Andhra Telinga History Through Centuries
Transcript of Andhra Telinga History Through Centuries
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GLEANINGS IN
TELINGA - ANDHRA HISTORY
THROUGH CENTURIES
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P.V. Parabrahma Sastry
Telinga-Andhra
The term Telinga is as old as Kalinga, both being coined by the prehistoric
people, the former denoting the region lying to the south of the river Godavari
and the latter denoting the region to the north of the same river. This kind of pairs
in the names of some ancient regions is not uncommon as noticed in Anga-
Vanga and Tosala-Kosla. Andhras were a migrated people from the north,
perhaps during the period when the river Sarasvati disappeared owing to some
repeated earth quakes of severe magnitudes and the formation of the large
desert of Rajasthan resulting in the mass migrations of people from that areaseeking for safer lands. The Godavari-Krishna basins with comfortable seasonal
rains attracted those migrants among whom Andhras were popular in those days.
With their semi Aryan culture and improvised methods of agriculture and
metallurgy, Andhras could easily find a place among the indigenous Telugu
people. The process of adjustment and assimilation of cultures between the
Telugus and the Andhras went on smoothly for some centuries in the second
millennium B.C. Thus, the two groups formed into a homogeneous society long
back. Hence, the two terms Telinga and Andhra have become almost
synonymous being applied to the same people, same language they spoke and
the same land they inhabited. The migrant Andhras constituted all sects of
people i.e. kapus, weavers, potters, artisans and some others of the early
farming society. The subsequent northern contacts of the traders, religious
preachers and political invaders beginning from the Nandas and Mauryas who
were more familiar with the Andhras than the Telingas preferred the term Andhra
rather than Telinga both in Sanskrit and Prakrits. Thus, the Satavahanas were
called Andhra Jatiyas in the Puranas. But the original locals did not forget the
term Telinga which is still noticeable in a section of the kapus called Telangas /
Telungus.
5th Century B. C.:
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As a result of increasing northern contact, some learned brahmanas like Bavari
of the Buddhas time came over to Asmaka, the region around present Bodhan
and the delta region of the Godavari-Krishna basin and founded Vedic gurukulas.
Katyayana (Vararuchi), the author of vartikas on Paninis Ashtadhyayi is
categorically stated to be a dakshinatya (southerner) by Patanjali, the third of the
trio on Sanskrit grammar. Baudhayana, the renowned sutrakara is believed to
have written his sutras keeping in view the southern text of Yajurveda and the
customs of Andhras. Apastamba, another sutrakara is also believed to be of this
time in the 4th to 3rd century B. C. and his sutras are still followed in brahmanical
rituals among Andhra brahmanas. It is thus evident that scholars of eminence
hailed from the gurukulas along the rivers Godavari and Krishna. The Buddhistsfollowed suit from the time of Bavari and his disciples. Usage of iron implements
gave a tremendous impetus to the growth of agriculture in the Godavari-Krishna
basin, a fertile land with comfortable rainfall. Needless to say that trade contacts
developed in Andhra on all sides, giving rise to several urban centers. Political
authorities and territories are less known.
3rd Century B. C.:
The political history of this part of the Deccan begins from this century.
According to Megasthanese the Greek ambassador in the court of Maurya
Chandragupta (4th century B. C.) the Andhras were reckoned to be a powerful
people possessing about thirty walled towns, 2000 elephants, etc. but we lack
any evidence in support of this statement except some punch marked coins
bearing symbols considered to be of pre Mauryan origin. About ten of the Rock
edicts of Asoka (c262-230 B. C.) are located along Andhra Karnataka border
including Erragudi (Jonnagiri-sonnagiri), Rajula Mandagiri and even at Amaravati
in Andhra which bear testimony to the event that the Mauryan emperor visited
Andhra and posted his governor at Jonnagiri (Suvarnagiri), in the present
Kurnool district. In the second phase of development of the Buddhist stupa at
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Dhanakada (Present Amaravati) that emperors initiative is evidenced in more
than one aspect. Perhaps he was the first political authority to set up an
administrative order in Andhra. A certain Raja Kubiraka is known from the casket
inscription found in the ruins of the Buddhist stupa at Bhattiprolu near the mouth
of the river Krishna. Culturally, besides the scattered brahminical gurukulas
along the banks of the rivers Godavari and Krishna several Buddhist centers
were established along Kalinga and Andhra coastal track. Some trade centers
and port towns were having contacts with other parts of the country as well as
the lands beyond, such as Burma and Ceylon to which places Buddhist
missionaries ventured to visit.
2nd Century B. C.:
Consequent on the fall of the Mauryan authority, the Sungas and the Kanvas
ruled Magadha in succession and their authority in Andhra was not much
effective. Some small chieftains seem to have carved their principalities issuing
separate coins with or without legends. Among such authorities were Gobhadra,
Sirikamvaya, Sirinarana, Swamigopa, besides some chiefs of unknown names
who ruled northern Telangana of Andhra Pradesh. One Raja by name Somakais known to have exercised some political authority in the Dhanakada / Amaravati
region. Some Maharathi chiefs are also known from their coins to have ruled in
Andhra-Karnataka border areas. Neither the extent of their kingdoms nor the
durations of their individual rule is not ascertainable.
The Buddhist stupas at Ghantasala and Gudivada in the Krishna district are
believed to have had their foundations in this century. Similarly the origin of the
hill stupa at Vaddamanu near Amaravati, which is said to be an edifice of Jaina
faith, is also dated to this period.
1st Century B. C.:
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About two centuries after Asoka, the Mauryan empire dwindled. As a result an
upsurge in political prominence took place in the Kalinga country through the
Chedi ruler Mahamegha Vahana Kharavela and in the Telangana region through
the Andhra Jatiya Satavahana ruler SatakarniI simultaneously in about the mid
1st century B.C. The former with his capital at Udayagiri in Orissa occupied the
coastal tract upto Dhanakada(Dharanikota) and Satakarni with his capital at
Kotalingala in the present Karimnagar district founded the Satavahana Kingdom
in the Central Deccan. Kharavela invaded Magadha. So also Satakarnis son
Simuka Satavahana marched upto Magadha and routed the Kanva king
Susarman along with the remnants of the preceding Sungas. Thus by about 30
B. C. Simuka the son of Satakarni-I established the independent Satavahana
authority and supremacy over all the minor rulers in the Deccan and seized the
western port towns - Broach (Bharukachha) and Sopara, and as a mark of the
victory got several vedic sacrifices performed by his old parents Satakarni and
Naganika, which events were recorded in the elaborate inscription incised on the
rock wall of the trade route at the Naneghat pass where the portraits of the
members of the royal family were also engraved with labels. This was done after
the demise of the old king Satakarni and the accession of Simuka to the
Satavahana throne. He is reckoned in the puranas to be the founder of the realSatavahana sovereignty and family as well.
1st Century A. D.:
Simuka Satavahana ruled upto C.7 B. C. followed by his brother Krishna
Satakarni who ruled upto 12 A. D. It seems certain, basing on the evidence of a
bilingual lead coin-like tablet found in the excavations at Veerapuram, Kurnool
district, Satakarni-I's younger, last but one son named Hakusiri Satakarni ruled
for few years. The said bilingual lead piece is supposed to be a traders license
token, containing on its obverse, the bust image of the Roman emperor Tiberius,
A. D. 14 37, and on the reverse a similar image with the legend Hakano
Satakanino in Brahmi characters of that period. This is a clear indication that
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Hakusiri ruled the Satavahana kingdom being a contemporary of the Roman king
Tiberius, eventhough for a short period of few years or some months. Coastal
Andhra during this period was under the rule of the members of the Sada family,
likely a collateral descendant line of Mahameghavahana Kharavela. About half a
dozen members of this family are known from their numerous coins and few
inscriptions found in that region. A certain Sirisada is known from the pillar
inscriptions found at the Buddhist hill resort near Guntupalli, West Godavari
district. He is said in the records to be ruling over both Kalinga and Mahisaka
regions, perhaps the delta lands drained by the rivers Krishna and Godavari and
owned by several individual landlords. Thus the terms Mahi (land) and isaka
(owner) were applied to the region of the later Vengi territory by the early
Brahmana settlers. Intensive agriculture in the delta lands during the early period
is reasonably suggested by the name Mahisaka to this region. Another
noteworthy activity of this century was the brisk sea borne trade particularly with
Rome.
2nd Century A. D.:
Gautamiputra Satakarni wrested the coastal Andhra territory from the Sada rulerslikely in the 1st decade of this century and expanded the Satavahana kingdom
from the western to the eastern seaboard. In this context it is worth noting the so
called image of Andhra Vishnu at Srikakulam in the Krishna District might have
been installed by a famous general named Vishnu Palita in the service of
Gautamiputra Satakarni. The flourishing state of sea borne trade is indicated by
depicting the symbol of ship with one or two masts on the coins issued by the
latter Satavahana rulers, viz. Pulumavi-II and Yajnasri. The discovery of several
thousands of coins issued by the Satavahana rulers all over the Deccan indicates
the flourishing state of trade activity during the Satavahana period.
Machilipatnam, Potala lanka, Revupalle (Repalle), Kalingapatnam and
Krishnapatnam were the important port towns along Andhra coast.
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The rise of Mahayana Buddhism and its masterly rational exposition from the pen
of the great Acharya Nagarjuna was a noteworthy contribution of this century to
the Buddhist theology. It was during this century that the renovation of the world
famous Buddhist Stupa at Amaravati was begun, which was completed in the
early decades of the following century. Now, unfortunately the grand edifice
remains simply imaginable from the miniature reproductions depicted on some
casing slabs, the originals being lost due to vandalism or otherwise.
3rd Century A. D.:
The Satavahana power came to an end in the first quarter of this century. The
Ikshvakus in the lower Krishna basin (Nagarjunakonda-Nandikonda.), some
Naga chieftains in the south, some generals like Talavaras and Rathas in
Telangana began to found their principalities, none of them being worth the
name. Among those it was only the Ikshvakus, with Vijayapuri near Nandikonda
in the present Guntur district as their capital, rose to prominence. One
Vasisthiputra Chantamula was the founder king who proclaimed sovereignty by
performing Aswamedha sacrifice. His son was Veerapurusha datta, his son
Ehuvula Santamula and the latters son Rudrapurusha datta ruled in succession,all for about seventy-five years. Their sovereignty extended upto the present
Nalgonda District. The greatness of the family lies in the liberal patronage
extended by its members both kings and queens, and other dignitaries to the
Buddhist creed by raising stupas and viharas in the valley for the benefit of
stationary monks and those visiting from far off countries like Ceylone and
Gandhara as attested by the lithic records. The Amaravati tradition of Buddhist
art reached its zenith at Nagarjunakonda under the royal patronage of these
rulers. Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda became the cradle for the flourishing
Mahayana Buddhism.
4th Century A. D.:
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This century had to witness a tremendous change in the political and cultural
formations of India particularly in Andhra. The fall of the Ikshvakus in the Krishna
valley gave place to the rising Pallavas. Other minor authorities like the
Brihatphalayanas and Anandagotrins appeared for a short period of one-two
generations. The Kadambas made their first appearance in Andhra Karnataka
regions, likely patronising Vedic religion. The Naga chiefs in the south were still
holding some parts and as in the case of the Ikshvakus were succeeded by the
Pal lavas, not by arms but by marital alliance.
Some time in the later half of the century, the Gupta emperor Samudra Gupta
marched his armies to the south as narrated in his Allahabad inscription and
overthrew all the petty chiefs who contributed for the spread of Buddhism in
coastal Andhra and likely in Telangana also. The Gupta conqueror installed his
own favourites almost in all the vanquished regions, leaving Vengi and Kanchi,
where he allowed the Salankayanas and Pallavas to continue, perhaps on the
condition that they should endeavour for the revival of Brahminism replacing
Buddhism. Thus began the decline of Buddhism in Andhra. The Salankayana
rulers in the Vengi country and the Pallavas in the Karma rashtra, (Guntur and
Prakasam districts) and Munda rashtra (in Nellore region) started foundingBrahmana Agraharas for hundreds of learned Brahmanas with the main purpose
of instilling the purana dharma among the masses. Founding of temples for the
puranic Gods was another means by which common devotees could find place
as in the case of Buddhist stupa worship. Some popular indigenous deities like
Mallayya of Srisailam, another Mallayya of Vijayawada and Kotaiah of Kotappa
Konda were taken into the puranic pantheon giving suitable legends called sthala
puranas to them for establishing their antique sanctity. Sanskrit language began
to replace erstwhile Prakrit in the royal Charters. The erstwhile Brahmi script
was being adopted for local Telugu words. In fact, culturally, Andhradesa inspite
of its diversity in language and local traditions, became an integral part of Bharat
adopting the same festivals and temple rituals, based on to the lunar calendar.
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It was Samudraguptas greatest ideal to create Akhanda Bharata in the concept
ofAsetu-Himachala (from Rameswaram in the south to Himalayas in the North
and from Gandhara in the west to Kamarupa in the east). He did achieve it.
Akhanda Bharata became one cultural unit which lasted till the day of partition in
1947 under political compulsions. What Asoka did in the 3rd Century B.C. by
creating a Buddhist country was undone by Samudragupta in the 4th Century
A.D. by creating Akhanda Bharata through the puranic culture which again was
undone in 1947 by the suicidal agreement of partition. Thus, 4 th Century A.D.
becomes a land mark in the cultural history of India and Andhradesa was not an
exception to that great transitional landmark.
5th Century A. D.:
In the post Gupta scenario, new political authorities namely the Pallavas in the
south, the Salankayanas in Vengi, the Vasishthas in south Kalinga, the Matharas
in central Kalinga, and the Pitribhaktas in northern Kalinga and Vishnukundis in
Telangana asserted their positions. Among the Pallavas Sivaskandavarman,
among the Salankayanas Vijayadevavarman and among the Vishnukundis
Madhavavarman-II performed Aswamedha sacrifice. The Pallavas andVishnukundis were equally powerful. The Pallavas and Salankayanas were the
early rulers who tried to introduce a systematic governance by appointing several
officials in different cadres from village level for which purpose they brought,
likely from the north, some experienced personnel, i.e. Brahmins as well as
others including some Rattas - the latter Reddis, some generals like the Durjayas
of Velanadu, weavers etc. A certain Pallava Trinetra alias Trinayana Pallava is
severally praised in some kaifiats or local records preserved in the Mackenze
manuscripts. Some local chiefs like the Kota chiefs of Amaravati, the Durjaya
chiefs of Velanadu, and the Parichhedi chiefs of Guntur claim in their records that
they were installed originally by Trinayana Pallava. He seems to have appointed
administrators called bhojakas in all the villages of the kingdom for collecting
taxes due to the king particularly from the landed agricultural community and
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cattle breeders. Officials to look after the Kings lands or racha-bhoomi were
called vishtis (bhojakas) who had to get those lands cultivated freely by the land
owners. The gramani or the head of the village civic body had to assist the
officials in executing their duties. He used to behave as the headman or
representative of the village in all their dealings with the kings officials. Politically
Deccan (Dakshinapatha) during the 5th and 6th centuries was dominated by the
Vishnukundis in Telangana and part of coastal Andhra whereas the Pallavas
ruled the southern and western Andhra to the south of the river Krishna. The
Salankayana authority in Vengi was first overthrown by the Pallavas who in turn
were overthrown by the Vishnukundi Madhavavarman in the mid 5th century A.D.
Trinayana Pallava can be reasonably identified with Sivaskandavarman (C 360-
380 A.D.) as suggested by the mention of several officials in his administration
and performing of Aswamedha sacrifice to his credit. Some Telugu words often
occurring in the inscriptions of this century, are dalava, kaduru, kuttu, patta and
Samvatsarambul. Drawing thread from cotton and weaving clothes formed major
cottage industries that were taxable in those days. There were two classes of
weavers viz., the individual Maala families and the Saale families.
6th
Century A. D.:
The fall of the Vishnukundis at the hands of their erstwhile feudatories
Ranadurjaya of Pishtapura and Mularaja of the Guntur region, took place
simultaneously some time in 569-70 A.D. These two rulers could rule upto C. 617
A. D. At this time the Pallavas were strong enough to hold their sovereignty in
three units namely 1. Kanchi region, 2. Darsi or Addanki in Karma rashtra and 3.
likely Pedamudiam in the Cuddapah region. Hence they were called Trai Rajya
Pallavas.
A ruling family called Renaticholas rose to power in the Cuddapah region.
Another family namely the Chalukyas rose up as sovereign rulers in the Kurnool
Mahabubnagar (Chalkivishaya) under the leadership of Pulakesin-I who
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captured the Badami Fort in Karnataka in 540 A.D. Hence his descendants were
known as Chalukyas of Badami. Another important political event of the century
is the founding of the eastern Ganga family in the Kalinga region which lasted for
about 1000 years as an uninterrupted dominant power in that region. One more
landmark occurrence of the century was the introduction of Telugu language in
many of the stone inscriptions by the Renaticholas in the Cuddapah region and
subsequently in other parts of Andhra. Buddhist influence among the masses
was fast declining giving place to the religion of the puranas, the so called Hindu
Dharma, the religion of the Bharat at large.
7th Century A. D.:
The occupation of Andhradesa by the Badami Chalukya king Pulakesin-II took
place in two phases, one in 617 A.D. and another in 624 A.D. In the former
instance the Ranadurjaya king named Prithvisri maharaja of Pishtapura (or
Pithapuram) and in the latter case Mularaja of Guntur region were totally
defeated. Pulakesin-II installed his younger brother Kubja Vishuvardhana as the
ruler of this newly acquired region with hereditary rights, who thus founded the
family of the eastern Chalukyas or the Vengi Chalukyas, as they were ruling thecoastal Andhra from Pistapuram in the north to Chezerla in the south. In farther
south the Pallavas were well established with Kanchipura as capital. Mahendra
Varman-I was its first member who ruled from 610-30 A. D. At this time Kalinga
was under the rule of eastern Gangas. Telangana and Rayalaseema regions
were under the Badami emperors, PulakesinII, Vikramaditya-II and Vinayaditya.
Buddhism was on its decline during this period. Huantsang, the Chinese
Buddhist pilgrim visited Dhanyakataka (Amaravati) and other Buddhist centers of
Andhradesa. The Renaticholas were exercising power in the Cuddapah region
some time as independent rulers and at another time as subordinates to the
Chalukyas of Badami. The Bana chiefs were another such family exercising
authority in the Chittoor region. During this period it seems that another minor
family of the Chalukyas was founded in the southern Telangana with Mudigonda
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in the Khammam district as capital who came to be called as the Chalukyas of
Mudigonda.
8
th
10
th
Centuries A. D.:
The early Chalukyas of Badami were overthrown by the Rashtrakutas in about
750 A.D. As a result, the regions of the present Telangana and Rayalaseema
formed part of their empire. The Chalukyas of Podana (Bodhan) in the
Nizamabad district under the Rashtrakuta overlords rose to power in Telangana
and continued to remain as trusted feudatories till their fall in 973 A.D. The latter
members of this family shifted their capital from Podana to Vemulavada in the
present Karimnagar district. The region from Podana to Kaleswaram on both
sides of the river Godavari was called Podananadu and also as Sabbinadu
including some other parts of Telangana which was the hub of their kingdom.
Yuddhamalla, NarasimhaI, NarasimhaII, ArikesarinI, ArikesarinII and
Baddega were the prominent members of this family. Under their patronage
Jainism flourished in the region. The reputed scholar poets Pampa who wrote
Vikramarjuna vijayam, otherwise called Pampa Bharatam in Kannada language
andAdipurana in Sanskrit and Somadeva suri the author ofYashodhara charitra
orYasastilaka Champu flourished in the court of ArikesarinII in the mid tenth
century. Pampas half brother Jinavallabha and the latters companion Malliya
Rechana author ofKavijanasraya, a work on Telugu poetics the earliest Telugu
writers, were also enjoying Arikesarins patronage.
The eastern Chalukyas of Vengi were put under political coercion by the
Rashtrakuta rulers. The Chalukya king VijayadityaIII alias Gunaga Vijayaditya
(848 892 A. D.) having defeated the Rashtrakuta king KrishnaIII acquired
unopposed sovereignty over the Vengi kingdom. The earliest Telugu inscriptions
in verse were composed during his period. The minor ruling chiefs of the
Renaticholas, the Banas, the Vaidumbas and the Nolamba Pallavas were the
regional quasi independent rulers in Rayalaseema who used to change their
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allegiance to the sovereign authority of the Pallavas, the early Chalukyas and the
Rashtrakutas depending on circumstances. The early Telugu language in the
form of inscriptions appeared in their records. The Renatichola king
Punyakumara the Bana king Vijayaditya and the Vaidumba chief Ganda Trinetra
were prominent among those chiefs.
Installing of temples for different Gods was an important feature during this
period. The temples at Alampur, Mahabubnagar district and Mahanandi region,
Kurnool district were the structures of the early Chalukyas, during seventh and
eighth centuries. The Chalukyas of Podana founded some Jinalayas at Podana
and Vemulavada. Chalukya VijayadityaII (810 845 A. D.) of Vengi is said to
have built several Siva temples called Narendreshwara temples in the Vengi
region named after his title Narendra mrigaraja, to commemorate his victories
over the Rashtrakutas. The last quarter of the 10th century witnessed an
unexpected political change in the Telugu speaking and the neighbouring
regions. The Rashtrakutas were overthrown by the Western Chalukyas in 973 A.
D. The Vemulavada Chalukyas, the subordinates of the Rashtrakutas
disappeared totally from the political scene of Telangana. In Vengi, the Chalukya
king Danarnava was assassinated by Jatachoda Bhima and the formers twosons Sakthivarman and Vimaladitya fled the Vengi country and took refuge in the
court of the Cholas in Tanjore till 999 A. D., when they were reinstated on the
Vengi throne by the Chola emperor Rajaraja.
11th Century:
Consequent on the simultaneous fall of the powerful Rashtrakutas in the last
quarter of the tenth Century in the main land of the Deccan, the Eastern
Chalukyas in Coastal Andhra and the Chalukyas of Vemulavada in Telangana,
the political scene in the entire Telugu Country became unsettled. No new
authorities could establish any stable Government. The inscriptions describe the
Vengi region as ruler less for a period of a quarter century. However, evidences
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show that the Telugu Choda Chief named Jata Choda Bheema a valorous Chief
took the cause of the Chalukya king Amma Raja-II who had to flee to Kalinga
because of a revolt by his step brother Danarnava. Having slain Danarnava,
Jata Choda became the master of Vengi. Danarnavas two sons Saktivarman
and Vimaladitya took refuge in the court of the Chola emperor Rajaraja in the
Chola Country. This Chola emperor sent Saktivarman with a strong army to
Vengi against Jatachoda Bhima who was slain by the Chola army in about 1000
A. D. Thus Saktivarman recovered his throne and ruled the Vengi kingdom till
1010 A. D. This Chola King Rajaraja gave his daughter Kundava in marriage to
Vimaladitya, the younger brother of Saktivarman. As a result of these two events
the Vengi Kingdom was put under subordination of the Chola Emperors from the
beginning of the eleventh Century. Vimaladitya ruled Vengi from 1011 to 1020 A.
D. Then he was succeeded by his son Rajaraja, the daughters son of the Chola
emperor Rajaraja-I. He ruled Vengi kingdom till 1060 A. D., when his step
brother Vijayaditya succeeded to the Vengi throne. Rajaraja (Narendra) had to
his credit the remarkable achievement of getting at least 3 parvas of the Sanskrit
Mahabharata of Vyasa namely, Adi, Sabha and a portion of Aranya Parva
rendered into Telugu language by the celebrated poet Nannaya Bhatta.
Rajaraja narendra had a son by his Chola princess Ammanga devi named
Rajendra Kulothunga Chola after his maternal grandfather, the Great Rajendra
Chola. Subsequently the young prince had the unique opportunity to become the
lord of both the Chola and Vengi countries, having his capital in the Chola
country. Thus Vengi kingdom formed part of the Chola empire, being
administered by Kulottunga Cholas sons as viceroys in succession with their
seat of administration at Daksharamam. These princes were :
1. Rajaraja Mummadi Chola; 1076 to 1079;
2. Veerachoda; 1079 to 1084;
3. Rajarajachola Gangu; 1084 to 1089;
4. Veerachoda (second time); 1089 to 1094;
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5. Vikramachoda; 1094 to 1107;
6. Parantakadeva; 1107 to 1118.
Telangana and Rayalaseema in the eleventh century were ruled by the
Chalukyas of Kalyana, generally called the Western Chalukyas. The important
subordinates under them were:
Telugu Choda chiefs of Kanduru in Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts
called in those days as Kandurunadu.
The Kakatiya chiefs in the Anumakonda (Warangal) region.
The Polavasa chiefs in the Karimnagar region.
Among these subordinate chiefs Kakatiya Beta-I, Prola-I and Beta-II became
politically powerful and were designated as mahamandalesvaras.
Rayalaseema during this period was ruled by minor chiefs like the Vaidumbas,
Nolamba Pallavas and few other chiefs belonging to Telugu Chola families.
The Kalinga region in the eleventh century was ruled by the Eastern Gangas,among whom Vajra Hasta and his son Devendra Varman Rajaraja were
prominent. The latters son Ananta Varma Choda Ganga deva ruled for a long
period from 1078 to 1152 A. D. He was a monarch of great prowess. His
contemporaries were the Chalukya emperor Vikramaditya-VI (1076 1126 A. D.)
in the Telangana region and Kulothunga Rajendra Choda (1070 1122 A. D.) in
the Vengi country. All these three were contending for supremacy among
themselves and in fact the Telugu country was locked by these three great
powers.
12th Century:
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The political History of Andhra desa in this century is marked by a peculiar polity,
i.e., no sovereign rule was there in the whole of Andhra, leaving the Kalinga
region which was directly ruled by the Ganga Kings with their Capital at
Bhuvaneswara. Several Mandalika subordinate chiefs were owing nominal
allegiance to the emperor of the Chola country in the South and to the Western
Chalukyas of Kalyana in the Karnataka country. Of such Mandalikas, the
Durjaya chiefs of Velanadu with their capital at Chandavolu near Repalle were
most powerful exercising a sort of semi independent authority in the coastal tract
extending their influence from Pithapuram in the north to Nellore in the south.
Those chiefs were ;
1. Gonka Raja-I (upto 1108)
2 Rajendra Chola-I (1109 to 1134)
3. Gonka Raja-II (1135 to 1162)
4. Rajendra Chola-II (1162 to 1181)
5. Gonka Raja-III (1181 to 1186)
6 Prithviswara (1186 to 1206) the last ruler of this line.
They built several temples and endowed them with liberal gifts including thetemples at Srisailam, Simhachalam, and even Annamalai in the South.
The other minor chiefs in this region were the Kota chiefs of Dharanikota, the
present Amaravati, the Haihaya chiefs of Gurajala in Palnadu, the Haihaya cheifs
of Konaseema, the Telugu Chola chiefs of Konidena in the Ongole region, and
other Telugu Choda chiefs of Nellore, the chiefs of Parichhedi family, the chiefs
of Kondapadumata, some Chalukya chiefs of Pithapuram, Nidadavolu and
Yelamanchili, the Kolanu chiefs of Kolanu in the present west Godavari district,
the Undi chiefs and the chiefs of Diviseema.
In the Telangana part of Andhra desa it was a remarkable period when the
Kakatiya cheifs with their capital at Anumakonda rose to prominence under the
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powerful chiefs named Beta-II (C 1076 1108), his son Prola Raja-II ( 1117 to
1156) and the laters son Rudradeva. This powerful chief proclaimed sovereignty
in 1158 A. D., just 1 or 2 years after the usurpation of the Chalukya throne at
Kalyana by Kalachuri Bijjala in about 1157 A. D. In the meantime both Prola-II
and his son Rudra suppressed the neighbouring chiefs of Polavasa in the
present Karimnagar District, other minor chiefs of Koravi in the Khammam
District and the Telugu Choda chiefs of Kandurunadu in the Nalgonda and
Mahaboobnagar Districts. The change of capital from Anumakonda to Orugallu
was first begun by Prola-II and completed by Rudra.
These victories paved the way for proclaiming sovereignty by Rudradeva at
Anumakonda in 1162 making the entire Telangana and a part of coastal Andhra
his kingdom . Thus, in the latter half of the century a sovereign kingdom came
into existence under the authority of Kakatiya Rudradeva. However, there
remained the Mandalikas in coastal Andhra, of whom the Velanadu chiefs still
remained a power to be reckoned. Rudradeva ruled upto 1195 A. D. and was
succeeded by his younger brother Mahadeva who ruled for only 3 years.
13th
Century:
Then came the illustrious monarch Ganapathideva, son of Mahadeva, who
succeeded to the Kakatiya throne in 1198 A. D. and ruled for a long time of more
than 62 years i.e., upto 1262 A. D. He was a great warrior statesman of the
period. He brought many Mandalikas of coastal Andhra including the Velanadu
chief Prithviswara into his subordination either by military victories or by marital
alliances. He gave one of his daughters Rudrama in marriage to a Chalukya
prince of Nidadavolu and another daughter Ganapamba to a Kota chief. His
kingdom extended from the river Godavari in the north to Kanchi in the south. He
was not only a great conqueror but also a patron of learned scholars and poets
like Balabharati, Mayurabhatta, Eswara Bhatta, Kavi Chakravarthy and Vidya
Chakravarthy; which were all titles conferred on them by the king. His renowned
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minister and general, Jayasenapati was also an author of the treatises on dance
and music. Ganapatideva was also a great builder of Temples and the temples
like those at Palampeta (Ramappa Temple,) Pillalamarri, Nagulapadu and
Ghanapuram were built during his time. He was also noted for creating big and
small tanks under which several thousands of hectares of land are being irrigated
till date. The impenetrable inner rock wall of the Orugallu fort with moat and
bastions is said to have been built by Ganapatideva.
Ganapatideva brought under his rule a major part of the Telugu speaking country
leaving Kalinga. He was succeeded by his daughter Rudramadevi to the
Kakatiya throne in 1263 A. D. who ruled the kingdom till 1290 A. D. Her
remarkable achievement was the capture of Bidar fort from the Yadavas of
Devagiri. Her daughters son Prataparudra succeeded her to the throne. This
king, like Ganapathideva and Rudradeva was a great conqueror as well as a
promoter of arts. Vidyanatha the renowned author of Prataparudra
Yashobhushana a Sanskrit work on the rhetorics flourished in his Court.
Narasimha Kavi was another great scholar poet of his time. The four magnificent
Thorana Gates in the Orugallu Fort are believed to be the creation of his court
sculptors.
It was in this century the great scholar poet Tikkana Somayaji rendered into
Telugu from Virataparvam to the end of Vyasa Maha Bharata. His greatness lies
in advocating the theory of non duality of the divinity particularly between the
Gods Hari and Hara to which deity he dedicated hisAndhra Maha Bharata.
14th Century:
At the command of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, his son Ulugh Khan invaded
Warangal more than once and finally seized it in 1323 A. D. and Prataparudra
was taken captive. But the Kakatiya Monarch is stated in the subsequent
inscriptions to have committed suicide on the way to Delhi near the river
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Narmada. Although Ulugh Khan could capture Orugallu and a large part of the
Kakatiya kingdom, within a short period, his victory became short-lived, as the
Telugu Nayakas all over the kingdom made a concerted attempt to drive away
the Muslim armies from the Telugu country and succeeded in their attempt within
two years. During this period of two years, the inscriptions state that the invading
armies destroyed a large number of temples and plundered the country. The
Venugopala swamy Temple at Rajahmundry was totally demolished and a Masjid
was raised over it in 1324 A. D. as per the record on its gate. A similar case is
noticeable at Bodhan where the Indra Narayana swami temple was plundered
and domes were built over the temple. Some temples at Eluru, Kondapalli and
other important towns were likewise demolished. The Reddi chief Prolaya Vema,
the Korukonda chief, the Kolani chief Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka and several
other chiefs became independent in their respective regions within a short period
of four / five years. But in Telangana it took some more time to drive away the
Muslim armies from Orugallu. The Musunuri chief Kapaya nayaka, with the help
of Velama chief Anapota and Mada could recapture Orugallu fort along with other
subsidiary forts before 1336 and all the remaining Telugu country was made free
from the Muslim armies. Prolaya Nayakas cousin Kapaya Nayaka, a warrior of
great prowess became the king of Orugallu in about 1336 A. D. proclaiminghimself as Andhradesa adheeswara and Andhra sura trana, i.e. the Master of
the Andhra country and the protector of the Andhras like Indra who protects
Devas.
It was in 1335 that the Sangama Brothers Harihara and Bukka founded the
Vijayanagara Kingdom, with the blessings of the Sage Vidyaranya, with
Vijayanagara as capital in the Bellary District of Karnataka. Within a short period
of a decade, it became an empire.
The Velama chiefs Anapota and Mada became independent with their capital at
Rachakonda in the Nalgonda District.
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Rulers of the 14th Century.
1. Kakatiya Prataparudra deva 1291 1323
2. Eastern Ganga Kings in Kalinga:
Veera Bhanu deva-II 1305 1326/27
Veera Narasimha deva-III 1327 1352
Veera Bhanu deva-III 1353 1377
Veera Narasimha deva-IV 1377 1409
3. Musunuri Nayakas:
Prolaya Nayaka 1325 1332
Kapaya Nayaka 1332 1367
4. Rachakonda Velama chiefs:
Anavota (Founder, being assisted by his
brother Madanayaka) 1361 1384
Singabhupala-II (Sarvajna Singa) 1384 1399
5. Reddis of Kondavidu in the Guntur District:
Prolaya Vema Reddi 1325 1353
(son) Anavota Reddi 1353 1364
(Brother) Anavema Reddi 1364 1386(son) Komaragiri Reddi 1386 1402
Pedakomati Vema Reddi (of collateral line) 1402 1420
6. Bahmani Sultans from Daultabad:
Alla-ud-din Hasan Gangu 1347 - 1358
Mohmed Sahu-I 1358 - 1375
Mujahid Sahu 1375 1378
Mohmed Sahu-II 1378 1397
7. Vijayanagara Kings in the South of the Krishna River:
Harihara raya-I 1335 1355
Bukkaraya-I 1355 1377
Harihara raya-II 1377 1404
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CHRONOLOGY OF THE POLITICAL EVENTS IN ANDHRA DESA FROM 1323
TO 1464 A. D.
1. Fall of the Kakatiyas :1323
2. Founding of Reddi Kingdom by Prolaya Vema Reddi : 1325
3. Araviti Somaraju captures Krishna Tungabhadra doab : 1326
4. Koppula Prolaya captured Godavari region (Rajahmundry): 1326
5. Revolt against Muslim invaders by Kampili Ramanatha
from Anegondi near Hampi : 1330
6. Recapture of Warangal by Musunuri Kapaya with the
help of the Velama chiefs : 1335-36
7. Founding of the Vijayanagara Kingdom by Harihara and
Bukka with the blessings of the sage Vidyaranya : 1335
8. Founding of Bahamani Muslim rule at Devagiri by
Ala-ud-din Hasan Gangu Bahamani; his son Muhammed
Shah captured Golconda fort from Kapaya Nayaka of
Warangal : 1364
9. The Velama chiefs Anapota Nayaka and his brother
Madanayaka founded their independent principality atRachakonda in the Nalgonda district : 1368
10. Fall of the Reddi kingdom of Kondavidu : 1424
11. Fall of Eastern Ganga king Bhanudeva-IV at the hands
of his commander and Minister Kapileswara Gajapati. : 1434
12. Fall of the Reddi kingdom of Rajahmundry : 1455
13. Kapileswara Gajapatis invasion of Bahamani Kingdom
and capture of Gulbarga and Warangal : 1460
14. Kapileswara Gajapati becomes unopposed master of the
entire eastern belt and southern Telangana : 1464
In many of these events the role of Velama chiefs in Telangana is of much
significance.
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15th Century:
The Vijayanagara Empire under the able rulers of Harihara-I and his brotherBukka-I and Harihara-II was in its ascendancy embracing the entire peninsular
India, the river Krishna being its northern border. The Reddi Kingdom after
Pedakomati Vema and his son Racha Vema at Kondavidu owing to internecine
troubles has fallen in 1424. Kataya Vema the erstwhile general founded another
kingdom with Rajahmundry as capital. It was put to severe pressure as buffer
state, by the other expanding power in the coastal belt, viz. that of the
Suryavamsi Gajapati King Kapileswara, who overthrew the last eastern Ganga
ruler Bhanudeva and usurped the throne. Politically, Kapileswara was a great
potentate, who within a short period could conquer all the erstwhile Ganga
subordinate chiefs in the Visakhapatnam region and marched against the Reddi
kingdom in 1444. But, with the help of the Vijayanagara King Devaraya-II, the
advancing Gajapati armies were repelled by the Reddi ruler at Rajahmundry. On
a subsequent occasion Kapileswaras armies crossed the river Krishna and
captured Kondavidu. His son Hamvira penetrated into the Vijayanagara Kingdom
till he reached Srirangam in 1464. The Bahmanis tried to wipe out the Velama
Kingdom by the side of Warangal and hence made an attack against the Velama
ruler Lingamaneedu (1422-1480) who in turn appealed to the Gajapati king for
immediate help. Kapileswara, taking this opportunity marched against the
Bahmanis and captured their town Kalubarige (Gulbarga) and posted his son
Hamvira as his viceroy at Warangal in 1460. Kapileswara acquired the title
Kalubarigeswara, the Lord of Gulbarga. Thus by about 1460 the Gajapati
Kingdom extended upto Chandragiri in the Vijayanagara empire and Warangal in
the Bahmani Kingdom. Both the regions thus formed part of the Gajapati
Empire. After the death of Kapileswara in 1468, his second son Purushottama
Gajapati, as per the dictates of their tutelary God Jagannatha of Puri (in a dream)
succeeded to the throne and ruled upto 1497, keeping a large part of the
kingdom under his control for some decades. The weak rulers of the latter
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Vijayanagara Sangama family and those of the Bahmanis could not recover their
respective lands lost to the Gajapatis. Thus much of the Telugu speaking
country came to be ruled by the Gajapatis of Orissa in the latter half of the 15 th
Century.
Important rulers of the 15th Century:
1. Veera Bhanu deva-IV, last E.Ganga king,
overthrown by Kapileswara Gajapati 1409 1439
2. Reddi kings at Kondavidu:
Pedakomati Vema Reddi. 1402 1420
(son) Racha Vema Reddi 1420 1424
2A. Reddi kings at Rajahmundry:
Kataya Vema Reddi 1395 1414
(son) Kumaragiri Reddi 1414 1416
Anitalli ( d/o. of Kataya Vema & w/o. of Veera
bhadra Reddi) 1423 - 1448
3. Vijayanagara Kings:
Bukkaraya-II 1404 1406Devaraya-I 1406 1422
Proudha Devaraya-II 1423 1446
Mallikarjuna raya 1446 1465
Virupaksha raya 1465 1478
Saluva Narasimha raya 1485 1490
Saluva Immadi Narasimha 1492 1506
4. Velama Kings of Rachakonda:
Anavota-II 1399 1421
Mada Nayaka 1421 1430
Singama Nayaka-III 1430 1475
4A. Velama kings of Devarakonda:
Kumara Vedagiri 1400 1420
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Lingamaneedu 1421 1480
5. Bahmani Sultans of Bidar:
Firoj Sahu 1397 1422
Ahmed Sahu 1422 1435
All-ud-din Ahmed Sahu 1435 1458
Humayun 1458 1461
Nizam Sahu 1461 1463
Mahmad Sahu-III 1463 1482
Mahmud Sahu 1482 1518
6. The Gajapati Rulers of Orissa
Kapileswara Gajapati 1434 1468
(son) Purushottama Gajapati 1468 1497
16th Century:
1. The Gajapati authority in the Telugu country was checked by Saluva
Narasimharaya in the first instance and by Sri Krishna devaraya in the final.
The coastal Andhra was brought under the sway of the Vijayanagara
emperors by about 1514.2. The Velama chiefs shifted their scene of activity to Velugodu in the
Vijayanagara domain.
3. The Bahmani kingdom was shattered to pieces by the end of the 15th century
because of the weakness of the last rulers and revolts by the subedars.
Kutub-ul-mulk was at that time the Governor of Telangana and after the death
of the last Bahmani sultan Mahmud Sahu in 1518, became independent with
his capital at Golkonda with the title Kuli Kutub Shah.
4. Saluva Narasimha occupied the Vijayanagara throne with the noble intention
of driving away the Gajapatis from the Telugu Country. He did it to some
extent by recovering the Forts of Chandragiri and Udayagiri. His son and
successor Narasimha-II was not as powerful as his father and hence replaced
by Narsa Nayaka of the Tulu family, whose second son was the illustrious Sri
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Krishna devaraya. He ruled the empire from 1509 to 1530, with remarkable
ability and earned the repute of being one of the greatest rulers. He drove
away the Gajapati king Prataparudra from the Telugu country as far as their
capital at Katak in Orissa. Prataparudra made peace with the Raya by
offering his daughter in marriage to the Raya. Hence forward, the whole of
coastal Andhra was restored to the Vijayanagara domain in about 1514. The
raya visited all the famous temples viz., Simhachalam, Amaravati, and
Srikakulam in Krishna District, Srisailam, and Tirupati Tirumala thrice,
Srikalahasti and other places. He endowed lavish gifts in the form of villages
and gold ornaments to all the deities he visited in his victorious return. During
his time, the Tirumala Temple of Sri Venkateswara grew to be the richest
shrine where the Raya set up life size images in bronze of himself and his two
consorts Tirumaladevi and Chinnadevi, which attract the pilgrims attention in
the first courtyard of the main temple. He performed Tulapurusha Danas at
many shrines. He was also a great learned king and authored the book
Amuktamalyada in Telugu. Some great scholars and poets flourished in his
court, among whom Allasani Peddana, Tenali Ramakrishna and others were
renowned, and were designated as Ashta-Diggaja poets. He was a great
conqueror, scholar and benevolent patron of scholars and poets and madehis name permanent in the annals of Indian History, like the Gupta Emperor
Samudra Gupta and the Paramara King Bhoja of Dhara.
Kirshnadeva raya was succeeded by his step brother Achyutaraya who ruled
the empire from 1531 to 1544. After him another brother, Sadasiva raya
ascended the Vijayanagara throne and ruled with the able assistance of Aliya
Ramaraja of the Araveedu family. He was the son-in-law of Krishnadeva
raya. The Sultans of Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Bidar and Golconda made a
concerted attack on Vijayanagara kingdom in 1565 and a severe battle was
fought at Tallikota also called the battle of Rakkasa Tangadi, which marked
the fall of the capital. Thereafter, Sadasiva raya shifted his capital to
Penugonda. He died in 1576.
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As a result of the fall of Vijayanagara empire in 1565, Ibrahim Kutubshah of
Golconda acquired large quantities of gold, silver, jewellery with diamonds as
his share of the gains, apart from the entire coastal Andhra territory, which
made him for the first time the master of the whole of the Telugu country. For
the first time, all the three regions came under a single Government.
On the cultural aspect, the early Vijayanagara rulers under the guidance of
Vidyaranya got the four Vedas and the allied works commentated by eminent
scholars of that time which are still considered authoritative and studied by
Vedic students including Western orientalists. In the area of Art and
Architecture, the Vijayanagara style became unique which is still adopted by
the sculptors and architects in the Telugu country.
In the 16th century or even earlier, the great devotional poet Tallapaka
Annamacharya and few descendants composed thousands of songs
dedicated to the Lord Venkateswara of the Tirumala which are popularly sung
till date.
Innumerable temples of their creation still stand as fine specimens. Among
them those in the capital Humpi, Tadipatri, Kadiri, and the lofty Gopuras at
Tirupati, Kalahasti, Madurai, Mangalagiri are worth mentioning.
A memorable event of the 16th century was the layout and founding of the city
of Hyderabad in about 1595, when Ibrahims son Sultan Mahmad Quli was
ruling. The city was planned with fine roads and embellished with magnificent
buildings and other civic amenities. Mohmad Quli died in 1612.
17th Century:
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After the battle of Rakkasa Tangidi the city of Vijayanagara was subjected to
all sorts of vandalism by the Muslim invaders. The empire was partitioned
among the four Sultans. The Telugu country formed the share of Ibrahim
Kutubshah. Thus, fortune favouring him, all the integrated Telugu country
from Srikakulam in the north to Chandragiri in the south and Telangana in the
west formed his kingdom. With the demise of Sadasiva raya, the remnants of
the empire were ruled by the members of the Araveedu family, viz. Sriranga
raya, Venkatapati raya and others. None of them could restore the past glory
of Vijayanagara. Even the fief holders called Palegandru in Rayalaseema did
not give due recognition to the new rulers. Venkatapathi raya ruled for about
30 years from 1586 to 1614. He was originally the master of the fort of
Chandragiri. He was the last effective ruler, as his successors were mere
nominals with no following and support.
The Sultans at Golconda could earn good name among the Hindus and
Muslims as well, by their good and benevolent attitude to the subjects. Many
of the Jamindaris in Andhra owed their origin to this period. Those Jamindars
were the military generals serving the Kutubshahi Sultans.
In the last decade of the Century, in 1685 the Mogal Emperor Aurangzeb
began his campaign against the Deccan Kingdoms of Bijapur, Ahmednagar
and Bidar. The Fort of Golconda was captured by the Mogals in 1687 which
marked seizure of the entire Telugu Country by the invaders and it continued
to be under them till the end of the first quarter of the 18 th century. Aurangzeb
died in 1707. Since then began a period of political turmoil due to the
ineffective control by any successor of Aurangzeb over the Deccan provinces.
The Maratha rebels under the leadership of the Peshwas recaptured the forts
from the Mogals.
18th c A. D.:
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Asafjahi Nizam-Ul-Mulk was appointed as Governor of Golconda, who
became independent in about 1730 and then began the rule of Asafjahis in
Telangana which lasted for more than two centuries i.e., till the police action
in 1948, after Indian independence in 1947.
Right from the beginning of the 17th century the European trading companies
such as Dutch, Portuguese, English and French began to setup their fortified
factories at Pulicat, Chennapatnam, Armagoan and Machilipatnam, after
obtaining due permission (on Kaul basis) from the Zamindars of Kalahasti,
Chandragiri and the Sultan of Golconda. These Zamindars and the Sultan
invited those companies for setting up their Trading centers for the economic
growth of their respective hinterlands. The main items of exports included
long cloth of superior variety, rice, gunnies, yarn, indigo, ropes, coir, iron ore
and metal, painted goods etc.
Abdul Hassan Tanasha and his able minister Madanna maintained good
relations with the companies but consequent on the fall of Golconda in 1687
the Moghal rulers could not put the Companies under constant vigil. The
story of Bhakta Ramadasa (Kancherla Gopanna) relates to this period.
An important event took place in Telangana during the time of Aurangzeb in
the closing decade of the 17th century and after. A courageous young man of
Gauda caste named Sarvayi Papanna of Tatikonda in Warangal district rose
in revolt against the Moghal Sardars stationed at Golconda. According to the
tradition preserved in the form of ballads he captured within a short period the
fort of Shapur, besides strengthening the fort at Tatikonda. The sardars of
Golconda being unable to suppress the rebellion appealed to the emperor at
Delhi who responded favourably and sent an able General with necessary
army. Owing to the machinations of his trusted followers, Papanna was taken
captive by the Moghal armies. He was commemorated by erecting a hero
stone depicting him with symbols of royalty, mounted on a horse at Dhilmitta,
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a village in Cheriyal mandal. This happened some time in the first decade of
18th century.
18th Century:
This Century is the most crucial period in the modern history of Andhra desa.
Under the Moghal Administration the Telugu Country was bifurcated into two
major divisions, Telangana with Golconda as capital and Eastern Andhra with
Machilipatnam as capital. By about 1724 Asafjahi Nizam-Ul-Mulk founded the
line of rulers after his name Asafjahi. Besides the interference of the
Peshwas, the foreign company authorities both the French and English
played disastrous role in the disintegration of the very structure of the Nizams
dominions. Among the European companies those of the Dutch and
Portuguese lagged behind whereas the English East India Company and the
French Company of India Orientale became prominent. They built large
fortified godowns with factories in Madras and Machilipatnam and other port
towns maintaining armed soldiers with the permission of the respective
Governments in England and France and native ruler of Golconda Salabat
Jung. Under political pressure by frequent intrusions this Nizam had to seekprotection from both the companies in turn and virtually he became a protg
of the French companies for some years and of the English company later.
The British Company authorities laid Railways and set up English colleges at
Calcutta, Madras and Bombay with the purpose of training young Indians to
help them in the Administration. Bussy, the French representative stationed
at Machilipatnam, by providing some military protection to the Nizam and due
to the internecine difference among the members of the Asafjahis got the
circars of Srikakulam, Rajahmundry, Eluru and Kondapally (Mustafanagar) in
1754 in lieu of the expenses.
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But after 1768, the English East India Company managed to get the above
mentioned 4 circars in its favour for the same purpose of providing protection
to the Nizam.
The Districts of Chittoor and Nellore were under the Nawab of Arcot.
Western Rayalaseema was under Hyderali. Again by 1800 the entire
Rayalaseema formed part of the Nizams dominion which was shortly ceded
to the British.
19th Century:
By the beginning of 19th Century both the circar Districts and Rayalaseema
were under the authority of the British. Only Telangana region remained as a
part of the Nizams dominions along with Marathwada and some districts of
Karnataka. The Nizam became a protg under the British at the cost of
ceding large chunks of his dominions. Rayalaseema districts thus became
the ceded territory to the British. Right from the beginning of this century, the
entire Telugu Country, as other parts of the country formed a part of the
British supremacy. Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema formed part of Madras
presidency and the Telangana as part of Nizams dominions.
The Company rulers introduced the system of permanent settlement in 1802
all over the country according to which all the Zamindars had to pay fixed
amount called peshkush to the Company and they need not maintain any
private armies as the Company authorities took the responsibility of
maintaining peace. Thus, all the Zamindars were relieved of the privileges of
collecting taxes. The Palegars in Rayalaseema were totally removed under
the Raithwary System introduced by the Collector Thomos Munro, according
to which the farmers had to pay the taxes to the Collectors of the Company
only.
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20th Century: The Freedom struggle and formation of Andhra
Pradesh.
As followers of Mahatma Gandhis principles of non violence and non co-
operation and Swadeshi movement, the Andhras also along with other parts
of the country, took active part in the freedom movement vehemently. After
Independence, the Indian Government had to resort to Police action in 1948
September against the Nizam and his Razakar followers to bring order in his
dominions and merger into the Republic Union of India. Following the self
sacrifice of Potti Sriramulu, the leaders at Delhi conceded to the demand of
separate Andhra State comprising Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema with
Kurnool as capital on 1st November 1953. Subsequently, the Telugu Districts
of the Nizams dominions called Telangana also, with the concerted efforts of
the leaders at that time who launched Visalandhra movement, merged with
the Coastal and Rayalaseema, and thus formed an integrated state of Andhra
Pradesh, with all the Telugu speaking people into a single state with
Hyderabad as capital on 1st November 1956.
The English Engineer Sir Arthor Cotton constructed a dam across the river
Godavari at Dhavaleswaram near Rajahmundry in 1852 and another dam on
the Krishna river at Vijayawada in 1855, both resulting in irrigating several
thousands of acres of land through canals in the two Godavari Districts, and
Krishna and Guntur districts.
Consequent on the first revolt against the Foreign rule in the country called
the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 and other un-favorable conditions, the Company
Government was replaced by the Governance of the British Parliament.
Along with the Railways and Postal system, printing presses were setup in
important towns. Under the company administration the judiciary was taken
over by the courts of Law from the Village sabhas. A number of Indian youths
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studied in English schools and even went to England for studying the Indian
Civil Services and Law course qualifying for Bar-at-law. Some qualified
Indians were appointed in Government service.
1900-1950:
A salient feature of this century was the freedom struggle. The Indian
National Congress was started in 1885 with the main aim of inculcating
among the masses political awareness and the need to become politically
free from the British rule, and through the spirit of Nationalism throughout the
length and breadth of the country. Culturally the entire Bharat was already an
integrated nation. The advent of Vandemataram movement in 1905 coupledwith the song composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, became the first
step in this direction. With the Swaraj movement launched by Balagangadhar
Tilak in Maharashtra, and the powerful public speeches by Bipin Chandra Pal
in 1907, the Freedom movement gained popularity. Under the leadership of
Mahatma Gandhi a new face in the movement started from 1920. Kopalle
Hanumantha Rao, a great patriot in Andhra, founded the Andhra Jateeya
Kalasala in Machilipatnam in 1907. Gandhis Satyagraha movement attracted
several learned people who entered into the struggle by non-cooperation with
the Government and prohibiting usage of imported English goods and
wearing native khadi cloth etc.
Two important events are to be noted:
1. The rebellion of Alluri Seetharamaraju in the agency areas of
Visakhapatnam between 1897 and 1923 against the British contractors
and non payment of the government dues.
2. Duggirala Gopala Krishnaiah in Bapatla Taluk set up an independent
Municipal town neglecting the Government and raising a squad of
youngsters called Rama dandu to guard his small village from the officials.
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The movement is notably termed as Chirala-Perala independent
movement.
Hundreds of traders were arrested and put in Jails. Hundreds were beaten
with lathis by the police and so on. Gandhis individual Satyagraha led to the
next phase of Quit India movement in 1942. Moved by all these unfavourable
events in India, and particularly after Subhash Chandra Bose proclaimed
independent India from outside the country, the British Parliament after the II
world war realised that they can no longer rule the country any further, and
hence passed the historical resolution to leave India on their own.
Accordingly the sub-continent of India was declared as an independent
country on 15th August 1947. It is most unfortunate that the leaders had to
yield to the proposal of dividing the Bharat Desa into 3 parts viz., India , West
Pakistan and East Pakistan. Large chunks in the West and East were
declared as Muslim country. Now India is thus made a truncated country. A
fresh Constitution for the country was finalised by 26th January 1949 and
came into force from 26th January, 1950, according to which the country is
proclaimed as a Republic ruled by its own people who were elected according
to the Act of peoples representation (i.e. Adult Franchise Act) through ademocratic system of elections at all levels.
Formation of Andhra and Andhra Pradesh:
The struggle for a separate Andhra State based on language, detaching all
the Telugu speaking districts from the composite Madras province gained
such a momentum that a veteran leader named Potti Sriramulu undertook
fasting unto death. After a continuous severe fasting of 58 days he lost his life
on 19th December 1952. As a result, the leaders in the Centre were forced to
agree to form a separate State and accordingly Andhra State came into being
on 1st October 1953 with Kurnool as its Capital.
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Because of the unwillingness of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of
Hyderabad to merge his dominions with the Indian Union under the ill advice
of the Razakars and the latters atrocities over the public, the Indian
Government had to conduct police action against the Nizams Government in
September 1948. Having suppressed the Razakar moment the Indian
Government merged the Nizams dominions with Indian Union. Later on, the
three linguistic parts viz., Marathwada, Kannada and the Telugu speaking
Districts according to the States Re-organization Commissions
recommendations were merged with the respective states of Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Andhra. Thus, on 1st of November 1956, the State of Andhra
Pradesh was formed bringing all the Telugu speaking areas into a separate
state.
Books Consulted:
1. Early History of the Deccan, Ed. G Yazdani. Oxford, 1960
2. Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma, The Reddi Kingdoms of Kondavidu and Rajahmundry,
Waltair, 1945.
3. N Venkata Ramanaiah, Early Muslim Expansion in South India, Madras, 1942.
4. Telugu Samskriti, Desamu Charitra , Vol. I (Telugu), Hyderabad, 1983.
5. History and Culture of The Andhras, (Pub) Telugu University, Hyderabad, 1995.