Palanati Brahmanaidu

'PALNATI' RECHERLA BRAHMA NAYUDU, a valiant fighter, both his father Dodda Nayudu and later he himself were appointed and served as ministers for the then ruling Raju clans in Palnadu area like Alugu Raju. He strove for progressive and egalitarian ideals in medieval times, ruled as a minister on behalf of minor sons of Alugu Raju from Macherla, a town in Palnadu region close to Guntur - Nalgonda district border. Brahmanna, as he is popularly called is a staunch Vaishnavite and a devotee of Chennakesava. He was responsible for construction of Chennakeshava Swami temple in Macherla town which is popular even today among the people there. Brahmanna is said to have adopted a son, a brave warrior called Kannamma, a Mala by caste, as he was childless for a long time. Peddanna Bada Raju, brave warrior, son of Dodda Nayudu (then minister of Alugu Raju) and elder brother of Brahma Naidu, a velama by birth but given in adoption to then ruler Alugu Raju, and brought up as a Raju by his foster father. He later on said to have married a Raju girl, upsetting his Raju in-laws and their relatives who were not aware of his original caste, come together, decide and vow to kill him at any cost. But Peddanna is said to have defeated single handedly nearly more than one hundred such warriors

Geddam Brahma Naidu or Palanati Brahmanaidu was a historical personality in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A vassal of the Velanti Chodas (Vassals of the Chola-Chalukyas and responsible for the administration of their Andhra territories,) he tried to usher in a new era in which caste distinctions would be abolished. Differences in ideology led to Brahma Naidu leaving with his supporters, including Nalagama Vira Raju's (son of Alugu Bhupathi Raju of the Palanati Kalachuris) half brother Malideva and set up an independent court in Macherla.[1]

History

The deceitful infamous 'Nayakuralu' Nagamma, a widow, is the minister for then rulers (Nalagama Raju and Narsinga Raju etc) of Gurajala , a small town in Palnadu region. Brahmanna along with his troops lived in exile for six and half years after losing Macherla to Nagamma in a cock fight. He is said to have lived first three years of his exile period along with his brothers and other warriors in and around Deverakonda region of Nalgonda district and said to have established a town called 'Mandadi' there. His two brothers are said to have founded two other towns in the region. Nagamma said to have sent some fierce Boya warriors from Palnadu region to set the new town Mandadi on fire but they failed to carry out her orders. Brahmanna decided to move from there and lived the the next three and half years of his exile period just south of his original Palnadu region border in Guntur district in a village called 'Medapi'. Brahmanna's sister, Chellamma, is said to have married into a Raju family of Kalyan descent and her son Alla Racha Mallu, a Raju, was later on sent as a peace missionary for negotiations between Brahmanna and Nagamma. He is said to have secretely food poisoned to death by Nagamma and said to have never returned back. Battle of Palnadu - (1182) at Karempudi village, in Palnadu region, between the former rulers of Macherla and then rulers of Gurajala of Palnadu region at the end of exile period by Brahmanna and failure of peace negotiations and unexpected death of his nephew, Alla Racha Mallu, at the hands of Nagamma. 'Palanati' Recherla Balachendrhrudu (Kaliyuga abhimanyu), son of Brahma Nayudu born after Brahmanna being childless for a long time, fought the Palnadu Battle ferociously and died at a very young age. His wife is said to have attempted to commit 'Sati' but did not succeed.The Battle of Palnadu is remembered and propagated through 'Burra Katha' even today by the people of Palnadu region, and through an annual gathering at the battlefield in Karempudi village to pay respect to warriors

Velanati Gonkaraja of Candavolu who belonged to Chhalukya-Chola ancestry installed Anuguraja as king in Palnadu after giving his daughter Mailama Devi in marriage. Anuguraja had two more wives Viravidya Devi and Bhurama Devi. Being childless for few years, Anuguraja adopted Pedanayudu the eldest son of his minister Doddanayudu who belonged to fourth varna (Shudra, Velama). Soon after Mailama gave birth to a son Nalagamaraja. Disillusioned with the turn of the events, Doddanayudu stepped down and made his son Brahmanayudu the minister. It is said that Brahmanayudu killed both the king and his father and made Nalagamaraja the king (1170 AD)[2].

Reference

  1. ^ Roghair, G.H., The Epic of Palnadu, 1982, Clarendon Press; ISBN 0-19-815456-9
  2. ^ History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Vol. XIV, Part 4, Ed. Bhararati Ray, Pearson Longman, New Delhi, 2009, p. 248