Part 27 - Errasiddha (A.D. 1195-1217)

Errasiddha succeeded Dayabhima and Nallasiddha about A.D. 1195 and ruled for a period of twenty-two years. His earliest record is from Chirmana (Atmakur taluq) dated in the 18th year of Tribhuvana Chakravarti evidently Kuiottunga III recording the grant of Serudinai in Ayadipattanadu in Jayankondacholamandalam by Gollapudinayakkar. His next record is from Mahimalur (Atmakur taluq) dated A.D. 1217 mentioning a grant by Bomminayaka—the younger brother of Gollapudi Biyyapanayaka, the protector of the kingdom of Errasiddha and the bearer of a prasasti beginning with Svasti samastaguna. Another record at Kolturupalle (Rapur taluq) of Errasiddha’s reign, undated mentions gifts by his servant Narapasahini. Bhimanyakaudu bearing Ripuvidalanavira and Atakuri puravaradhisvara. Errasidyha’s record from Navur (Atmakur taluq) mentions his subordinates. Haribairapanayka, Ammanayaka and Pahindanayaka—all of Gandavarampadu.

His Political Relations

Errasiddha was variously known as Errasiddhisvara,Bujabalavira Errasiddhanadeya C.M., Errasiddhi C.M. and Rajadhiraja Parankusalava (?) Proshi Errasiddhiraja and simply andandagopala. Some of his titles are—Yaroyuripuravar-adhisvara, diyadimandaljkadisapalla vairipurarati, Kirtiadrayana, ayyanasingha, sahasottunga, Kanchi puravaradhiavara, Kanchimgappamu tinna and so forth.

Errasiddha’s loyalty to the chola emperor Kuiottunga III is attested by his records dated in the regnal year of the emperor and the specification of the location of his kingdom in them. For instance, Mahimalur was mentioned as the capital of Tonkakudurunadu in Tiruvadikavalillu (?) in Pankanadu. Some of his epithets show that he was a great warrior, destroyer of relative enemy provincial chiefs, and their cities and the levier of tribute from Kanchi. As Nallsiddha conquered! Ranch! and levied tribute from it, evidently Errasiddhy mustt have participated in that war and held Kanchi under his sway, in his reign.

Errasiddha’s three sons by Sri devi—Manmasiddhi, Betta and Tammusiddha were great heroes and with them Errasiddha is said to have shone like Trinetra with his three eyes. The members of the Gollapudi family were in the service of Errasiddhi. The identity of Bamminayaka with Bhiminayaka has been suggested and that he may have succeeded his brother in the post of commander-in-chief. Some of the titles of Bhiminayaka were of—Manmakula, Gandaraganda, Jagamechchuganda, Chodamakaharaja pratishtna Kshmachiti, and Prattikonda referred to in one of his epithets is probably his fief Bhima must have played an important role in the wars of Errasiddhi.

An M.P.C. and his subordinate acted as the agents of Rajamallayadevaraya alias Bhujabala Siddharasa in making grants of land According to Professor Sastri Rajamalla was a feudatory of Errasiddhi. This shows that some of the Telugu chola princes were in the service of the Yadavarayas and suggests that the Cholas of Nellore and the Yadavarayas were on terms of alliance.