Ravella Nayaks
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The hard earned independence of Telugu land came to an end in fifty years with the martyrdom of Musunuri Kapaneedu in 1370 A.D at the hands of Velamas who colluded with Bahmani sultan (See Musunuri Nayaks). A large number of remaining Nayaks who served under Kapaneedu migrated to Vijayanagar and sworn allegiance to Bukka Raya, a close associate of Kapaneedu in protecting the Hindu dharma in Dakshnapatha. Among them, Ravella clan which earned laurels for their bravery and defense of Vijayanagar Empire in the coming four centuries was noteworthy . The Ravella clan can be traced from Malla Nayaka (1500 A.D.) who served as a commander in Sri Krishna Deva Raya’s army. Malla vanquished the army of Qutb Shah (Bahmani General) at Gudipadu. Malla’s son Tippa participated in the expedition to defeat the Gajapatis. Tippa’s son Papa defeated Muslim army and captured Kurnool fort for Rama Raya. Papa’s son Tippa II and grandson Linga I were also great warriors. Konda (son of Linga I) who served Saluva Timmaraya conquered Adoni fort by defeating Naudul Khan at Manavapuri.
Tippa II’s son Ayyappa was a decorated commander in the army of Aliya Rama Raya. He recovered Penukonda and Adoni forts from Muslims. Later, Linga II, grandson of Ayyappa, commanded the Vijayanagar army and captured the forts of Kurnool, Gandikota and Adoni. Gopala Kavi who described the exploits of Linga II was patronized by him.
Inscriptions in Nellore district showed that during the rule of Araviti kings, Ravella clan controlled Podili (Tippa Nayudu), Udayagiri (Koneti Nayudu) and Kocherlakota (Timma Nayudu).
Families of Ravella clan are currently distributed in Krishna, Guntur and Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh in addition to a Zamindari (Ilavarasanandanan in Tirunelveli Dt) in Tamil Nadu.
The role of Kamma Nayaks who migrated from Warangal to Vijayanagar after the martyrdom of Kapaya Nayaka in defending Hindu Dharma and South India from the invaders was not given due recognition in the annals of Andhra/South Indian history. (See Musunuri Nayaks). A series of Nayak clans served the Vijayanagar Empire and valiantly fought the Muslims to defend the integrity of the great Hindu kingdom. Among them, Pemmasani Nayaks and Ravella Nayaks (Vallutla Gothram) were most significant.
After the battle of Talikota the grandeur of the Vijayanagar Empire were extinguished by the combined armies of Muslim kingdoms. Tirumala Raya abandoned the capital and moved to Penukonda. The Araviti dynasty which ruled from Penukonda and later from Chandragiri continued to resist Muslim forays for a long time to come. The military commanders of Araviti kings were predominantly from Ravella clan.
[edit] References
- Sougandhika Prasavapaharanamu by Ratnakaram Gopala Kavi (in Telugu).
- Krishnaraja Vijayam by Kumara Dhurjati (in Telugu).
- Rayavachakam by Viswanatharaya Sthanapati (in Telugu).
- K. Iswara Dutt, Journal of Andhra Historical Research Society. Vol. 10, pp. 222-224.
