Vasireddy Clan

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Vasireddy Clan was a ruling clan in India.

The first historical record of the Vasireddy clan can be traced from 1413 CE inscription of Pothineedu at Pithapuram (East Godavari district) in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Pothineedu ruled A small region around Pithapuram subsequent to the downfall of Musunuri Nayaks at Warangal. Pothineedu constructed a number of temples in Godavari delta. He planted 460,000 Palm (Taadi) trees and extolled their importance in his inscriptions. He also built many temples in Godavari delta.

There was a gap of 100 years and the next available record was that of Mallikarjuna who ruled from 1500-1527 AD. Mallikarjuna’s refusal to pay taxes to Golkonda Nawab (Kuli Qutb Shah) led to a battle with the commander Haider Jung. Both Mallikarjuna and Haider Jung died in the battle. Mallikarjuna’s wife committed Sati. Two year old son Sadasiva Raya was brought up by Kodali Ramabhupati, a wealthy relative in the Nutakki village of Guntur district. The principality of Chintapalli on the bank of Krishna River was the domain of a series of Vasireddy rulers starting from Sadasiva Raya.

Vasireddy Sadasiva Nayudu ruled Nandigama paragana from 1550 to 1581 CE. He was granted the paragana by Ibrahim Qutb Shah of Golkonda. His great grand sons Gangineedu, Gurivineedu, Chinavenkatadri and Madineedu ruled during the period 1600-1670 CE.

Chinapadmanabha Ramanna Nayudu got a grant of 500 villages from Tanisha in 1685 CE (Krishna district Manual). During a visit to Golkonda, Ramanna found that the Sultan (Abul Hassan Tanisha) was engrossed in a problem of taming his stubborn horse. Rammana rode the horse with aplomb and the pleased king gave as reward Sardeshamukhi of 500 villages such as Nandigama, Kammamettu (Khammam), Vinukonda and Kondavidu. He built a fort at Chintapalli and ruled till 1710 CE. His successors Buchiraghava, Pedanarasanna, Chinanarsanna, Chinaramalinga, Chandramouli, Rajamouli and Lakshmipati ruled till 1760 CE. During this period French and British were trying to gain control of the Andhra country. Jaggayya ruled Chintapalli from 1763 CE. He was killed by French troops sent by Basalat Jung, brother of Golkonda Nawab in 1771. Jaggayya’s wife Acchamma committed Sati. Jaggayya’s son Venkatadri recovered Chintapalii in 1777 and earned fame as a benevolent and illustrious ruler.

The last ruler Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu (1783-1816) shifted the capital to Amaravati (near ancient Dhanyakatakam/Dharanikota) across the river Krishna. He was most famous for his benign rule, patronage of arts and literature, munificence and as a builder of numerous temples in Krishna river delta. He renovated the ancient temples at Amaravati, Chebrolu, Mangalagiri and Ponnuru. He also suppressed Buddhism which was then a dominant religion in this region.

The remnants of Vasireddy clan are presently found in the Zamindaris of Amaravati and Muktyala in Krishna and Godavari deltas, respectively.

[edit] External Reference

• Vasireddy dynasty.[1]

[edit] Book Reference

'Sri Raja Vasireddy Venkadadri Nayudu' by K. Lakshminarayana 1963, Ponnuru. (in telugu) (http://www.openlibrary.org/details/rajavasireddyven022548mbp)

Vasireddy Inscriptions:

South Indian Inscriptions Vol VI. Nos 673-677.