Telugu Cholas
Encyclopedia
Many Telugu Choda kingdoms ruled over many regions including the cities on the banks of Krishna River
in the period between the seventh and the thirteenth century. It is not known much about these family origins. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary Tamil
Karikala Chola
(200 BC). Telugu Cholas began their career as local chieftains in the Kadapa
region in the seventh century. They may be identified with the people referred by the Chinese traveler Yuan Chwng as 'Chuliya'. The Telugu Chodas adopted the title Chola as an Honorary title and also to show the feudatory Status they had under the Chola-Chalukya rulers.
district. The chieftains who ruled over Velanadu came to be known as the Velanati Chodas. 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. Their capital was Dhanadapura or Sanaduprolu, the modern Chandolu in the Guntur district initially then later they ruled from Vengi in West Godavari and Pithpuram in East Godavari Districts.
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 Cholas:
. They had the unique honour of using the Telugu language in their inscriptions belonging to the 7th and 8th centuries. The inscriptions at Gandikota
at Jammulamadugu and Proddatur
.
district, since Dhurjati
of Kalahasti mentioned that he was from Pottapi region.Now the Pottapi is a grampanchayat of Nandalur mandal of kadapa Dist.
(also called as Kotyadona) near Narasaraopeta in the Guntur district. They ruled over parts of Palanadu in 11th and 12th centuries. Early kings Kannara Choda and Kama Choda were independent. Tribhuvana Malla Choda, son of Kama Choda, was a chieftain to Gonka II of Velanati Chodas
. Nanni Choda, son of Tribhuvana Malla Choda declared independence again, but was soon was defeated and forced to be vassals again by Gonka II. After the fall of Velanadu Cholas, they are forced to suzerainty by Ganapatideva of Kakatiyas.
Poet Kaviraja Sikhamani Nanne Choda
belonged to this family. Not much is known of this clan and it is believed to be a subordinate of Vikramaditya VI
of Kalyani Chalukyas.
and chieftains of Kakatiyas. 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, Cuddapah, Chittoor
and Chengalput districts with Vikramasimhapuri (modern Nellore) as their capital.
Chola Bijjana was the first important chief in the Nellore Choda clan. As a feudatory of the Western Chalukya Someswara I (1042–1068 ) 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 ) appointed them as rulers of Pakanadu.
Later Tikka (1223–1248 ) 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 Chola emperors of the south, but was practically an independent ruler. Along with the Hoysala Vira Narasimha, he helped the Chalukya Chola ruler Rajaraja Chola III
in restoring him back to his throne by repulsing the attacks of Aniyanka Bhima, Kopperunchinga II
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 (1248–1263), 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 Kanigiri 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's forces led by Khadga Tikkana, the cousin of poet Tikkana won the battle, but the leader perished. 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 battle ground between the Kakatiyas and the Pandyas and changed hands frequently. In the reign of Kakatiya Prataparudra II, the Nellore region became part and parcel of the Kakatiya empire and lost its political significance.
under the patronage of the rulers. It was the age in which the great Telugu poets Tikkana, Ketana, Marana
and Somana enriched the literature with their remarkable contributions. Tikkana Somayaji wrote Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu and Andhra Mahabharatamu. Abhinava Dandi Ketana wrote Dasakumaracharitramu, Vijnaneswaramu and Andhra Bhashabhushanamu. Marana wrote Markandeya Parana in Telugu. Somana wrote Basava Purna.
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 predecessor 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 Dandi 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.
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
in the period between the seventh and the thirteenth century. It is not known much about these family origins. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Karikala Chola
Karikala Chola
Karikala Chola or Karikala Chozhan was one of the great Tamil kings of Early Chola during the Sangam period. He was the son of Ilamcetcenni and ruled around 270 BC....
(200 BC). Telugu Cholas began their career as local chieftains in the Kadapa
Kadapa
Kadapa , formerly Cuddapah, is a city in the south-central part of Andhra Pradesh, India . The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate...
region in the seventh century. They may be identified with the people referred by the Chinese traveler Yuan Chwng as 'Chuliya'. The Telugu Chodas adopted the title Chola as an Honorary title and also to show the feudatory Status they had under the Chola-Chalukya rulers.
Velanati Cholas
Telugu Cholas of Velanadu (Velanati Choda) were one of the Telugu Chola families which claimed their descent from the illustrious Cholas. Velanadu is located in the modern GunturGuntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
district. The chieftains who ruled over Velanadu came to be known as the Velanati Chodas. One of them, Rajendra Choda II had even assumed the title Durjayakulaprakara. These Velanati chiefs were the subordinate allies of the Chalukya Cholas
Chalukya Cholas
The Later Chola dynasty ruled the Chola Empire from 1070 C.E. until the demise of the empire in the second half of the 13th century. This dynasty was the product of decades of alliances based on marriages between the Cholas and the Eastern Chalukyas based in Vengi and produced some of the greatest...
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. Their capital was Dhanadapura or Sanaduprolu, the modern Chandolu in the Guntur district initially then later they ruled from Vengi in West Godavari and Pithpuram in East Godavari Districts.
The Velanati Chiefs rose to prominence among the vassals of the Chalukyas of Vengi during the early days of Kulothunga Chola I
Kulothunga Chola I
Kō Rājakēsarivarman Abaya Kulōthunga Chōla was one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire. He was one of the sovereigns who bore the title Kulottunga, literally meaning the exalter of his race.-Early life:...
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 Cholas:
- Gonka I (1076–1108 )
- Rajendra Chola 1 (1108–1032 )
- Gonka II (1132–1161 )
- Rajendra Chola II (1161–1181 )
- Gonka III (1181–1186 )
- Prithviswara (1186–1207 )
Renati Cholas
The Telugu Cholas of Renadu (also called as Renati Cholas) ruled over Renadu region, the present day Cuddapah district. They were originally independent, later forced to the suzerainty of the Eastern ChalukyasEastern Chalukyas
Eastern Chalukyas were a South Indian dynasty whose kingdom was located in the present day Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was Vengi and their dynasty lasted for around 500 years from the 7th century until c. 1130 C.E. when the Vengi kingdom merged with the Chola empire...
. They had the unique honour of using the Telugu language in their inscriptions belonging to the 7th and 8th centuries. The inscriptions at Gandikota
Gandikota
Gandikota is a small village on the right bank of the river Pennar, 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh in India. Gandikota was founded in 1123 by Kapa Raja of nearby Bommanapalle village and a subordinate of Ahavamalla Someswara I, the Western Chalukyan king of Kalyana...
at Jammulamadugu and Proddatur
Proddatur
Proddatur is the second largest town in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is renowned for its gold and cotton business...
.
Pottapi Cholas
Telugu Chodas of Pottapi ruled the Cuddapah region after the fall of the Renati Cholas. Their inscriptions from 11th century are found in this area. It is also believed that they ruled over ChittoorChittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai....
district, since Dhurjati
Dhurjati
Dhurjati was a Telugu poet in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya and was one of the astadiggajalu there.-Biography:...
of Kalahasti mentioned that he was from Pottapi region.Now the Pottapi is a grampanchayat of Nandalur mandal of kadapa Dist.
Konidena Cholas
The Konidena Cholas were also a branch of the Renadu Cholas. Their capital was KonidenaKonidena
Konidena is a small village in Ballikurava mandal and Prakasam district of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is around 60 km from Guntur and 20 km from Narasaraopet, capital of the Konidena Chola kingdom who once ruled parts of Palnadu region, though neither the village nor its surrounding...
(also called as Kotyadona) near Narasaraopeta in the Guntur district. They ruled over parts of Palanadu in 11th and 12th centuries. Early kings Kannara Choda and Kama Choda were independent. Tribhuvana Malla Choda, son of Kama Choda, was a chieftain to Gonka II of Velanati Chodas
Velanati Chodas
Velanati Chodas were one of the Telugu Choda families who ruled over parts of the Andhra Pradesh in 12th century...
. Nanni Choda, son of Tribhuvana Malla Choda declared independence again, but was soon was defeated and forced to be vassals again by Gonka II. After the fall of Velanadu Cholas, they are forced to suzerainty by Ganapatideva of Kakatiyas.
Nannuru Cholas
Nannuru Cholas were another branch of Telugu Cholas in the region of Pakanadu. The famous TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
Poet Kaviraja Sikhamani Nanne Choda
Nanne Choda
Nanne Choda was a famous Telugu poet and belongs to a family of Telugu Cholas. He holds the titles Tekanadityudu and Kaviraja Sikhamani. He is regarded as the first composer of Prabandha.-Biography:...
belonged to this family. Not much is known of this clan and it is believed to be a subordinate of Vikramaditya VI
Vikramaditya VI
Vikramaditya VI became the Western Chalukya King after deposing his elder brother Somesvara II. Vikramaditya's reign is marked by the start of the Chalukya-Vikrama era. Vikramaditya VI was the greatest of the Western Chalukya kings and had the longest reign in the dynasty. He earned the title...
of Kalyani Chalukyas.
Telugu Chodas of Nellore
There was another branch of the Telugu Chodas ruled from NelloreNellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
and chieftains of Kakatiyas. The Telugu poet, Tikkana
Tikkana
Tikkana was born into a family of Shaivite family during the Golden Age of the Kakatiya dynasty. He was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets " that translated Mahabharatamu into Telugu over a period of centuries. Nannaya Bhattaraka was the first, though he translated only two and a half...
, 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, Cuddapah, Chittoor
Chittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai....
and Chengalput districts with Vikramasimhapuri (modern Nellore) as their capital.
Chola Bijjana was the first important chief in the Nellore Choda clan. As a feudatory of the Western Chalukya Someswara I (1042–1068 ) 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 ) appointed them as rulers of Pakanadu.
Later Tikka (1223–1248 ) 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 Chola emperors of the south, but was practically an independent ruler. Along with the Hoysala Vira Narasimha, he helped the Chalukya Chola ruler Rajaraja Chola III
Rajaraja Chola III
Rajaraja Chola III succeeded Kulothunga Chola III on the Chola throne in July 1216 CE. Rajaraja came to the throne of a kingdom much reduced in size as well as influence...
in restoring him back to his throne by repulsing the attacks of Aniyanka Bhima, Kopperunchinga II
Kopperunchinga II
Kopperunchinga II was a Kadava chieftain, who succeeded his father Kopperunchinga I and continued his successes against the Hoysalas. Since the Chola power no longer constituted a threat, Kopperunchinga II acted as the de facto protector of the Chola king and helped him maintain his position on...
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 (1248–1263), 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 Kanigiri 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's forces led by Khadga Tikkana, the cousin of poet Tikkana won the battle, but the leader perished. 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 battle ground between the Kakatiyas and the Pandyas and changed hands frequently. In the reign of Kakatiya Prataparudra II, the Nellore region became part and parcel of the Kakatiya empire and lost its political significance.
Advances in Telugu literature
The period of rule of the Telugu Chodas was in particular significant for the development it received in the Telugu literatureTelugu literature
The Telugu literature or Telugu Sahityam is one of the most precious possessions of the literary products of India. Telugu literature is rich reserve of poems, stories, dramas and puranas. It flowered in the early 16th century under the Vijayanagar empire, of which Telugu was one of the court...
under the patronage of the rulers. It was the age in which the great Telugu poets Tikkana, Ketana, Marana
Maraña
Maraña is a small village in Spain in the province of León, in the Picos de Europa, close to Asturias.The major festival is August 15, the Festival of Our Lady of Riosol-External links:*Location of Maraña...
and Somana enriched the literature with their remarkable contributions. Tikkana Somayaji wrote Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu and Andhra Mahabharatamu. Abhinava Dandi Ketana wrote Dasakumaracharitramu, Vijnaneswaramu and Andhra Bhashabhushanamu. Marana wrote Markandeya Parana in Telugu. Somana wrote Basava Purna.
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 predecessor 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 Dandi 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.