Part 6 - Teluguraya (A.D. 1428)

This Teluguraya has been confused with Teluguraya of the Saluvas of Podile. Gurizala Teluguraya, the brother of Ramanarendra, son of Erapota and grandson of Macha; and with Teluguraya, the son of Samparaya mentioned by Pillalamarri Pmavirana. One author mistakes him to be god Teluguraya at Srikakulam, and another writer says that Teluguraya was a title of Ramanarendra. We may note that Teluguraya of Andhrapadmapurana ruled with capital at Ramagri on the banks of the Gautami with the help of Muttabhupala

Saluva Teluguraya’s earliest records are dated A.D. 1428. His Santaravur (Bapatla taluq) inscription of that year records his grants for the merit of his parents Samburaya and Nagalidevamma. His inscription at Simhachalam of the year records his grant of land in Oddadi for his merit. His next inscription is from Nutulapadu, dated A.D. 1442, mentioning Palamaraju Tipparaja, his officer. The next inscription is from Santaravur dated A.D 1444. Dechchiboyani Telungutendu, probably a subordinate of Teluguraya, figures as donor in a record at Budavada dated A.D. 1445. A record at Markapur, with date uncertain, mentions a grant by Teluguraya. Probably Teluguraya’s rules ended in A.D. 1449—the earliest date for his successor—Tippayadeva.

His Political Relations

Telunguraya is mentioned as Telnguaryadeva Maharaya,„ Saluva Telungarayadevaraya, Telungharayamaharaya and Teluguroya in records. He bore the epithets, Mahamandlesvara, Kathari, Saluva, misaraganda, Medinimisaraganda and dharanivaraha. Srinatha addresses him as the lord of Karnata and Andhra. Telunguraya was a great warrior and expert horse man, as Srinatha mentions him as Telungurayarahutta. The title Telungudesadhi Telungurahutta in the prasasti of the Revunulla family is evidently after Telunguraya. Telunguraya led expeditions of conquest. The suggestion that Telunguraya is a title indicating lordship over the Telugu land and not a proper name cannot be excepted for the persons bearing the name, Teluguraya had never any extensive kingdoms. The statement that the tract called Telunga is located round about Ramagiri in Subbirashtra to the South of the Godavari and so whoever occupied that tract took the title Telunga is wrong based on wrong interpretation of the names of kings in Ramavilasa and Padmapurana.

Teluguraya and the Reddis

Rachavema at Kondavidu, Alladavema and Virabhadra at Rajahmundry were contemporary with Teluguraya. Probably Teluguraya was on freindly terms with the Reddis of Rajahmundry. He patronised the Reddi court poet Srinatha.

Telunguraya and the king of Vijayanagar

During the latter part of his reign, Teluguraya owed allegiance to Devaraya II. He led an expedition of conquest into south Kalinga by A.D. 1428—the date of his Simhachalam inscription. In this he must have had the support of the kings of Vijayanagar or the Reddis. Probably he accepted Gajapati suzarainty after Kapilesvara's ancession, for the Kaifiyat of Markapuram says that Teluguraya was a subordinate of the Gajapatis.

Chavundaraya, the brother-in-law of Teluguraya, is mentioned in an undated record at Tripurantakam Chennayadeva Maharaju and bis son Saluva Kesavayadeva maharaja—bearing the epithets—misaraganda, kathari and saluva—figure in a record at Yelluru dated A.D 1446 These Saluvas, contemporary with Teluguraya, probably owed allegiance to the rulers of Vijayanagar.