Reddy dynasty
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The Reddy dynasty (1325-1424CE) was established in southern India by Reddys, powerful non-Aryan tribes and castes.[1] The Reddys started a movement against Muslim rule in Andhra Pradesh and won power. Rajahmundry was ruled for 95 years by different Reddy kings, such as Kapileswara Gajapathi, Bahamani Sultanate, Purushotamma Gajapathi, Krishnadevaraya and Prataparudra Gajapathi.[2]
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[edit] Origin
After the fall of Kakatiya dynasty in Indiain 1323 A.D, there was a great movement for independence. All the warrior castes of Telugu land united and successfully recaptured Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate. However, the unity of Telugu land lasted only for fifty years.
[edit] Extent
The Reddys ruled a small coastal area of Andhra Pradesh from 1353 to 1448. The initial capital of the kingdom was Addanki and then Kondavidu and later shifted to Rajahmundry. The Reddy kings became independent after the martyrdom of Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka at the hands of Recherla Velamas in the Battle of Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir in Telangana region). The dynasty declined due to the wars with Recharla chiefs and Gajapathis of Orissa. In later years, the Reddys had to be content as vassals of Golconda Muslim kings.
The Reddys were known for their fortifications. Two major hill forts, one at Kondapally 20 km north west of Vijayawada and another at Kondavidu about 30 km west of Guntur bear testimony of the fort building skill of the Reddy kings. Reddys also ruled many local dominions (samsthanams) until the British seized their power.
[edit] First king, Prolaya Vema Reddy
Prolaya Vema Reddy, the first king of the Reddy dynasty, was the son of a local landlord and described himself as one of the four varnas that emerged from the feet of MahaVishnu. As Reddys were Sudras in the Vedic Varna system; so also were the Kakatiya rulers. Vema Reddy seems to have worshipped the Ganges (aptly, the Ganges was believed to have originated at the feet of MahaVishnu), and Kumara, the war-like son of Lord Shiva. He assembled a large army of peasants and herdsmen, and adopted guerrilla warfare. He is also supposed to have joined hands with Prolaya Nayaka and Kapaya Nayaka.
It is said that when he attacked Muslims, Vema Reddy had their water supply lines contaminated with sewage leading to dysentery in their ranks. It is also said that Vira Ballala of Dwarasamudra helped the coalition of Vema Reddy and Kapaya Nayaka; that Vema Reddy chased the general of the Tughlaq army, Maqbool Iqbal to the Warangal fort and Kapaya Nayaka then stormed it and took control; that Vema Reddy then led a blitzkrieg on the Kondaividu fort and hacked off the head of Maliq Gurjar, the Muslim commander there and liberated Nidudavolu, Vundi, and Pithapuram after pitched battles. Vema Reddy then defeated an army of Jalaluddin Shah in a raid on Tondaimandalam, while Vira Ballala engaged the Sultan himself. Vira Ballala was finally defeated and skinned alive, and his dry skin was hung from the walls of Madurai where Ibn Battuta reportedly saw it later. Undaunted, Vema Reddy continued his lightning raids on the Muslim-occupied forts of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjunakonda and captured them all. He then declared himself a raja (king) with Kondaividu as his capital.
His famous inscriptions from this period state: " I restored all the agraharas of Brahmins, which had been taken away by the evil Muslim kings". "I am indeed an Agastya to the ocean which was made of the Muslim". -- (17, 18)
Prolaya Vema Reddy commissioned major repairs to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swami Temple, and had a flight of steps built from the Krishna river to the Temple. He also had the Sri MahaVishnu Temple at Ahobilam repaired. The restoration of peace starting with his reign brought about a monumental revival of literature and the arts. Errana, a vatsa Bhargava brahmana of the middle migration of the Bhargavas and the translator of the Ramayana, lived during his period.
[edit] Later kings
- Anavota Reddy (1335-1364 CE) was the successor of Prolaya Vema Reddy. He conquered many small kingdoms like Nirvajyapura (present day Nidudavolu) ruled by Vengi Chalukyas, Vundi ruled by Suryavamsa Kshatriyas, Korukonda ruled by KondayaNayakas, and Pithapuram ruled by Koppularajus by 1356 CE.
- Anavema Reddy (1364-1386 CE) was the brother of Anavota Reddy. He liberated Rajamahendravaram from the Muslims and razed down a Mazar (which was built on top of a Hindu Temple). He then scaled the Korukonda fort by night with a small force, and freed it from Muslim control. He also conquered the Simhachalam fort and parts of the Kalinga kingdom. He built the Viro SiroMandapam at the Srisailam Temple. His inscription from Srisailam states that their family belongs to the Vellacheri gotram. Anavema Reddy had his capital at Nirvajyapura (present day Nidudavolu).
His inscription states "I the valiant member of the 4th varna destroyed the throngs of Muslims and gathered learned brahmanas at this court". -- (17,18)
- Kumaragiri (Komaragiri) Reddy (1386-1402 CE) was the son of Anavota Reddy. Kataya Vema Reddy, the Senapathi of Anavota Reddy and the brother-in-law of Kumaragiri Reddy, and Pedakomati Vema Reddy always indulged in internal squabbles. Many parts of the kingdom announced their independence and didn't pay taxes. Kumaragiri Reddy, had two daughters, Anitally and Hariharamba.
- Kataya Vema Reddy (1395-1414 CE) suppressed the revolt in Rajamahendravaram and ruled it for 19 years. Harihara Rayalu, the ruler of Vijayanagara empire, married his daughter Hariharamba to Kataya Vema Reddy on hearing about his valour. He fought many wars with Pedakomati Vema Reddy. He had a son,
- Allada Reddy (1414-1423 CE) ruled on behalf of the young Komaragiri Reddy who was only 10yrs old at the time, but unfortunately Komaragiri Reddy died. Allada Reddy manages to fend off Pedakomati Reddy twice, and makes peace treaties with Vijayanagara and Kalinga.
- Veerabhadra Reddy(1423-1448 CE) succeeded to the kingdom of Rajamahendravaram. Devaraya II of Vijayanagara came to the support of the Reddy kings against the Gajapathis of Orissa. The Reddys couldn't get support from Mallikarjuna of Vijayanagara, the successor of Devaraya II, in time and lost to Hamvira, the son of Kapilendra Gajapathi. The Reddy kingdom started to decline because of internecine warfare with the Recharla Velamas and the Gajapathis. By 1448 CE, Rajamahendravaram and the surrounding places were taken by Kapilendra Gajapathi. By 1454 CE, Kondaividu region also came under the control of the Gajapathis.
[edit] Literature During The Reddy Rule
As with any era graced with peace, literature blossomed during the period of stability proferred by the Reddy kings.
Gonabudda Reddy lived during the 13th century so actually belonged to the Kakatiya period. He is famous for his Ranganatha Ramayanam. His translation of the Ramayana was a pioneering work and is still used for puppeteering.[3]
Errapragada of the Kavitraya (The three poets) fame was the court poet of Prolaya Vema Reddy (22). He is famous for his Telugu rendition of the Aranya Parva left incomplete by Nannaya Bhattu (Aadi Kavi who started the translation of the MahaBharata into Telugu). Errana's translation of the Ramayana in Chimpu form (a style of poetry) has been lost to us now.
It seems that literary arts saw a great revival during the Reddy rule and that this was its most significant contribution.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Caste System. Retrieved on January 16, 2007.
- ^ 1000 Years of History. rajahmundry.net. Retrieved on January 16, 2007.
- ^ http://[www.teluguworld.org/lit.html Telugu World literature]
