Part 4 - Katamanayaka (A.D. 1135-1151)

Katamanayaka had a reign of fifteen years and issued many records, His relationship to his predecessor Rajendra choda is not known. His earliest inscription is from Elurpadu, dated A.D. 1135, mentioning his as Bhujabalabbima Katamanayaka. the lord of Sarasipura in Vengimandala and comparing him with Kartavirya and Abhimanyu in valour. His next inscription is from Draksharama dated A.D. 1140 praising his valour. His Chellur copper plate inscriptiondated AD. 1143 of the time of Kulottunga II traces the Eastern chalukya genenalogy up to Kulottunga II, the son of Vikrama chola and records that Kolani Katamanayaka alias Dandadhinath Kota was governing Sarasipuri while Vikramachola was governing Vengimandala and granted Mandadorru with Pandura in Savattili vishaya to the Brahmins. Katama’s next record is from Draksharama dated A.D. 1148. His last record is from Gangapavaram dated A.D. 1151 mentioning him as mahamandalesvara Kolani Katamanayaka.

His Political Relations

No political events of Katama’s reign are available. Katama was loyal to the Imperial cholas—his contemporary being Kulottunga II. He may have participated in the battle on the Godavari between the Cholas and the Chalukyas, on the side of the former along with the other subordinate rulers in Vengi and had a share in ending the Chalukyan power in Vengi.