Reddy Rajulu

One of the kingdoms that was formed after the fall of the Kakatiya empire, was the Reddy Rajulu, along with the Musunuri Nayakas, who played a vital role in driving out the Muslim invaders from Telugu land, and once again re establishing Sanathana Dharma. Reddy is a variant of Rattakudu, Rattodi, which in turn was derived from Rashtrakuta, to denote the village headman, who were responsible for organizing the cultivation of farm lands and collecting the taxes. Basically it was more a status title given to the most powerful man in the village.

During the Kakatiya rule, many from the Reddy clans, worked as administrators, officers, generals in the army, while some were samantas owning large tracts of land. One of the more prominent one was Gona Ganna Reddy, who played a vital role during the reign of Rani Rudrama Devi. Another were the Munagala Reddy chieftains, whose inscriptions throw a lot of information on the Kakatiya rule. With the fall of the Kakatiyas, Telugu land was plunged into chaos and anarchy, as the Muslim invaders inflicted untold atrocities on the Hindus.

This led to the rise of the Musunuri Nayakas in Coastal and Recharla Nayakas in Telangana region, who led an alliance of 75 Nayakas and drove the Muslim invaders out, recapturing Orugallu.It was around this time in 1325 that Prolaya Vema Reddy ould establish an independent kingdom with it’s capital at Addanki( Prakasam dt) that covered Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore districts. Vema Reddy was one of the 5 sons of Prola Reddy, who had fought earlier with Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka against the Muslim invaders. His brother Malla Reddy established a smaller kingdom at Kandukuru, and would defeat the invading forces of Bahmani Sultan Allauddin Shah, as well as capturing the port of Motupalli.

Recognizing the strategic importance of forts as a defense against the invaders, Vema Reddy, rebuilt and strengthened a series of forts all over Coastal Andhra, the famous Kondavidu fort, the capital of his kingdom, considered one of the most impregnable ones was built by Vema Reddy, and was the site of many a battle for it’s control. One of the most significant ones was the long siege by Vijayanagara army under Shri Krishnadeva Raya to capture this from the Gajapatis. Apart from this the forts of Kondapalli near Vijayawada, as well as Bellamkonda, Vinukonda in Palnadu region were built during this time. They also had another capital at Rajamahendravaram later, where they built forts, and rebuilt many of the temples.

The Reddy Rajulu ruled from 1324 to 1448 covering the entire Coastal Andhra, from Srikakulam, to Kanchi down South, and Srisailam in the West. With the Gajapatis capturing Kondavidu, and Rajamahendravaram, their kingdom ended, and they migrated to Hampi where most of them played a vital role in the Vijayanagara army as generals, commanders, warriors. Some of them settled down in Rayalaseema region, owning large tracts of lands, maintaining private armies, and were classified as Palegars. Most of the Reddies in Rayalaseema claim descent from the Palegars, one of the more famous one would be Uyyalavada Narasimha Reddy who would wage a revolt against the British.

The Reddy Rajulu played a prominent role in preserving Sanathana Dharma in Telugu land, Brahmins were given liberal grants, and many agraharas were built for them. Vedic studies were encouraged. Vema Reddy comissioned repairs to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple, and built a flight of 108 steps right from the Krishna river to the temple. The famous Narasimha Temple at Ahobilam was also built by Vema Reddy, and he got around 108 Saivite temples constructed all over Telugu land.

They were also patrons of literature and art, many of the Reddy rulers themselves were distinguished scholars and writer, that included Kumaragiri Reddy, Kataya Vema Reddy and Pedakomati Vema Reddy. The great writer Yerrapragada, who served in Vema Reddy’s court was one of the trio along with Nannayya and Thikkana who translated the Mahabharat from Sanskrit to Telugu, the Andhra Mahabharatam remains a seminal work to date.

Kavi Sarvabhouma Srinatha who popularized the Prabhandha style in Telugu, was a minister in the court of Pedakomati Vema Reddy and famous for his works Harivilasamu, Sivaratri Mahatyam, Srungara Naishadam. He is famous for winning a debate with the poet Dindima Bhattu in the court of Vijayanagara ruler Proudadevaraya, and was duly felicitated with riches. The other famous poet of this time was Bhakta Pothana, who translated the Srimad Bhagavatam from Sanskrit to Telugu. Considered to be a Sahaja Kavi, he was a farmer by profession and a self taught poet.

The Reddy Rajulu also had a fairly robust administrative system, around one sixth of agricultural surplus was levied as tax. Custom duties and taxes on trade were lifted, while an extensive sea trade was carried on from the port of Motupalli. Brahmins were given grants, scholars were encouraged. It was one of the golden era of Telugu history and culture.