Part 1 - The Telugu Cholas of Konidena (A.D. 1050-1300)

A branch of the Telugu Cholas ruled in Kammanadu, partly included in modem Guntur district—for nearly two centuries with capital at Konidena. The kings were distinguished warriors and administrators and the three shrines—Ballisvara, Kamisvara and Tribhuvanamalla at Konidena were named after three kings of the line. The Kondena cholas acknowledge the Chalukya chola suzerainty in the beginning, and that of the Chalukyas of Kalyani and the kakatiyas towards the end.

Sources and Origin

Inscriptions, literature and tradition recorded, form the sources for the history of these cholas. Their ancestry is in common with that of the Cholas of pottapi and Nellore. Like "the Imperial Cholas, and unlike the Velanandu chodas, the Telugu cholas claim descent from the sun and belong to Kashatriya caste. So the statement that “some records say that they were of Pallava origin. Others call them descendants of the Chalukyas and call them by the title Sasikula chalukki” is based on incorrect data for the records referred to belong to the Telugu Pallavas and the Yadavarayas, some of whom bore names also borne by the Telugu cholas. For instance the names Gandagopala and Tirukalatti, common wrong Telugu cholas were also borne by the Telugu Pallavas and the Yadavarayas, some of whom bore names also borne by the Telugu Cholas. For instance, the names Gandagopala and Tinukalatti, common among Telugu cholas were also borne by the Telugu Pallavas and the Yadavarayas, The descent of the Telugu cholas is thus—From Vishnu’s navel lotus was born Brahma whose son was Marichi. Marichi’s son was Karyapa whose son was Surya i.e. sun. His son was Vaivasvata whose son was Manu. In Manu vamsa was born Ikshvaku in whose lineage was born Kakatiya. In the lineage of Prithu, son of Kakutsa, was born Mandhata in whose vamsa was born Purukutsa. In his lineage was born Sangana, in whose lineage was.born Dilipa. Nannichoda says that the sons of Sagara dug a ditch from the centre of the earth. In the lineage of Dilipa was born Bhagiratha who brought waters from heaven to earth. In Bhagiratha vamsa was born Raghu and in Raghuvamsa Srirama i.e. Raghava who bridged the sea between Ramesvaram (Rameswaram) and Setu. In Rama’s lineage was born Nalachakravarti, whose son was Pundarika.

According to the Boppudi inscription, rom Brahma was born Daksha, and after many kings in the solar race had passed away was born Jatachoda, the ruler of Ayodya. Jatachoda made digvijaya, and conquered Dravilapanchakam and the king of Orayur. His son was Karikala, the builder of embankments to the vauveri. The Konideya record says that Karikala was the greatest of his line—Pundarikavamsa, and so Bhanuvamsa came to be known as Karikalavamsa. His exploits are well known and Tikkana sums up them in a verse. As Professor Sastri dismisses the idea of a second Karikala as untenable, all the theories and conclusions to the contrary based on inconclusive date, by other writers fall to ground. Accepting them, there was no Karikala it must be that Jatachoda was also known as Mahimanachoda and his two other sons were Tondamana and Dasavarman; and Karikala had a son Mahimana Choda.

The Konidena cholas the earliest of the medieval Telugu cholas, claim descent from Dasavarman who claims to have conquered Pakarashtra and ruled Renadu with capital at Pottapa. The Boppudi insnsiption mentions him as the second son and Tondamana as the third son of Mahimana choda. He is placed about A.D. 1100 which is wrong. He had a son Panka and Tikkana says that in Karikala Kula was born Bijjana.

The chronology of the early cholas, mentioned so far is very uncertain. The age of Karikala is not yet conclusively settled. To cite Professor Sastri “The fifth century date, based as it is entirely on the Vijayaditya—Trilochana-Karikala synchronism it utterly untrustworthy.” As the Professor disproves all the objections raised to a date in the second century A.D. or any other early date for Karikala. This date becomes most acceptable. So the lengendary heroes preceding Karikala lived before second century and the semi-historic personages following him in that century and after.

Rise of the Telugu cholas

Where as during the first half of the 11th century A.D. the hegemony of South India was divided between the Imperial cholas, the Chalukyas of Vengi and the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, in A.D. 1070 the Chalukya andchola kingdom’s were united under Kulottunga I. In this period, many a minor dynasty rose to power in Vengi. One such f is the dynasty of the Telugu cholas, who unlike the Velanandu chodas did not serve the Chalukyas of Vengi.