The battle of Palnadu is known usually as the Kurukshetra of the Andhra regions, more so since the war was fought by cousins, in a manner similar to the Mahabharata. The battle took place in 1200 AD. The battle resulted in the victory of Bramham Naidu's Velama clans, along with other related communities. In spite of their victory, their suspicion and fatigue, led to their migration from Palnadu to Venkatagiri. Nagamma, on the side that was defeated, was known to be a wily commander and would have staked revenge over the battle for her families. Not trusting her after their victory, Bramham Naidu and his groups moved out of the regions controlled by Nagamma.
However, later, due to the losses in battle, the Palnadu Naidus, weakened by fighting amongst themselves, lost control in the region and were overtaken by the Kakatiyas in later years. Subsequently, the Nawab of Golconda conquered the Palnadu region, and this triggered further migration southwards, in an attempt by the Naidus to retain, protect and preserve their way of life. The initial settlements came up in the Venkatagiri region and southwards to Chandragiri and Puttur.
A new regime of Naidu rulers took over at Venkatagiri, and comprised the Velugoti, Velanki or Velama Naidus. It is said that the migrating Naidu rulers and rich farmers took along with them their workers, tenants, support systems including priests, mainly Vaidehi Brahmins. This was especially true during the takeover by the Nawab of Golconda. The cuisine and sacred rituals of the Vaidehi Brahmins who performed them for the Naidus got established in the regions of Chittoor to the east of the Velikonda Hills and in the regions between Palamaneru to Erpedu.
A remarkable story, supposed to be true, is that the Venkatagiri Naidu rulers were liberal in providing land ownership to their faithful supporters. One such land transfer was on the basis of Mr. Dasari Govindappa Naidu being allowed as much land as a horse could walk or run from sunrise to sunset in the Kailasa Kona area near Nagalapuram. The village, thus established, is named as Govindappa Naidu Kandriga.
It is supposed that the people who migrated south of Venkatagiri, mainly the Naidu clans, would have actually begun their journeys from Velnadu or Elnadu and Palnadu in the Guntur region. Accordingly, they began to be known as Ellanti (those from Elnadu) and Pallinti (those from Palnadu). The familiar surnames for these families include Ellanti, Pallinti, Tummala, Nutalpati, Kanderi, Gandamaneni, Gaali and Sakamuri, among others. The villages that they settled in, within Chittoor, south of Venkatagiri, are Tirumala Kuppam, Vepagunta, Mangalagiri Kandriga, Nasi Naidu Kandriga, Dasari Govindappa Naidu Kandriga and Buchi Naidu Kandriga, among many others.
The current city of Macherla, the erstwhile capital of the Palnadu region, originates from Mahadevi Cherla. The Andhra Mahabharatam or the Palnati Yuddham (great battle of Palnadu) was fought between Macherla and Gurajala between 1176 AD and 1182 AD. The town of Macherla is also known for the Chennakesava Swamy temple built during the Haihaya rule.
Geographically, Palnadu is in the northern parts of Guntur District. Palnadu is an acronym for Pallava Naidu, and is an important period of Telugu history. The end of the Satavahana dynasty saw the Pallavas become independent in the Krishna River Valley. In tribute to them, the region came to be known as Palnadu. This region was also ruled by the Ikshvaku, Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas and later, by the Kakatiyas. The Vengi Chalukyas who ruled the Palnadu war were weakened by the Great Battle of Palnadu and this led to the emergence of the Kakatiyas.
The great battle of Palnadu was actually a battle between two families of cousins, of the Kalachuri clans also known as Haihaya. Nalagama Vira Raju, the son of Alugu Bhupathi Raju, of the Palanati Kalachuris, and his step brother, Malideva Raju, married to a princess of the Kalyani clan of the Kalachuris were prominent warriors of this great battle. Recherla Dodda Naidu and Recherla Brahma Naidu were the vassals of the Velanti Cholas and were administrators of their territories. There was tremendous rivalry among these families, and with the defeat of Malideva in a cock-fight, the opportunity presented itself. Nagamma exiled Bramha Naidu and Dodda Naidu for seven years.
After the period of exile, similar to the Mahabharata, Bramha Naidu sent Alaraja, son of Kalachuri Kommaraja of Kalyani, and brother-in-law of Malideva to present a claim for the properties and lands of Malideva. Nagamma refused to accept the claim and poisoned Alaraja to death at Cherlagudipadu. This led to the Kalachuris of Kalyani and Bramha Naidu to declare war on Gurazala, and the battle was fought in Karempudi, along the Naguleru River. Several local Kings came in support of either group. The Kakatiyas, Kota Vamsas, Paricchedis and Hoysalas supported the Vengi Kalachuri families and Nagamma. Malideva and his clan of Velanati Cholas were supported by the Kalachuris of Kalyani.
Though Bramha Naidu and his groups won the battle, Malideva had died. Nagamma was reinstated, and the war led to the fall of the Velanadu families. Several families lost their warriors in the war, and this weakened the warrior clans of the Naidus in the eastern delta areas. This allowed the Hoysalas, Kalachuri, Ganga and Kakatiyas to take over.
The Palnati Veerula Gudi, the temple to the heroes of the Palnati battle, was built at the battle ground on the Naguleru River. The temple also houses all the weapons that the warriors used in the war. The temple is uniquely opened only once a year, during November or December, for five days only. The opening of the temple is celebrated during those five days at Karempudi.
However, later, due to the losses in battle, the Palnadu Naidus, weakened by fighting amongst themselves, lost control in the region and were overtaken by the Kakatiyas in later years. Subsequently, the Nawab of Golconda conquered the Palnadu region, and this triggered further migration southwards, in an attempt by the Naidus to retain, protect and preserve their way of life. The initial settlements came up in the Venkatagiri region and southwards to Chandragiri and Puttur.
A new regime of Naidu rulers took over at Venkatagiri, and comprised the Velugoti, Velanki or Velama Naidus. It is said that the migrating Naidu rulers and rich farmers took along with them their workers, tenants, support systems including priests, mainly Vaidehi Brahmins. This was especially true during the takeover by the Nawab of Golconda. The cuisine and sacred rituals of the Vaidehi Brahmins who performed them for the Naidus got established in the regions of Chittoor to the east of the Velikonda Hills and in the regions between Palamaneru to Erpedu.
A remarkable story, supposed to be true, is that the Venkatagiri Naidu rulers were liberal in providing land ownership to their faithful supporters. One such land transfer was on the basis of Mr. Dasari Govindappa Naidu being allowed as much land as a horse could walk or run from sunrise to sunset in the Kailasa Kona area near Nagalapuram. The village, thus established, is named as Govindappa Naidu Kandriga.
It is supposed that the people who migrated south of Venkatagiri, mainly the Naidu clans, would have actually begun their journeys from Velnadu or Elnadu and Palnadu in the Guntur region. Accordingly, they began to be known as Ellanti (those from Elnadu) and Pallinti (those from Palnadu). The familiar surnames for these families include Ellanti, Pallinti, Tummala, Nutalpati, Kanderi, Gandamaneni, Gaali and Sakamuri, among others. The villages that they settled in, within Chittoor, south of Venkatagiri, are Tirumala Kuppam, Vepagunta, Mangalagiri Kandriga, Nasi Naidu Kandriga, Dasari Govindappa Naidu Kandriga and Buchi Naidu Kandriga, among many others.
The current city of Macherla, the erstwhile capital of the Palnadu region, originates from Mahadevi Cherla. The Andhra Mahabharatam or the Palnati Yuddham (great battle of Palnadu) was fought between Macherla and Gurajala between 1176 AD and 1182 AD. The town of Macherla is also known for the Chennakesava Swamy temple built during the Haihaya rule.
The Chennakesava Temple at Macherla
[from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ck_temple,mcl.jpg]
Geographically, Palnadu is in the northern parts of Guntur District. Palnadu is an acronym for Pallava Naidu, and is an important period of Telugu history. The end of the Satavahana dynasty saw the Pallavas become independent in the Krishna River Valley. In tribute to them, the region came to be known as Palnadu. This region was also ruled by the Ikshvaku, Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas and later, by the Kakatiyas. The Vengi Chalukyas who ruled the Palnadu war were weakened by the Great Battle of Palnadu and this led to the emergence of the Kakatiyas.
The great battle of Palnadu was actually a battle between two families of cousins, of the Kalachuri clans also known as Haihaya. Nalagama Vira Raju, the son of Alugu Bhupathi Raju, of the Palanati Kalachuris, and his step brother, Malideva Raju, married to a princess of the Kalyani clan of the Kalachuris were prominent warriors of this great battle. Recherla Dodda Naidu and Recherla Brahma Naidu were the vassals of the Velanti Cholas and were administrators of their territories. There was tremendous rivalry among these families, and with the defeat of Malideva in a cock-fight, the opportunity presented itself. Nagamma exiled Bramha Naidu and Dodda Naidu for seven years.
After the period of exile, similar to the Mahabharata, Bramha Naidu sent Alaraja, son of Kalachuri Kommaraja of Kalyani, and brother-in-law of Malideva to present a claim for the properties and lands of Malideva. Nagamma refused to accept the claim and poisoned Alaraja to death at Cherlagudipadu. This led to the Kalachuris of Kalyani and Bramha Naidu to declare war on Gurazala, and the battle was fought in Karempudi, along the Naguleru River. Several local Kings came in support of either group. The Kakatiyas, Kota Vamsas, Paricchedis and Hoysalas supported the Vengi Kalachuri families and Nagamma. Malideva and his clan of Velanati Cholas were supported by the Kalachuris of Kalyani.
Though Bramha Naidu and his groups won the battle, Malideva had died. Nagamma was reinstated, and the war led to the fall of the Velanadu families. Several families lost their warriors in the war, and this weakened the warrior clans of the Naidus in the eastern delta areas. This allowed the Hoysalas, Kalachuri, Ganga and Kakatiyas to take over.
Palnati Veerula Gudi or the temple to the heroes of the Palnati Battle
[from - http://www.liveguntur.com/karempudi.php]
The Palnati Veerula Gudi, the temple to the heroes of the Palnati battle, was built at the battle ground on the Naguleru River. The temple also houses all the weapons that the warriors used in the war. The temple is uniquely opened only once a year, during November or December, for five days only. The opening of the temple is celebrated during those five days at Karempudi.
1 comment:
Hi, I am an Ellanti from Buchi Naidu Kandria near Puttur. I chanced on this blog as I was researching for my own compilation of history of Ellanti's and tracing them back to Venkatagiri raja days and to Palnadu. Very impressed with the details you have in this blog. Wonder if you can share source for your material here.
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