Rayalaseema
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rayalaseema is an unofficial region of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It generally includes the districts of Kurnool, Kadapa (formerly known as 'Cuddapah'), Anantapur and Chittoor, parts of Prakasam and often Nellore. Bellary area in present day Karnataka is close to Rayalaseema in terms of language and culture.
The word "Rayala Seema" means the land where the great "Sri KrishnaDevaRaya" ruled. Though the area is relatively small compared to rest of Telugu speaking community, this region has made immense contribution.
The origins and usage of this word and identification to the geographic area is a recent phenomenon (early 20th century). However this region has now been been identified with this name.
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[edit] Interesting information of RayalaSeema
[edit] Telugu Culture
Amongst Trilingas, Srisailam is the foremost amongst them is in Rayalaseema. The first settlement of Telugus is said to be in Rayalaseema Religion. The oldest written inscription ShilaShaasanam bearing the word Andhra Pathamu has been found in Bellary region (present day Karnataka).
[edit] Literature
Telugu culture reached its zenith during the Vijayanagara rule under Sri KrishnaDevaRaya. Amongst Ashta Diggajas, Allasani Peddana, Dhoorajati, Nandi Timmana, Maadayyagari Mallana and Ayyalaraju RamaBhadrudu are from this region.
Recent notable scholor from the region is Saraswati Putra Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu.
[edit] Music
Tyagaraja - He has origins from Kakarla in Rayalaseema region.
Syama Sastri - Again has origins in Rayalaseema region.
Annamayyaacharaya - Apart from the all too famous songs on Sri Venkateswara, an intersting mention of the lullaby Chandamama Raave, jaabilli raave, which every Telugu mother sings.
SriPada Pinakapani - Settled in Kurnool (21st Century). He is guru of other Telugu stalwarts like Oleti Venkateswarlu, Nedunuri Krishnamurti, Nookala Chinna Satya Narayana, Malladi Brothers and others.
[edit] Pilgrim Places
Rayalaseema has the most important pilgrim places for Telugu people as well as the surrounding cultures of Kannadigas and Tamils. The people here have very few reasons to visit any other part of Andhra!
Tirupati - Andhrula ilavelpu abode of Sri Venkateswara.
Sri Sailam - Abode of Mallikarjuna (Mallanna). Even till today, devotees come by walk all the way from Bijapur in Karnataka. Food and other facilities are provided by devotees throughout their route. Also this is the most important of the trilangas.
Ahobilam - Where Narasimha blessed Prahlada.
Mantralayam - One of the most important pilgrim places for Maadhvas.
BELUM;-near banaganapalli the worlds famous CAVES here this is under in the ground vere large in india
[edit] Spirituality
Potuloori Veerabrahmendra Swamy
Ganapati Sachchidananda Swami vaaru of Avadhoota Datta Peetham
[edit] Factionism In RayalaSeema
Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh are famous for a phenomenon called "Factionism".
Typically 2 or more groups headed by bigwigs like landlords, chieftains or Ministers (more Recently) resort to Gangster tactics to eliminate their rivals. This rivalry, it is to be noted, runs in their blood line which can Span centuries.
A Country Bomb, a crude device packed up with nails and explosive are major means of communicating one's intent on another. Machettes, swords, knives country sickles and other blunt devices are auxiliary weapons to an average Factionist Leader led Private armies.
The Saga of Factionism in Rayalaseema goes back to History before the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire. "Poligars" / paalegaadru, as these Village chieftains were then known, were integral to survival of the kingdom which they belonged to. It is to be noted that Vijayanagara Rulers depended upon these chieftains for military support in times of crisis, for which they had to part with a fair amount of autonomy to these "Poligars". The British tried to eliminate factionism in the region by hanging a couple of these Chieftains Publicly, but nevertheless failed to do so.
These days, Factionism is being glorified in Local Telugu Movies by portraying these chieftains as "Macho" Men with Strength and Old values.
It is to be remembered, however , in reality, that these Faction Leaders depend on the Muscle provided by hundreds of Lowly Educated, Poorly Bred and bellicose youths who don't share their Limelight.
Land Reforms to Disperse Enormous wealth usurped by these clans(Reddys etc.) have met limited success, resulting in another Violent phenomenon known as Naxalism.
[edit] Culture and Politics
Rayalaseema is widely thought to be underdeveloped compared to the Coastal Andhra regions of the state. The growing movement in Telangana to secede from Andhra Pradesh, as well as southern India's long drought have caused several movements to coalesce around Rayalaseema's grievances. All of these movements are calling for greater official attention for the region, especially in the form of new water projects to harness the Krishna and Godavari rivers to the aid of the region's beleaguered farmers. If nothing is done in this respect, the secession of Telangana would almost certainly precepitate matters in Rayalaseema, especially if other demands, such as moving the capital of Andhra Pradesh to Rayalaseema, and for a stronger state commitment to regional development, are not met. Congress MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy of Kurnool, who hopes to unite the Rayalaseema movements, advocates the inclusion of Nellore and Prakasam districts of Coastal Andhra and even the Kannada-speaking district of Bellary in Karnataka into a separate Rayalaseema state.
Various organizations like Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika are demanding the establishment of second capital in Kurnool. Kurnool is an important city in the Rayalaseema region. It was the Capital of Andhra State from 1 October 1953 to 1 November,1956 and at present is the headquarters of Kurnool District.
Rayalaseema is also the name of one of the 22 Dioceses of the Church of South India.
The name Rayalaseema was named in 1928 by Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao, a famous freedom fighter in the Rayalaseema Region. Before 1928, the area was called as Guttha Seema (Ceded).
Though the area comprises of 4 to 5 districts, several chief ministers came from this region. They include current Chief Minster Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Nara Chandrababu Naidu,Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy,Damodaram Sanjeevaiah and Neelam Sanjivareddy
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Sources
- Article in the Deccan Herald on the Rayalaseema separatist movement
- "The Killing Fields of Rayalaseema"
