Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire (1336 - 1646)
Founders : Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty
Capital : Vijayanagar

Languages : Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu

Religion : Hinduism

The kingdom of Vijayanagar was founded by Harihara and Bukka, two of five brothers (surnamed Sangama) who had served in the administrations of both Kakatiya and Kampili before those kingdoms were conquered by the armies of the Delhi sultanate in the 1320s. When Kampili fell in 1327, the two brothers are believed to have been captured and taken to Delhi, where they converted to Islam. They were returned to the Deccan as governors of Kampili for the sultanate with the hope that they would be able to deal with the many local revolts and invasions by neighbouring Hindu kings. They followed a conciliatory policy toward the landholders of the area, many of whom had not accepted Muslim rule, and began a process of consolidation and expansion. Their first campaign was against the neighbouring Hoysala king, Ballala III of Dorasamudra, but it stagnated; after the brothers reconverted to Hinduism under the influence of the sage Madhavacarya(Vidyaranya) and proclaimed their independence from the Delhi sultanate, however, they were able to defeat Ballala and thereby secure their home base. Harihara I (reigned 1336–56) then established his new capital, Vijayanagar, in an easily defensible position south of the Tungabhadra River.

In 1336 Harihara, with the help of his brothers, held uneasy suzerainty over lands extending from Nellore, on the southeast coast, to Badami, south of Bijapur on the western side of the Deccan. All around him new Hindu kingdoms were rising, the most important of which were the Hoysala kingdom of Ballala and the confederacy, led by Kapaya Nayaka in Telangana.

The Vijayanagara Empire saw the rise and fall of 4 dynasties.

1. Sangama Dynasty
2. Saluva Dynasty
3. Tuluva Dynasty
4. Aravidu Dynasty

Sangama Dynasty

21 June 1377 AD – 1404 AD : Harihara Raya II
1386 AD : This copper plate is dated S. 1308, belonging to Vijayanagara king Harikara in Nagari script and Sanskrit and Kannada languages, records the gift of some vrittis of land to Brahmanas of the Pampakshetra. The king Harihara is praised for his proficiency in the Shastras taught by his Vidyaranya Swami.

28th February 1397 A.D : Kaleshwaram
This inscription is on one pillar of 16-Pillared mandapa of Muktesvara temple from Kaleshwaram, dated Saka 1319, Isvara, 1st day of the year, Wednesday, corresponding to the 28th February 1397 A.D., states in a verse in Sardulavikridita that Devaraya, the son of Harihara, performed the tulapurusha on the occasion of his digvijaya. It was obviously under orders of his father Harihara that Prince Devaraya undertook this campaign of Conquest. The Velugoyivarivamsavali alludes to a number of clashes of the Velamas, who sided with the Bahmani Sultans, with the Vijayanagara kings (Further Sources of Vijayanagara History, Vol. I, pp. 82-83). The Panugallu inscription (cf. op.cit., Vol. II, pp. 38-39), dated 6 months later than this record, refers to the capture of the fort of Panungal by Immadi Bukka, assisted by his son Ananta.

30th December, A.D. 1397 : Pangal, Kollapur, Nagarkurnool District
The record refers to the reign of Harihara II, son of Bukka of the Sangama dynasty of Vijayanagara. The object of the inscription is to record the conquest of Panugallu by the Dviguna-Bukka. The details of the date of the conquest are given as Saka 1319 (expressed by chronogram), Isvara, Pausha (Sahasya), su. 11(Sambhor=dina), Sunday, corresponding to the 30th December 1397 A.D.

1406 AD - 1422 AD : Deva Raya I

1424AD - 1446 AD : Deva Raya II

1424 AD: Pangal - Dated in Saka 1346 during the rule of Devaraya, another epigraph records the construction of the temple of Mukti-Ramesvara by Devanarayana, belonging to a Brahmana family from Kasmira, who was the governor of the fort and who claims to have destroyed the army of Firuz Shah.

Two of Deva Raya's sons, named Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha I, are mentioned in various inscriptions.

1446 AD - 1468 AD : Mallikarjuna Raya 

Mallikarjuna was the son of Deva Raya II by the Queen Ponnala Devi.

The Bahmani Sultanate took over much of the Vijayanagara Empire by 1450 and grew closer to the capital of Vijayanagara. 

Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
1464 AD : Language : Telugu and Sanskrit
This inscription is dated S. 1386 (9), Sarvajit, Magha, ba. 14, Monday, Sivaratri.Records the gift of the village Sarangapura to the head of the religious establishment ofSarangesvara Matha viz, Peddakuppasakanthadeva by Pedakachappodaya at the command ofthe king. The gift estate was approved by Kadali Bhikshavrtti Ayyangaru, the pontiff of Srisaila throne, by crediting 500 varahas into the treasury of Mallikarjuna.

27th February A.D. 1468 AD : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
Language : Sanskrit and Telugu. Script : Telugu.
On the command of Mallikarjuna Raya and with the permission of Kadali biksha vritti lyyengar seated on Srisaila simhasana Peda Kachappodayalu garu, constructed a village called Sarangapura in the fields of Naramarilla and made it over to Kemidevuni veerayya, the Saranga matadhipati for the merit of his guru and parents.

1468 AD - 1485 AD : Virupaksha Raya II lost the Konkan coast (including Goa, Chaul, and Dabul) by 1470 to Prime Minister Mahamud Gawan of Turko-Persian Bahmani Sultanate, who was sent to conquer the area by the Sultan Muhammad Shah III. The Bahmani Sultan would also invade the Doab of Krishna and Tungabhadra, and the Raja Purushottama Gajapati of Odisha invaded Tiruvannamalai. Because of these losses, Virupaksha became increasingly unpopular and ignited many of the empire's provinces to rebel, eventually leading up to Virupaksha's death at the hands of his own son, Praudha Raya in 1485. Praudha Raya himself was not able to salvage the empire but an able general Saluva Narasimha I took control of the empire in 1485 and helped prevent its demise, though this change of power marked the end of the Sangama Dynasty and the beginning of the Saluva Dynasty.

The End of the Sangama Dynasty
Saluva Narasimha was single-handedly holding the great empire together without formally taking over the throne. In the meantime, after the debacle of the attempt to recover Goa on his own, Virupaksha II’s behaviour became even more erratic than before. He ordered random killings of his commanders for trivial charges and started to unleash a reign of terror amongst the nobles. Sick of this behaviour of his father, Virupaksha’s eldest son murdered him. However, he refused to assume the throne since he had committed patricide, a heinous crime according to Hindu scriptures. Therefore, he considered himself ‘unfit’ to be king.

1485 AD - 1486 AD : Praudha Raya
This prince therefore raised his brother, Praudha Deva Raya, to the throne. However, this Deva Raya turned out to be even more wicked and debauched than his father. Very soon after coming to the throne, he became suspicious of his elder brother who had gifted him the throne and personally killed him. It was obvious to all that Sangama power had run its course and that the Sangama scion had lost the moral authority to rule. The time was ripe to supplant this dynasty, whose fundamental roots itself had become rotten to the core.

Saluva Dynasty

1486 AD - 1491 AD : Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya

Saluva Narasimha realised that the time had come to assume the mantle of king. He wrote to all the chiefs, commanders and important nobles and secured their goodwill and then send his trusted general Narasa Nayaka to march on Vijayanagara, the capital. The dates of this take over vary in different accounts, but it can be placed as being within the span of 1486-90. Deva Raya, who had reinstated himself in Vijayanagara fled at the approach of the Saluva army—the Sangamas disappeared from the firmament of Vijayanagara, without even an audible whimper or creating any ripples.

1491 AD : Thimma Bhupala (died 1491 CE)

Elder son and heir-apparent of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, the Sovereign of the Vijayanagara Empire. During the reign of his father, he held the office of the Yuvaraja.Prince Thimma succeeded his father in 1491 but was soon assassinated by an army commander loyal to the Sangamas during a period of political unrest in Vijayanagara. He was succeeded by his younger brother Narasimha Raya II.
 

1491 AD - 1505 AD : Narasimha Raya II / Immadi Narasimha
29th February A.D. 1504 : Wanaparthy, Wanaparthy District.
The eldest son of his Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya's prime minister, Narasa Nayaka, had Narasimha Raya II assassinated and ascended to the throne himself in 1505, beginning the Tuluva dynasty, the third dynasty of the Vijayanagara empire.

Tuluva Dynasty

1505 AD - 1509 AD : Tuluva Narasa Nayaka  / Vira Narasimha Raya

1509 AD -1529 AD : Krishna Deva Raya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 - 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.

Krishnadevaraya's rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation. This was the time when the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna river (the Raichur doab) was acquired (1512), ruler of Odisha were subdued (1514) and severe defeats were inflicted on the Sultan of Bijapur (1520).

4th May, A.D. 1516  : Nelakondapalli, Khammamet, Khammam District.
Language : Telugu.
The following inscription is on three sides of a pillar now planted in the compound of the local library at Nelakondapalli. It is in Telugu prose and records the grant of land to some shrines in Kondapalli, on the orders of Kondamarusayya, who ruled in this region as governor in the reign of Krsna-deva-raya of Vijayanagara.

The inscription is dated in Saka 1438, Dhatr, Jyeṣṭha, suddha, tritiya, Sunday. The date is a sound one and corresponds to Sunday the 4th of May A.D. 1516. The tithi on the previous day (that is, Saturday) was dvitiya, and trtiya did not commence till 98 of that day. The same tithi continued the whole of Sunday and lasted for I ghatika for 30 minutes after sunrise on Monday. The inscription is important as evidence of Krsna-deva-raya's conquest of this region.The Pillar containing this inscription was actually set up by Parvat-ayyamgaru.

1516 AD : Nalagonda (modern Nalgonda),Khammamet and Khandikonda (an Mabbababad taluk of the Warangal district), are referred to among others, important places in the Gajapati kingdom which Krsna-deva-raya captured.

Krishnadevaraya was preparing for an attack on Belgaum, which was in the Adil Shah's possession. Around this time, Krishnadevaraya fell ill and eventually died in 1529, succeeded by his brother, Achyuta Deva Raya.

16th January, A.D. 1521 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District
Language : Kannada.
This inscription is dated S. 1443, Vrsha, Asadha Su. 12, (A.D. 1521, Jan 16 Sunday). Records the grant of two villages Chennunipadu and Velambodu by Gauradanayankara Basavapayya who was Amara dandanayaka over Alampurusima. He was so appointed by Krishnaraya after his subjugation of Rachuru.

3rd March A.D. 1527. : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District 
Language : Telugu. Script : Telugu.
It is a copper plate at Brahmesvara temple. Registers the gift of a village Chennupalli of Alampura sima, for anga ranga vaibhava of Navabrahmesvara by Chinnapeddinayudu, son of Bhudaram Peddinayudu,. Śrī krishnadevaraya Chinnapeddinayudu a palegar of Alampur sima.

23rd April A.D. 1529. : Chennipadu, Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District
Language : Kannada. Script : Telugu.
This inscription is on the slab in the compound of Chennakesava temple. Records thegift of village Pusalapadu also known as Krishnapuram in Alampuri sima, for the Amurutapadi of Chennakesavadeva of Chennipadu on lunar eclipse by Chandrasekharayya son ofAnnaji Ayya, for the merit of his over lord Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and his minister Timmarasayya. The record ends with lengthy imprecatory verses.

1529 AD - 1542 AD : Achuyta Deva Raya
2nd November A.D. 1538  : Kosangi.
Language : Kannada.  Script : Telugu.
This inscription states that while Achyutaraya was ruling his amara nayaka (name lost) Immadi Medi Naraya made a gift of a well and garden to the God Somesvara of Kosagi.

1542 AD  - 1570 AD : Sadasiva Raya

1552 AD - 1554 AD : This is a copper plate with two charters, dated Saka 1474 and 1476, registered grant of villages Jaduvalli and Rellundi respectively to Somanatha Bhatta and Venkatadri by king Sadasiva Raya.

1586 AD -1614 AD : Venkatapati Raya   

Polepally, Jadcherla, Mahbubnagar district.
This inscription is on a pedestal in the Chennakesava Temple. This inscription mentions that a pillar which was broken for a long time was replaced in the temple of Ahobala Narasimhasvami of Polepalli by Mudugallu Nurussa Chintamani.

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Wanaparthy District History

Wanaparthy district is a district in the Indian state of Telangana. Its headquarters is Wanaparthy. The district shares boundaries with Gadwal, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Nagarkurnool districts and with the state boundary of Andhra pradesh.

It was carved out of Mahabubnagar district.

 c.550 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas (543 AD - 753 AD) Pulakeshin I defeated Vakataka Dynasty in c.550 AD. Pulakeshin II defeated Durjaya Dynasty in 611 AD and defeated Vishnukundins in 611 / 624 AD.

655 AD - 680 AD : Vikramaditya I 
Vikramaditya I was the third son and followed his father, Pulakesi II on to the Chalukya throne. He restored order in the fractured kingdom and made the Pallavas retreat from the capital Vatapi.

13th April, 660 AD : mudalapadu (Iparumkal), Kollapur
Sanskrit. Registered the grant of the village Iparumkal situated in Vamguravati Vishaya by Vikramaditya I while he was camping at the village Marrura. The grant was made in favour of one Sudarsanacharya towards guru dakshina on the occasion of the king's Sivamandaladiksha on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month.

The village Marrura is identified with Chinnamarur and Peddamarur on the bank of river Krishna in the Kollapur taluka of Nagarkurnool district. 

The Vanguruvati vishaya is identified with village Vanguru of Wanaparti district. Iparumkal village is identified with Vippanagandla which is twelve miles from Marrura.

It is interesting to note that this inscription refers to the rituals of Sivamandaladiksha that were prevalent in those days. Vikramaditya I seems to have been the first ruler of the Badami line of Western Chalukya kings to patronise Saivism

1058 AD - 1077 AD : Sankaragandarasa of Rashtrakuta
Manthati : This inscription is on a hill called Bayyanagutta outside the village. Records the installation of God Bhairava in Wanaparthy by Attikabbe, wife of Mesavala Ketaya mantri, ankakara Sankaraganda of Kanduru. This is the earliest reference to modern Wanaparti.

Nalla Bhimadeva-Choda
Upparapalli, Ghanpur Mandal, Wanaparthy
This Telugu inscription in the characters of the twelfth century A.D. is engraved on a stone lying in the field of Sudhakar Reddy. Dated in the cyclic year Hemalambi, it refers to the Kanduri-Choda chief, Nalla Bhima Deva-Choda, who is described as mahamandalesvara, Kodurpuravaresvara and as one who belongs to Surva-vamsa, Kasyapa-gotra and Karikala- anvaya. It registers the grant of lands by his queen Venna-mahadevi for the worship and food offerings to the deity Nrisimhadeva of Mavindlapalli. On the occasion of uttarayana- samkranti, for the merit of the chief.

1278 AD : Annama Raja
12th November A.D. 1278 : Pamapur, Wanaparthy 

This inscription is outside the village near Streamlet. Records the grant of Borra Sunkas (taxes) of the village of Ponnamuchha by a certain Annamaraju, for the merit of Rudradeva (Rudramadevi).

Bahmani Sultanate (1347 AD - 1527 AD)
Founder : Zafar Khan or Hasan Gangu or Allauddin Hassan or Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah

1494 AD : Mahmood Shah Bahmani II (Mar 26, 1482 - Dec 27, 1518 AD)
1494 AD : Ghanpur Fort
This inscription is on a stone lying behind the high school building, dated S. 1416, (A.D. 1494). Records a land lease contract executed by a Mussalman chief Nizamul mulk, in favour of a merchant guild. A part of the Ghanpur area was leased to the merchants for cultivation. The language is mixed with many Urdu words.

1504 AD : Immadi Narasimha of Vijayanagara Saluva Dynasty
29th February A.D. 1504 : Wanaparthy
Registers the grant of an agrahara village Agarupattu otherwise known as 'Changaḍi' situated on the bank of the river Kavaripaka in Padaiveedu maharajya by the king to Parairi Bhatta, son of Tiruvengada Bhatta, grandson of Lakshman Bhatta and great grandson of Sri Narayana of Gautamavarma. The gift village was renamed as Immadi Sri Narasimhendrapura.

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Pangal Fort

Pangal Fort is located at Pangal in Wanaparthy District of Telangana, India.

Pangal Fort is one of the Famous Hill Forts in Telangana. It was built by Kalyani Chalukya Kings during 11th and 12th Centuries. The fort is spread across hundreds of acres with Seven Gateways. The Main entrance is called as Mundlagavini and is a special attraction of this fort. It was built with huge granite rocks.

The ruins of the fort houses several monuments built with beautiful architecture, including Uyyala Mandapam and several water bodies. Many deadly wars had taken place among the dynasties like Bahamani, Vijayanagara, Padmanayaka and Qutub Shahis at this fort. The fort also witnessed guerrilla warfare during the revolted against the Nizam.

The specialty of the fort is its area ad terrain. Spread across hundreds of acres of land in rugged hilly terrain with thorny vegetation, the fort area is guarded by seven gateways. There are some small ponds, rock structures and beautiful rock formations. This abandoned fort is now neglected and filled with beautiful green foliage through out. The fort was controlled by the Kalyani Chalukya, Bahmani, Padmanayaka, Reddiraajulu, Qutb Shahis and many local warlords. Due to the invention of the cannon, simple hill forts have become useless to host large armies and therefore abandoned. The forts was impregnable in guerrilla warfare where small rebel groups revolted against the Nizams.

Pangal can be reached from Wanaparthy which is 15 km away. The trekking starts from Pangal village and it is an easy trek which takes about 2 hours to reach the peak, explore and come back to the village.

At a distance of 1.5 km from Pangal Bus Station, 15 km from Wanaparthy Bus Station, 74 km from Mahabubnagar Bus Station and 163 km from Hyderabad.

Sources

https://www.trawell.in/telangana/mahabubnagar/pangal-fort

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Khilla Ghanpur Fort

Khilla Ghanpur Fort is located in Ganpur village & Mandal, Wanaparthy District, Telangana State, India.

This hill fort was built by joining two mountains by Recharla Padma Nayakulu and Gona Ganapa reddy in 13th century. This fort has witnessed many wars between Bahamanis, Vijayanagara Kings, Bijapur Kings and Qutb Shahi Kings etc. The cannons which still exist have been kept on the top most side of the fort. We can also see palace and ministers houses ruins.

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Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple

Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple is located in Srirangapur,  Pebbair Mandal,  Wanaparthy district, Telangana State, India.

Srirangapuram temple situated at an island formed by 'Ratna Pushkarini' lake and is renowned for the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple. 

There is an interesting story behind this temple. It is said that the King Krishnadevaraya, Vijayanagaram ruler once went to Srirangapuram and was mesmerized by the beauty of Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple there. And then he decided to construct a Ranganayaka Swamy Temple in his kingdom. 

Later, Ranganayaka (Lord Vishnu) appeared in his dream and told the king that his idol is lying in the kingdom and an eagle would direct him to that place. And it is said that succeeding day Krishna Devaraya followed the eagle and found the idol between Kothakota and Kanvyapalli mountains. The temple was constructed near Ratna Pushpakarni Lake in the kingdom.

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Atmakur Amarchinta Samsthan

Atmakur Amarchinta Samsthan is in Wanaparthy district.

Founder : Sri Gopal Reddy

Capitals : Initially Thippadam valley. Later the capital was shifted to Atmakur on the left bank of Krishna River.

Surname of the family is Mukkaravaru.

1268 AD - 1278 AD : Sri Gopal Reddy
The ancestor of Amarchinta Samthanam, Gopal Reddy was the native of Chandragiri which is situated 11 kms away from Tirupathi Gona Ganna Reddy (A.D.1262-1296) one of the feudatories of Kakatiyas when visited Thirupathi developed an acquaintance with Gopal Reddy and invited him to Vardhamanpura which is presently called Waddeman. He was made as Nadagoud of thirty of forty villages in Makthalparagana and given the responsibilities of extending the irrigational facilities and collection of revenues

Pedda Gopi Reddy are Gopi Reddy are sons of Sri Gopal Reddy
1278 AD - 1350 AD : Chinna Gopi Reddy I

Gopal Reddy’s sons Pedda Gopi Reddy and Chinna Gopi Reddy further established their supremacy in this region. They were also bestowed with several other villages in Amarachinta, Waddeman, Utkur and Kodechurparaganas by Gona Kata Reddy, the sons of Gona Buddha Reddy. Their position had increased from Nadagoud to Sarnadagoud. 

After the fall of the Kakatiyas in A.D.1323 this region went into the hands of Bahamani Sultans. Owing to their local power base, their position was recognised by the new over-lords i.e., the Muslim Sultans of Bahamani Kingdom. The Bahamani Sultans further enhanced their power in recognition of their services such as suppressing the rebellious Zamindars in neighbouring provinces. Raja Ram one of the Zamindar in the Raichur provinces when rebelled against the Bahamani Sultan Hasan Gangu, Chinna Gopi Reddy raided with his forces the Zamindari of Rajaram and took him captive to Padusha [Sultan]. For such valour the Bahamani Sultan bestowed on him the revenue and military powers on pancha mahals i.e.,
Makthal, Utkur, Amarchinta, Waddeman, Kadechur in addition to Muzafarnagar.

1350 AD - Chandra Reddy
Ramakrishna Reddy

After the battle of Tallikota (A.D.1565) the Amarchinta provinces came under the influence of Qutubshahi’s of Golkonda. 

Tirumala Reddy

Tirumala Rao

During the times of Thirmal Rao the entire Jagirs and inams belonging to Gopal Reddy family of Amarchita was divided between Saheb Reddy and Gopi Reddy, the sons of Tirumala Rao

1655 AD : Sahebu Reddy I

Saheb Reddy became the chief of Kodechur, Makthal and Utkur Paraganas Waddeman and Amarchinta were taken over by Gopi Reddy-II. But within short period Saheb Reddy family lost its sway over all the
Paraganas which were under its control.

 

1653 AD - 1675 AD : Emmedi Gopi Reddy II

In A.D. 1653 Gopi Reddy-II helped in suppressing the rebel leaders Venkat Rao and Gopal Rao of Gurramgudda (an Island) for which deed the Kutubshahi Sultan (Abdulla Kutubsha) bestowed on him the Jagirs of Allipuram and Muchintala. He was also made Munsabdar of 500 footmen and 200 cavalries 

Contemporary of Abdullah Qutub Shah (1626 to 1672) who acknowledged his help in the war. 

Became the ruler of Amarachinta and Vaddaman.

He became one of the most prominent mansabdars in Golkonda . He built tankbunds at Muchintala, Pillalamarri villages and dug a tank at Fareedpur

1675 AD - 1680 AD : Sarva Reddy
Helped Aurangzeb.

Later his son Sarva Reddy continued the tradition and provided several irrigational facilities in the region. He dug a channel from Bandravalli stream to the neighbouring villages. He also built an ayacut at Pusalapadu

village

1680 AD - 1687 AD : Chinna Reddy Desai

Built a fort at Amarachinta and made it Samsthanams capital.

From the times of Chenna Reddy, the son of Sarva Reddy this family became politically strong local potentant and their services as mansabdars gradually disappeared and became almost independent little king in this region. This new phase was marked by the act of construction of a fort in the year A.D.1680 at Amarchinta which became the capital of the Samsthanam

Saiva Reddy
Thimma Reddy I
Emmadi Saheb Reddy I
Asaf jahi invaded Karnataka and sought the help of Saheb Reddy in the war and gave the title Savai Raja
Bukka Reddy
Lakshma Reddy
Sheshadri Reddy
Thatha Reddy
Thimma Reddy II
Somi Reddy
Chinna Venkat Reddy
1803 AD : Pedda Venkat Reddy

Balakrishna Reddy

Soma Bhupala

Sitaram Bhupala

Srimanth Savai Raja

Sri Rama Bhupala

Savai Rani Bhagya Laximmama





International Journal of Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Topics
Volume 4, Issue 6, June 2023
https://www.ijramt.com | ISSN (Online): 2582-7839

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Wanaparthy Samsthanam

Wanaparthy Samsthanam traces its history back to 14th century after  the Kakatiya kingdom declined. The successive Turkic Muslim dynasties, who invaded and settled in Deccan, found it ideal for Samsthanam to prevail. It was surrounded by three other Samsthanam.

Wanaparthy was one of the 14 major Zamindari segments in Telangana in Post-Independent India.

For administrative purposes the Samsthan was divided into two taluqs namely "sugar" and "Kesampet" under to Tahsildars.

1512 AD - 1540 AD : Raja VEERA KRISHNA REDDY

The Wanaparthy Samsthanam was founded under the stewardship of Veera Venkata Krishna Reddy. He had ably served the cause of literature and workers. Reddy set up infrastructure for printing the workings of local poets and writers. The Wanaparthy rulers had the rare distinction of honouring the eminent poet Tirupati Venkata Kavulu.

1540 AD - 1566 AD : Raja VENKAT REDDY

1566 - 1592 AD : Raja RAMA KRISHNA REDDY

1592 - 1625 AD : Raja PEDDA VENKAT REDDY

1625 - 1648 AD : Raja INUNIDI VENKAT REDDY

1648 - 1676 AD : Raja GOPAL RAO

1676 - 1691 AD : Raja BAHIRI GOPAL RAO

1691 - 1719 AD : Raja VENKAT REDDY

1719 - 1746 AD : Raja BAHIRI GOPAL RAO

1746 - 1763 AD : Raja SAWAI VENKAT REDDY

1763 - : Raja BAHIRI GOPAL RAO

1781 - 1807 AD : Rani B. Janamma

1807 - 1822 AD : Raja RAMKRISHNA RAO I

He established Suguru as the Capital of his province to rule 124 Villages. The first Rama Krishna Rao established the Wanaparthy as Capital of Province in the place of Suguru in 1817A.D.

1822 AD - 1866 AD : Raja Rameshwar Rao I

The First Maharaja Rameshwara Rao ruled this Province from old castle i.e., Patha Kota of Wanaparthy.

on 17th March 1843, the title of "Balwant" was conferred on the Raja as a mark of honour by Nizam Sikander Jah.

To build a armed force, Raja imported Siddis from Somalia and Abyssinia and organized them into 2 regiments African Bodyguard and Wanaparthy Lancers.

On account of skirmishes and conflicts between Rajas forces and Nizams the British residency intervened and arranged a treaty by which the Raja presented his regiments to Nizam and was appointed as inspector general of Nizams forces and Nizam accepted Rajas autonomy.

The Hyderabadi battalion of the Bison Division was formed on Nov. 5, 1853. The Nizam had appointed the Raja as inspector of his army and after the Raja's death in 1866, the battalion was absorbed into the Nizam's Army and became its nucleus.

1866 AD - 1892 AD : Rani Shankaramma   (1840 - 1912)

She was the founder of the seven Oceans in this Province namely 1) Shankara Samudram, Kanayapally, 2) Krishna Samudram, Ranipet, 3) Ganapa Samudram, Ghanapur, 4) Ranga Samudram, Sri Rangapur, 5)Mahabhoopala Samudram, Pebbair, 6) Venugopala Samudram, Sankireddypally and 7) Jatapala Samudram Veltoor.

Meanwhile, Ram Sagar Bangalow the present polytechnic palace was built in 1885 A.D. and then the administration was shifted to this Bangalow from the old castle i.e., Patha kota.

1866 - 1922 AD : Raja Rameshwar Rao II

After Rani Shankaramma’s demise the second Raja Rameshwar Rao came to the throne and ruled the Wanaparthy Province. He had two sons namely Krishna Deva Rao, Ram Deva Rao and a daughter.

1922 - 1944 AD : Raja Krishna Deva Rao
As his successor, Krishna Dev, was a minor, his estate was managed as a Ward of the Court. Krishna Dev himself died before attaining majority and the crown passed on to his son Rameshwar Rao III. 

Krishna Deva Rao was the successor of second Raja Rameshwar Rao and he ruled Wanaparthy Province for a short period and died in 1924 at the age of 21 years.

1944 - 1998 AD : Janumpally Rameshwar Rao III

After Krishna Deva Rao’s demise, Sri J. Raja Rameshwar Rao became Prince of the Province. He was a voracious reader, a poet, a good administrator and a man of prudence. During 1940’s Telangana armed struggle against the Nizam’s RulesSri Raja Rameshwar Rao struggled lot Rule for the deliverance of his province from Nizam’s control. It is said that Nizam tried to kill Raja Rameshwar Rao, but he went underground.

Thereafter India abolished all regal titles

He was born on 23 February 1923 in Madras to Raja Krishnadeva Rao and Rani Sarala Devi.

He studied at Nizam College, Hyderabad, Madras University and Bombay University.

1944 : He was granted full administrative powers in 1944.

1950 - 1957 : Joined the Foreign Service and served in various capacities till 1957, including a posting as First Secretary, India's Commission in Nairobi.

1957 –1977 : Member of Parliament from Mahabhubnagar Constituency Member of the United Nations Conciliation Commission on the Congo 1960/1961; Chairman of Orient Longman 1964/1968

He died at the age of 75 years in Hyderabad on 15 September 1998. He is survived by wife Shanta, one son and three daughters. 

The Saralasagar project was initiated and built by the Wanaparthy ruler Raja Rameshwara Rao III and named after his mother Sarala. It was completed in 1959 and inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Raja Rameshwara Rao III sent his engineer friend P.S. Ramakrishna Raju to California to study the automatic siphon technology. Raju learnt the technology, and returned home and helped build the Saralasagar dam and other projects like the ones at Kinneresani, Pochampad and Nagulapet.

The foundation stone was laid on September 15, 1949, by the then military Governor of Hyderabad, General J.N. Chowdary. The contractor for the project till 1956 was Sripathi Rao. Work on the earth dam had already been initiated, according to assistant engineer Mamilla Buganna, who travels everyday by train from Mahbubnagar to Madanapur to come to Kothapeta, where this beautiful dam exists.

Located in Kothakota of Wanaparthy district (part of erstwhile Mahbubnagar district), it is just 6 km from the small and bustling town, filled with small shops. The Saralasagar project is a rain-fed dam and would fill up with water during the monsoon. The water used to flow through siphons into a tiered system, which would eventually flow into the canals and the fields. The Saralasagar itself had a catchment area a 771 acres.

Simply put, water from Saralasagar used to be lifted across the dam without being pumped, irrigating 4,182 acres. The total storage capacity of Saralasagar is estimated to be 0.5 tmc, which makes it a minor irrigation project, despite its historical and scientific importance.

Among his grandchildren are the actress Aditi Rao Hydari (his daughter's daughter), and Kiran Rao (his son's daughter) who is the wife of actor Aamir Khan.






http://www.zamindar.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=16




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanaparthy_Samsthanam


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Wanaparthy Palace

Wanaparthy Palace is also known as "Mustafa Mahal" as a name for the advice of a Muslim saint. This palace covers an area of 640 square miles.

This palace will now house the Collector's office and Collector Camp Office.

The surname of the Samsthana rulers is Janumpally.

Wanaparthy Samasthan traced its origin back to 14 century, when as the Warangal Kakatiya Dynasty crumbled, local chieftains established their ascendancy over surrounding territory and divided it among themselves.


After Vijayanagar Kingdom was succeeded by Bijapur, Qutub Shah and Mogul successive rulers had found it expedient to maintain 8 samsthanams as buffer states along Krishna river. Wanaparthy was bounded on 3 sides by other sammsthanams.


In the time Aurangzeb, Wanaparthy became a feudatory of Moghul empire and of the Nizam as viceroy of that empire in the south.


The Rajas of the Samasthans were closely associated with the QtubShahi kings.


The early Rajas of Wanaparthy kept on army of 2000 infantry and 2000 cavalry. On 17th March 1843, the title of "balwant" was conferred on Raja Rameshwar Rao as a mark of honour by Sikander Jah.


For administrative purposes the Samasthan was divided into two taluqas namely "sugar" and keshampet" under to Tahsildars. The "Maharaja" died on 22nd November 1922. He was survived by two represented in the indian government after independence.

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