Part 58 - Other Chalukyas

A family of the Chalukyas in the 12th and 12th centuries is known from records at Draksharama and Ramatirtham—Rajamartanda and Somaladevi his grand daughter figure in a record dated A.D. 1065 at Draksharama. Probably Rajamartanda is identical with his name sake, the father of Mummadi Bhima, mentioned in a record at Ramatirthamdated A.D. 1135. Probably Somala was the daughter’s daughter of Rajamartanda. Mummadi Bhima bore the epithet—Sarvalokasraya Vishnuvardhana Maharaja.

A vishnuvardhana Vijayaditya figures in a record at Vipparla, bearing the date A.D. 1073. A record at Juttiga mentions a Vishnuvardhna maharaja. Another record there dated A.D. 1152 mentions Malliraja, son of Vijayaditya. A chalukya chakravarti figures in a record of A.D. 1168 at Hemavati in the reign of Tribhuvanamalla Maliideva choda—a feudatory of Kulottunga II. Chokkaraja of Chalukya descendant and the lineage of Rajarajanarendra is said to have ruled over a portion of the Telugu land in the 12th Century A.D. Poet Vemutavada Bhima speaks of him in a verse.

Padikamu Boppadeva, a general in the service of Ganapatz and Rudrama of the Kakatiyas claims chalukya descent. His record is at Tripurantakam dated A.D. 1261 and the second year of Kakatiya Rudradeva Maharaja Some of his titles show that he fought battles on the banks of the Godavari and took the head of Gonturi Nagadeva, a Telugu Pallava ruler of Guntur. He also fought some battles in Kalinga and soon, for one of his titles is—kalinga mandalikadhatisamartharaykuvaru tondapodiraya kuvarupadigharamalla and the record mentioning the title indicates the prevalence of troubles in Kalingadesa. On Ganapati’s death and accession of Rudrama, there appear signs of local rebellions in the Telugu country and expeditions from subsidiary rulers in Kalinga. For the Matsyas, the Gangas of Tanturanadu and the Chalukyas come as far as Draksharama and left their records there. Many records of the feudatories of the Kaktiyas who won victories over them about that time are also at Draksharama. For Potinayaka and his sons Surapa, Potaya and Moraya, as seens from their titles, fought the Gajapatis and won victories over them. Nallapanayam Prolinayadu Borethe titles—Panyamdhala rayadhumaketu, Kalavaraya disapatta, Sevanaraya-bavanipanchanu and Oddiyarayamana mardana in his Pulidandi inscription dated A.D. 1288. Later Annayadeva and Rudradeva subdued the tracts up to Simhachalam and ruled them. The victims of Boppadeva on the battle of the Godavari are not known. Boppa’s victory over Nagadeva, obviously, must have occurred during one of the expedition of the Kakatiyas into the south presumably in A.D. 1280 as record mentioning it is dated A.D. 1161. His successes in Kalinga also probably took place in A.D. 1260-61.

A record at Draksharma dated A.D. 1296 mentions Vengi Gonka entitled Manyasimha. His father was Mallaparaja and queen was Valayama. In the reign of Vishnuvardhana maharaja of Rajahmundry in the year Kali 4628 a grant was made at Peddo cherukuru. In A.D, 1316 Kumudavardhana of chalukya lineage and of Mandavyagotra granted four villages to the God at Pedd acherukuru. From a c.p. charter at Atmakur dated A.D. 1353 (Kurnool district), a Chalukya chakravarti, of the lunar is known. An undated record at Burugugadda (Nalgonda district) mentions Ammajiyya Ganapaddeva entitled Sarvalokasraya and Vishnuvardhana chakravarti. Two records at Bhimavaram mention Vijayaditya, king of Vengi and his son Mallaparaju. Sewell mentions many records dated in the regnal years of Vijayaraja at different places. The identity of Vijayaraja is not known.

In the 14th century about A.D. 1360 some chalukyas—Kshatriyas—Rachavarh of lunar race were ruling Jallipalle and the neighbouring tracts. Singamanayadu i.e. Singama I of the Velamas of Rachakonda in extending his kingdom came into conflict with these Chalukyas. In A.D. 1360 he invaded the fort of Jallipalli was defeated and murdered by the enemySo the next year, Anapota I and Mada I to wreak vengeance for their father’s death in Chalukya hands, laid siege to Jalla-palla. On being attacked by the enemy with a large army they left the fort with vast armies—6000 cavalry, 700 elephantry and 20,000 infantry met the enemy at the fort of Inugurti where a sanguinary battle was fought. The chalukyas lost the battle and mast of them were killed and the forts of Inugurti and Jallipalli were taken by the Velamas. Anapota I and Mida 1 captured in the fort and the battle 101 chalukya prinees, killed them, thus wrought vengeance for their father’s death and Anapota assumed the title Somakulaparasurama i.e. destroyer of the lunar race i.e. chalukyas. The names of some of the chalukyas killed, were Machchayanbalaraju, Kondamalraju Kommaladevupinnaraju, choda parvataraju, Nandivadanarasaraju, Tirmalaraju kondaraju, Kattavengal raju, Juturi Suryudu, Appachi chenraju, Salvaraghavaraju, Sambeta kandraju, Madiraju Hariraju, Pasanu chenraju and so forth.Towards the close of the 14th century A.D. it is said that a confideracy five rulers sattiga, chalikaya, Kankala and Udayana was van quished at Vemulakonda (in chodavaram division of East Godavari district) by Vedagiri I of the Velamas. Some say that Chalikyadeva was defeated at Mamidasa On the basis of this victory he took the title chalikyabhupalavidalana.

In the 16th century A.D. the Avavidu dynasty, the feudatories of the kings of Vijayanagar claimed chalukya descent. These rulers were of Atreya gotra and traced their ancestry to Rajarajanarendra of the Eastern chalukyas of Vengi.