Telugu Cholas
Many
Telugu Chola kingdoms held sway over regions to the south of the
Krishna River in the period between the seventh and the thirteenth century C.E. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary
Karikala Chola (c 100 C.E.). It is not known much about these families or their origins. Their original home seems to be the region of Chola corresponding to the modern
Mahabubnagar and
Nalgonda districts of Telangana.
They began their career as local chieftains in the
Kadapa region in the seventh century C.E. They may be identified with the people referred by the Chinese traveller Yuan Chwng as 'Chuliya' in his annals.
Telugu Chodas of Velanadu (
Velanati Choda) were one of the Telugu Choda families which claimed their descent from the illustrious
Cholas of
South India. Velanadu is located in the modern
Guntur district. The chieftains who ruled over Velanadu came to be known as the Velanati Chodas. They belonged to the Durjaya family, a Sudra clan. One of them, Rajendra Choda II had even assumed the title
Durjayakulaprakara. These Velanati chiefs were the subordinate allies of the
Chalukya Cholas of the south. They were entrusted with the responsibility of the governance of the Andhra region, which formed a part of the Chola kingdom in the twelfth century C.E.
Their capital was Dhanadapura or Sanaduprolu, the modern Chandolu in the Guntur district.
The Velanati Chiefs rose to prominence among the vassals of the Chalukyas of Vengi during the early days of
Kulothunga Chola I and served as the Chalukya Chola viceroys faithfully as their trusted lieutenants and generals.
Finding his dominion dwindling, due to the ascendency of the Kalyani Chalukyas, in the Vengi country, Kulothunga Chola lent support to his loyal chieftains of Velanadu to bring the situation under control and rule over Vengi as his vassals. Evidence is available to the effect that five chieftains of Velanadu ruled over the country after which it was over-run by the Kakatiyas and became a part of their kingdom.
Velanati Chodas:
* Gonka I (
1076 â€"
1108 C.E.)
* Rajendra Choda 1 (
1108 â€" [[1032 C.E.)
* Gonka II ({{1132}} â€" {{1161}} C.E.)
* Rajendra Choda II ({{1161}} â€" {{1181}} C.E.)
* Gonka III ({{1181}} â€" {{1186}} C.E.)
* Prithviswara ({{1186}} â€" {{1207}} C.E.)
The Renadu Chodas were independent in the beginning of their career. Later they recognised the suzerainty of the {{Chalukyas}} of {{Badami}}. Since the region over which they exercised their authority was known in those days as
Renadu they were popular as the
Renati Cholas. In course of time, they spread to other regions and established small principalities.
The Telugu Chela rulers of Renadu had the unique honour of using the Telugu language in their official records. Those inscriptions belonging to the 7th and 8th centuries C.E. were discovered at Jammulamadugu, Prodduturu and other places.
After the fall of the Renati Cholas, the Kadapa region passed into the hands of the Telugu Chodas of
Pottapi. The inscriptions in Telugu, belonging to the 11th century C.E., of these Pottapi Cholas were also discovered.
The
Konidena Cholas were also a branch of the Telugu Chodas of Renadu They had their headquarters at Konidena (Kotyadona) near Narasaraopeta in the {{Guntur}} district. They ruled over parts of Palanadu from the middle of the tenth century C.E.
Nannuru Cholas were another branch of Telugu Cholas. The famous {{Telugu}} Poet
Kaviraja Sikrtamani Nanne Choda belonged to this family.
There was another branch of the Telugu Chodas present around {{Nellore}} The {{Telugu}} poet,{{Tikkana}}, in the introduction of his
Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu, gave an account of the history and antecedents of this family.
These Chodas also claimed descent from the famous {{Karikala Chola}}. They ruled over their kingdom consisting of the {{Nellore}}, Kadapa, {{Chittur}} and {{Chengalput}} districts with Vikramasimhapura (modern Nellore) as their capital.
Nellore Chola kings
Chola Bijjana was the first important chief in the Nellore Choda clan. As a feudatory of the WesternChalukya Someswara I ({{1042}} â€" {{1068}} C.E.) of Kalyani, he took part in the wars of the Chalukyas and {{Cholas}}. In recognition of the loyalty and services of his descendants to the Chalukyas of Kalyani, Vikramadiya II ({{1076}} - {{1126}} C.E.) appointed them as rulers of Pakanadu.
Later
Tikka ({{1223}} â€" {{1248}} C.E.) father of the famous Manumasiddhi, extended the sway of the Nellore Telugu Chola family as far south as the river {{Kaveri}}. He owed nominal allegiance to the already crippled {{Chalukya Cholas|Chalukya Chola}} emperors of the south, but was practically an independent ruler. Along with the {{Hoysala}} {{Vira Narasimha}}, he helped the {{Chalukya Cholas|Chalukya Chola}} ruler
{{Rajaraja Chola III}} in restoring him back to his throne by repulsing the attacks of Aniyanka Bhima, {{Kopperunjinga}} and the {{Pandyas}}.
Subsequently, whan the Hoyasala Vira Narasimha's successor Somesvara, desirous of making the Chalukya Chola ruler a puppet in his hands, joined hands with the Pandyas and attacked Rajendra IIl, Choda TiKka came to the rescue of the Chola emperor. He defeated both the Hoyasala and the Pandyan forces and got thereby the Tondaimandalam region for himself. He even assumed the title
Cholasthapanacharya.
During the reign of Tikka's son and successor
Manumasiddhi II (1248 â€" 1263), the power of the Nellore Cholas was at its low ebb.
About the year 1260, a dangerous feud broke out between Manumasiddhi and Katamaraju, the chief of Erragaddapadu in Kamgiri region. The feud was on the issue of the rights of the two princes to use certain wide meadows as grazing grounds for their flocks of cattle. It led to the fierce engagement of the two sides and the bloody battle was fought at Panchalingala on the Paleru river. Manumasiddhi a forces led by Khadga Tikkana, the cousin of poet Tikkana won the cattle, but the leader perished in the battle. This feud and the consequent battle formed the theme of the popular ballad entitled
Katamaraju Katha. Shortly after this disastrous battle, Manumasiddhi died.
With the death of Manumasiddhi II, the Nellore kingdom lost its individuality, became a battleground between the {{Kakatiyas}} and the {{Pandyas}} and changed hands frequently. In the reign of Kakati Prataparudra II, the Nellore region became part and parcel of the Kakatiya empire and lost its political significance.
The period of rule of the Telugu Chodas was in particular significant for the development it received in the {{Telugu literature}} under the patronage of the rulers. It was the age in which the great Telugu poets
Tikkana,
Ketana and
Marana enriched the literature with their remarkable contributions. Tikkana Somayaji was a minister of Manumasiddhi II of Nellore. This great poet had for his credit two important works in Telugu. The first one is
Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu. Though a highly Sanskritised style was employed, it is characterised by excellent literary qualities and abounding elements of Pathos and heroism. However it is the
Andhra Mahabharata which brought for Tikkana undying fame and made him one of the immortals. Though it is a translation of the last fifteen volumes of the Mahabharata, left out by his predcessor Nannaya, yet Tikkana put life and blood into it with an avowed objective of making it an epic. His delineation of character, dramatic dialogue and lucid and at the same time suggestive exposition of facts are masterly in nature. His broad spiritual outlook, lofty idealism, high imagination and splendid diction made him
Kavi Brahma (The Supreme Creator among poets).
Abhinava Dandin Ketana, who was a contemporary of Tikkana, dedicated his
Dasakumaracharitramu, written in tasteful and sweet style, to him. He also translated Vijnaneswara's
Mitakshari, a Sanskrit commentary on the
Yajnavalkya Smriti, into Telugu under the name
Vijnaneswaramu.
Another work of Ketana is
Andhra Bhashabhushanamu, a book, on metrical grammar in Telugu. Marana was another contemporary of Tikkana, He was also a disciple of the latter. He translated the
Markandeya Parana into Telugu. His work, became a source book to many subsequent Telugu poets who selected their themes from the many delightful stories incorporated in it.
* Durga Prasad, History of the Andhras upto 1565 A. D., P. G. PUBLISHERS, GUNTUR (1988)
* South Indian Inscriptions - http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/
{{Category:Ruling clans of India}}{{Category:Empires and kingdoms of India}}{{Category:Indian monarchs}}{{Category:Cholas}}{{Category:History_of_Andhra_Pradesh}}
