Part 19 - Purushottama (A.D. 1308-1348)

Purushottama was the son of a valiant King whose name is lost in the record and Sriyadevi alias Srirangalakshmi. His earliest inscription is at Simhachalam, dated A.D. 1308, registering gifts by the queen mother. The next record also from Simhachalam dated A.D. 1346 mention Annamanayaka of Biragotta son of Dhanapati Nayaka. Annama must have been a subordinate of Purushottama. Purushottama’s rule may have terminated in A.D. 1348 which is the earliest date for his successor.

His Political Relations

Purushottama would have maintained friendly relations with the local powers in Kalinga except the Chalukyas. For it is likely that Viragottam was invaded about A.D. 1346 by Chalukya Lakumaraja who probably took it and styled himself the King of Viragotta. For a Simhachalam record of A.D. 1346 mentions Sarvalakasraya Vishnuvardhana maharaja alias Lakumaraja of Biragotta, son of Vinjamadeva and his queen Sriyadevi, So Purushottama, no doubt opposed the Chalukya. armies and suffered a reverse. Lakumaraja’s sway at Virakuta was short lived for the records of Pallava Narasimha are available from A.D. 1348.

Probably Purushottama suffered a reverse in the hands of the Reddis of kendavidu, before A.D. 1335. The date of Chimakurti c.p. charter of Prolaya Vama Reddi, speaking about his successes in Kalinga. The Ganga contemporaries of Purushottama were Bhanudeva II and Narasimha III, to whom his loyalty is not seen from records.