Part 1 - The Nagas of Darsi

A dynasty of the Nagas ruled in Nellore district with capital at Darsi in the 13th and the 14th centuries A D. It consisted of ten generations of rulers who were warriors of merit.

Sources and Origin

A few inscriptions from the source for the history of these Nagas. The Nagas claim to have been born in the lineage of Phanendra of Thousand rays and in Nagavamsa. They claim to have been of lunar race, Vishnu lineage, Harika Gotra, and lords of Ayodhya and Bhagavati. An emblem of theirs was was snake—uraga.

Early Kings

The name of the first king of the dynasty is lost. His son was Madhamaya whose son was Gonkaraju Gonka’s son was Potaraju. His son was Vemula Malidevaraju. His son was Nunkaraju whose son was Asnadeva. These six predecessors of Arnadeva figure in the only record of Asnadeva. We may note that the authors of the Nellore inscriptions in their translation of the record attribute the prasasti of Asnadeva to Gonkaraja and say that Gonka’s son by Sandhyadevi was Manabali devaraju whose son was Nagaraju whose son was Potaraju. But Sandhvadevi, Manabali and Naga do not find place in the text of the inscription. So Naga’s suggested Identity with Nagadeva of other records is impossible. All the predecessors of Asnadeva must have lived in the 12th, 13th and first part of the 14th century A.D. and served the Velanandu Chodas, Telugu chodas and the Kakatiyas as feudatories.