Vishnukundins Dynasty

380 AD - 611 AD : Vishnukundins started as vassals to Vakatakas and became independent Kings.

Founder : Indravarma (380 AD - 394 AD) 
Capitals : Amrabad in Mahaboonagar
Indrapala, Bhuvanagiri in Nalgonda
Keesaragutta in Rangareddy
Eluru, Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh 
Languages : Telugu, Sanskrit 
Religion : Hinduism (Vaisnavism) 

Ruled most of the Telangana region Rangareddy, Medak, Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar

Like many other dynasties that rose to imperial power during 4th to 8th Century AD, the origins of Vishnukundina Dynasty are also shrouded with mystery.

All the inscriptions were written in sanskrit. Tummallagudem inscriptions have become the chief sources to reconstruct the dynasty.

Vishnukundi kings called as Sriparvateyas of the kings belonging to the Sri Parvata.

Adminstration 
Rashtras and Vishayas were the provincial divisions for administrative convenience. Each one was headed by Viceroys chosen from the Royal family. Elephants, horses, Chariots, cavalry and infantry formed the major chunk of army. The Agrahara villages (villages set aside exclusively for the development of Brahmin caste) was exempted from tax levies. However, taxes and duties were levied heavily to meet the administrative expenses by the Rulers. 

Education
Telugu and Sanskrit languages flourished during this period. The Rulers themselves authored certain book while other poets also flourished. A number of Vedic schools were established to impart Vedic education. Lands were also gifted to further the educational needs.

Religion
The Rulers of Vishnukundina Dynasty were ardent followers of Lord Shiva and hence took over the responsibility of constructing a number of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Undavalli caves, Caves at Vijayawada, Mogalirajapuram and Bhairavakonda are examples of cave temples constructed during the Rule of this Dynasty. Pallava Mahendra Varman-I also contributed significantly for the purpose.

Mahendra Varma also went to the extent of having inscriptions and art on the walls of these cave temples which are the source of information today to ascertain the time periods of these temples. 

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE VISHNUKUNDINS :
1. Tummalagudem Plates (Set I) of Govindavarman Year 37
2. Velpuru Pillar Inscription of Madhavavarman , Year 33
3. Ipur Plates (Set I) of Madhavavarman, Year 37
4. Khanapur Plates of the Time of Madhavavarman
5. Ipur Plates (Set II) of Madhavavarman Year 47
6. Ramatirtham Plates of Indravarman, Year 27
7. Chikkulla Plates of Vikramendravarman , Year 10
8. Tummalagudem Plates (Set II) of Vikramendravarman , Year 11, Saka 488
9. Kundulapalem Plates of Vikramendravarman , Year 14
10. Polamuru Plates (Sot I) of Madhavavarman

380 AD - 394 AD : Indravarma
Started his rule from Amrabad in current Nagarkurnool district  and extended it to Bhuvanagiri, Ramannapeta in current Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district and Keesaragutta in current Medchal-Malkajgiri district.

394 AD - 419 AD : Madhavavarma I
Conducted thousands of rituals and sacrifices like Ashwamedha, Bahusuverna, Poundraka and vajapeya.
His kingdom was limited to combined Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts. At that time remaining areas of Telangana was under the rule of Vakatakas.

419 AD - 456 AD : Govindavarman I

456 AD : Tummalagudem Inscription issued by Govindavarman I in his 37th regnal year in the Telugu Month Vaisakha on Purnima (full moon) day.

This set of copper plates were found alongside a second Viṣṇukundin charter in the village of Tummalagūdem in Rāmannapeṭa taluk in the Nalgoṇḍa district of Telingana. The charter records the donation of the village of Peṇkapara to the Āryasaṁgha in the Paramabhaṭṭārikā-mahāvihāra in the town of Indrapura; the vihāra was built by Gōvindavarman’s eldest Queen, Paramabhaṭṭārikā Mahādēvī.

He was the most famous of early rulers, married Parama Bhattarika, daughter of Mularaju who was the ruler of Gunapasapura and expanded his kingdom with the support of his father-in-law and declared independence from Vakatakas.

Indrapala copper plate charter informs us that the Vishnukundin ruler Govindavarman, son of Madhavavarman and grand son, of Indravarman gave away the village of Penkapara to the arya sangha of the four quarters at the monastery of his chief queen (agra-ma-hishi), Paramamahadevi, for the uninterrupted provision of lamps, incense, perfumes, flowers, flags, drinks and food, beds, seats, grass medicine and repair-work in his thirty seventh regnal year. 

Issued First Inscription of Tummalagudem that he treated all castes and creeds in his kingdom equally and described himself as koustuba (jewel) of sriparvata region. 

Govindavarma I was a follower of Budhism and also a great scholar in Buddhist texts and other sciences. Built Govinda Vihara on the banks of river Musi at Hyderabad (Chaitanyapuri). 

456 AD - 504 AD : Madhavavarma II 

Wife : Vakataka Princess Mahadevi

Ruled at least 48 years

The reign of Madhavavarma was a golden age in the history of the Vishnukundins. It was during this period, the small Vishnukundin dynasty rose to imperial heights. 

c. 480 AD : KHANAPUR PLATES OF MADHAVAVARMAN. Satatara, Maharashtra

Year not mentioned. Ruling areas of Prithvishena II, Vakataka king. Vakataka Mahadevi, was given in marriage to Madhava Varma II

The inscription refers itself to the reign of Mahārāja Mādhavavarman who performed several śrauta sacrifices such as Puṇḍarīka, Bahusuvarṇa and eleven others which are not specified.4 He is said to have assumed the title of Sārvabhauma (Emperor) and resembled the sun in splendor and Indra himself in prosperity. He is eulogized as the mainstay (sētu) of the religious duties of the four varṇas and the four āśramas. The plates register the grant, by this Mādhavavarman, of the village Rēṭṭuraka together with three tīrthas or fording places,

489 AD : He occupied Kalinga and invaded the Pallavas of Kanchipuram in his 33rd regnal year. He wrote 'Janasraya' he had an epithet- 'Trivara Nagara Bhavnagata Sundari Hridaya Nandana' ( The one who brought happiness to the beautiful maidens living in the buildings of the city of Trivara)

493 AD : Ipur plates (first set) of the 37th year of Maharaja Madhavavarman who was the son of Govindavarman.

504 AD : Polamuru plates of the 48th year of Maharaja Madhavavarman who was the son of Govindavarman and grandson of vikramahendra on a full moon day in the month of Phalguna when Lunar eclipse occurred. 

This alliance gave them great power and made it easy for them to extend their influence to the east coast and vanquishing the petty chieftains lingering on in that area. Madhav Varma II led his arms against Ananda Gotrikas who were ruling over Guntur, Tenali and Ongole, probably enjoying subordinate position under the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.

Madhav Varma II next turned his attention against the Vengi kingdom which was under the Salankayanas. The Vengi region was annexed. The Godavari tract became part of the Vishnukundin territory. After these conquests the capital might have been shifted to Bezwada (Vijayawada), a more central location than Amarapura. These extensive conquests entitle him to the title of the lord of Dakshinapatha (southern country). After these various conquests Madhav Varma performed many Asvamedha, Rajasuya and other Vedic sacrifices. The Most Notable Military Achievement of Madhava Varma II was his Victory over the Powerful Vakataka Emperor Prithvishena II 

Madhava Varma has 3 sons Devavarma, Vikramendra Varma I and Manchana Bhattaraka Varma.

504 AD - 508 AD - Devavarma

Devavarma ruled for a short period of time, died fighting with Simhavarman III of Pallava Dynasty during the rule of Vishnugopa II (c.500 - 525 A.D) 

508 AD : Madhava Varma III 

son of Devavarma

508 AD - 528 AD : Vikramendra Varman I 

Son of Vakataka queen Mahadevi and Madhava Varma II

Worshipper of Budha and son of Vakataka Princess. As the  Pravarapura-Nandivardhana branch has no heir, Vikramendra has become the ruler of whole of Vakataka kingdom.

528 AD - 555 AD : Indra Bhattarakavarma or Indravarman II 

Ruled at least 27 years

Ramatirtham plates of the 27th year of Rajan Indravarman son of Rajan Vikramendra and grandson of Madhavavarman. Son of Vikramendra Varma I and succeed in suppressing the dominance of Madhava Varma III. The first king to form and conduct Ghatikas (parishads) in the field of education and a devote follower of veridic religion and was called as a great Brahmin. He formed a new type of army wing with the powerful elephants defeated all the sub-ordinate rulers like pridhvimula and others who declared independence during his fathers reign with the backing of Indravarma of Ganga Dynasty. Wiped off the Mathara, vasishta, Ramakasyapa and pitrubhakta dynasties. Later he also defeated Madhava Varma III from trikuta and other regions.

But, Indra Bhattarakavarma was defeated by Ishana Varma (550 to 574 AD), the Moukhari ruler. He gave his daughter to Sarva Varma, son of Ishnavarma in marriage and made a peace agreement with them.

555 AD - 569 AD : Vikramendra Varman II

Vikramendravarman II is said to have adopted a certain Madhavaraja as his son. 

Queen Paramabhattaikamahadevi descended from the royal family known as Prithvimula, caused to be erected a monastery known after her own name Paramabhattaikamahavihara at Indrapura to display, as it were the wealth of Sri-Govindaraja. 

566 AD : Copper plates from Tummalagudem (set II) current — reign of Vikramendravarman II, year 11,  488 śaka, approximately in 566-67 CE.

After defeating the Pallava king Simha, Vikramendravarman II happened to come to Sakrapura (Indrapura) . This event took place on the 8th tithi of the dark half of the month of kartika in the saka year 488 (566 A.D)

On the basis of the Indrapalanagara grant dated in the 11th regnal year corresponding to Saka 488, Vikramendra-varma II may be said to have ascended the throne in Saka 477 i.e., 555 A.D. His Tundi grant gives his latest regnal year as fourteen. So his reign period may be placed between 555 A.D.
and 569 A.D.

Chikkula plates of the 10th year of Maharaja Vikramendravarman II son of Maharaja Indrabhattarakvarman grand son of Vikramendaravraman I and great grandson of Maharaja Madhavavarman

Issued Second Tummalagudem inscription in the 11th regnal year, Telugu month Kartika, in the second fortnight. He had a title Bhuvana Raksha Bharanaikasraya and fought battles with challenge royal families and palavas.

569 AD : While he was fighting a battle with the Pallavas, Prithvi Maharaja of Ranadurjaya dynasty (563 AD - 611 AD ) declare independence. Vikramendra invaded pisthapur (Pithapuram) and died in the battle. 

569 AD - 571 AD : Govindavarma II

571 AD - 611 AD : Madhavavarma IV
Vishnukundina Empire expanded under its able ruler Janssraya Madhav Varma IV. He consolidated his position in Vengi. An incomplete work on Sanskrit poetics called Janasraya Chando Vichiti was attributed to Madhav Varma IV, who bore the title of 'Janasraya'. Generally, Sanskrit (not Telugu) enjoyed royal patronage under the Vishnukundins. Madhav Varma IV had to face the Chalukyan assault in his last years of rule.  

611 AD : Polamaru Grant by Madhavarman is dated in his 40th year. The day on which the grant was made was Phalguni Purnima on which lunar eclipse occurred.

The total lunar eclipse of 611AD Aug 29 is preceded two weeks earlier by a partial solar eclipse on 0611 Aug 13, and it is followed two weeks later by a partial solar eclipse on 0611 Sep 12.

The grant of Jayasiṃha I who began to rule from 633 A.D., records that in his fifth year (638) he granted the village of Puloṃbūra in the Guddavāḍi viṣaya to Rudraśarman son of Śivaśarman and grandson of Dāmaśarman. In Mādhavavarman’s grant it is Śivaśarman son of Dāmaśarman that gets the same village. So it is clear that the Polamūru grant of Mādhavavarman is separated from the grant of Jayasiṃha by at least one generation.

611 A.D : It is likely that the Chalukya Pulikesin II (610– 642 AD) defeated Madhava Varma IV as per the Kopparam plates of Pulikesin II issued on 21st October 611 AD 

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44525679

Feudatories

Prithivimula

References

jstor.org
History of Andhras by Durag Prasad

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Western Vakataka Dynasty - Vastagulma Branch

c. 335 - c. 483 A.D : Vakataka Dynasty - Vastagulma Branch or Western Vakatakas or South Vakatakas

Founder : Vindhyashakti 

Founder Vastagulma Branch : Sarvasena 

Capital : Vatsagulma, the present day Washim in Washim district of Maharashtra.

Languages : Sanskrit and Prakrit

Religion : Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism

Gotra: Vishnuvriddha

The Vakatakas succeeded the Satavahanas in the Deccan.

Vakataka Dynasty was a royal Indian dynasty that originated from the Deccan in the mid-3rd century CE after Satavahanas and after Abhiras by Sarvasena of Vastagulma or Western Vakatakas.

The Rashtrakutas of Manapura

Manahka
In an inscription of his descendants, Manahka is described as the ruler of the prosperous Kuntala country and as the conqueror of Asmaka and Vidarbha. Manahka, the progenitor of this Rashtrakuta family, flourished about 375 a.c. and ruled from Manapura. He was a contemporary of Vindhyasena. As both Manahka and Vindhyasena claim a victory over each other, neither of them appears to have emerged completely victorious from this war.

Devaraja

During the reign of Manahka’s successor Devaraja, however, the kingdom of Kuntala came under the sphere of the influence of the Guptas

Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the west to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east.

Little is known about Vindhyashakti (c. 250–270 CE), the founder of the family. Territorial expansion began in the reign of his son Pravarasena I (270 - 330).
It is generally believed that the Vakataka dynasty was divided into four branches after Pravarasena I. Two branches are known and two are unknown. The known branches are the Pravarpura-Nandivardhana branch and the Vatsagulma branch.

The territory ruled by this branch was between the Sahydri Range and the Godavari River which includes Telangana.

Vakatakas employed Vallura family as ministers. Vallura is a village in modern Yelgandal, Karimnagar district. Yajnapathi is the founder of this family. His son Deva was a contemporary of  Vindhyashakti and his son Soma for Pravarasena I.

335 AD - 355 AD : Sarvasena

Minister : Ravi, the son of the Brahmana Soma from a Kshatriya wife. Ravi’s descendants became the hereditary ministers of the Vaktaka kings of Vatsagulma and served them faithfully for several generations. Sarvasena took the title of Dharmamaharaja. 

He is also known as the author of Harivijaya in Prakrit which is based on the story of bringing the parijat tree from heaven by Krishna. This work praised by later writers is lost. He is also known as the author of many verses of the Prakrit Gaha Sattasai. He was succeeded by his son Vindhyasena.

c. 355 AD - 400 AD : Vindhyasena or Vindhyashakti II

Minster : Pravara

Vindhyasena's dominion was fairly extensive which included southern Berar , northern Hyderabad , and the districts of Nagar , Nasik , Poona and Satara.

Vindhyasena defeats the Kadamba king of Banavasi, who at this time is probably Kangavarman (c.360 - 385 AD). He occupies the rival kingdom for a time before being defeated in turn by the previous king's son, Bagitarha.

Mananka of Manapura, Kuntala captured Asmaka and Vidharbha. Both Vindhyashakti and Mananka claim victory over each other. Mananka son is Vindhysena was also known as Vindhyashakti II. 

392 AD : He is known from the well known Washim plates which recorded the grant of a village situated in the northern marga (subdivision) of Nandikata (presently Nanded) in his 37th regnal year. The genealogical portion of the grant is written in Sanskrit and the formal portion in Prakrit. This is the first known land grant by any Vakataka ruler. He also took the title of Dharmamaharaja.

c. 400 AD - 410 AD : Pravarsena II

Minster : Sri-Rama
Pravarasena II was the next ruler of whom very little is known except from the Cave XVI inscription of Ajanta, which says that he became exalted by his excellent, powerful and liberal rule. He died after a very short rule and succeeded by his minor son, who was only 8 years old when his father died. 

c. 410 AD - 450 AD : Sarvasena II

Minster : Kirti

He was succeeded by his son Devasena.

c. 450 AD - 460 AD : Devasena

Minster : Hastibhoja

458 AD : Hisse-Borala inscription of Vakataka Devasena dated Saka 380 (458 A.D)

The only inscription that provides a firm chronological basis for the Western Vakataka dynastic history is something known as the ‘Hisse-Borala inscription’.  His administration was actually run by his minister Hastibhoja. During his reign, one of his servant Svaminadeva excavated a tank named Sudarshana near Washim. Hisse-Borla inscriptions of Devasena was the only inscription in Saka era with reference to planetary position of great bear (saptrsi) in Uttara Naksatra.

Interestingly, this noble ‘Svamideva’ also finds mentions on the Vakataka land grant inscriptions found at Thalner on the banks of the Tapi River as well as on those found in Bidar in Karnataka. This points to the extent of the Vakataka domain. Also, each of these three inscriptions of Svamideva dates to the reigns of three different kings - Sarvasena II, Devasena and Harisena, helping historians piece together the Western Vakataka genealogy.

Devasena established relations with the rising power of the Vishnukundins, giving his daughter in marriage to the Vishnukundin king Madhavavarman II Janashraya.

He was succeeded by his son Harishena.

c. 460 AD - 478 AD : Harishena

Minster : Varahadeva

Harisena was agreat patron of Buddhist architecture, art and culture. The World Heritage monument Ajanta is surviving example of his works. The rock cut architectural cell XVI inscription of Ajanta states that he conquered Avanti (Malwa) in the north, Kosala (Chhattisgarh), Kalinga and Andhra in the east, Lata (Central and Southern Gujarat).

Inscriptions from Caves 4, 16, 17, 20, and 26 indicate that often multiple caves were constructed under the benefaction of one patron; examples would include local Risika king Upendragupta, Harisena's Prime Minister Asmaka Varahadeva (Cave 16), and the Asmaka monk Buddhabhadra.

As per Ajanta Cave 1 inscriptions Harisena ruled from c.460 AD - 478 AD
In 466 CE, the work began on Cave No 1 at Ajanta, popularly known as ‘Harisena’s Cave’ as it was endowed by him. This is the most richly decorated cave in the complex. But all was not well in Harisena’s kingdom. Between 471 and 474 CE, the chieftains of the Asmakas (Telangana region) and Rishikas (Khandesh in Maharashtra) led insurrections against the Vakataka rule. During this period, most of the workers and artists here moved to the Bagh Caves near Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, where they built a magnificent cave complex very similar to the one at Ajanta. Sadly, due to the poor quality of rock, almost nothing has survived there.

The Chaitya complex involving Cave 26 and its four wings was sponsored by a monk named Buddhabhadra, who had intimate links to the court of the powerful neighboring province, Asmaka.
While construction of the royal caves at Ajanta restarted in 475 CE, it would halt dramatically in 477 CE. Dr Spink as well as another noted historian V V Mirashi argue that the dramatic end of the Western Vakatakas after Harisena’s sudden death in 477 CE, was such an important event in those times that it was recalled, blow by blow, by noted Sanskrit playwright Dandin’squasi-historical Dasakumaracarita (Story of Ten Princes), in the eighth chapter (Visruta Carita), almost a century after the events actually happened. Apparently, Harisena met his mysterious end in a plot organized by his feudatory, the Asmakas. 

c. 478 AD - c. 483 AD : Saravsena III

Around 478 A.D the inept Sarvasena III succeeds his father Harisena, while the site’s anxious patrons rush their shrine Buddhas to completion and dedication.

Mitravarman is the Vakataka viceroy ruling over Anupa, Vasantabhanu is the troublesome Asmaka chief, the king of the neighbouring Aśmakacountry, sent his minister's son to the court of Vidarbha. 

This ‘mole’ in the Vakataka establishment encouraged Harisena’s son Sarvasena III to wage a war with the Kadamabas (345–540 CE), where he was treacherously betrayed and killed.

Sarvasena’s widow and minor children took refuge in the Kingdom of Mahismati (Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh). This ended the rule of the Western Vakatakas.

c. 480 AD : Vishnukundins ended the rule of Vakatakas in Telangana and took over part of Vakataka Dynasty by  Madhavavarma II (456 AD - 503 AD). There exists abundant evidence that the Vishnukundins had a significant presence in parts of Vidarbha following the reign of Prithivishena. A hoard of loose coins found at Paunar in the Wardha district contain some coins which can be assigned to the reign of Prithivishena II, but a majority of them seem to be struck by the Vishnukundins. 

Vishnukundin coins have also been found at Vakataka sites in the Gondia district. On the basis of this evidence, Ajay Mitra Shastri believes that the Vishnukundin king Madhavavarman II Janashraya, who is known to have married a Vakataka princess, took control of a large portion of the former Vakataka kingdom and extended his conquests as far as the Narmada River immediately after the death of Prithivishena

Cultural Contributions
Some of the kings of the Vakataka dynasty contributed heavily towards the sectors of culture, religion and arts. Though the rule of these kings was not as famous or as significant as the kings of other famous dynasties, they still played a big role in those days. 

Art
During the rule of King Harishena, cave numbers sixteen and seventeen were dug out and adorned with excellent paintings and sculptures. One of the famous historians, Walter Spink has recorded that all the caves in the Ajanta rock cut temples, except caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15A, were constructed during the historic rule of Harishena.

Literature
One of the rulers of the Vatsagulma branch, King Sarvasena, was also a famous poet and is best known for his work, Harivijaya in Prakrit script. During the time it was written, this work was praised by lot of literature experts. However, this work got lost over time due to lack of preservation. The work termed as Gaha Sattasai, was also penned by Sarvasena.

Religion
The last significant ruler of the Vatsagulma branch, Harishena, was known to have contributed excessively towards Buddhism culture. 

According to the eighth ucchvāsaḥ of the Daśakumāracarita of Daṇḍin, which was written probably around 125 years after the fall of the Vakataka dynasty, Harishena's son, though intelligent and accomplished in all arts, neglected the study of the Dandaniti (Political Science) and gave himself up to the enjoyment of pleasures and indulged in all sorts of vices. His subjects also followed him and led a vicious and dissolute life. Finding this a suitable opportunity, the ruler of the neighbouring Ashmaka sent his minister's son to the court of the Vakatakas. The latter ingratiated himself with the king and egged him on in his dissolute life. He also decimated his forces by various means. 

Ultimately, when the country was thoroughly disorganised, the ruler of Ashmaka instigated the ruler of Vanavasi (in the North Kanara district) to invade the Vakataka territory. The king called all his feudatories and decided to fight his enemy on the bank of the Varada (Wardha). While fighting with the forces of the enemy, he was treacherously attacked in the rear by some of his own feudatories and killed. The Vakataka dynasty ended with his death

Few historians believes that Narendrasena's son, Prithvisena II may have played a role in the destruction of the Western branch of the family. But it is believed that soon after Prithvisena II, the Vishnukundins took over the Eastern Vakataka kingdom. The Chalukyas of Badami may have sounded the death knell on this empire around 550 CE. Thus, the Age of the Vakatakas had truly ended by the middle of the sixth century AD.

Possible names of potential enemies in the area included Vanati, Kuntala, Kosalä, Mekhalä, Mâlava, Rsîka,Trukuataka, Lata, Andhra, Mulaka, Anüpa, Vidarbha, Vanaväsi, Nasikya, Murala, Konkana

Fuedatories

Asmakas

Rishikas

Some time before 462 Rishikas defeat Asmakas.

by 468 CE the neighboring Asmakas were threatening the stability of the region with their territorial ambitions. As a result, Upendragupta, the local feudatory ruler, ordered work to be stopped on all caves except the royal caves. 

469 - 471 : Asmkas recovers from its prior humiliation and attacks Rishikas.

472 - 474 : Asmakas and Rishika conflict heightens and all works at Ajanta stops

475 - 477 : Asmakas wins and works at Ajanta starts again

In 475 CE, the Asmakas became the feudatory lords of the region and the Asmaka phase begun.

All ongoing excavation programs were abandoned during 478 CE when Harisena’s son Sarvasena III succeeded and the patrons focused on getting the main Buddha images completed and dedicated. 

Minister of Vakataka Harisena, Asmaka King is Varahadeva is the patron of Cave 16

Asmaka King Maharaja Vasantabhanu / Subhandhu (Ministers are Bhavviraja, Devaraja) of Cave 26 who defeated Sarvasena.

Rishika kings Dhritarashtra, Harisamba, Saurisamba, Upendragupta I, Agaja or Kacha I, Bhikshudasa, Niladasa, Kacha II, Krishnadasa, Upendragupta II (Caves 17 to 20) and Ravisamba. 

The inscription also states Krishnadasa’s two sons of which Ravisamba is the younger one conquered Asmaka and due to the premature death of Ravisamba, his brother, the king turned an ascetic. It is interesting to note that just by having a foresight to name the dynastic list, we come to know about a kingdom, obscure and probably never independent and with zero impact on Indian history. The only thing this inscription tells, of note, is that it reinforces the fact that Harisena existed.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/4629287

https://cbkwgl.wordpress.com/2016/07/18/cave-xvii-inscription-from-ajanta/

http://www.tspscportal.in/telangana-history-vakataka-dynasty/102/

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Polavasa Chiefs

1080 - 1160 A.D : Polavasa Dynasty / Polasa chiefs / Lengonda Dynasty

Capital : Polavasa (Current Polas, Jagitial District, Telangana State, India)

Founder : Madhava Varma

Language: Telugu

Religion: Hinduism (Saivism and Vaishnavism), Jainism

The Polavasa chiefs seem to have patronized Jainism besides Saivism

The Polavasa chiefs were subordinates of the Western Chalukyas, but revolted against their overlords during the early 12th century. Descendants of Rashtrakutas and were based immediately north of the Kakatiya territories. The Polavasa Kingdom bordered river godavari and extended from Polavasa to Narsampet.

Madhava varman
upto 1080AD : Durgaraja

1080 - 1110 A.D : Medaraja - I

Feudatory of  Vikramaditya VI (1076 - 1126 AD ) of Western Chalukyas of Kalyani

Medaraja is referred to as Maninagapuradhiraja
The 1082 CE Banajipet inscription states that Beta II gifted land and a house site to a Jaina temple established by Medarasa.

Polavasa was a capital under the rule of Medaraja (1080–1110).They ruled from their capital at Polavasa (modern day Jagtial) of Karimnagar district to Narsampet of Warangal district from their capital at Polavasa. 

First Inscription Found in Banajipet of Narsampet, Warangal district that he built Veerakamala Jain Temple and belongs to venugontukula dynasty.

Another Inscription of 1108 A.D  on the pillar of Pulateswara temple at Polavasa that he had golden eagle flag and relations with Rashtrakuta Dynasty.

1110 AD -1116 AD : Jaggabhupala
12th December, 1112 AD : Medapalli, Narsampet Taluk.
This inscription is on a pillar on the tank bund. Fragmentary. The inscription is in three languages Kannada, Sanskrit and Telugu. It is through but in verse with the exception of the word 'svasti' at the beginning of the Sanskrit version, and a short Telugu passage registering the gift of two martars of land to the mason Parvatoju. It is dated Mantri-vara ba. 7, Margasirsha, Nandana, and in chronogram corresponding to S.1034. (=Thursday 12th December, A.D. 1112), and registers the gift of land to the temples of Achesvara and Vishnudeva built by Achana Peggada (Achi-raja, Aditya-mantri), son of Vamadeva of Vaji- kula and Srivatsa-gotra in the village of Aditya Palli (Achasamudra) by the command of his master Jagga-bhupala, son of Medaraja, a descendant of Madhavavarman who is said to have possessed a crore of horses and numberless foot soldiers. In the Sanskrit part of the inscription, Medaraja is referred to as Maninagapuradhiraja. In the Kannada part, it is stated that 7 nivartanas were gifted to the temples of Acheśvara and Vishnudeva and 15 martars to brahmins but in the Sanskrit part a gift of 25 nivartanas by the royal standard was recorded for the offerings and conducting repairs in the said temples and some nivartanas (number lost) to brahmanas.

The town of Jagityal was built after his name, according to the experts. He had 2 sons Medaraja and Gundaraja.

Polavasa kings would have maintained the confederation, as three brothers Medararaju,Gundaraja and Edaraju(1116- 1138) was ruling from different places and bearing the same title. This may be because of their Rastrakuta descent. 

Medarjaja II and his younger brother Gundaraja declared independence from Kalyani Chalukyas and issued inscriptions at Polavasa, Medapally and Govindapuram without the names of sovereigns.

1116-1138A.D : Gundaraja of Mantrakuta (Current Manthena)

Ruled Mulugu and Narasannapeta regions independently.

1138 AD: Kama son of Katana sent by Prola II of Kakatiya defeated Gundaraja, ruler of Mantrakuta (modern Manthani), pursued him to his capital where he had his head shaved and caused him to be branded on the breast.

1116 - 1138 A.D : Edaraja of Vemnoor/Ramagundam

Worked as Mahamandaleshvara under chalukyas. Edraja of Ramagundam was a contemporary ruler to Medaraja II of Polavasa and Gundaraja of Mantrakuta.

Ramagiri fort was under the control of Gundaraja of Manthani and Edaraja of Ramagundam.

Mahamandalesvara Edaraja is said to have ruled from Ramagundam during the first half the twelfth century A.D. 

All of them were defeated by Kakti Prola II between A.D. 1138 and 1140. Consequently the eastern portions of the district including the areas of Manthani, Ramagundam and present Godavarikani were included in the Kakatiya kingdom. 

1116-1159 A.D : Medaraja II of Polavasa 

Contemporary of Kakatiya Prola II.

The inscription of Padmakshi temple at Hanumakonda in 1117 A.D issued by Mylama wife of Pregada Betana, a minster under Prolaraju II, that she built jain drama called Kadalaya Basadi and Mahamandeleshwara Medaraja of Madhava Dynasty also donated to this arama.

Inscription of 1122 A.D minister Nagaraja built temple for Parsavanatha Jana deva.

Dommaraja of Nagunur, Myligideva, Medaraju-II and his son Jaggadeva II went to battle with Kakatitya Rudradeva in which Jaggadeva II died and  Medaraju II defeated.

The ruler of Polavasa Medaraju II, who gives his only daughter in marriage to the tribal king Pagididdaraju of Medaram flees to Medaram after losing his kingdom to Kakatiyas.

The temples built during 11th and 12th centuries by the Polavasa chiefs, Chalukyas of Kalyani and Kakatiyas are noticed in this region. Among them the Trikuta temple of Jangoan, which now forms a part of Godavarikhani, is a wonderful monument which is partly in ruins.

Polavasa rulers built a number of Jain temples and Siva temples. Poulastheswara temple and Venugopala temples in Polasa are still standing in good condition.

In 1160, both the dynasty of Polavasa and their kingdom declined.

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Kandur Cholas or Chodas

c. 1040 AD - 1268 AD 

Founder : Eruva Bhima I

Capitals : Panugallu, Kanduru and Vardhamanpura 

Language : Telugu

Eruva Bhima I , apparently the founder of the dynasty , who hailed from Eruvanādu , was also known as  Panugallupuradhipa, Lord of Panugallu, present day Panugal or Panagal.

Telugu word Eru, which means 'river' and naturally it applies to the regions on both the sides of the Krishna river in Telangana and AndhraPradesh.

The early two choda members Eruva Bhima and his son Tonda I seem to have ruled Pānugallu-rājya as subordinates to the Western Chalukyas of Kalyana.

 
Anemarasa or Yanemarasa or Ayyarasa of Haihaya family was ruling Kandurnadu under Somesvara I from 1035 AD - 1104 AD.

Kandur Cholas ruled parts of Mahabubnagar (Jadcharla and Acchampet taluks) and Nalgonda (Nalgonda Suryapeta, Devarakonda, Miryalguda taluks) parts of Khammam and Krishna districts in the southern parts with Kanduru, Panugallu and Vardhamanpura as their capitals. These kings are described that they were belongs to Karikala chola family.

Panagallu, Kandur, Ghanapuram, Gangapuram, Vardhamanapuram, Amrabad, Rachur, Kodur, Maghatala (Makthal), Vangur, Munnanur are having the forts in various places of this district and protected the kingdom. 

The region of Kandurunadu located south of the Kakatiya territory formed the yuvaraja-vritti or kumara-vritti (royal appanage) of Kumara Tailapa, the younger brother of the Chalukya king Somesvara III. It appears that Kumara Tailapa was active in the region even during the reign of his father, King Vikramaditya, as Tailapa's earliest inscriptions in Kandurunadu date to 1110 C.E. In addition to Kandurunadu, Kumara Tailapa also held the province of Sindavadi, with its capital at Tumbalam (near Adoni).

It seems that Tailapa distributed the governorship of Kandurunadu between two brothers of the Choda family, Bhima III (who held Kanduru) and Gokarna I (who held Panugallu).

Prince Tailapa eventually sought to become independent of his elder brother. While Bhima III agreed to fight for Tailapa, Gokarna I remained loyal to King Somesvara. As a result, it seems that Gokarna was killed by Kumara Tailapa and Bhima III in 1128.

Prola II, at the behest of King Somesvara, invaded Kandurunadu to put an end to the rebellion. Prola attacked the general Govinda-damdesa, who had received Panugallu from Kumara Tailapa after Gokarna was killed. Upon defeating and killing Govinda-damdesa, Prola restored Panugallu to Udaya Choda, the son of Gokarna. Prola's campaign into Panugallu seems to have occurred sometime between 1128 and 1136.

Karikala

c.1040 - c.1060 : Eruva Bhima I

Wifes: Maili and Nagi

In the Eruva line, Bhima the lord of Phanugallu-pura, was born for the rejoicing of all.

Subordinate to Western Chalukya King Somesvara I (1042 - 1068).

Granted the lordship of Cheraku together with its 12 villages to Cheraku Chief Kata I.

1060 AD : Irugana Choda Maharaja
Nagarkurnool : This inscription is on a stone lying in the RDO’s bungalow. Incomplete. Mentions only the prasasti and cyclic year. Begins with the usual prasasti of the Kanduri Chodas and mentions the name of the king Irugana Choda maharaja

c.1065 - 1077 : Tonda I son of Eruva Bhima I
Subordinate to Western Chalukya King Somesvara I (1042 - 1068).

Eruva Tonda , apparently , was a military commander in the army of Dandanayaka Mahapradhani Anantapalayya. 

May 8, 1077 AD : Kollipaka - Mahamandalesvara Eruva Tondarasar, a Telugu-Choda chief sets up an inscription at the same place in Saka.999, Ptnga|a Jyestha su. 13, (A.D. 1077, May 8) (No. 13) to lecordhts gift of perpetual lamps to Somesvara Deva of Kollipaka, wherein no reference is made to any overlord. 

1077 AD - 1091 AD : Bhimachoda II son of Tonda I

Wife : Ganga

Bhima Choda the lord of Panagallu in Nalgonda

Chōda Bhima (II), having pleased his master Vikrama-chakrin, that is, Vikramaditya VI obtained Kanduru- nadu which from other sources is known to be comprising eleven hundred villages, as an additional fief. On the basis of the date of the present record we can infer that this Kandūru nādu was offered as additional fief to Bhima by Vikramaditya VI in recognition of the former's support lent at the time of the king's accession to the throne by dislodging Bhuvanaika malla. Koduru near Mahbubnagar became their secondary capital. They adopted the titles Kodur pravaresvara and Kandūri-Chōḍa representing their new capital and additional fief respectively.

 

Bhimachoda II sons are Tonda II and Mallikarjunachoda by his wife ganagadevi.

1088 AD - 1097 AD Tonda II son of Bhimachoda II

1088 AD : Ruling from Kolanupaka. Assumed responsibilities well before his father died.

1091 AD : Panugallu from 1091 AD after Bhimachoda II death

24th December, A.D. 1088 and 25th December, A.D. 1091 : Kolanupaka, Bhuvanagiri
Vikramaditya VI and Tondaya-Chola-Maharaja.Both the inscriptions A and B, which belong to the rule of Tribhuvanamalla (i.e. Vikramaditya VI). refer to the Telugu-Choda chief Tondaya-Chola-maharaja of the Kanduru branch. They are dated, apart from other details, in the Chalukya Vikrama years 13 and 16 respectively. Two more inscriptions of this chief bearing dates Chalukya-Vikrama year 12, Prabhava, Uttarayana-sankranti and year 16 of the same era, Prajapati, solar eclipse respectively, are found in Kolanupaka itself. Both the inscriptions, like the inscriptions under study, refer themselves to the rule of Tribhuvanamalla suggesting the feudatory status of the Telugu Choda chief under the imperial Chalukya ruler. Thus in all we have four records of Tondaya-Chola maharaja, dates ranging from the Chalukya Vikrama years 12-16 (1088-92 A.D.)

Bhima II's son Tonda II dated C.V. 13, A.D. 1089 AD. An unpublished epigraph from Panugallu dated C.V. 15 (1091) set up by Bhima's eldest son Tondaya registers some vrittis granted by him to a brahman who carried the ashes of his father Kandūru Bhima Chōda to Ganga for immersing them in that holy river.

1092-93 AD : Koppole, Nalgonda.
This inscription, engraved on a slab lying near a tank opposite the Muthyalamma temple, is in Telugu language and Characters and is dated in the Chalukya Vikrama era (year not specified) Angirasa (A.D. 1092-93). It registers a gift of land in the village Jalapattu for the upkeep of the lake at Kroproli and for the maintenance of the Rudresvaradevara-satra, on the occasion of Uttarayan-Sankranti, by Kanduri-Tondaya-Cholamaharaju. The gift was entrusted to Chilyakamti-Anamtasaka-Pandita.

Udayachoda I, Bhimachoda III, Gokarnachoda I are the sons of Tonda II.

1097 AD - 1104 AD : Mallikarjunachoda brother of Tonda II
18th May, 1097 A.D : Ollala Inscription, Nalgonda 

In the Saka year ambara (o), ambaka (2) akasa (o), and sasanka (1) i.e. 1020. fifth day of the bright fortnight of Jyeshtha in the cyclic year Isvara corresponding to Chalukya Vikrama year 22

Gunda was the minister of Malla Choda. Being pleased with his abilities Malla granted him the village Ollāla as agrahara

1098 AD : Pamulapadu village of Madugulapalli mandal in Nalgonda district

The Telugu inscription records a gift of land to the son of certain Upari Mallayya during the rule of Mallikajuna Choda

1098 AD : A number of newly-discovered inscriptions refer to the political conditions prevailing in the twelfth-thirteenth centuries A.D. Among these, mention may be made of the one from Vellala: dated in Saka 1020 (A.D. 1098) and written in Sanskrit language it refers to Mahamandalesvara Mallikarjuna of Kanduri Choda family and traces the genealogy of the family to Karikala and Eruva Bhima. 

It seems that Tailapa distributed the governorship of Kandurunadu between two brothers of the Choda family, Bhima (who held Kandur and Panugallu) and Gokarna I (who held Kodur or Vardhamanapura). 

We see lot of activity in this region of Western Chalukya family. Kumara Somesvera in Kolanupaka and Tailapa in Kandurnadu.

Bhima Choda III ruled Kandur and Panugallu until 1122 AD and Gokarna Choda I ruled until 1128 AD

1104 AD - 1128 AD: Bhima Choda III and Gokarna Choda I

Kistapuram, Ramannapet Taluk : Kanduru Choda
This inscription is on a slab lying near the old Shiva temple outside the village. The cyclic year Isvara corresponds  The inscription records the gift of some lands to the god [---]esvara of Parivela village by Kanduri Bhimachoda Maharaja of Kasyapa Gotra and Karikalanvaya for the merit of his father Tondayaraja. 

1104 AD - 1122 AD : Bhimarasa 

31st December, 1104 AD: Kolanupaka inscription in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district is on a stone slab in the fields. It states that, while Chalukya emperor Tribhuvanamalladeva was ruling the ever increasing prosperous kingdom from the nelevidu of Kalyana, Kanduru Bhimana Choda Maharaja of the lineage of Karikala Kasyapa-gotra granted lordship over Bhaditippaparti included in Cheraku-70 included in the Irrama-300, of Kanduru- 1100 bada, making it agrahara to Kavaliya Brahmadevayya. The inscription bears at the end signatures of (1) Kavaliya Brahmadevayya, (2) Rajadhyaksha Jogadevayya (3) Sarvadhyaksha Peggada Komanayya and (4) Peggada Irugamayya.

15th May A.D. 1116 : Panugallu
States while the Chalukya emperor Tribhuvanamalladeva ruling kingdom of the earth, Bhimarasa, a relation of Kanduru Somaladevi installed Gangadevi and Gangesvara and submitted to the emperor who was camping in the Uppayana (Vidu) Kollipaka, that he should consider this as his own work of charity (dharma). It is stated that, the emperor having complied with Bhimarasa's request, made gifts, of land Bhatti-Koduru, Namagallu, Bikkikere etc, included in Bhimavara-12 offerings of Gangesvaradeva after washing feet of Vagisvaradeva.

Panugallu inscriptions dated A.D. 1116 states that, while the Chalukya emperor Tribhuvanamalladeva was ruling the kingdom of the earth, Bhimarasa a relation of Kanduru Somaladevi installed Gangadevi and Gangeswara and submitted to the emperor who was camping in the uppayana (vidu) at Kollipaka, that he should consider this as his own work of charity (dharma). The emperor having complied with Bhimarasa’s request, made gifts of land in Bhatti – 12 for the offerings of Gangeswaradeva after washing the feet of vighneswaradeva. This inscription gives message about the water importance and the respect must be on Vighneswara pandita.

Panugallu

The record is partly damaged. Mentions Tailapa, the son of the emperor, and seems to record gift to a brahmana, son of Vaidyanatha in Gokarna-brahmapuri, probably by Mahamandalesvara Bhima Choda who is said to have obtained the whole of Kanduru mandala as fief from Tailapa. Details not clear.

Panugallu
Damaged. Describes a subordinate officer, a Mahamandalesvara (name lost) who is said to have secured his office from the King's son Tailapadeva. Gokarna is also mentioned.

18th June 1116 AD : Gattuthimmam, Achempet Taluk
This inscription is on a pillar in the mandap of Rameswara Swamy temple. Registers the gift of 18 tumus towards the daily rites of God Ramesvara of Tumenti and one ma of ghee towards perpetual lamp, and 24 rukas from Siddhayamu towards 24 vidyas by Vennamahadevi, the chief queen of Kanduri Nalla Bhimadeva Choda maharaja.

1120 AD  : Somanatha Chola  

Udimilla, Achchampet Taluk, Mahbubnagar District
This inscription is on the right-side pillar in the mukha-mandapa of the Ramesvara temple. Records the gift of 3 marutars of land to the god Kedaresvara and 2 marutars of land to the god Kesavadeva by the king mahamandalesvara Kanduri Somanathadeva-choda- maharaju. The gift lands are stated to have been situated in different places. Also records the gift of a perpetual lamp to the same god.

26th March 1120 AD : Uppununthala

This inscription is on a pillar in the mandapa of Siva temple. Records mahamandalesvara kanduri Somanadhadeva Chada maharaju made a grant of land measures 12 khas, of velivolamu (dry land), and niru polamu, 3 mas, (wet land) situated behind the tank Prolenayaka, to God Kedaresvara. He also donated 2 mas, behind Basanicheruvu and Karrakuli penta sunkamu (market tax) towards nanda dipa.

29th December A.D. 1122 : Upparapalli, Nalla Bhimadeva Choda Maharaja : 
This inscription is in the water channel about one kilometre away from the village. Records that Vennamahadevi the chief queen of mahamandalesvara Kanduri Nalla Bhimadeva Choda maharaju made a grant of land belonging to Gollakaluva in Tummenta, her native village, to god Narasimhadeva, of Mavindlapalli, for the daily worship and offerings. It also records another grant of Bakiratnamu land.

1104 AD - 1128 AD : Gokarnachoda I son of Tonda II

28th June, 1121 AD : Yeleswaram, Nalgonda District.

This inscription is on Khazana building museum, dated C.V E. 33, [A D. 1110], Plava, Ashada, su. 11, Thursday [June 28, A.D. 1121]. Records a gift of the village Koduru to the god Yeleswara Deva by Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Gokarna Deva Choda Maharaja of the Karikala dynasty, and who was the ruler of Kolurpuravara. 

10th March A.D. 1122 : Panugallu, Nalgonda District.

This inscription is on a broken stone pillar now in the State Museum. Dated C.V.E. 1043 (mistake far Saka) Subhakrit Phalguna, Amavasya, Friday, Solar eclipse (A.D. 1122, March 10 ?). Records that Mahamandalesvara Gokarna Choda gave away the lordship of Maduvula in kukkulamu 30 to Kavaliya Bhimana Peggada and the lordship of Addaluru in Amanikallu-70 with astabhagas to Doddabhatlu after washing the feet of the respective donees.

10th March 1122 AD : Panagallu
This inscription is on a stone now preserved in the State Museum, Hyderabad. States that, Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Gokarna Choda Maharaja (conferred on G(K)avaliya Bhimana Peggada, son-in-law (or nephew) of Gamanapeggada, the lordship of Addaluru included in Amanagallu-70 on his (Bhimana Peggada's) son, Doddaya bhattu.

11th August 1124 AD : Panagallu

This inscription is on a stone pillar lying in the Pachala Someshwara Temple. Damaged and fragmentary. Records that, on the occasion of Surya grahana in the year Krodhi, S.1046, Mailambika, wife of Tondanripa who had three sons viz., Udayaditya, Bhima and Gokarna granted an agrahara called Choda Bhima Narayanapuram to 108 Brahmanas. Though the month, tithi, and vara (day in week) are not given, the date of the inscription can be calculated on the basis of the solar eclipse, of which there was only one in the year given in the record. It corresponds to Monday, 11th August, A.D. 1124.

Rajapeta, Yeleswaram, Nalgonda District. Gokarna Deva

Gattu Timmana, Mamillapally, Mahaboobnagar District. Kanduri Gokarna Choda Deva

29th July 1128 AD  : Pedda Kadumuru
This inscription is on a pillar in front of Brahmesvara temple. Registered a gift of land to Gods Mallikarjuna, Kesavadeva and Narsimhadeva, of Mamillapalli for the maintenance of a perpetual lamp by Savadara Bollayya Nayaka, while Gokar nadeva was ruling.

Sridevi Tondya and Bhimachoda III supported the cause of kumara Tailapa whereas Gokarnachoda I stood firmly on the side of emperor Somesvara III.

It appears that Bhimachoda III, armed with material and moral support of Kumara Tailapa, killed his younger brother Gokarnachoda I.

1128 AD - 1136 AD : Sridevi Tondaya 

1128 AD : Anamala, Miryalaguda Taluk.
Belonging to the same period are two epigraphs from Anamala in Miryalaguda Taluk. They belong to the Kanduri Choda family which paid allegiance to the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani. One of them, dated Saka 1050 (A.D. 1128), was issued by Sridevi Tondaya and is silent about the overlord, suggesting an independant status.

This inscription is on a stone pillar set up in the fields towards the west of the village. The inscription records that Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Sridevi Tondaya of Kasyapa-gotra, Karikalanvaya, and solar race, the lord of Kodurupura granted the prabhutva (lordship) of Alamula included in Cheraku-70 (region) with ashtabhogatejas-svamyatas to Ajjala Erayana- peggada. The record, on the other three sides contains Telugu verses in Kanda and one in Champakamala metres, stating that certain Prolemaraja-amarya obtained (from the king) vrittis consisting of Chagamari-12 and Dodidorti-12 and other things. The Champakamala verse states the various royal insignia obtained by Proleyamatya which include, adapamu (betel bag),andalamu (palanquin), (royal) seats kamchagattu (.............), vichchadiya (permission to pay royal visits?), dharalu (swords), savadi-samkhulu (sounding conch shells), bherulu (beating drums), gamgu-gondamu (......), godugulu (umbrellas), pili (elephant), barha-kunta (peacock- fans?) and kham-vitanamu (...).

The last verse states that Adapa-Erayan-peggade obtained the prabhutva (lordship) from Tondaraja of the line of Jata Choda. From this record we understand that the Choda family of Kanduru belonged to the line of Jata Choda of Eruva as said in the Vollala inscription of Mallikarjuna Choda (Ep. Andhrica IV p.26). Secondly, Sridevi Tondaya, the donor of this record is not properly identifiable among the known members of the Kanduri Choda chiefs. Thirdly, it is not known how Proleyaraja-amatya and Erayana peggada were related to each other.

1131 AD : Adavi-Devulapalli, Miryalaguda Taluk
This inscription is on a slab lying in front of the Chennakesava temple. Records the installation of the deity Ramaramana at the place called Bauddham situated on the bank of the river Krishna by mahamandalesvara Kandari Tondaya-chada, who is described as Koduri- puravaradhisvara and belonging to Kasyapa-gotra and Karikalanvaya. While he was ruling from his capital Panugallur over Kandara nadu Vinuribada-nadu and Kondapalli-nadu, his minister Gopati son of Medama granted two khandugas of hand and taxes (sunkas) for maintaining perpetual lamp to the above deity.

1136 AD : Prola II, at the behest of King Somesvara, invaded Kandurunadu to put an end to the rebellion. Prola attacked the general Govinda-damdesa, who had received Panugallu from Kumara Tailapa after Gokarna was killed. Upon defeating and killing Govinda-damdesa, Prola restored Panugallu to Udaya Choda, the son of Gokarna. Prola's campaign into Panugallu seems to have occurred sometime between 1128 and 1136.

1136 AD - 1178 AD : Udayachoda II Son of Gokarnachoda I
General : Arasalu

King Udayanachoda, who was ruling a vast kingdom comprising 1,100 villages from Panugal in the present Nalgonda district, had expanded his kingdom as far as the present Mahabubnagar district, holding the strategic Krishna River belt under his control.

25th December A.D. 1136 : Peruru, Miryalaguda Taluk, Nalgonda District.
This inscription is set up before the mukhamandapa of the swayambhu Someswara temple. Records the gift of land by madalika Gunadya, an officer under the chief for conducting the offerings and worship on the day of Uttarayana-Sankranthi. The land was measured by a rod called ghada-marturu to the deity Kesavadeva installed by Yajnavalki Kesava-bhatta.

Sirikonda inscription dated A.D.1149 states that, Mahamandalika ketaya of the Pallava lineage obtained kondapallinadu by means of charter from Mahamandaleshwar Koduru Udayana Choda maharaja who was ruling Sirikonda-rajya, made the gift of lands and tolls on various articles of merchandise to the Gods namely adjusted in to the God’s hundi.

An inscription on a stone slab dating back to 1158 CE has been discovered and reported by the villagers of Vavikollu in Gundlapally mandal of Nalgonda district.The orders were passed on a Sunday, which was Pournami (full moon night) of lunar eclipse on August 10, 1158, when the King had gifted his Raj Purohit Sarvadeva Somayajulu a village named ‘Bodavipparru.’  The inscriptions stated that the village was exempted from any form of taxation and that Somayajulu could enjoy the land as per his wishes. 

Subordinate of Jagadekamalla II (1138 - 1158) and Subordinate to Kakatiya Rudradeva (1158 - 1195).

Kata, Mara and two Erras, the cheraku chiefs assisted Kakatiya Rudra in defeating Udayachoda II who made peace by giving his daughter Padma in marriage to Kaktiya Rudradeva.

23th March A.D.1157 : Marrikallu
This inscription is on a slab lying near the land of Kulpak Chinnah. Records a grant to God Ramesvara deva the village Marikallu by Srimat Aggarasa, Aggele Dandimayya, Sankarayya, etc. with the permission of the Udayana Chola maharaju. Also mentions Mahapradhani Hireya Herrggale, and Sankaradeva who made a grant to Swayambhu Ramesvaradeva (details not clear).

24th October A.D. 1159 : Rachur
This inscription is on a stone pillar lying in the temple outside the village. Registers the fact that two lamp stands were installed by Ravitorri Peggada Mallisetti in Kesavadeva temple which was situated in Somanatha temple at Panagallu. The said gift was entrusted to the son (name not clear) of Mutteboyana nayaka in S 1081 to maintain these nanda deepas.

1160 AD : Rachur
This inscription is on a stone pillar lying in the temple outside the village. Registers a gift of thirty goats for the supply of ghee to nanda deepas installed by Ravitorri peggada Malliseyi for Kesava deva. The said gift was entrusted to Yeruge son of Muttuboyana.

25th December, 1162 AD : Jadcherla, Mahaboobnagar District.
This inscription is on a stone slab set up in front of Venkateswara temple. Dated (S) 1084, Chitrabhanu Pushya ba 2, Tuesday (A.D. 1162 December, 25). Records the grant of Koduri Gokarna Singa rukalu from malinga sunkamu in the village of Gangapuram for the two nanda-dipas and gosagi naivedyam for Svayambhudeva of Koduru, by Nalla Siddaramaiah and Errasiddhamaiah the dandanayakas of Kibatte and Melvatte and Sunka officers (Collectors of Revenue) of Udayana Choda maharaja of Kanduru.

30th April, 1167 AD: Lingala
This inscription is on two broken pieces of stone in the Siva temple and another in the field. Registers the grant of Lingala village, in Kanduru mandala made at Somasila shrine on the bank of Krishna by certain Tonda son of Kanna and Mallamasani of the Solar dynasty, renowned for the birth of Karikala. He is further stated to have established three shrines for Visnu, Siva and Surya in the names of Bhimaraju, Gokarnaraju and his father respectively.

12th September 1172 AD : Indrakallu
This inscription is on a pillar in the mandapa of Siva temple. Registers the grant of two puttis per month for the daily offerings of God Indresvara by Sunka verggade Kommanayya while his over lord Kanduri Udayana Choda was ruling.

10th March 1174 AD : Markal, Parigi, Rangareddy.
It states that the King held titles like Karikalanvaya and Viramanesvara. It records the gift of 16 marttars of land in the village Marikallu as Naivedya, two gadde marttars along with ratana, land to Sun god and 10 marttars of land to Chennakesava by Sri Marrikallu Balla Veliyam Reddi.

1176 AD : Nelakondapalli, Khammam District.
This inscription is on a stone lying near the local library. Dated S 1097, Manmatha, Magha su-(A.D. 1176, Feb...?). Records the construction of a sluice for the great tank at Kondapally. One Malli Nayaka gave a martur of land to the God Visvesvara for naivedya.

12th April A.D.1178 : Jupally, Udayaditya II
This inscription is on a pillar lying in the Veerabhadra temple. Begins with the prasasti of the Choda chief of Kanduru Udayaditya and refers to his subordinate chief named Poti reddi with a string of titles which mention that he was lord of Jammulurupura. This inscription registers a gift of land in Peddi reddipalli for performing anga-ranga-bhogas and daily rituals to God Mahesvara by Poti reddi for his merit and for the merit of his overlord.

Bhimachoda IV and Gokarnachoda II are the sons of Udayachoda II were ruling Kandur jointly and are contemporaries to Kakatiya Rudradeva and Ganapatideva (1199 - 1262). 

1178 AD - 1243AD : Gokarnachoda II and Bhimachoda IV until 1235 AD. 

Bhimachoda IV ruled until 1235 AD and Udayaditya Chola III took his place after that.

25th October 1178 AD : Mamillapally, Manchikunta, Palm, Mahaboobnagar District, Bhima and Gokarna II

17th November A.D. 1234: Mallepally, Devarakonda, Nalgonda.

It is dated Saka 1157, Jaya, Kartika bahula 10, Thursday. The cyclic year Jaya coincides with Saka 1156 corresponding to A.D. 1234 November 17, Friday. This inscription is on a stone pillar set up near the cross roads, on the left side of Hyderabad-Nagarjuna Sagar road. The inscription is faulty in several aspects. It registers the grant of the village Akam Mallepally for amga-ramga-bhogas and offerings of the god Mahesvaradeva presiding at the northern gate of 'Srisaila, that is, Umamahesvara in Achchampet taluk, Mahbubnagar district. At the end of the inscription there is a description of Omkararasi-deva, the sthanapati of Mahesvara Deva, probably the recipient of the gift. The grant was issued by Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Bhimadeva Choda Maharaja of Kasyapa gotra, Karikal anvaya and solar race

27th October A.D. 1235 AD : Indrakallu, Bhimadeva Choda Maharaju 
This inscription is in the central pillar in the Indreshwara temple outside the village. States that a certain Udayana Preggada, mahapradhani of Kanduru, made a gift of twenty eight lamps towards nanda deepa for God Indresvara, while Bhimachoda deva maharaja was ruling. The gift was entrusted to Kampu Kolanka Boyi.

1235 AD : Mallepally, Nalgonda District, Bhimadeva Choda

1184 AD : Lingala, Nagarkurnool District.

This inscription is on two broken pieces of stone, one in Siva temple and other in the field. Dated S 1106 Vai. Sans sakha Ama. krit vasya. Records the grant of Lingala village, in Kanduru mandala, made at Somasila shrine on the bank of Krishna by a certain Tanda son of Kanna and Mallama Sani (?) of the solar dynasty, renowned for the birth of Karikala, he is further stated to have established 3 shrines for Vishnu, Siva and Surya in the names of Bhimaraju, Gokarna Raju and his own father respectively.

30th May A.D. 1191 : Paddur, Nagarkurnool , Gokarna Deva Choda Maharaju II

1207 AD : Cherlapally, Nalgonda.
Of the three Telugu inscriptions in Telugu characters from the Anesvarammagutta, the first, dated Saka 1129 (A.D. 1207), records a grant of lands to a brahmana by Ereyana Peggada and also for the merit of Kanduri Odayanachoda-maharaja, the local ruling chief. The second inscription, in characters of the twelfth century engraved on the pedestal of an image, states that this is an image of Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Odayanachoda-maharaja. The third, engraved around the foot-prints in characters of the twelfth century, reads as Jina Brahmayogi- guru-pada Charukitti.

1235 AD : Udayaditya Chola III

9th September 1235 AD : Edampalli, Devarakonda Taluk, Udayaditya Choda, son of Somanathadeva
This inscription is on a stone in the field outside the village. The inscription registers the gift of his part (palu) of the village Nalladamapalli for the amgaramga bhogas and offerings to the god Mahesvara by Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Udayaditya Choda Maharaja of Kasyapa gotra, Karikalanvaya and solar race, the lord of Kodurupura for the merit of his father Somanathadeva.

22nd March A.D. 1243 : Patancheru, Sangareddy Taluk, Medak, Gokarnachoda Maharaju

This inscription is now in the state Museum, Hyderabad. The inscription dated in the Chalukya Vikrama era refers to one mahamandaleshwara Kanduri Gokarna Chola maharaja and his gifts to Gavari..... Bhimana Perggada, son-in-law of Gamana perggada namely, the enjoyment of 10 madas of Gukkadamu 30, and to the latter's son Doddayyabhatta to whom, after washing his feet, he gave the enjoyment of Badiye of Naminekalla-70 on the occasion of Uttarayana sankranti.

Malnathadevachoda

1250 AD - 1282 AD : Tonda and Chodabhimanarayana

Tonda and Chodabhimanarayana were definitely ruling in A.D. 1282 as the feudatories of Kumara Rudradeva i.e. Prataparudra of the Kakatiys as attested by Panugal record.No sons and successors of Tonda and Chodabhimanarayana are heard of. So probably the Kandur cholas ceased to be a power by A.D. 1300.

1282 AD : Ramanathadevachoda

Ruling Miryalaguda Taluk of Nalgonda district as the subordinate of Kakatiya Rudramadevi (1262 - 1289)

Recherla family was ruling pillalamarri and nagalpadu region in Nalgonda district.

Cheraku chief Cheraku Bollaya was ruling Nandikotkur of Kurnool and Achampet Taluk of Mahaboobnagar.

Kayastha Chief Ganagaya Sahini was ruling the region extending from Panugallu in Nalgonda District to Valluru in the Cuddapah district.

1224 AD : Gona Ganapayya Son of Gona Budha Reddi obtained by the grace of Ganapatideva, the Kandur-nadu which he was ruling from Vardhamanapura.

1282 AD : Kanduri Ramanathadeva Choda
16th April A.D. 1282.  : Agamotukuru, Miryalaguda Taluk.
This inscription is on a stone pillar in front of the Anjaneya temple. The inscription, refers itself to the happy reign of Kakatiyya Rudra Mahadevulu and introduces her subordinate Mahamandalesvara Kanduri Ramanathadeva choda Maharaja of Kasyapa Gotra, Karikalanvaya and solar race and the lord of Kodurpura. He is said to have installed the god Viramalnathadeva after his father and endowed it with several gifts of lands as vrittis and monetary income out of tolls (sumka) and taxes (ari) in the village of Mrontukuru. The last portion of the record is the schedule of daily offerings to the god as follows: Rice of Rajana variety = 3 tumus: green gram 3 addas; ghee - 3 tavvas; specials - 2; payasa; good curries - 10; curd - 3 adda; pepper - 1/2 sola; imiguva -3 sinnas; betel nuts - 15, leaves - 45; sandal - 20, palas per annum; Musk and camphor.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44141667
The History of Andhra Country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D.By Yashoda Devi

Telugu Chodas of Kandur by G. Satyanarayana rao

http://www.allresearchjournal.com/archives/2015/vol1issue12/PartO/1-11-150.pdf

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Assaka or Asmaka Janapada

700 BC - 300 BC : Assaka was a region of ancient India came after Megalithic (Iron or Metal Age). It was one of the shodasa (sixteen) mahajanapadas in the 6th century BCE, mentioned in the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya. 

"Assaka" (Prakrit) or "Asmaka" (Sanskrit) signifies "stony region" and was located in the Deccan region.

In the Vayu Purana (88. 177-178) Asmaka and Mulaka appear as scions of the Ikshvaku family. This probably indicates that the Asmaka and Mulaka (or Alakas) kingdoms were believed to have been founded by Ikshvaku chiefs, just as Vidarbha and Dandaka were founded by princes of the Yadu (Bhoja) family.

We learn from the Assaka Jataka (No. 207) that at one time the city of Potali was included in the kingdom of Kasi, and its prince Assaka was presumably a vassal of the Kasi monarch.

The country of Assaka or the Asmaka was located in Dakshinapatha or Southern India. In buddha’s time, Assaka was located on the bank of the river Godavari (South of Vindhyan range). The Capital of the Assaka was Potana or Potali which corresponds to Paudanya of Mahabharata.

Modern day Bodhan (Nizamabad),Kotilingala (Karimnagar) are believed to be the capitals of Assaka Janapada. Excavations in kotilingala found punch marked coins of rulers Gobada, Narana, Kamvayasa, Sirivayasa and Samagopa.

Paithan (Maharashtra) used to be the capital of Mulaka (Alaka).
Evidently, Assaka and Kalinga regions were once contiguous.The Godavari River separated the country of the Assakas from the mulakas.

The Assaka Janapada evidently covered considerable part of the Telangana. The reference to Asmaka Janapada, part of present Telangana, as one of the 16 Janapadas in ancient India proves that there exist​ed an advanced stage of society.

In the Mahabharata we find that an Asmaka prince was   killed by Abhimanyu; and Kama, the great warrior on the side of the Kauravas, is said to have conquered the Kalingas, Rishikas, Asmakas and others.

In early Pali literature Assaka has, on the one hand, been distinguished from Mulaka which lay to its north, and on the other from Kalinga. He suggests that in later times Assaka seems to have included Mulaka, and also perhaps Kalinga. In the Sona-Nanda Jataka we find Assaka associated with Avanti; this association can only be explained if we summarize that Assaka included at that time Mulaka and thus its territory abutted on Avanti.

The Buddhist text Mahagovinda Suttanta mentions Brahmadatta king of the Assakas who was a contemporary of Sattabhu king of Kalinga, Vessabhu king of Avanti, Bharata king of Sovlra, Renu king of Videha, Dhatarattha king of Anga and Dhatarattha king of Kasi

The Chulla Kalinga Jataka mentions a king of Assaka named Aruna and his minister Nandisena, and refers to a victory which they won over the king of Kalinga reigning ever the city of Dantapura in Kalinga country.

In the sixth Century BC at the time of lord Mahavira, the ruler of Assaka whose son was a prince Sujatha.

The Sutta Nipata, an early Buddhist work relates the episode of sixteen disciples of Bavari, a hermit living in Assaka Janapada, who after meeting the Buddha at Rajagriha took refuge in the Dhamma.

Assaka represents the Sanskrit Asmaka or Asvaka, which is mentioned by Asanga in his Sutra-lankaraas a country in the basin of the Indus. Asanga's Asmaka seems therefore to be identical with the kingdom Assakenus of the Greek writers, which lay to the east of the Sarasvati at a distance of about 25 miles from the sea on the Swat Valley.

Videha, Kuru, Panchala, Trigarta, Asmaka, Sursena, were all annexed into Magadha by Mahapadma Nanda (345 - 329) and recieved the title of "Destroyer of Kshatriyas" when he founded the Nanda Dynasty. 

Assaka
Brahmadatta 
Sujatha
Aruna

Mauryan Empire : 300 BC : Bindusura (298 BC – 272 BC) son of Chandragupta (320 - 298) conquered territory in vast deccan plateau of peninsular India (the modern states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh)


http://ijellh.com/papers/2014/September/50-506-515-sept-2014.pdf
http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/Political_History_of_Ancient_India_from_the_Accession_of_Parikshit_to_1000202384/93
Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names, Volume 1 By Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera
http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/05-13/features2808.htm

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Megalithic (Iron or Metal Age)

2200 BC - 700 BC : Megalithic (Iron or Metal Age) came after Neolithic (New Stone Age) . Iron Age may have come into existence in Telangana much before the rest of the world. At least that's the conclusion reached by archaeologists excavating the University of Hyderabad campus who found iron artifacts dating back to roughly 2,200 BC.

The team of archaeologists, led by professor KP Rao, has found several artefacts, including small knives and blades besides earthen pots. "The implements that were found were tested at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) using a method called Optically Simulated Luminescence (OSL). The metal objects were dated to anywhere between 1800 BC and 2,400 BC. So we are assuming they were made during 2200 BC," Prof KP Rao told TOI.

A megalith is a large, often undressed stone, that has been used in the construction of various types of Neolithic, Chalcolithic or Bronze Age monuments, during the period 4500-1000 BCE. Also known as petroforms, these monuments can consist of just one stone (Menhir), most megalithic monuments consist of a number of stones, which are fitted together without the use of mortar or cement.

Pullur Banda Village , Siddipet Mandal , Medak District

Megaliths are a special class of Monuments in Deccan particularly in Telangana State. Almost all types of megalithic monuments like menhirs, stone circles, dolmens and dolmonoid cists are reported in hundreds of villages in all Telangana Districts. Discovery of cruciform monoliths in male and female forms known as Statue-Menhirs on the Mallugrugutta (Warangal) Galabha, Kachanapally (Khammam) is a unique feature in the megalithic culture of the mid-Godavari valley. The Megalithic monuments located in Telangana are usually dated anywhere between 1000 B.C and 200 A.D.

At Pullur Banda village (18°10'34"N 78°48'41"E), Siddipet Mandal, Medak district, there are nearly 50 Megalithic burials located. These are classified into three types viz., Menhir, Cairns and Dolmens. With a view to understand the culture and traditions of the Megalithic communities of this region two burials are selected for excavation.
Menhir

This is a huge (nearly 5.4 mts. ht) vertical stone kept to the north of the big burial (burial No. 1). Bruising is seen on its back side in the centre. These bruisings are stick type human forms with weapons in their hands. At the foundations of the Menhir, a trench is laid and excavated upto 15 cms.
Cairn (Megalithic burial No.1)

This burial is located to the southern side of Menhir. This is the biggest one having a diameter of 10 X 10 mts., with fifteen boulders in circular shape with a huge capstone (weighing nearly 7 to 8 tonnes) broken into three pieces which are arranged in triangular shape. The capstone was lifted carefully with the help of crane without damaging the deposit of the burial, as it is impossible to lift manually and excavation was continued on scientific lines. During the excavation iron implements such as Dagger, Arrowheads, iron forecep, Knife, Javelin, black and red ware, black ware and red ware pottery, a small broken ring made of clay etc. were recovered. At a depth of 1.85 mts. in the centre of the pit bones were reported in a broken pot on bedrock. Most probably these bones seems to be part of the skull.
Cairn (Megalithic burial No.2)

This burial is located 30 mts. west of Menhir. It consists of 14 boulders in a circular shape in 8X8mts.diameter. This is also a pit burial having huge capstone. After carefully lifting capstone the excavation continued. In this burial black and red ware, red ware and black ware pottery were reported. At a depth of 1.5 mts., remains of bones are also reported in a damaged pot.

From the above evidence i.e., recovery of bone pieces in the pots in centre of the pits, it shows that these are secondary type of burials.

The excavation continued for another 10 days to know more cultural evidence of the site. The bone pieces and related material were sent to the Indian Institute Chemical Technology for K14 test to decide the dating of the material.

The Government is making all efforts to retrieve and preserve the Megalithic Burials wherever it is found, apart from its regular exploration and identification.

A rare Megalithic cist burial (Gudu samadhi) belonging between 1000 BCE and 600 CE has been found in a farm at Dasaram village, located close to Musi river in Nereducherla mandal in Nalgonda district.

DOLMENS : GONDIMALLA - Mahaboobnagar
There are about 20 to 25 dolmens in the complex with intervening space of 10 to 15 m. Dry masonry walls were constructed by piling-up of flat cut slabs, about 40 cm. wide and 80 cm. long and 15 cm. thick. The roof was covered by a roughly circular or rectangular granite slab with a thickness of 15 to 20 cm. The height of the walls below the roof slab never exceeded 1 m. The plan of the room, enclosed by the wall, is sometimes apsidal and sometimes roughly rectangular. Outside the walls a filling of Cairn or small rubble was packed upto the roofing slab to make the room cosy and for protection from reptiles, etc. A single entrance, always facing north, with an average width of 60 to 80 cm. has a threshold slab of about 10 cm. higher than outside ' surface as if to obstruct reptiles entering the room. It is rather difficult to assign these dolmens to any particular period. The flooring, consisting of bed-rock, is without any possibility of
excavation.

PEDDAMARUR
Peddamarur 27 is a small village in the Kolhapur taluk of Mahboobnagar district and situated on the left bank of river Krishna. As the village and its surroundings come under submergence on completion of the Srisailam Hydro-Electric Project, major excavations have been conducted in the year 1977-79. The habitation site of the proto and early historical period, about 10 hectares in extent, lies on the south- west of the village and roughly half a kilometre away. Two groups of Megalithic burials are also found at Peddamarur; the first one towards north of the village, about a kilometre away, and the second about 3 kilometres south-west of the village and near river Krishna. Excavations were concentrated at the second group of the Megalithic burials and over the habitation site.

Archaeology and Museums Department did not list them under the protected monuments list. Eight types of megalithic burial sites – Stone Circles, Dolemens, Avenues, Cairns, Menhirs, Cromleches, Cruciform, and Pit Burial – were found in Telangana earlier , but currently, only stone circles are found while the rest are found very rarely.

Menhirs locatedin Guntupalli village of Chandampet mandal, Pazzur village of Thipparthy mandal, Kacharajupalli and Ramachandrapuram villages located near Bhongir town are not listed under the Act. Avenues are found at Janakipuram village and Dolemens in Atchampet area in Mahabubnagar district. In Khammam district, Dolemens are found in Padukonigudem of Gundala mandal, Peddarakasi and Chinnarakasi villages of Pinapaka mandal, Jubeda village of Thirmalayapalem mandal, and Thogudem village of Palvancha. Stone circles at found in Berolu villages of Warangal district. Neither of them are listed under the Act. Speaking to The Hindu , historian D. Surya Kumar urged the State government to list all these burial sites as protected monuments, apart from conducting a survey across Telanagana to identify whatever the megalithic burials were present. He urged the government to construct a boundary wall or fencing around them to protect them, for future generations to see.

Iron Objects from Megalithic burials
In South India iron objects constitute, besides pottery, one of the
important features of the Megalithic burials. The repertoire of iron objects found in the Megaliths displays a wide variety pertaining to the house- hold, agriculture, and war. They include daggers, knives, wedge-shaped blades, lances or javelins, spear -heads often with barbs on one or both sides, arrow-heads both socketed and tanged and swords of single or double edge. Besides, there are objects of house-hold utility and agricultural implements such as flat-axes, often with ring fasteners, hatchets, chisels, tripods to support pointed based vessels, lamps, hooks, knives, sickles, bill-hooks, spades, hanging saucer lamps, rods with rounded heads, resembling the beams of weighing scales, hoe-blades, horse-bits, ferrules,
bangles, nails, frying pans (sthali), ladles with long handle and bells, etc.

Next comes Assaka or Asmaka Janapada


References
http://telanganamuseums.com/Excavation-of-Megalithic-burial-site.html
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-telangana/megalithic-burials-lying-in-decay/article7929473.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/megalithic-burial-site-unearthed-in-medak/article7461267.ece
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/1000-BC-Megalithic-Burial-Sites-Found-in-Siddipet/2015/09/17/article3032614.ece
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Archaeologists-Unearth-1000BC-Megalithic-Burial-Site-in-Medak/2015/08/10/article2966775.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/megalithic-cist-burial-unearthed-in-nalgonda/article6292284.ece

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Neolithic (New Stone Age)

25,000 BC - 2200 BC: Neolithic or New Stone Age began after Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) when humans invented agriculture. Neolithic people learned how to farm and domesticate animals and are not nomadic. Domesticate means to to train a wild animal to be useful to humans.

A lot of Neolithic people began to live in the fertile crescent. The fertile crescent was a place where the land was fertile (good for growing plants). Trade began during Neolithic Era. Trade is buying and selling/exchanging goods.

Rock paintings found in Telangana reveal the love humans had for art and nature as long ago as 10,000 BCE. These paintings also reveal that a plethora of wild animals existed across the length and breadth of the state once upon a time.An interesting rock painting is that of a giraffe at Pandavulagutta in Warangal, as in the present world giraffes are found only in Africa. One can get a glimpse into the prehistoric man’s mind by looking at rock art which exists on walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters and isolated boulders.

The civilization was rather a hybrid one in the sense that the archaeologists have to deal with a number of peoples, brought together by a common culture of which the salient features are (1) agriculture, (2) domestication of animals, (3) pottery- making, (4) polishing of stone implements, and (5) in the later period developing of techniques of metallurgy. All the pottery from the earlier Neolithic period was of hand made. Burnishing with a dabber or spatula was probably a later development.

Material Culture
Out of the material remains of the Neolithic people, which survived
the ravages of time, was the stone-axe, made out of igneous or metamorphic; rocks, such as diorite, dolerite and basalt, The other less common varieties are small tools either hafted or used as adzes, small chisels, picks, fabricators, hammer-stones and sling stones, etc.

Thogarrai - NalgondaA prolific factory-site was discovered over one of the hills at Thogarrai near the source of a dolerite dyke. Large number of axes were collected from the spot in various stages of manufacture. The tools collected from the factory site at Thogarrai appear to have been manufactured in an Acheulian factory site. All the tools have been made out of dolerite and the author collected many a tool which are in their final stage of manufacture. The trap rock from which the tools were made is found in small handy nodules. A large number of primary flakes and chippings of the tools indicates that the Neolithic man took large nodules and adopted alternate flaking method, usually noticed in the Acheulian sites. This method is intended to get a straight cutting edge on both the sides. Whenever he could not find a convenient core to get two cutting edges he adopted the method of blunting one of the cutting edges similar to that of a backed blade, 'as noticed in the 'Late Stone Age tools. Later the blunted edge was again flaked alternatively to get a triangular body. The alternate step flaking gives the sharp zig-zag cutting edge but with high ridges on both the sides. These high ridges, as suggested by Subbarao, must have been removed with a painted tool, such as a cylindrical-type fabricator found elsewhere. The cutting edge, on both the sides, was made sharp by removing small neat flakes along it.

KADAMBAPUR - Karimnagar
Kadambapur, about 5 km. from Thogarrai, where a number of Neolithic stone-axes were collected over the sloping plains of the hills, abutting river Maneru. Many rock shelters and caverns, noticed in the hills, must have been occupied by the Early Neolithic man. A number of grinding grooves were noticed over the granite outcrops, Extensive exploration had not resulted in the discovery of any permanent settlement, But a few sherds of hand-made grey ware, collected betwixt the river and the plains, may imply that the
Neolithic settlement might have been eroded away by the seasonal flood of the river, as at present the river bed is not more than 2 m, deep.

KOLAKONDA - Warangal
Kolakonda village, on river Peddavagu in the Jangoan taluk
of Warangal district, is another important Neolithic settlement, which is situated in between the granitoid hills on the east and the river on the west to a stretch of 200 square metres approximately.

DEVARUPPALA - Warangal
It is a considerably big village near Mondrai in the Jangoan taluk of the Warangal district. The Neolithic settlement is situated at about 2 km. south of the village, over the black cotton plains near the granitic hills.

POLAKONDA - Warangal
Polakonda, a small village on the road from Jangoan to Suryapet
in the Jangoan taluk of Warangal district, is about 10 km. from
Devaruppala and approached from Mondra. To the north of the village
and abutting the Peddagutta hi11, an early historical site was noticed. A good number of polished stone-axes was observed over the early historical site, the plains and the sloping terraces on the south-west of Peddagutta hill.

While exploring a channel, dug-out recently by the Public Works Department, along the Kommulagutta hill (a northern extension of Peddagutta), a few sherds of hand-made grey ware of Neolithic affinity were recorded. Adjoining the channel, and at the find-spot of the grey-ware sherds a trench was sunk, which revealed a hearth of burnt clay, associated with a large number of hand-made Neolithic pots and a broken axe. A granite rubber with a squarish profile and evidently used for burnishing pottery was also found near the hearth. The rubber was finely ground on one side and pecked on the other.

The Neolithic settlement over the sloping terrace at the foot of the Kommulagutta hill spreads to an area of 100 sq. m. The soil to a depth of more than 3 m. was covered with sandy silt, brought down from the neighbouring hills by the rains in course of time. Abutting the habitation is a shallow rivulet, emerging from the gorges of the hill, Though dry at present, the nullah must have been much deeper during the Neolithic times, else there is no other source of water in the vicinity.

The historical mound, lying by the side of the Karimnagar-Pedda- pallr road, Many Neolithic stone-axes were collected on the surface and in the unrelated cultural strata. The entire historical site
was covered by a deposit of black soil, not more than 2 m, in thickness at any spot. There are neither granite hills nearby for his shelter nor the dykes of dolerite for making his tool-kit. Apparently the tools must have been imported from places like Kadambapur or Thogarrai, etc. Peddabankur is an example where the Neolithic man, instead of selecting a hilly region, settled over the plains, possibly to serve his farming.

BUDIGAPALLI - Karimnagar
Excavation over the early historical mound, established the presence of Neolithic-Chalcolithic occupation at the lowest level. A few Neolithic celts, associated with Microlithic cores, blades and lunates, a few steatite beads and a hearth hand-made grey ware pottery are the finds recovered.
Art and Painting
The works of art of the Neolithic people, depicting the socio-
cultural life, have survived in the form of rock-paintings and decorations on the pottery and brusings on the rocks and terracotta objects. Rock paintings situated at: Regonda and Budigapalli in the Karimnagar district, Kokapet in the Hyderabad district, Mundamala in the Mahboobnagar district.

Next comes Megalithic (Iron or Metal Age) 

The Proto And Early Historical Cultures Of A.P
by V.V.Krishna Sastryhttp://www.slideshare.net/ashleyrollins/the-paleolithic-era-and-the-neolithic-era

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