Ancient Capital of the Kandur Chodas | Heart of Koduru-300 & Kandurnadu
Kodur (called Kodurapura in ancient times) is a town in present‑day Nagarkurnool district, Telangana. It was the celebrated capital of the Kandur Choda (Telugu‑Chola) dynasty, who ruled the prosperous Koduru-300 division and later the vast Kandurnadu-1100 (Kandur-1000). From here, they dominated large parts of southern Telangana and northern Rayalaseema, including most of modern Nagarkurnool district, Amangal (Rangareddy), Devarakonda and Miryalaguda (Nalgonda). The town’s rulers bore the proud title “Kodurpuravaresvara” – Lord of the excellent city of Kodur.
The core territory around Kodur (Nagarkurnool district). Included villages like Kurumiddi, Endabarthi, and areas of Kalwakurthy.
A macro‑region comprising about 1,100 villages, covering much of modern Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda (Miryalaguda, Devarakonda), Rangareddy (Amangal), and parts of Mahabubnagar.
Vaddavani-500 (Waddeman), Ettapi-90, Cheraku-70, Kollipaka-7000, and Kondapalli-nadu were administered from Kodur or its subsidiary capitals.
Ruling Koduru-300. His 1033 CE inscription from Mallesvaram (Kollapur) is the earliest record of the Kanduru family in the region. He issued grants to Jain ascetics. A later record (10th March 1054 CE) from Tatiparthi mentions “Mahamandalesvara Anemarasadeva ruling over Koduru-300”.
10th April 1046 CE: Kurumiddi, Kalwakurthy – inscription on a well called Reddi bavi. Records a grant of two‑thirds share of the agrahara of Kurumiddi in Koduru-300 by maneverggade Kuchimayya, on occasion of a solar eclipse, while Bijjarasa was ruling as subordinate of Western Chalukya king Trailokyamalla Somesvara I. Bijjarasa is described with epithets: udaramahesvaram, Satyayudhishtira, Ripubalanishturam, Saurya marthandam, Kadana prachandam, Saraswati mukha ratna bhushana (ornament to the face of Goddess Saraswati).
Ruling Vaddavani-500 (a division including parts of Kodur region). 25th August 1048 CE: Malleswaram – introduces Sankarasar, a “crest jewel of the Chalukya family”, with epithets like Bhupakandarpa, vairi kula kala sarpam, sangram viram, Raja marthandam. He made a gift of 13 marttars in Kulakuliya in Vaddemana-500 to pontiff Chidisvara pandita.
8th October 1054 CE: Papakallu (Polkampalle) – inscription mentioning Manmujarasa, bearing the title “Mahishmati-puravaresvara” (Lord of Mahishmati). He was part of the Kalachuri presence in the Telangana-Karnataka borderlands, maintaining stability on the Chalukya southern flank.
Nagai (Gulbarga district), 1058 CE – shows Ayyarasa of the Haihaya family ruling Kandurnadu under Chalukya Somesvara I.
17th December 1062 CE: Kosigi (Narayanpet) – subordinate of Vankaya/Tondaya Chola Maharaja. Mentions chief Jnana sakti pandita, disciple of Vakkanadeva of Kandi, and a gift in Panduru village free of encumbrances.
His reign coincided with a major civil war in the Chalukya empire. Bhimachoda II shrewdly backed Vikramaditya VI in his successful coup against his brother, King Somesvara II. As a reward for his crucial support, Vikramaditya VI granted Bhimachoda II the immensely wealthy and vast territory of Kandurunadu, comprising 1100 villages, as an additional fief. This transformed the Kanduri Chodas from local lords into major regional players. To mark this new status, Bhimachoda II adopted the proud titles "Kodurpuravaresvara" (Lord of the excellent city of Kodur) and "Kanduri-Choda".
25th December 1087 CE: Kolanupaka (Bhuvanagiri) – fragmentary inscription mentioning Mahamandalesvara Kandura Tondaya Chola maharaja, lord of Kodurpura, ruling Kollipaka-7000, making a gift to god Somesvara.
24th December 1088 CE: Kolanupaka – dated Chalukya-Vikrama year 13. Records gift of land to god Uttaresvara by Tondarasa Chola-maharaja of Kandur, lord of Kodur.
21st May 1091 CE: Kolanupaka – records gift of Baliya Duddandi in Manemagga-70 to god Somesvara of Kollipaka-7000.
24th December 1092 CE: Koppale, Devarakonda – records gift of tank at Kroprolu by Kanduri Tondaya Choda Maharaja, lord of Kodurupura, for a choultry attached to Rudresvaradeva.
Brother of Tonda II. Lord of Kodurapura. 25th December 1107 CE: Alampur, Mahabubnagar – records gift of taxes and fines from Kandanavola to god Brahmesvara by Mahamandalesvara Mallarasa, lord of Koduru, after honouring mahasthapanacarya Dharanindrarasi Pandita. Another inscription from Amarabad (C.V.E. 30) mentions Dhennammadevi, chief queen of Kanduri Nalla Bhimadeva Choda Maharaja (possibly Mallarasa’s successor).
18th June 1116 CE: Gattuthimmam, Udimilla – inscription on a pillar in Rameswara Swamy temple. Registers gift of 18 tumus and ghee for perpetual lamp, and 24 rukas from Siddhayamu, by Vennamahadevi, chief queen of Nalla Bhimadeva Choda Maharaja.
29th October 1110 CE: Alwanipalli – inscription recording municipal regulations for the capital town of Koduru, formulated by prince Tailapadeva with consent of residents.
14th August 1121 CE: Nekkonda – begins with prasasti of Kumara Tailapadeva, son of Vikramaditya VI, ruling from Kodur with queen Lakshmi Devi and sons Permadi and Birideva. Registers gift of village Budupura in Kanderu-70 (Kanduru-1000) for Ramesvara temple.
28th June 1121 CE: Yeleswaram, Nalgonda – records gift of village Koduru to god Yeleswara Deva by Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Gokarna Deva Choda Maharaja, of Karikala dynasty, ruler of Kodurpuravara.
30th January 1128 CE: Anamala, Miryalaguda – record of Chalukya king Bhulokamalladeva. Subordinate Kanduru Gokarna Choda, lord of Kodurupura, made gift of wetland and gardens to god Varadesvara of Alamala.
1128 CE: Anamala, Miryalaguda – two epigraphs. One, dated Saka 1050 (1128 CE), was issued by Sridevi Tondaya and is silent about any overlord, suggesting an independent status. It records granting the prabhutva (lordship) of Alamula in Cheraku-70 to Ajjala Erayana‑peggada. The record contains Telugu verses listing royal insignia: adapamu (betel bag), andalamu (palanquin), dharalu (swords), godugulu (umbrellas), pili (elephant), etc.
1131 CE: Adavi-Devulapalli, Miryalaguda – records installation of deity Ramaramana on Krishna river bank by Kandari Tondaya‑chada, lord of Koduripura, ruling from Panugallur over Kandura nadu, Vinuribada-nadu and Kondapalli-nadu.
20th April 1148 CE: Endabatti – records installation of deity Vaishravana Bhatti in Kesavadeva temple, Endabarthi in Koduru-300, by villagers Bachanayaka and Bhimanayaka while Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Udayana Choda Maharaju was ruling.
24th February 1149 CE: Srikonda – inscription stating that Mahamandalika Ketaya of Pallava lineage obtained Kondapalli Nadu by charter from Mahamandalesvara Koduru Udayana Choda Maharaja, who was ruling Sirikonda-rajya. Grants lands and tolls to various deities.
25th December 1162 CE: Jadcherla – records that revenue officers Nalla Sidhamaya and Erra Sidhamaya of Udayana Choda maharaja granted two perpetual lamps to Svayambhu Somanadhadeva of Koduru.
These brothers ruled as loyal vassals of the Kakatiyas. Their inscriptions record grants to temples, issued firmly under Kakatiya umbrella.
1235 CE: Edampalli, Devarakonda – registers gift of his part of village Nalladamapalli for offerings to god Mahesvara by Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Udayaditya Choda Maharaja, lord of Kodurupura, for the merit of his father Somanathadeva.
Mentioned in a fragmentary record; exact details lost.
16th April 1282 CE: Agamotukuru, Miryalaguda – inscription on a stone pillar in front of Anjaneya temple. Refers to the reign of Kakatiya Rudra Mahadevulu (Rudrama Devi). Introduces her subordinate Kanduri Ramanathadeva choda Maharaja of Kasyapa gotra, Karikalanvaya, solar race, lord of Kodurpura. He installed god Viramalnathadeva (named after his father) and endowed it with lands, tolls (sumka) and taxes (ari) from Mrontukuru village. The record includes a detailed schedule of daily offerings: rice, green gram, ghee, payasa, curries, curd, pepper, betel nuts, sandal, musk, camphor.
Administrative, Economic & Cultural Legacy of Kodur
Kodur (Kodurapura) served as the primary capital of the Kandur Chodas for over 250 years. From here, they governed Koduru-300 and, at their zenith, Kandurnadu-1100. The town had municipal regulations recorded in inscriptions (Alwanipalli, 1110 CE).
Inscriptions mention taxes (sumka, ari, siddhayamu), market fees, and land measures (marttar, putti, tumu). Merchants and guilds operated in Kodur, and the town had an agrahara (Brahmin settlement) as early as 1046 CE.
The Kodur rulers patronised Shaivism (Ramesvara, Somanatha, Brahmesvara), Vaishnavism (Kesavadeva, Chennakesava), and Jainism (early period). Temples at Kodur, Alampur, Nekkonda, and Panugallu received generous endowments.
Territorial Extent under the Kodur Chodas
Nagarkurnool district, Kalwakurthy, parts of Wanaparthy and Mahabubnagar. Villages: Kurumiddi, Endabarthi, Kodur itself.
Kollipaka-7000 (Nalgonda district including Miryalaguda, Devarakonda), Panugallu, Kondapalli-nadu.
Amangal (Rangareddy), Vaddavani-500 (Nandi Vaddeman), Cheraku-70, and parts of Raichur Doab.
Chronology of Kodur (Kodurapura)
- 1033 CE: Kanduru Anemarasa’s first inscription (Mallesvaram).
- 1046 CE: Bijjarasa inscription at Kurumiddi (Koduru-300).
- 1048 CE: Sankaragandarasa gift in Vaddemana-500.
- 1054 CE: Anemarasa ruling Koduru-300 (Tatiparthi).
- 1062 CE: Jayasimha Chola inscription (Kosigi).
- 1077–1091 CE: Bhimachoda II receives Kandurnadu-1100, adopts title “Kodurpuravaresvara”.
- 1088–1092 CE: Tonda II inscriptions at Kolanupaka, Koppale.
- 1107 CE: Mallarasa inscription at Alampur.
- 1110 CE: Kumara Tailapa’s municipal regulations for Kodur.
- 1116 CE: Nalla Bhimadeva Choda grant at Gattuthimmam.
- 1121 CE: Gokarna Deva Choda gift at Yeleswaram.
- 1128–1131 CE: Sridevi Tondaya independent-style grants at Anamala and Adavi-Devulapalli.
- 1148 CE: Udayana Choda inscription at Endabatti (Koduru-300).
- 1162 CE: Udayana Choda’s officers grant lamps at Jadcherla.
- 1235 CE: Udayaditya Choda grant at Edampalli.
- 1282 CE: Ramanathadeva Choda inscription at Agamotukuru (last known record).
Enduring Legacy of Kodurapura
Kodur (Kodurapura) was not merely a town but the political and cultural heart of the Kandur Choda dynasty for over two and a half centuries. From here, they rose from local lords of Koduru-300 to masters of Kandurnadu-1100, playing a decisive role in the Chalukya civil war and later becoming important feudatories of the Kakatiyas. Their inscriptions, written in elegant Sanskrit and Telugu, provide a rich chronicle of medieval Deccan administration, taxation, religion, and society. The title “Kodurpuravaresvara” echoed across the Telangana and Rayalaseema country, a testament to the strategic importance and prestige of this ancient city. Today, Kodur remains a living link to that glorious past, waiting for further archaeological exploration and conservation.
- Mallesvaram Inscriptions of Anemarasa (1033, 1038 CE).
- Kurumiddi Inscription of Bijjarasa (1046 CE) – ARIE.
- Malleswaram Inscription of Sankaragandarasa (1048 CE).
- Kolanupaka Inscriptions of Tonda II (1087–1092 CE).
- Alampur Inscription of Mallarasa (1107 CE).
- Alwanipalli Inscription of Kumara Tailapa (1110 CE).
- Nekkonda Inscription of Kumara Tailapa (1121 CE).
- Anamala and Adavi-Devulapalli Inscriptions of Sridevi Tondaya (1128–1131 CE).
- Endabatti, Srikonda, Jadcherla Inscriptions of Udayana Choda (1148–1162 CE).
- Edampalli Inscription of Udayaditya Choda (1235 CE).
- Agamotukuru Inscription of Ramanathadeva Choda (1282 CE).
- N. Venkataramanayya, The Kakatiyas of Warangal.
- Yashoda Devi, The History of Andhra Country.
- Gazetteer of Nagarkurnool district (Telangana).
- Annual Reports on Indian Epigraphy (ARIE).