Pemmasani Nayaks

Pemmasani Nayaks were a ruling clan in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[5][6] They came into prominence during Vijayanagara times as rulers of Gandikota around 300 years.[7][8][9][10][11] After the Battle of Talikota in 1565 AD, the collapse of Vijayanagara Empire led to the emergence of Pemmasani Nayakas in the Rayalaseema region who protected Hindu dharma for more than 100 years up to 1685 AD. Pemmasani Kings helped Aravidu dynasty Kings in battles with Muslim kings to protect Hindu religion in South India. They belonged to the Kamma social group.[5]

Gandikota Kingdom

1431[1]–1685[2]
CapitalGandikota
Common languagesTelugu
Religion
Hinduism
History 
• Established
1431[3]
• Disestablished
1685[4]
CurrencyGandikota Varaha

Origin

According to Yadiki Kaifiat, Vijayanagara Emperor Phrauda Deva Raya granted Nayankarship of Yadiki to Pemmasani Timma Nayaka in 1424 - 1431 AD period marking the beginning of the rule of Pemmasani Nayakas. After collapase of Vijayanagara in 1565, Pemmasani Nayakas mostly ruled Gandikota region as autonomous kings for over 100 years.

Sources

Pemmasani Nayaks are known to be the feudatory rulers of Gandikota in the sixteenth century, serving under Aravidu dynasty (1542–1652), especially Aliya Rama Raya.[11] The late sixteenth century Telugu text Rayavachakamu mentions Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu as a Kamma chief serving Krishnadeva Raya (r. 1509–1529). It is not known whether he served Krishnadeva Raya or some later ruler.[12]

Extent of rule

The Pemmasani Nayaks ruled Yadiki, Gutti and Tadipatri with Gandikota as capital. The maximum extent of Pemmasanis feudatorial influence ranged from Gandikota to Kondapalli during the reign of Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka which includes areas like Gutti, Kurnool fort, Kondaveedu, Bellamkonda, Raichur, Kanchi, Tadipatri, Yadaki.[13] They ruled from Gandikota as their capital. Pemmasanis ruled mostly as autonomous rulers of Gandikota. Pemmasanis helped Araveeti kings to ascend the throne of great Vijayanagar Empire when there was power shift between Tuluva and Araveedu dynasties after the Battle of Tallikota in 1565 A. D. where the Vijayanagar empire under Tuluva dynasty rule faced huge defeat against combined forces of Deccan Sultanates. Pemmasanis played a crucial role in protecting the Vijayanagar empire. This is evident from the prime location of land that Vijayanagar kings have provided to Pemmasanis in Hampi as camp when they visited the city.

List of rulers

This is the list of Pemmasani Kings:[14][8]

  • Pemmasani Kumara Veera Timma Nayaka (1423 - 1462) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Chenna vibhudu (1462 - 1505) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka (1505 - 1540) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Bangaru Timma Nayaka (1540 - 1565) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Narasimha Nayaka (1565 - 1598) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Timma Nayaka (1598 - 1623) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Chinna Timma Nayaka (1623 - 1652) A. D.
  • Pemmasani Veera Kumara Timma Nayaka (1652 - 1685) A. D.

Rule

The first ruler of Pemmasani clan was Pemmasani Timmanayudu who fought many a battle and won the trust of Bukka Raya.

Veera Thimma had a son by name Chennappa who had two sons Ramalinga Naidu and Peda Thimma Naidu. Ramalinga ruled Gandikota (1509-1530 CE) during the time of Krishna Deva Raya. Ramalinga had 80,000 soldiers under him and he played a crucial role in the victory of Krishna Deva Raya over the combined armies of Kalaburagi, Golkonda and Ahmednagar.[15] His exploits in the battle were extolled by many Telugu poets. He was the most feared by the Generals of Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Golconda.[16]

Thimma Naidu II participated in the expeditions of Krishna Deva Raya and captured Udayagiri, Addanki, Kondapalli, Rajahmundry and Katakam (Cuttack). He also played a crucial role in the conquest of Ummattur.[17]

After the death of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529, his son-in-law Rama Raya took control of the kingdom. The Bahamani sultan colluded with Salakam Timmaraja and raided Vijayanagar. Ramaraya took refuge in Gandikota. Bangaru Thimma Naidu vanquished Bahamanis in a fierce battle at Komali, killed Salakam Timmaraja and restored the throne to Ramaraya.[17]

Kuruvikulam

After the battle of Talikota, one section of Gandikota Pemmasani family migrated to Tamil Nadu and established Kuruvikulam Zamindari. This is the most prominent Zamindari estate in Tamil Nadu. It existed from 1565 to 1949.[18]

See also

References
  1. Yadiki Kaifiat
  2. Thimmanayunipeta Kaifiat
  3. Yadiki Kaifiat
  4. Thimmanayunipeta Kaifiat
  5. Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2014), "Mapping migrations of South Indian weavers before, during and after the Vijayanagara Period: Thirteenth and Eighteenth Centuries", in Lucassen, Jan; Lucassen, Leo (eds.), Globalising Migration History: The Eurasian Experience (16th-21st Centuries), BRILL, p. 99, ISBN 978-90-04-27136-4
  6. Wagoner, Tidings of the king 1993, p. 240.
  7. Staff Reporter. "Stone from Gandikota fort to be used". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  8. Gandikota, by Tavva Obul Reddy, 2016, Telugu Samajam publishment
  9. https://m.femina.in/life/travel/be-amazed-at-indias-grand-canyon-gandikota-andhra-pradesh-82639-2.html
  10. https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/travel/canyon-viewpoint-soak-in-some-natural-beauty-while-camping-along-pennar-river/articleshow/45885349.cms
  11. Vijayanagara, Burton Stein, Cambridge University Press, 1989, p.88, ISBN 0-521-26693-9
  12. Wagoner, Tidings of the king 1993, p. 240: Pemmasani Ramalingama Nayadu [mentioned in the text] belonged to the influential Pemmasani family that ruled the Gandikota-sima during the second half of the sixteenth century and provided several prominent ministers, including Pemmasani Timma, who served Vijayanagara under the Aravidu dynasty... It is not clear whether he served Krishnadevaraya or a later ruler.
  13. "Aristocracy of South India" by Vadivelu
  14. Muthevi Ravindranath, Sri Krishna deva rayalu vamsamoolalu, Savithri Publications, 2018.
  15. Krishnadeva Raya, M. Rama Rao, 1971, National Book Trust, New Delhi, p. 17
  16. Wagoner, Tidings of the king 1993, pp. 138-139.
  17. Further Sources of Vijayanagar History by K. A. Nilakanta Sastry, 1946, https://archive.org/details/FurtherSourcesOfVijayanagaraHistory
  18. Aristocracy of South India, Vadivelu Modaliar, 1904

Bibliography
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