Part 24 - The Telugu Cholas of Nellore (A.D. 1100-1350)

The branch of the Nellore cholas was the most predominant of all the Telugu cholas. Twelve rulers of the line ruled for a period of over two centuries and at times their kingdom extended over the major part of Andhra land and beyond into the Hoysala, Telugu Pallava and the Imperial Chola kingdoms. The Nellore cholas were generally subordinate of the Cholas emperors in the earlier and the Kakatiyas in the later stages. But they were practically independent for all purposes. The power of these Cholas increased towards the close of the Velanandu rule and they had a very significant part to play in the political history of South India of the 13 century A.D.

The Sources

Records—stone and Copper plate—in all important south Indian scripts and languages—Telugu, Sanskrit, Tamil, Grantha and Mannada and literature mostly Telugu and recorded tradition—all of the Nellore cholas from the main source of" their history. Records of the contemporary dynasties—the colas, the Hoysalas, the Kakatiyas and the Velanandu chodas containing references to these cholas and their literature and tradition chiefly in Telugu and the records of the feudatory dynasties owing allegiance to these cholas form the subsidiary sources.

Origin and Rise

In the lineage of Karikala was born Madhurantuka Pottapichola, his name indicating his conquest of Madhura and the founding of Pottapi in the Andhra country. In his race was born Telugu Vidya or Bijja, the creactor of a pillar of victory with the figure of a Garuda at the top of it at Ujyapuri. Bijja, a Yama to his enemies killed the twelve men of Ballaha along with him in the capital and got the title—Padumuvaraganda. The achievements of M.P.C. and Telugu Vidya are referred in the assumption “that one of these Telugu cholas should have extended his conquests beyond the Kaveri if another boasts to have taken Madura”.