Aravidu dynasty

The Aravidu Dynasty was the fourth and last Hindu dynasty which ruled Vijayanagara Empire in South India. Its founder was Tirumala, whose brother Rama Raya had been the masterful regent of the last ruler of the previous dynasty. Rama Raya's death at the Battle of Rakasa-Tangadi (also known as the Battle of Talikota) in 1565 led to the subsequent destruction of Vijayanagar by the combined forces of the Muslim states of Bijapur. The Aravidu family used their dynastic name as their surname and their gotra is Atreya.^[1]

Rulers

The main rulers of the Aravidu dynasty were:

• Aliya Rama Raya (1542–1565)
• Tirumala Deva Raya (1565–1572)
• Sriranga Deva Raya (Sriranga I) (1572–1586)
• Venkatapati Deva Raya (Venkata II) (1586–1614)
• Sriranga II (1614)
• Rama Deva Raya (1617–1632)
• Peda Venkata Raya (Venkata III) (1632–1642)
• Sriranga III (1642–1652)

Present Ruler

After Vijayanagar was defeated they were subjects to Bijapur and Golconda rulers. In the early 18th century they became tributary rulers of Anegundi to the Moghul emperor of Delhi. In 1749 it was seized by the Marathas, and in 1775 it was reduced by Haidar Ali of Mysore. It however continued to exist as a tributary quasi-independent state until Tipu Sultan annexed the estate in 1786. Thirteen years later after he was killed at Seringapatam, the territory was handed over to the Nizam of Hyderabad State. The British Government retaining all lands on their side of the Tungabhadra. Partly in compensation for this loss of land, the Government paid a pension annually to the head of the Anegundi family.

Veera Venkatapathi Raya (died 1799) had:

• Raja Tirumala Deva Raju (died 1824)
  • Narasimha Raju had:
    • Kesamma Sahiba had:
      • Raja Tirumala Deva Raju
        • Raja Venkata Rama Raya (died 1871)
          • Venkamma Sahiba
          • Rani Narsingamma Sahiba
        • Raja Krishna Deva Raya 1871/1872, married Rani Kuppamma Sahiba and Rani Ijjamma Sahiba.
        • Raja Pedda Narasimha Raju 1872/1883, married Rani Narsingamma Sahiba 1883/1889. Adopted her brother Ranga Deva Raya.
          • Raja Ranga Deva Raya (Pampapathi Raju) 1889/1918, granted the title of Raja as a Hereditary distinction in 1902, married Rani Narasingh Amma had:
            • Santha Kondamma
            • Tirumala Kondamma
            • Raja Krishna Deva Raya, married Rani Lal Kumari. They adopted Achutya Deva Raya, son of Venkata Deva Raya. (see below)
            • Tirumala Deva Raya, married Rani Rajendra Kumari, died 17 January 1989 had:
              • Raja Rama Deva Raya, married Vijaya Kumari.
              • Shankar Kumari
              • Harihara Deva Raya, died 20 August 1987.
            • Venkata Deva Raya, born 27 April 1919, married Rani Lakshmi Dev Amma had:
              • Raja Achutya Deva Raya (See Below)
              • Raja Sri Ranga Deva Raya, MLA of Gangavati constituency, married Lalita Rani.
              • Raja Narasimha Deva Raya, Advocate and Central Notary of Hospet, married Mohini.
              • Raghu Deva Raya, died 24 December 1969.
      • Lakshmi Devamma Sahiba, married had:
        • Raja Pedda Narasimha Raju
• Chellamma Sahiba, married Kumar Raghav Raju Dalavayi had:
  • Pedda Pampapathi Raju had:
    • Rangapathi Raju
  • Chinna Pampapathi Raju had:
    • Kumara Raghava Raju had:
      • Sadasiva Raju
      • Kodanda Rama Raju
      • Rani Kuppamma Sahiba
      • Pampapathi Raju (Pampathi Raya)

The present ceremonial ruler Achyutya Deva Raya enjoys the title of Senior Representative of the Royal House of Vijayanagar-Aravidu (Narapathi) Dynasty, Guru (Religious Head) of the Hindu Kshatriya community, enjoys the customary privileges and honors at Hampi Temple and at Anegondi Temple, during all religious functions as well as Muslim festivals. Married Rani Chandra Kanta Devi and had:

• Krishna Kumari, born 3 October 1966, married Bharat Raju Cheluvaraju, born 1 January 1962.
  • Abhirath Bharath Raju, born 1 October 1992
  • Aditya Bharath Raju, born 22 April 1998
  • Arnav Bharath Raju, born 25 April 2004
• Krishna Deva Raya, born 6 October 1970, married Ratnasri, born 11 July 1975, and has issue:
  • Tirumala Venkata Deva Raya, born 4 December 2000.^[2]

References