The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t5.34

v2.c15.s2.t5.34

The Kākatīya occupation of Kāñchī roused the Pāṇḍyas to fresh activity. The ‘Five Pāṇḍyas’, according to the *Velugōṭivāri Vaṃśāvaḷi*, collected their forces and marched on Kāñchī to expel the Kākatīyas from the city and to re-establish their own authority there. Pratāparudra seems to have arrived in the city at this juncture to conduct the operations in person and to have taken over the command of the army. A great battle took place in the vicinity of Kāñchī in which both sides fought with great determination. The Pāṇḍyan elephant corps charged the Telugu infantry furiously and spread panic in their ranks; but the Velamas, under their chief, Rēcherla Erra Dācha, as well as the Reḍḍi contingents, stood firm and averted disaster. Erra Dācha is said to have excited the admiration of the famous warriors of Pratāparudra’s court by rushing on the leader of the Pāṇḍyan elephant squadron and arresting the charge. This act was the turning-point of the battle, and victory soon declared itself in favour of the Kākatīya monarch. Pratāparudra appointed Mānavīra as the governor of Kāñchī, and ordered Dēvari Nāyaka to carry the war into the interior of the Pāṇḍyan dominions and to install Sundara Pāṇḍya on his throne at Viradhāvala; he then returned to his capital.