Ravella Nayaks
Encyclopedia
The independence of Telugu
land came to an end in fifty years with the martyrdom of Musunuri Kaapaaneedu
,a prominent Kamma
warrior in 1370 CE at the hands of Recherla Velama
s who collaborated with Bahmani sultan . A large number of remaining Nayaks who served under Kaapaaneedu migrated to Vijayanagar
and sworn allegiance to Bukka Raya, a close associate of Kaapaaneedu in protecting the Hindu dharma in Dakshnapatha (Deccan). Among them, Ravella a kamma
clan which earned laurels for their bravery and defense of Vijayanagar Empire in the coming three centuries was noteworthy. The military commanders of Araviti kings were predominantly from Ravella clan. The most invaluable source of Ravella chiefs, their lineage and military exploits is a Telugu poetic treatise “Sougandhikaprasavapaharanamu” by Ratnakaram Gopalakavi.
and Dupatiseema from 1364 CE as vassals of Vijayanagar Empire . Their title Chalamartiganda shows that they belonged to Durjaya clan and Vallutla Gothra.
. Malla used to maintain an army of 6,000 soldiers and 400 horses . His annual income was 13,000 Varahas (gold coins) out of which one third was paid to the king. Malla assisted Vasireddy Mallikarjuna in his battle with Haider Jung and died in 1527 CE (Vasireddy Clan
).
Malla’s son Tippa participated in the expedition of Krishnadevaraya
to defeat the Gajapatis (1513-1515 CE) . The king decorated Tippa with many laurels and presented many gifts.
Tippa’s son Papa defeated the Muslim army and captured Kurnool fort for Rama Raya (1506 CE). Papa’s son Tippa II and grandson Linga I were also great warriors.
Konda (son of Linga I) who served Saluva Timmaraya conquered Adoni fort by defeating Naudul Khan at Manavapuri.
Tippa II’s son Ayyappa was a decorated commander in the army of Rama Raya. He ruled from Tirumanikota. He recovered Penukonda and Adoni forts from Abdullah Qutbshah of Golkonda
in 1611 CE. He was decorated with many titles such as Aswarevanta, Parabalabhima, Chalamartivaraganda, Adavanidurgagarvavibhala, Hattumuvvraganda etc., Later, Linga II, grandson of Ayyappa, commanded the Vijayanagar
army and captured the forts of Kurnool
, Gandikota
and Adoni. Gopala Kavi who described the exploits of Linga II was patronized by him.
Inscriptions in Nellore
district showed that during the rule of Araviti kings, Ravella clan controlled Podili (Tippa Nayudu), Udayagiri (Koneti Nayudu) and Kocherlakota (Timma Nayudu).
Families of Ravella clan are currently distributed in Krishna
, Guntur
, Chittoor
and Khammam
districts of Andhra Pradesh
in addition to a Zamindari (Ilayarasanendal in Tirunelveli
Dt) in Tamil Nadu
.
The book called "The Aristocracy of Southern India" by A. Vadivelu gives details about the Ravella zamindars of Ilayarasanendal in detail.
http://books.google.com/books?id=oFwDWt2N29cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=aristocracy+of+southern+india&hl=en&ei=3NFOTaK7HszngQerwswF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
land came to an end in fifty years with the martyrdom of Musunuri Kaapaaneedu
Musunuri Kaapaaneedu
Musunuri Kaapaaneedu , also known as 'Kaapaya Nayak', Krishna Nayak or Kanya Nayak, was the chosen leader of the confederacy of several sovereign Telugu nobles who united to liberate Telugu country from Muslim rule and protect Hindu dharma...
,a prominent Kamma
Kamma
Kamma may refer to:*Kamma , a caste or social group found largely in Southern India*The Pali and Ardhamagadhi term for karma*Bava Kamma, a traditional Jewish civil law procedure dealing largely with damages and compensation....
warrior in 1370 CE at the hands of Recherla Velama
Velama
Velama or the Velama Doralu is a social group found mainly in Andhra Pradesh. Velamas are classed as "Upper Shudras". The history of Velama's is as old as Telugu bravery. Military exploits of Velamas form an important part of Telugu tradition, history and folklore...
s who collaborated with Bahmani sultan . A large number of remaining Nayaks who served under Kaapaaneedu migrated to Vijayanagar
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
and sworn allegiance to Bukka Raya, a close associate of Kaapaaneedu in protecting the Hindu dharma in Dakshnapatha (Deccan). Among them, Ravella a kamma
Kamma
Kamma may refer to:*Kamma , a caste or social group found largely in Southern India*The Pali and Ardhamagadhi term for karma*Bava Kamma, a traditional Jewish civil law procedure dealing largely with damages and compensation....
clan which earned laurels for their bravery and defense of Vijayanagar Empire in the coming three centuries was noteworthy. The military commanders of Araviti kings were predominantly from Ravella clan. The most invaluable source of Ravella chiefs, their lineage and military exploits is a Telugu poetic treatise “Sougandhikaprasavapaharanamu” by Ratnakaram Gopalakavi.
Early history
The first menton of a Ravella chief was found in the inscription of Rajaraja III (1257 CE). Ravella chiefs ruled SrisailamSrisailam
Srisailam is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of River Krishna, about 232 km south of Hyderabad....
and Dupatiseema from 1364 CE as vassals of Vijayanagar Empire . Their title Chalamartiganda shows that they belonged to Durjaya clan and Vallutla Gothra.
The commanders
The Ravella clan can be traced from Malla Nayaka (1495 CE) who served as a commander in Saluva Narasimha Raya’s army. Malla vanquished the army of Qutb Shah (Bahmani General) at Gudipadu and cut the general into pieces. He was known by his title Rajahridayabhalla Pratapaprabhava. Poet Ratnakaram Gopalakavi described the exploits of Malla in detail. Ravella clan had a large camping ground of 1260 Kuntas in the city of VijayanagarVijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
. Malla used to maintain an army of 6,000 soldiers and 400 horses . His annual income was 13,000 Varahas (gold coins) out of which one third was paid to the king. Malla assisted Vasireddy Mallikarjuna in his battle with Haider Jung and died in 1527 CE (Vasireddy Clan
Vasireddy Clan
-History:The first historical record of the Vasireddy clan can be traced from 1413 CE inscription of Pothineedu at Pithapuram 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...
).
Malla’s son Tippa participated in the expedition of Krishnadevaraya
Krishnadevaraya
Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
to defeat the Gajapatis (1513-1515 CE) . The king decorated Tippa with many laurels and presented many gifts.
Tippa’s son Papa defeated the Muslim army and captured Kurnool fort for Rama Raya (1506 CE). Papa’s son Tippa II and grandson Linga I were also great warriors.
Konda (son of Linga I) who served Saluva Timmaraya conquered Adoni fort by defeating Naudul Khan at Manavapuri.
Tippa II’s son Ayyappa was a decorated commander in the army of Rama Raya. He ruled from Tirumanikota. He recovered Penukonda and Adoni forts from Abdullah Qutbshah of Golkonda
Golkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
in 1611 CE. He was decorated with many titles such as Aswarevanta, Parabalabhima, Chalamartivaraganda, Adavanidurgagarvavibhala, Hattumuvvraganda etc., Later, Linga II, grandson of Ayyappa, commanded the Vijayanagar
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
army and captured the forts of Kurnool
Kurnool
Kurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
, Gandikota
Gandikota
Gandikota is a small village on the right bank of the river Pennar, 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh in India. Gandikota was founded in 1123 by Kapa Raja of nearby Bommanapalle village and a subordinate of Ahavamalla Someswara I, the Western Chalukyan king of Kalyana...
and Adoni. Gopala Kavi who described the exploits of Linga II was patronized by him.
Inscriptions in Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
district showed that during the rule of Araviti kings, Ravella clan controlled Podili (Tippa Nayudu), Udayagiri (Koneti Nayudu) and Kocherlakota (Timma Nayudu).
Families of Ravella clan are currently distributed in Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
, Chittoor
Chittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai....
and Khammam
Khammam
Khammam , is the headquarters of the Khammam District in Andhra Pradesh state of India and is located about east of state capital, Hyderabad...
districts of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
in addition to a Zamindari (Ilayarasanendal in Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
Dt) in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
The book called "The Aristocracy of Southern India" by A. Vadivelu gives details about the Ravella zamindars of Ilayarasanendal in detail.
http://books.google.com/books?id=oFwDWt2N29cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=aristocracy+of+southern+india&hl=en&ei=3NFOTaK7HszngQerwswF&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false