Introduction (Naga dynasty)

Many were the Naga dynasties that ruled in India of the medieval times. The Nagavamsis of Chakrakotya in Bastar state Kawardha in central provinces, and Yelburga in Nizam’s dominions flourished in this period. As for in Andhra country, the Nagas were heard of in some part or other from about A.D 1000 to 1500. Important among them were the Nagas in the Nellore tract, in Palnad, Tripurantakam and Vizagapatam area. All the Nagas in common claimed descent from Naga and lordship over Bhogavati and Apichchtra.

Nagas in the 11th century A.D.

A family of the Nagas served the Chalukyas of Vengi in the 11th century A.D. Bhimabhupa and his son Chamraja were the feudatories of Vijayaditya VII (A.D. 1030—1034), brother of Rajaraja I. Chamaraja is spoken of as the ornament of Nagakula and the lord Meghagiri. Bhimaraja is entitled Malayabhaskara. Bhima and Chama assisted Vijayaditya VII in his rebellion against Rajaraja I and Bhima was bestowed with Kampolongu and twelve other small villages as a fief as reward for his services, by Vijayaditya at the time of his coronation. These facts are mentioned in the Pamulavaka inscription of Vijayaditya VII dated in his second year.

It has been suggested that Bhima’s title Malaya bhaskara indicates lordship over the hilly region of Vengidesa comprising the East Godavdri and suzagapatam districts or more probably the latter. But the title means Sun to the Malaya—identical with Malayavani or Malayadesa ruled by the Malaya dynasty. Meghagiri is evidently a hill in the Malaya country, probably where the Naga capital was located. No descendants of Chamaraja are heard of. We may note that earlier still, Vijayaditya II of the Chalukyas came into conflict with a Naga Chief, who it has been said was probably a predecessor of the Nagavamsis of Bastar in the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. Nagulurie, i.e. modern Maphaj Bandar, at the junction of the Nagavali and the ocean was formerly the capital of the Nagavamsis.