The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c8: Chapter II. Sadasiva Raya and His Regent Rama Raya
The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c8
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- English
Chapter II. Sadasiva Raya and His Regent Rama Raya
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SUMMARY.—1. The family of Sadasiva.—2. His coronation as Emperor of Vijayanagara.—3. The mythical and historical ancestors of the Aravidu family.—4. Rama Raya and his family. 5. The family of Tirumala and Venkatadri.—6. Previous deeds of Rama Raya.
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CONTEMPORARY SOURCES.—1. Hindu inscriptions and grants. 2. Ferishta, Anonymous Chronicler of Golkonda. 3. Couto, Correa. 4. Travels of Caesar Frederick. 5. *Vasucharitramu*, *Rama Raya Charitra*, *Svaramelakalanidhi*, *Narasabupaliyamu*, *Balabhagavatam*, *Ramarajiyamu*.
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The events recorded at the end of the preceding chapter are supposed to be merely the preliminary steps taken by Rama Raya to save the country. The young Prince Sadasiva had survived the bloody tragedy of the imperial family in which Venkata I was the chief victim. So Rama Raya’s first care, after defeating Salakam Timma, was to instal this last representative of the Tuluva family on the glorious throne of his ancestors. Accordingly he marched from Vijayanagara at the head of his army, sword in hand, to rescue Prince Sadasiva hidden in the fortress of Gutti ¹.
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¹ *Svaramelakalanidhi*, according to Mr. Krishna Sastri, *The Third Vijayanagara Dynasty*, A. S. I., *Report*, 1911-2, p. 178, note 2.
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The unfortunate Prince, who was about to be fetched by Rama Raya to be anointed as Emperor of Vijayanagara, was supposed to be the son of Krishna Deva Raya, according to Couto ²; or the son of Achyuta Raya as given in an inscription of Hassan ³. But we now know of several inscriptions of the time of Sadasiva that call him son of Ranga Raya or Ranga kshitindra and of Timmamba ¹. According to some Bhatkal inscriptions ², Ranga-kshitindra was a son of Isvara-Narasimha and brother of Krishna Deva Raya but by a different mother. The founder of the third dynasty married three wives: Tippajidevi, who was his Queen; Nagala, the mother of Krishna Deva Raya; and Obambika, the mother of Achyuta Raya ³ and Ranga-kshitindra ⁴, and hence grand-mother of Sadasiva. His father Ranga had probably been one of the victims of the tyranny of Salakam Timma, as we have pointed out in the preceding chapter. By the author of the *Svaramelakalanidhi* Sadasiva is given at this time the appellation of ‘helpless’ ⁵. That seems to connote a tender age. Indeed a contemporary anonymous chronicler of Golconda says that ‘the heir to the throne was a child in arms’ ⁶. Caesar Frederick only says that he was ‘very young’ ⁷. The same is implied by the probable fact that he was not yet married at the time of his coronation; for there was no queen at his side, as we know from a grant we shall quote a little further on. Hence what seems to us quite reasonable, and not inconsistent with the truth, is the statement of Couto who says that Sadasiva at the time of his installation was a little more than thirteen years of age ⁸. Correa affirms that he was about sixteen ⁹. According to this author, Sadasiva and his eldest brother were living hidden ‘towards the kingdom of Orissa’, probably in the Telugu country. When they were found by Rama Raya’s diligence, the eldest brother was crowned as king of Vijayanagara. This happened at the time of Salakam’s usurpation. But the new sovereign often was out of his mind on account of an unknown disease. So, by the nobles’ accord, and with his consent, his youngest brother was raised up to the masnad. This was Sadasiva, who, it seems, was crowned at Tirupati, where he received a great deal of money, both from the nobility and from the treasury of the temple for the war intended against the usurper. The present given him by the Brahmins of Tirupati was ‘a hundred bulls loaded with gold pieces.’ From thence they advanced against Vijayanagara. It was then that Sadasiva stopped at Gutti while Rama Raya and his army advanced against Salakam.
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² Couto, VI, p. 382.
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³ Rice, *Mysore Inscriptions*, p. 228, 129; Rice, *Mysore*, I, p 353; 104 of 1906; Fleet, *Pali, Sanskrit and Old Canarase Inscriptions*, p. 28, pl. 246.
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¹ British Museum plates of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, IV, p. 3; Krishnapuram plates of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, IX, p. 340, vv. 28-30; Bevinahalli grant of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, XIV, p. 230, vv. 28-30; Kanuma grant of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, XIV, p. 353, vv. 29-30; Sadasiva's grant, 1546, *Ep. Carn.*, IV, Ng, 58; Sadasiva's grant, 1561. *Ep. Carn.*, V, Hn, 7; Sadasiva's grant, 1558, *Ep. Carn.*, IX, Cp, 186; Copper-plate sasanam of Sadasiva, Sewell, II, p. 12, 81.
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² Cf. Krishna Sastri, *The Second Vijayanagara Dynasty*, *A. S. I.*, *Report*, 1908-9, p. 193, note 8.
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³ Achyuta's grant, 1537, Sewell, I, p. 30, 207.
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⁴ British Museum plates of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, IV, p. 3. Cf. Kielhorn, p. 89, 530.
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⁵ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 190.
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⁶ Ferishta, III, p. 381.
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⁷ Purchas, *His Pilgrims*, X, p. 93.
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⁸ Couto, l. c., p. 382.
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⁹ Correa, l. c., p. 281-2.
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2. On his return from Gutti, the coronation of Sadasiva took place at Vijayanagara. Achyuta Raya was also crowned twice, according to the *Achyutarabhyudayam*: first at Tirupati and then at Vijayanagara, just as Sadasiva had been ¹. According to some inscriptions, Rama Raya alone installed him on the jewel throne and anointed him ². The British Museum plates of Sadasiva record that Rama Raya made the ministers instal Sadasiva ³; but there is no doubt that both Rama Raya and the ministers participated in the ceremonies of the installation of the young King. This is stated in several grants of the said Sadasiva ⁴. Now the first ministers were, no doubt, Tirumala and Venkatadri, the brothers of Rama Raya, but probably some others too are meant: the Bevinahalli grant of Sadasiva gives the names of several of his ministers ¹; another, named Venkatesvararaja, is mentioned in an inscription at Enamdala ². In an inscription of the Bhairavesvara temple at Mopur mention is also made of the Mahamandalesvara Timmayadeva Maharaj, son of Narasingayadeva Maharaja and grandson of Avubhaladeva Maharaja of Nandyala ³. Another grandson of the same by a different father, Chinna Avubalesvaradeva Maharaja, is also called Mahamandalesvara in an inscription of Gandikota ⁴. Finally, Ramabhatlayya, son of Bhutanatha Brahma-jyoyisalu, is also said to have been a minister of Sadasiva ⁵.
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¹ Cf. S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 158.
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² Bevinahalli grant of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, XIV, p. 230, vv. 28-30; Ranga III's grant, 1644-5, *Ind. Ant.*, XIII, p. 154; Copper-plate sasanam of Sadasiva, Sewell, II, p. 12, 81; *Svaramelakalanidhi*, S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 190.
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³ British Museum plates of Sadasiva. *Ep. Ind.*, IV, p. 3.
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⁴ Kanuma grant of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, XIV, p. 353, vv. 29-30; Sadasiva's grant, 1546, *Ep. Carn.*, IV, Ng, 58; Sadasiva's grant, 1561, *Ep. Carn.*, V, Hn, 7; Sadasiva's grant, 1558, *Ep. Carn.*, IX, Cp. 186.
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¹ *Ep. Ind.*, XIV, p. 212-3. Cf. 348 of 1905.
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² 415, Ap. B of 1916.
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³ 498 of 1906.
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⁴ 485 of 1906.
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⁵ 60 of 1915.
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The solemn act of the coronation and anointment of the descendant of the great Isvara-Narasimha, nephew of the most glorious Sovereign of Vijayanagara, Krishna Deva Raya, was the occasion of much joy on the part of the inhabitants of the capital; "and the tears of joy", says one of his grants of 1558, "shed at the time of his coronation-anointing flooded the earth so as to make her appear as the queen who was anointed with him" ⁶. Rama Raya seating Sadasiva on the precious stone (the throne inlaid with precious stones), holding an umbrella over his head ⁷, 'restored once more the Empire of Vijayanagara to its ancient glory' ⁸.
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⁶ *Ep. Carn.*, IX, Cp, 186.
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⁷ Inscription on a stone called Vay in the temple of Madavaswami at Vijayanagara, Ravenshaw, *Translation of Various Inscriptions Found among the ruins of Vijayanagara, Asiatic Researches*, XX, p. 35.
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⁸ *Vasucharitramu*, S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 216.
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Virapratapa Kathari Saluva Vira-Sadasiva-rayadeva (for that is his full imperial title as given in the inscriptions ⁹) was recognised by everyone throughout his vast dominions as the real Emperor of Vijayanagara. We have inscriptions from every corner of the Empire which show that he was proclaimed the Rajadhiraja of the whole of Hindustan south of the Tungabhadra¹. Some Rajas of the Karnatic however, who depended on the Emperors of Vijayanagara, did not pay homage to the new Emperor at once; since Ferishta tells us that in the year 1544 "the Karnatic was as yet by no means in a settled state, many of the dependant Rajas being still in revolt" ². This is shown also by the birudas attributed to him in the same inscriptions: Virapratapa Kathari Saluva Vira-Sadasiva Raya Deva-Maharaya receives in them the following titles due only to the Imperial Majesty: The great Emperor, the great King, the glorious great King, the King of Kings, supreme Lord of Kings, the supreme King, the famous, the valorous, the famous for valour, the brave and puissant ³.
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⁹ 399 and 381 of 1904.
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¹ Even the Malayalam country was one of the States from which the Emperor of Vijayanagara received tribute; but the Maharajas of Kulam refused to pay it except when compelled by the imperial armies, as we shall see further on.
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² Ferishta, III, p. 94,
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³ Visvanatha's inscription seven miles from Madura, Burgess, p. 108-9; Banasamkari Kanarese inscription of Sadasiva, *Ind. Ant.*, X, p. 67; Kanarese inscription of Sadasiva, 1547-8, *Ind. Ant.*, X, p. 65; Sadasiva's grant, 1561, *Ep. Carn.*, V, Hn, 7.
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We do not know when the coronation of Sadasiva took place; but it must have been during the first half of the year 1542, since his earliest inscription hitherto known bears a date corresponding to July 27, 1542 ⁴.
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⁴ *Ep. Carn.*, III, Sr, 42.
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3. Now after having seen the young Sadasiva crowned and anointed by his Regent and chief minister Rama Raya, whose object was to establish firmly among his subjects the authority of the Aravidu family, it is worth while to give an account of the latter's ancestors as well as of his brave deeds before he reached the height of his power.
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The family pedigree of Rama Raya may be found, with very few discrepancies, in almost all the grants of the Sovereigns belonging to his family ⁵. This vamsavali invariably contains two sections: one mythical, the other historical. By the former they claim to belong to the Lunar race, through Buddha, Pururavas and several other Puranic heroes; and this is the reason why Venkata II in the Vilapaka grant professes to be Atreyagotraja, a descendant from Atri, the Moon's father. Nevertheless not all the names given in this section are mythic; there are also some historical persons named among the Aravidu family just to exalt its nobility, as it was also done by the kings of the preceding dynasties. Such are Nanda, the representative of the old Dynasty of Pataliputra overthrown by the Maurya Chandragupta; and Chalikya, through whom the Aravidu Emperors boast connection with the Chalukyas; and lastly Bijjalendra, who represents the Kalachuris.
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⁵ British Museum plates of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, IV, p. 3 ff; Krishnapuram plates of Sadasiva, Ibid., IX, p. 329 ff; Bevinahall grant of Sadasiva, Ibid., XIV, p. 331; Kanuma grant of Sadasiva,
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The historical pedigree starts with Tata Pinnama, 'at whose sight the enemies were frightened' and whose son Somideva Ibid., p. 343; Sadasiva's grant, 1545, *Ep. Carn.*, V, Mj., 60; Sadasiva's grant, 1561, Ibid., Hn, 7; Sadasiva's grant, 1558, *Ep. Carn.*, IX, Cp, 186; Mamidipundi grant of Sadasiva, *Butterworth*, I, p. 98 ff; Rama Raya's grant, 1554, *M. A. D.*, 1923, p. 125 ff; Penuguluru grant of Tirumala, *Ep. Ind.*, XVI, p. 254; Tirumala's grant, 1571, *Ep. Carn.*, XII Tm., 1; Maredappalli grant of Ranga I, *Ep. Ind.*, XI, p. 327; Arivilimangalam plates of Ranga I, Ibid., XII, p. 356, Copper-plate inscription of Venkata II, *M. A. D.*, 1921, p. 31; Vilapaka grant of Venkata II, *Ep. Ind.*, IV, p. 270 ff.; Dalaway Agraharam plates of Venkata II, *Ep. Ind.*, XII, p. 185; Venkata II's grant, 1586, *Ep. Ind.*, XIII, p. 225; Venkata II's grant, 1613, Ibid., p. 231; Padmaneri grant of Venkata II, *Ep. Ind.*, XVI, p. 296; Vellangudi plates of Venkata II, Ibid., p. 299 ff; Venkata II's grant, 1587, *Ep. Carn.*, VII, Sh, 83; Venkata II's grant, 1589, *Ep. Carn.*, XII, Ck, 39; Mangalampad plates of Venkata II, *Butterworth*, I, p. 27-31; Kuniyur plates of Venkata III, *Ep. Ind.*, III, p. 251-2; Karnata grant of Venkata III, 1636, *Ind Ant.*, XIII, p. 123; Kondyata grant of Venkata III, *Ind Ant.*, XIII, p. 129; Copper-plate grant of Venkata III, 1634, *Burgess*, IV, p. 186 ff; *M. E. R.*, 1891, p. 6; Utsur grant of Ranga III, *Butterworth*, I, p. 46; Kallakursi grant of Ranga III, *Ind. Ant.*, XIII, p. 153. Some information on the Aravidu family pedigree is also to be found in the following poems: *Vasu Raja Charitra*, Wilson, *The Mackenzie Collection*, p. 295; *Rama Raja Charitra*, Ibid., p. 269; *Svaramelakalanidhi*, S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 190; *Narasabupaliyamu*, Ibid., p. 224; *Vasucharitramu*, Ibid., p. 216; *Balabhagavatam*, Ibid., p. 204.
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‘captured seven forts during the course of a single day’; then comes Raghavadeva, called brave and heroic, who was the father of Pinnama, ‘the lord of Aravitipura’, from whose time we see the members of this family most closely connected with State affairs; Araviti Bukka, his son, who married Balambika, is described as ‘the establisher of the kingdom of Saluva Narasimha’, the founder of the second dynasty. Bukka then was one of the generals and ministers of Narasimha, who supported this usurper, when he put on his head the crown of Virupaksha, in 1485-6¹. He could not have died very early, since he is recorded to have been one of the generals present at the enthronement of Krishna Deva Raya, in January, 1510. Bukka’s son Rama Raya, who espoused Lakambika, is called ‘a great warrior’ and ‘conqueror over Sapada’s army’. Sapada is understood to be the Sultan of Golkonda. The Rama Raja Charitra says expressly that by the aid of his brother Venkatapati, and two chiefs of the same family, Venkatadri and Tirumala, he subdued Gutti, Penukonda and other places and defeated the King of Golkonda². The Maredapalli grant of Ranga I records that Rama Raya captured the forts of Avanagiri and Kandanavolu (Karnul) and put to flight Kasappudaya. According to the poem mentioned above he had five sons: Sriranga, Channa Venkatapati, Timma or Tirumala(who distinguished himself in the service of Krishna Deva Raya), and lastly Venkatapati. Of these, the first, Sriranga became the father of Rama Raya, the Regent of Sadasiva Raya.
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¹ Cf. S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *A Little Known Chapter of Vijayanagara History*, p. 47.
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² Wilson, *The Mackenzie Collection*, p. 270.
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Sriranga, according to Rama Raya’s grant, 1554, defeated many enemies’. We know from Ferishta that he was one of the ministers of Krishna Deva Raya, and was succeeded in this place by his son Rama Raya³. Accordingly in an inscription at Karnul he is called Mahamandalesvara Ramaraju Peda Sriranga-deva Maharaju¹. Sriranga married Tirumalambika and had three sons by her: Rama, Tirumala and Venkatadri. The *Narasabupaliyamu* gives him five sons: Kona, Timma, Rama, Yeratimma and Venkata². We can admit the existence of these five brothers; but the first two had already disappeared from the stage before the other three exerted any great influence in the governing of the state. We shall proceed to describe the family and the deeds of these three brothers.
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³ Ferishta, III, p. 81. He calls Rama Raya’s father Timraj. In two inscriptions of Penukonda, Rama Raya is called the son of Tirumalaraja. 333 and 335 of 1901. Rice, *Mysore*, I, p. 353, agrees with them. But we cannot doubt this point at present after the study of
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¹ 156 of 1905.
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² S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 254.
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4. Rama Raya, also called Kodanda Rama, was the eldest of the three brothers. In the grants of Sadasiva, Rama is always called Sadasiva’s brother-in-law, the husband of his sister³; whilst in several poems and in an inscription of Venkata III as well as in Ferishta, Couto and the *Basatin-us-Salatin*, we read that Rama Raya’s wife was a daughter of Krishna Deva Raya⁴ and Queyroz even affirms that she was the only daughter of this Emperor⁵. The *Narapativijaya* says that her name was Tirumalambika⁶ and the *Annals of Hande Anan-*
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³ British Museum plates of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, IV, p. 3; Krishnapuram plates of Sadasiva, *Ibid.*, IX, p. 340, vv. 28-30; Bevina-halli grant of Sadasiva, *Ibid.*, XIV, p. 230, vv. 28-30; Sadasiva’s grant, 1545, *Ep. Carn.*, IV, Ng, 58; Sadasiva’s grant, 1551, *Ep Carn.*, V, Hn, 7; Sadasiva’s grant, 1558, *Ibid.*, IX, Cp, 186; Sadasiva’s grant, 1556-7, *Ind. Ant.*, XIII, p. 154.
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⁴ *Svaramelakalanidhi*, S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources* p. 190; *Ramarajiyamu*, *Ibid*, p. 184; *Rama Raja Charitra*, Wilson, *The Mackenzie Collection*, p. 270; Venkata III’s inscription, *Ep. Carn.*, III, Nj, 198; Ferishta, III, p. 81; Couto, o. c., p. 332; *Basatin-us-Salatin*, p. 51. Correa, o. c., IV, p. 282, says that the wife of Rama Raya was a sister of Krishna Deva Raya.
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⁵ Queyroz, *Conquista de Ceylao*, p. 308.
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⁶ *Ind. Ant.*, XXVII, p. 332. Sewell, II, p. 252, who gives the same name, says that she was the youngest daughter of Krishna Raya.
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the records mentioned in note 5, p. 17. More startling is the opinion of Burnell, *Elements of South Indian Paleography*, p. 55, note, who calls the father of Rama Raya, Virappa Nayak.
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tapuram state that her mother was Queen Tirumala Devi ¹. We cannot reject these latter authorities, although the former seem at first sight more weighty: one of them gives the name of Rama Raya’s wife, and their statement agrees with the title ‘Aliya’ (son-in-law)—a title often given to Rama Raya. We are not allowed to suppose two different wives, one a daughter of Krishna Raya, the other a sister of Sadasiva; because we know the names of all the wives of Rama Raya and this distinction is never made. We prefer the explanation given by Prof. F. Kielhorn: “The two statements”, he says, “would in my opinion be best reconciled by taking the word bhagini of the present inscription to denote a cousin of Sadasiva, a daughter of his paternal uncle Krishnaraya” ². This seems more probable; for it is known that, in the Kanarese country, words denoting relationship are used loosely ³.
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¹ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Sources, p. 178.
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² Ep. Ind., IV, p. 4.
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³ Cf. Fleet, Kanarese Dynasties, p. 48, note 1.
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The Ramarajiyamu informs us that Rama Raya also married Appalamba, the daughter of Peddanandi Raju of the Jillella family, and Kondamma and Lakshmamma, the daughters of Timma of the Pochiraju family ⁴. As to Rama Raya’s sons, the Kondyata grant of Venkata III and the Kallakursi grant of Ranga III state that “from the famous king Rama Raya there sprang five sons, who were able to protect the world, who followed the path of policy, and who longed to grant the desires of the crowd of wise men” ⁵. These five sons are also mentioned in the aforesaid Ramarajiyamu. The first two are Krishnaraya or Krishnapa and Peda Timmaraja; they were the sons of Tirumalamba ⁶. Peda Timma became a victorious general against the army of Nizam Shah, and was probably the one whose grant is recorded in an inscription of Bollavaram, Cuddapah District, under the name of ‘Papa Timmayyadeva Maharaja, son of Rama Raya Timma Raya’ ⁷.
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⁴ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, o. c., p. 184.
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⁵ Ind. Ant., XV, p. 147.
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⁶ They are also mentioned in the Narapativijayamu. Cf. Ind. Ant., XXVII, p. 332.
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⁷ Sewell, I, p. 124; Rangacharya, I, p. 618, 492.
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By his second wife Appalamba, Rama Raya had no sons. The third, Kondamma, gave him two, Konda and Timma. Of these Konda became governor of Anegundi and Timma held a like office in the fortress of Raichur. I suppose that this Timma was the one whose grant is also commemorated in another inscription of Nidujuvvi, Cuddapah District, under the name of ‘Chinna Timmayadeva Maharaja, son of Rama Raya’¹ Finally, by Lakshmamma Rama Raya begot Sriranga Raya, the old Ranga IV, mentioned in an inscription of the Nellore District under the title of Rama Raya Srirangarajyadeva Maharaja ². We shall speak of him at greater length in another volume when referring to the reign of one of his sons, the future Venkata III ³.
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¹ Sewell, o. c., p. 125.
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² Cf. *Ind. Ant.*, XXXVIII, p. 94. The *Rama Raja Cheritra* gives only three sons of Rama Raya with different names: Peddvenkata, Venkatapati and Rama or Kodanda Rama. Wilson, *The Mackenzie Collection*, p. 270. Cf. Ravenshaw, *Collection of Various Inscriptions*, l.c., p. 19. According to the information given by the Raja of Anegundi to Mr. Sewell, Rama Raya had only two sons, Krishna Raja and Tirumala Raja. Sewell, II, p. 252.
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³ The descendants of Rama Raya, as given in the *Ramarajiyamu* may be seen in the adjoining pedigree.
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Besides these five sons, Rama Raya had some daughters. For the anonymous Muhammadan chronicler of the history of Golkonda, a contemporary of these events, mentions two sons-in-law of the great Minister of Sadasiva. One was Jotumraj, the general deputed by his father-in-law to the conquest of Dewurconda and Indraconda ⁴; and the other Buswunt Raj, the governor of the forts of Nandyal and Kalgur (Karnul) ⁵.
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⁴ Ferishta, III, p. 408.
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⁵ Ibid., p. 453.
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5. The second brother of Rama Raya, Tirumala, called also Timmaraya in an inscription at the Chandeswari temple at Hampi ⁶, married Vengalamba ⁷, the sister of
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⁶ *M. A. D.*, 1900, p. 39. Ferishta, III, p. 135 and 242, as well as the anonymous chronicler of Golkonda, Ferishta, III, p. 397 and 418, call Tirumala, Yeltumraj.
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⁷ Arivilimangalam plates of Ranga I, *Ep. Ind.*, XII, p. 342; Venkata II’s grant, 1589, *Ep. Carn.*, XII, Ck, 39; Venkata III’s inscription, 1639, *Ep. Carn.*, III, Nj, 198; *Ramarajiyamu*, S. Krishnawami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 213.
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PEDIGREE OF RAMA RAYA'S FAMILY
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Sadasiva¹ Was this so-called sister of Sadasiva also a cousin of this monarch? We do not dare to affirm it. We shall only say that Tirumala had also married a daughter of Krishna Raya by his Queen Chinna Devi². "As the four Vedas, Sama and the others, were produced from the mouth of the Creator", says the Utsur grant of Ranga III, "so four sons of immeasurable glory were born to Tirumala"³. From another grant of Ranga III, 1645, as well as from the *Ramarajiyamu*, we know the names of these four sons. They were Raghunatha; Sriranga, the future Ranga I; Rama Raya, and Venkata Deva Raya⁴. Moreover, we know one of his sons-in-law, Nagarajayyadeva Maharaya. He is mentioned by Sadasiva in one of his inscriptions at Vontinitta, Cuddapah Dict⁵.
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¹ On account of these marriages of Rama Raya and Tirumala with ladies of the Tuluva Dynasty, the monarchs of the Aravidu family considered themselves legitimate successors of the Tuluva Emperors.
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² *Annals of Hande Anantapuram*, l. c.
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³ Butterworth, I, p. 46, v. 21.
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⁴ Ranga III's grant, 1645, *Ep. Carn.*, X, Mb, 60; *Ramarajiyamu* S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources* p. 213-4. The anonymous chronicler of Golkonda, Ferishta, III, p. 453, mentions one Nursing Raj, nephew of Rama Raya. He was perhaps an unknown son of one of these brothers.
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⁵ 411 of 1911.
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We have very little information concerning the family of the third brother Venkatadri. In the *Ramarajiyamu* he is stated to have married two wives, Rangama and Krishnama, of whom he begot two sons, Rangappa and Rama⁶. In the Mangalampad grant of Venkata II he is said 'to have shone on earth resembling Lakshmana in beauty'⁷. Later on we shall speak of his exploits as a great general.
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⁶ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 222.
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⁷ Butterworth, I, p. 30, v. 18. In the village of Maranapalli there is an inscription, probably of his, in which he mentions Rama Raya. Cf. Rangacharya, I, p. 5.
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Siddhiraju Timma Raju, a nephew of Rama Raya, in his poem *Paramayogi Vilasam*, informs us that his mother Konamamba was the sister of the three brothers spoken of above 1. Another sister of theirs is mentioned in the *Narasabupalyamu*: her name was Lakkamamba; she married Oba Raja of the Pochiraju family and by him had a son named Narasimha, who was the patron of this poem 2.
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The anonymous chronicler of Golkonda gives a short account of the life of Rama Raya before the latter entered the service of the great Emperor, Krishna Deva Raya. We cannot brush aside the authority of this writer, since he was a contemporary of the events he narrates and perhaps an eye-witness for those events which occurred in the capital of Golkonda: "When the late King (Sultan Kuli Qutb Shah) marched towards the Vijayanagara territories", says he, "and reduced some districts on the confines, he was unwilling to leave a Muhammadan detachment there; he, therefore deputed Ramraj, a Hindu of noble family, to be in charge of the districts while he himself returned to Golkonda. Three years afterwards Ramraj was expelled by some of Adil Shah's troops which, having been sent out on a plundering expedition, had invaded and laid waste the estates in question. Ramraj fled to the late Sultan Kuli Qutb Shah, who, considering his flight a proof of his cowardice, ordered him instantly to quit the court. Ramraj, thus disgraced, took the route of Vijayanagara, and entered the service of Krishna Raja, who shortly afterwards forming a high opinion of him, gave him his daughter in marriage" 3.
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Couto states also that Rama Raya was a great general in the army of Krishna Deva Raya and was actually ruling as Governor in the province of the Badaguas and Teligas 4. He means by this, no doubt, the Telugu country from which the Badagas invaded the South of India 5. This piece of information refers already to the reign of Achyuta, because Correa says that when Rama Raya went to the Court at the time of Achyuta's death, he had come from Paleacate (Pulicat) where he was the 'great Lord' 6. Pulicat was probably at that time the capital of his governorship. According to the Ramarajiyamu, he had also been Kalyana Puravaradhisvara, ruler of the city of Kalyani, probably Kalyandrug, in Anatapur District ¹.
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¹ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*. p. 211.
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² Ibid, p. 225.
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³ Ferishta, III, p. 380.
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⁴ Couto, VI, p. 382-3.
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⁵ See Chapters VI and VII.
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⁶ Correa, *o. c.*, p. 280.
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¹ S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, *Sources*, p. 182.
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Mr. Sewell is inclined to see in Rama Raya and Tirumala those two relatives of King Achyuta to whom the whole government of the Empire was so completely handed over, that the King himself dared not do anything against their wishes: "He (Achyuta) has never done anything", says Nuniz, "except those things that are desired by his two brothers-in-law, who are men very evilly disposed and great Jews" ². This seems quite probable; because Fr. Queyroz says that Krishna Deva Raya in his last days put the reins of government into the hands of his son-in-law Rama Raya and the military affairs into those of his brother Tirumala. But before dying he ordered Rama Raya to enthrone his brother Achyuta after his own demise. He did so, and continued ruling the Empire under Achyuta Deva Raya ³.
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² Sewell, p. 367.
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³ Queyroz, *Conquista de Ceylao*, p. 308-9.
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In another chapter we shall speak of Rama Raya's campaign in the south. When taking possession of the government of the state after the crowning of Sadasiva, Rama Raya is called an 'ornament of the Kshatriyas' ⁴. His long career of unbroken successes had been a preparation for the great task lying before him: he could dare to take upon his shoulders the rule of that great Empire which was menaced by internal and external foes. The success of Rama Raya in this enterprise was temporary. Although 'he resembled Ramabhadra in appearance, and possessed prosperity and majesty' ⁵, he was to die in battle after having seen the defeat of his army by the irreconcilable enemies of his country.
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⁴ Krishnapuram plates of Sadasiva, *Ep. Ind.*, IX, p. 340, VV. 28-30; Sadasiva's grant, 1561, *Ep. Carn.*, V, Hn, 7.
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⁵ Kondyata grant of Venkata III, *Ind. Ant.*, XV, p. 148.
Linked texts (5)
- Narasabhūpālīyamu — Bhaṭṭumūrti, Telugu
- Svaramelakalānidhi — Rāmāmātya 1550, Sanskrit
- Penukonda
- Vijayanagara
- Vasucaritramu — Rāmarājabhūṣaṇuḍu, Telugu