Part 4 - Singaladeva (A.D. 1247-1253)

Of the three sons of Madhava—Singala, Sarangapani and Gopaladeva, Singaladeva succeeded his father to the Yadava throne at Addanki. His earliest inscription is from Yendluru (Ongole taluq) dated A.D. 1248 mentioning pradhani—mahamatya and Bahasaptariniyogadhipati This premier whose name is not mentioned, bore a prasasti. The record from Chejarla (Ongole taluq) dated A.D. 1248 mentions Singaladeva and his mahapradhani Somaraju. This and the next record dated A.D. 1250 from Ongole record gifts by Somaraju for the merit of the king. The last two records of the reign are from Epandalur (Ongole taluq) dated A.D. 1253. One of them. records that while Ganapatideva was ruling, some gifts were made for the merit of Singadeva Maharaja. The second inscription registers gifts by Mayidevapreggada, the mahapradhani and sarvadhikari for the prosperity of his overlord Addanki Singaladeva and himself. As has been suggested already Mayideva must have succeeded Somaraja as the Premier of the Yadavas. As the records of Saragadhara, the brother and successor of Singala, appear from A.D. 1253, that year must have been the last of Singa’s rule.

His Political Relations

Singala’s prasasti is identical with that of his father but for the new epithet—nissanka malla. He is mentioned in his records as Mahamandalesvara chakranayayana Singaladeva Maharaja, Singadeva and Addanki Singaladeva. This last form' shows that his Capital was Addanki as in the previous reign. The title—Nissanka malla is here without fear also borne by the Kalachuris of Kalyani attests his capacities as a warrior.

Singaladeva and the Kakatiyas

Compared to that of his father, the reign of Singaladeva was short. His Kakatiya contemporary was Ganapatideva. In the records of his early years, the overlord Ganapati is not mentioned. But Singaladeva’s Chendalur inscription of A.D. 1253 specificially mentions Ganapati as ruling and Singala as his samanta-subordinate. It is probable that Singala, towards the close of his reign suffered a reverse in Kakatiya hands. For about A.D. 1250, the Kakatiyas advanced into the Telugu chola kingdom with some success. On the whole, references to the suzerainty of the Kakatiyas are fewer in Singala’s records than in Madhava’s. Probably Singala consolidated his kingdom.

Singala and Other Rulers

In this period the Chola empire was under Rajendra III. The Yadava Kingdom of Devagiri was under Sinchana (A.D. 1210-1247) and Krishna Kandhara (A D. 1247-1260) and the Telugu chola Kingdom of Nellore under Manmasiddha III (A.D. 1248-1267) and Allutikka (A.D. 1248-1272) ruled from Kanchi. The kota kingdoms were under Immadi Ganapa, Beta and Ganapama. Bhima of the Parichchadis, Rudra II of the Natavadis, Nagadeva and Abhideva Mallideva and Viragandagopala of the Telugu Pallavas were contemporary with Singaladeva. We do not known whether Singala came into conflict with any of these rulers. The compilers of the Nellore inscriptions say “It is singular that one Singaladeva should have a prime minister and factotum called Mayideva peggada while the Sevuna Singhana deva has as his Chief Minister Mayideva Pandita”.