Part 22 - Opilisiddhi (A.D. 1224)

Opilisiddhi was the younger brother of Vinnasiddhana Some of his epithets were—Ornament of Chodakula, Gandagopala, Obeyer of the commands of Tenkanachakravarti, Lord of Orayur, of solar lineage, Tenkanaditya, Jagadobbaganda and Kirti narayana. Opilisiddhi conquered Kammanadu, secured the favour of king Ganapati and with his permission ruled the 6000 countries with capital at Kotyadona i.e. Konidena. In A.D. 1224, he granted Mogallacheruvu to Sankaresvara at Kotyadona for the merit of Ganapatideva.

His Political Relations

Mahamandalesvara Opilisiddhanadeva C M. mentioned thus in his only record, extended his kingdom. In effecting his conquest of Kammanadu, he must have come Into conflict and defeated the Konidena cholas Probably Balli Choda (A.D. 1211-1222) was the ruler who was vanquished by Opilisiddhi. It is likely that Opilisiddhi ruled Kammanadu—the Konidena chola kingdom till A.D. 1280—the earliest date for his successor Rajadeva This gains support from the fact that from A.D. 1211 to 1249 no Konidena cholas are heard of.

Opilisiddhi ruled the Aruvelu country as a subordinate of Ganapati. This must have come about thus—As Ganapati of the kakatiyas, conquered the 6000 countries i.e. Velanandu or Shat Sahasra, from the Velanandu chodas by this time, he entrusted it to Opilisiddhi. Prior to this, Opilisiddhi was subdued by Ganapati and was appointed as his representative at Pottapi, Pakanadu Kammanadu and Velanandu tracts.

Opilisiddhi calls himself as obeyor of the commands of Tenkana Chakravarti. If Tenkana chakravarti—emperor of the south—refers to the Cholas emperor Rajaraja III, it comes to that Opilisiddhi acknowledge Cholas supremacy. More probably, the epithet refers to the contemporary Pandyan emperor—Maravarman Sundara Pandya I (A.D. 1216-1238) under whom the Pandyan empire was extending for into the north—upto Nellore. Plenty of Pandyan inscriptions are found in Nandalur, Lepaka, Attirala and other places in the Pottapi chola kingdom. Probably, Opilisiddhi suffered a reverse in Pandyan hands and consequently acknowledged Pandyan suzerainty. His tittle—Tenkanaditya i.e. seem to the South is hereditary borne by some of the Telugu cholas of Konidena or got by him after his conquest of Kammanadu.

Later Members

The direct line ended with Opilisiddhi II as no sons of his are heard of. Mahamandalesvara Vallur Maharaja Rajadevan bearing several titles figuring in a record at Conjeevaram, dated in the 14th year of Rajaraja III (A.D. 1230) was probably the successor of Opilisidhi II.