Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu

Raja Venkatadrinayudu, patriot at Mangalagiri temple's main entrance

Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu (1783–1816) was the last King who ruled Krishna-Guntur region of Andhra Pradesh. He ruled from 1783 until the advent of the British. He was popularly known as the first king who revolted against British in India.^[1] The original seat of power was Chintapalli in present-day Krishna district. Venkatadri Nayudu shifted his capital to Dharanikota/Amaravati across the Krishna river in Guntur district. He was most famous for his benign rule, patronage of the arts and literature, and as a builder of numerous temples in the Krishna river delta. He renovated the ancient temples at Amaravati, Chebrolu, Mangalagiri, and Ponnuru.

Nayudu kept a retinue of several thousand men, 300 horses, 80 elephants, 50 camels and uncounted bullock carts. The magnificence of his palaces at Amaravati, Chebrolu, Chintapalli and his town-house in Guntur became subjects of folklore. He built temples and repaired the lofty gopuram (Temple gate) at Mangalagiri. Over a hundred richly gilt brass pillars, over 30 feet high were erected in his name at various shrines. He fed daily hundreds of Purohits. Often he distributed shawls, gold and jewels among learned sadhus. The sums he spent on festivals, sacrifices, fire offerings and marriages became legendary. Several times, he divided his own weight on gold or silver among Brahmans.^[2] Colin Mckenzee who visited Amaravati 1797 praised the glory of Nayudus's palaces in Asiatic Journal.^[3]

Venkatadri successfully eliminated Pindaris who were robbing the people in Guntur region.^[4] During his reign, Chenchus (forest tribe) were raiding villages around Amaravati. Venkatadri invited about 600 of the Chenchu men to a luncheon and ordered them to be killed. The villages where this incident took place is today called Narukulapadu ('Naruku' in Telugu language means 'to axe' or 'to chop'). After this incident the Rajah became repentant and came to Amaravati and devoted his entire life, time and revenues to building temples to Lord Siva. He renovated the Amareswaraswamy temple here, got nine learned archakas to be brought for the daily archana of the Lord, and provided them with all the needs of livelihood, including 12 acres (49,000 m²) of land to each. The temple as it stands now owes much to him.

Venkatadri was assisted by a very able minister and poet Mulugu Papayaradhya. There were several poets and scholars in the court of Venkatadri.^[5]

Notes