The history of Andhra country (1000 AD - 1500 AD)

by Yashoda Devi | 1933 | 138,355 words

This book recounts the History of the Andhra Pradesh Country from 1000 to 1500 A.D. including many dynasties (for example. the Reddis of Korukonda and the Eruva Chola of Rajahmundry)....

Part 4 - Bhima and Naga (A.D. 1127-1150)

Bhima and Naga ruled together for a period of twenty-three years. The records of Bhima are found in a continuous series from A.D. 1127 and Naga, son of Beddana, became joint ruler with him after Beddana. The records of the reign by their location and contents enable us to visualise the extent and expansion of the kingdom. The earliest inscription is from Draksharama dated A.D. 1129 and the 4th year of Sarvalokasraya Snvishnuvardhana Maharaja and records gifts by Bhima, brother of mandalika Boddinayaka. The next record is at Bapatla dated A.D. 1130 mentioning the king as mahamandalika Bhima nayaka and giving his long prasasti. The record dated A.D. 1131 at Bezvada records gifts by Nagadeva, son of Gonturi Boddinayaka. Naga’s prasasti is identical with that of Bhima. The next record also at Bezvada with date A.D. 1134 mentions Nagadeva, the sdhyaksha (?) of Boddanayakulu—Bhima’s inscription of A.D. 1146 at Bezvada records Somanapreggada’s gifts to temples at Bhimavaram, Draksharama, Palakol, the Panch aramas in Andhradesa ie Amaradalu, Chebrole, Bidupur, Bezvada and Guntur. The next record dated A.D. 1149 is from Draksharama mentioning Prolaya brother of Dandanayaka Nagadevayya, son of Mranaya, lord of Goranta and minister of Boddana Bhima. An undated record of Bhima is at Yenamalakuduru. The reign of Bhima.and Naga must have ended in A.D. 1149—the last date for them available so far.

Their Policital Relations

Bhima was a great warrior and is compared with Bhima in valour Naga bore the epithet—Vengidesachalukyanamkakara. In extending the kingdom as far as Draksharama in the north eastern direction, Bhima and Naga must have come into conflict which the local kingdoms—the Saranathas, the Kona Haihayas and the Chalukyas of Pithapur, besides the Velanandu chodas In this task they must have been assisted by an efficient army manned by generals of mark. For, Prolaya was a great warrior like Sahasrarjuna and was known as Nagarjuna and his brother Nagadevayya was a dandanayaka.

Bhima and Naga and the Cholas

The Chola emperors in this period were Vikramachola and Kulottunga II. The Chola supremacy in Vengi was restored and the local dynasties transferred their loyalty from the Chalukya to Chola. As seen above. Beddana and Bhima owed allegiance to the Chalukyas in A.D. 1127. Two years hence in A.D. 1129 Bhima and Naga came under chola supremacy as the record of that year is dated in the 4th year of Sarvalokasraya Srivishnuvardhana maharaja ie Vikramachola and 4th year is a mistake for the 9th year. The epithet—Vengidesa chalukyanamkakara in Naga’s record dated A.D. H34attests the continuation of the Telugu Pallava loyalty to Kulottunga II.

Bhima and Naga and the chalukyas

Vikramaditya and Somesvara III were the Chalukya emperors in this period. So long as Vikramaditya lived and during the early years of Somesvara’s rule, Bhima and Naga continued their subordination to the Chalukyas. Till A.D. 1129 they submitted to Chalukya sway and not afterwards.

Bhima and Naga and other rulers

The Velanandu Choda rulers in this period were Choda I and Gonka II. Though there are no specific references of the subordination of the Telugu Pollavas to the Velanandus in this period, the fact that the Velanandu power was in the ascendant and the kingdom included majer part of the Telugu land, implies the subordination of Bhima and Naga to Gonka II.

Rajendra choda I, Mummadi Bhima II and Satya I, the Konamandala, Dora I at Amaravati, Nambiraja I at Virarajapuji, Durga of the Natavadis, Bhima I of the Kona lean dravadis, Rajendrachoda and Katamanayaka of the Saranathas, Vishnuvardhana (1123-24-1145) and Mallapa II of the Pithapur chalukyas, and Sarngadhara I at Addanki were contemporaneous with Bhima and Naga. In extending the kingdom, Bhima and Naga probably came into touch with some of these rulers. The title Dakkunudalasasana borne by king Naga suggests that he came in possession of Dakkunudla—probably of some importance—from some enemies of his, after vanquishing them. Naga’s titles—paramandala churakara and Kurumarajamundaina are hereditary—kurumara probably referring to Kurumbas—wild tribes in hilly regions.

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