Part 20 - Narasimha (A.D. 1348-1400)

On his accession to the throne in A.D.1348, Narasimha made grants at Simhachaiam for the increase of his country, kingdom, fame and prosperity etc. Gifts similar in nature and purpose as in the above record were made by the king in A.D. 1352. In a Simhachalam record of A.D. 1356, Purushottama of Virakuta, a moon to the ocean i.e. Pallava Kula, and a destroyer of his enemies and his priya. Mandanarekha, figure, Narasimha, Purushottama and Lakumadevi, the queen of Narsimba are mentioned in an inscription at Srikurmam dated A.D. 1357. Another of Narasimha’s records is at Srikurmam with date uncertain recording provision for a lamp in the temple by the king. None of Narasimha’s records are found after A.D. 1357. Nevertheless his reign may have lasted till A.D. 1400 when he was succeeded by his son Sanbhagyadevaraju.

His Political Relations

Narasimha had a reign of fifty-two years. Purushottama was probably his eldest son associated in the governance of the kingdom during the first nine years by Narsimha. Bhanudeva III and Narasimha IV were the Ganga emperors in this period. Among other rulers were Choda II, Bhima and Choda III of the Haihayas of Panchadharala, Koppa, Upendra III, Chennasa, Upendra IV, Upendra V, Visvesvara and Choda Ganga of the Chalukyas of Elamanchili, Virarjuna or Arjuna II of the Mahkyas, Pratapaviragangaraju and Sangama of the Gangas of Jantarnadu, and Visvanatha and Bhairavaraju of the Silas of Nandapura. Anavema and Kumaragiri at Kondavidu, Kataya Verna and Allada at Rajahmundry were the Reddi contemporaries of Narasimha.

Narasimha did not lead any expeditions of conquest. But he had to face the Reddi armies under Katayavema, general of King Kumaragiri by A.D. 1390, for Katayavema claims to have conquered Viraghotta in his Kumaragirirajiya, which, is* attested by records of the Reddis.