There is a version that Rajus first settled down in Keela Rajakularaman,found a dog being chased by a rabbit during one of their hunting trips,and relocated in Rajapalayam,as it was more in tune with their valour.
There is an ancient Ramar temple with a tank waiting for renovation in Keela Rajakularaman.There is a school in the residence of an erstwhile village head,the lands are fertile,there is an agraharam-all evidence of a once prosperous settlement,a few hundred years old.
BUT the settlers here were not kshathriya rajus of Rajapalayam,but another clan of telugu people called bhatt rajus,who relocated to Tanjore,after donating or selling their lands to the local brahmins.Bhat rajus were bards and chroniclers,and perhaps moved to Tanjore as political climate there was more conducive to their vocation.We do know that music and art thrived under the telugu nayaks of Tanjore!Probably they were loyal to Vijayanagar and preferred Tanjore that continued to be vassals of Vijayanagar,that had shifted its capital to Vellore.around 1623 after the Thoppur war ,predating Thrumalanayak
The story of a rabbit chasing a dog is told in many places ,as a favoured spot chosen by a reigning chieftain for the construction of a fort!Do rabbits chase dogs?They do!Young foolish dogs are puzzled by these hopping creatures and engage in a game of chasing and being chased!You Tube has several videos to show.
A land grant was said to have been given by Chokkanatha Nayak,-for services rendered,and more land was bought from Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha Nayak.Perhaps so!The period is 1662-1731,with a glorious well-documented 15 year rule by Rani Mangammal.A former document writer is said to be in possession of copper plates to the effect.So,this can be verified!
BUT this is Madurai Nayak kingdom and not Vijaynagar empire!!The nayaks had declared their independence from Vijayanagar,and fought the royal family in the Thoppur war!Did the Rajus belong to the Jagga Raya faction,which massacred the royal family in Vellore?Was Chakka Raja kottai founded by him or perhaps by his followers?patronised by Thirumalai Nayak?given independent identity and settlement?
Services were rendered to Chokkanatha nayak,-in his battle for a bride with the Tanjore nayak?There was a constant struggle along the borders of the kingdom both during Chokkanatha and Vijaya Ranga Chokkanatha's time.Did they belong to the army in Madurai?or did they serve in the palayams nearby?
There is an underlying distaste in accepting that they served the nayaks or the palayams that maintained an army which was pressed into service in times of conflict internal or external.The Rajus don't admit to serving in a regular army or being mercenaries.They claim a direct link to Vijayanagar!Did Vijaynagar involve itself directly in the deep south?Yes it did!Were the Rajus left behind after such expeditions,as independent military camps,monitoring and reporting to Vijayanagar directly,bypassing the palayams and the Nayaks?That would pre date 1600-1650 claimed by Rajus as their origin by a century or more!!
More questions than answers as usual!BUT worth exploring!
ANOTHER VERSION OF INFOMRATION ON VIJAYANAGAR DYNASTY AND ITS RULERS.
ReplyDeleteLink : http://kanakaraju.hpage.com/history-of-kshatriyas_52565456.html
Out of the four clans that ruled the Vijayanagara empire, two clans Saluva Dynasty and Aravidu Dynasty claimed to be of the Kshatriya Varna. [65] Raja Achutya Deva Raya was extensively interviewed by Robert Sewell in order to help him in research for his book,[66] and is acknowledged by the Government of Karnataka as the direct descendant of this line. In his royal biography he takes on the title of Zamindar of Anegundi, Senior Representative of the Royal House of Vijayanagar, born 4 August 1936, adoptive son of Rani Lal Kumari, Guru (Religious Head) of the Hindu Kshatriya Community, enjoys the customary privileges and honors at Hampi Temple and at Anegondi Temple, during all religious functions as well as Muslim festivals.[67]His family states they are of the Kshatriya Raju caste and marry among Telugu speaking Kshatriya Rajus settled in this area.
Raju families such as the Chodarajus, Nandyalas, Madirajus, Tirumalarajus, Gobburis, Saluvas (Bommarajus) of Karvetinagar, the Rajas of Owk and Matla Chiefs were all at one time or other, relatives of the Aravidu dynasty. All of these families still live in and around the Hampi area.
• The founding brothers of the Aravidu dynasty were the son-in-laws of Krishna Deva Raya of the Tuluva Dynasty and were also related previously through marriage with the Saluva Dynasty. Gobburi Narasaraju was the nephew of Aliya Ramaraju and[68] Emperor Venkatapthi Raju was married to Gobburi Kondama,[69]the sister of the Raja of Srisailam, Gobburi Giriappa.[70] After the death of Venkatapathi Raju, from 1614-1616 there was a great war of succession. Amongst the claimants to the throne was Gobburi Jaga Deva Raju, the brother-in-law of the emperor and also a relative of the Raja of Karvetinagar, Saluva Makaraju.[71][72] The Matla Chiefs fought against the Gobburis.[73]
• The Matli-Matla chiefs were Ellamrajus who gained the territory after defeating the Tirupatirajus in battle in 1604 AD.[74]
• The Chodaraju's gotra was given as Kasyapa and the Nandyala's gotra was given as atreya and were described as belonging to Chandravanshi, both were related through marriage and both were appointed Mahamandaleswars during the start of the 16th century.[75][76][77][78]
• The Madiraju's gotra was given as Kasyapa and Suryavanshi and related to the Thirumalarajus, both appointed Mahamandeleswars of Guntur area and happened to be the grandchildren of Aravidu Rama Raya.[79][80][81]
• Madhava Varma Bejawada was mentioned in 1509 AD. as of the Vasishtha gotra and Suryavansi.[82]
• Krishna Deva Raya defeated among others Rachi Raju Pusapati, Srinatha Raju and Lakshmipati Raju on his way to defeating Pratapa Rudra Gajapati Raju of the Gajapathi Dynasty. He immediately reinstated these rulers as his vassals and married the daughter of Pratapa Rudra as a truce offering. All this occurred between 1514-1517 AD.[83][84]
• Ganapathirajus were described as of the Suryavanshi and Kasyapa gotra and were Mahamandaleswars in 1555 AD.[85]
• Karvetinagar
The current Bommaraju family of Karvetinagar are of Kshatriya Raju caste and trace their origins back to an ancestor who migrated from the Pithapuram area of the Godavari Deltaabout the 8th or 9th century. One ancestor obtained the favor of the Eastern Chalukya King, Vimala Aditya and Saluva Narasa was appointed the Chief of the region around Tirupati, where he founded a town called Narasapuram. The founder of the family Narasa was granted permission by his patron, the Chalukyas, to use the royal seal and boar-signet of the Chalukyas, a proud distinction still kept up. The family became feudatories of Vijayanagar, and had marriage alliances with the Saluva and loyalties to the Aravidu dynasties over the next two hundred years. Around the 16th century the family changed their name to the current Bommaraju, retaining Saluva as a title.[86]
VIJAYAWADA HISTORY
ReplyDeleteBezawada ( Modern day Viajayawada) was ruled by Parchchedi Dynasty of Vishnukundin lineage.
Parichchedis ( Vishnukindin lineage) are Raju ( Telugu Speaking Kshatriyas) of 'Vashishta' Gothra.
Information available on this topic in Telugu book " Andhra Samsthanamulu - Sahitya Poshana" published by Andhra University. This book was published form of Ph.D thesis submitted by Dr. Thoomati Donappa ( Former Vice Chancellor of Telugu University).
Another reference book on this subject is " Sri Andhra Kshatriya Vamsa Ratnakaram" by Budharaju Varahalaraju.
Extract from a Telugu language book ' KSHATRIYANVAYAMANJUSHA' by Sri. Duvvuri Jagannadha Sharma
INFORMATION / SOME REFERENCES
PARICHCHEDIS ( ' Vashishta' is their Gothram/ Gothra ) :
రాజప్రవర :- రఘులవ గుహిల మహారాజ ప్రవరాన్విత పరిచ్చేది శ్రీ దేవవర్మ మహారాజ వంశ:
" Vijayawada history reveals that Bezawada (Vijayawada) was ruled by King Madhava Varma (Ancestor of Pusapatis of Vizianagaram)". source : wikipedia
LINK : wiki/ Vijayawada
PARICHCHEDI DYNASTY
"The Maha Parichchedis belonging to Vashishta gotra mentioned as one of the four important sects among Rachavaru - Andhra Kshatriyas even to this day"
- page 187 'History of Andhra Country' 1000AD-1500AD by Yashoda Devi. Book published by Gyan Publishing House.
• No. 45. (A.R. No. 491 of 1906.) Pulivendla, Pulivendla Taluk, Cuddapah District. On a slab set
up at the entrance of the Ranganathasvamin temple. Krishnaraya, AD 1509. This is dated Saka 1431, Sukla, Kartika su. 12, Monday, corresponding to AD 1509, 24 October, which was, however, Wednesday and not Monday. It records a gift of the village Kunddal Kundu to the god Sri Ranga Raju of Pulivindla by Narasayya Deva Maharaju, brother of Basava Raju, son of Tamma Raju, grandson of Valla Bharaya and great-grandson of Bejawada Madhava Varma of Vasishtha-gotra and Surya-vamsa. The gift village is said to be situated in Pulivindalasthala, a subdivision of Mulkinadu in Gandhi Kotasima of Udayagiri Rajya.
- INCRIPTION No. 45 ( A.R.No.491 of 1906)
Vizianagaram 'Poosapati ( Pusapati)' Rulers are direct descendants of the King Madhava Varma.
Peddapuram ( East Godavari) 'Vatsavayi' Kings, Gudimetta ' Chagi ( Saagi) ' rulers,Kota Ramachandrapuram (Near Kakinada) 'Kakarlapudi' Zamindars,Thettu ( Nellore district) 'Vejendla ( Vezella)' Zamindars , Anakaplle (Vizag) Saagi/ Sagi rulers ( Payakarao was their title)belong to this clan only.
FREEDOM FIGHTER ALLURI SEETHARAMA RAJU also belonged to this Clan/gothra.