Saranathos and the Rashtrakutas in earliest days, as there were no Rashtrakutas in this period.

As Damativayakudu alias Amarinayaka did not bear any titles, probably he was only a general and not a king. So Rajendra choda, revived the Kolanu kingdom, after the death of Bhima.

The contemporary Chola emperor was Vikramachola. Till A.D. 1132, Rajendrachoda must have acknowledged the Chola suzerainty, though he has not specified it in his Juttiga record. But in A.D. 1132, he recognised the Western chalukya suzerainty, by dating his Draksharama epigraph of that year in C.V.era. The Chalukyan emperor at the time was Bhuvanaikamalla Somesvara III whose sway in the northern Vengi lasted till A.D. 1139—the year in which he suffered a signal defeat in the Chola hands on the Godavari. Owing to the activity of the Chalukya armies in the northern Vengi, even after the Chola suzerainty was restored in the southern Vengi by A.D. 1127. Rajendrachoda had to submit to the Chalukya authority towards the close of his reign—probably after some resistance which probably proved futile before the strong Chalukya.general.