Andhra Kingdoms and Literature

The Golden Era of Telugu Nation was the period of Vijayanagara Empire. This empire consisted of several kingdoms and provinces. The governors under the direct control of central government ruled the provinces and feudatory kings called “Nayakas” who pay tribute to the emperor ruled the kingdoms.  Vijayanagara Empire was destroyed in Tallikota war of 1565 AD, when Muslim states (Golconda, Bijapur, Ahmednagar, and Bidar) came together against the empire.  Various tributary kingdoms that were under Vijayanagara Empire came under the control of Sultans of Golconda and Bijapur.  Golconda and Bijapur Sultans employed Velama, Kamma and Reddy kings as the rulers of various kingdoms and ordered them to pay the tribute and collect revenue.  Thus many more of these kingdoms/provinces, also known as Samsthanamus or Zamindaris, came into existence.

Golconda Empire came under the control of Mughal Dynasty in 1686 and became known as Deccan Suba. This rule of Mughal Dynasty didn’t last long.  Nizamul Ul Mulk Asaf Jah, as the governor of the Deccan, controlled the present state of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Tamilnadu and Orissa.  In the beginning French had influence over Hyderabad.  Salabat Jang, who came to power after his father, realized that the French were losing ground to British and so realigned himself with the English. However, in 1761, East India Company helped Nizam Ali Khan to depose his brother Salabat Jang and occupy the Deccan Suba.  The East India Company took Andhra regions for lease from Nizam Ali.  Later, by accords of 1768 and 1779 these Andhra regions came under complete control of East India Company, while Telagana states remained under Nizam.  In 1802, the British government under a Permanent Revenue Settlement agreement restored the ruling powers and rights of kings of Andhra regions.  During this time, rich and influential people were able to become rulers (Zamindars) to the city-states (Zamindaris).  In the beginning, the British allowed old kingdoms to have armies with the condition that they would support the British Empire during the war. However, this right to have army was abolished and these kings were reduced to the level of Zamindars.  These feudal kingdoms/zamindaris were abolished after the formation of the Indian Union, a democratic Republic.

In general, Telugu rulers belong to local Telugu castes/tribes and don't belong to the Northern Aryan immigrant tribes/castes like Brahmin and Kshatriya. However, there are a few exceptions. Peddapuram was ruled by Vatsavayi dynasty, which was a Kshatriya family. Brahmin Dynasties ruled Polavaramu and Lakkavaramu.  The rest of the kingdoms/zamindaris were ruled by powerful local non-Aryan tribes/castes. These kingdoms have supported Telugu poets and Telugu literature.  Nidadavolu Venkatarao and Kesavapantulu Narasimhasastri described the literary contributions of Andhra kingdoms and Telangana kingdoms.  Dr. Toomati Donappa has done extensive research on literary contributions of Andhra kingdoms and wrote a book entitled "Andhrasamsthanamulu Sahityaposhanamu."
 

Andhra kingdoms that contributed to Telugu literature are:
Pithapuram
Peddapuram
Bobbili
Vijayanagaram
Venkatagiri
Karveti
Sri Kalahasti
Nujividu
Narasaraopeta
Amaravati
Polavaramu
Lakkavaramu
Munagala

Other Estates/Zamindaris are Pachipenta, Palakonda, Parvateepuramu, Muktyala, Panugallu, Merangi, Rachulurepalle, Nelluru, Challapalli, Tettu, Andra, Godevari kingdom, Urlamu, Sangamavalasa, Chundi, Jayapuramu, Kotaramachandrapuramu etc.
 
 

Telangana Kingdoms

Gadvala
Atmakooru
Vanaparti
Jataprolu
Domakonda
Palvancha
Papannapeta
Gopalapeta
Alampuramu
 

Pithapuramu

This is a famous Velama kingdom that is now part of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Poets like Vinjamuri Somesha who wrote Ragahvayadaveeyamu were at the court of Pithapuramu. Vakkalanka Veerabhadrakavi wrote 'vasavadattaaparinayamu' and dedicated to the King of Pithapuram, Nayani Madhavarao (1679-1704). Famous poet Kuchimachi Timmakavi was honored by king Madhavarayalu (1710-1755) with the title, 'kavisarvabhouma' (emperor of poets). The following are the poets of Pithapuram kingdom and their works.

Author                                                              Literary Work
Kuchimanchi Jaggakavi                                     Subhadraaparinayamu
Kuchimachi Gangana                                        Satakanttharamayanamu
Devulapalli Bapanna                                         Taravali
Pindiprolu Lakhmana                                        Ravanadhammeeyamu
Allamaraju Subrahmanyakavi                            Bhadraparinayamu
Devulapalli Subbarayasastri
and Devulapalli Venkatakrishnasastri                 Ravuvamsamuktavali in Sasnkrit and  Telugu.
Devulapalli Subbarayasastri                               Sriramapanchasattu, Mahendravijayamu,
                                                                        Ramarayavilasamu, Malhanastavamu, Kumara Satakamu,
                                                                        Mandeswara Satakamu
Kings of Pithapuram and their descendents had invested a lot of money to support Telugu literature and established literary organizations like "Andhrasahitya Parishattu."
 

Peddapuramu

Peddapuramu is also part of current East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.   Peddapuram was ruled by Vatsavayi dynasty which was a Kshatriya family.  Similar to Pithapuram rulers, Vatsavayi dynasty also supported Telugu literature and they themselves were poets and writers.  Famous poets in the court of Vatsavayi dynasty belonged to Enugu family. Some of the important poets of Peddapuramu and their works are as follows:

Enugu Lacchana                                              Droupadeeparinayamu, Tulyamahatmyamu, Dhruvacharitramu
Enugu Lakshmana                                           Ramavilasamu, Rameswaramahatmyamu, Subhashitaratnavali,
                                                                      Visweswarodaharanamu, Nrusimhadandakamu,
                                                                      Viswamitracharitramu, Gangamahatmyamu and Geervanasurya
                                                                      Satakamu.
Venuturumalli Viswnadha                                Seshadharmamu and Kiratarjuniyamu.
Chavali Ramasastri                                          Kuvalayamodamu.
 

Bobbili

Bobbili is part of Visakhapatnam district of AP.  This was a Velama kingdom.  Poet families like Kotra, Kotikalapudi, Mandapaka, Mandavemula, Susarla etc., prospered in this kingdom.  The following are the poets of Bobbili and their works:
Kotra Balakavi                                                 Vimalangi Parinayamu and Bhallanacharitramu.
Rayudappa Rangarao Bahaddur (1790-1830)
together with Garimella Subbayya                     Sankalpa Suryodayamu.
Kotikelapudi Venkatakrishna Somayaji             Tarakabrahmamu, Dilipacharitramu, Prabodhachandrodayamu,
                                                                        Meghasandesamu, Vignaneswaramu and
                                                                        Swetachalamahatmyamu.
Kotikelapudi Kodandarama                              Nrusimhapuranamu, Tarakabrahma Mahatmyamu, Janakirama
                                                                        Satakamu, Janakivallabha Satakamu, Venugopala Satakamu and
                                                                        Sudharangamu.

Rayadappa Janardhanarangarao                        Mitravindaparinayamu and Bobbili Venugopalasatakamu.
Mandapaka Peraya                                           Nirdoshtyadasaradhi Satakamu, Kumudvati Parinayamu and
                                                                         Indumati Parinayamu.
Mandapaka Kamaya                                         Kartikavrata Mahatmyamu, Balaramakshetra Mahatmyamu and
                                                                         Suryanarayana Satakamu.
Mandapaka Parvateeswarasastri                        more than one hundred books that include Krishnabhyadayamu,
                                                                         Radhakrishna Samvadamu etc.
Mandavemula Venkataramaya                           Kriyayogasaramu.

Sir Venkateswarachalapatirangarao (1862-1926) supported many poets and funded printing of several books.

Vijayanagaram

Rulers of this kingdom belong to Pusapati family, a Kshatriya caste/tribe.

Pusapati Rachiraju (ancestor of the family)            Navabharatamu
King Pusapati Tammabhupaludu (1620-1670)      Srikrishnavijayamu
Perumalla Somana                                                Simantani Kalyanamu
King Pusapati Pedavijayaramaraju (1670-1756)   Andhraparasarihora
Gogulapati Kurmanadha                                       Ekantaseva, Mrutyunjaya Vilasamu,
                                                                            Lakshminarayana Samvadamu, Sundarimani Satakamu
                                                                            Simhadrinarasimha Satakamu, and Vijayarama Satakamu

King Pusapati Chinavijayaramaraju (1760-1794)
Adidamu Suraya                                                   Kavijanaranjanamu, Ramalingesa Satakamu,
                                                                            Kavisamsasayavicchedamu, Andhrachandralokamu, and
                                                                            Andhranamaseshamu (a dictionary)
Chatarati Lakshminarasaya                                   Padmanabh Yuddhamu, Iswariparinayamu, Viseshandhramu,
                                                                            and Bhandanarati Bhimasatakamu
Nadiminti Ramayogi                                              Ushaparinayamu

King Gajapati Vijayarama  (1826-1879)
Poduri Venkatarajaya                                           Ramalila Vilasamu
Sripada Venkatachalamu                                       Kousalyaparinayamu, Ramakrishniopakhyanamu
Manda Kameswaraya                                           Kurmapuranamu, Tulasi Ramayanamu (translations)

King Gajapati Ananda  (1879-1897): Famous personalities like Adibhatla Narayanadasu and Gurajada Apparao were in his court.
Mudumbai Narasimhacharyaswamy                      Sangnaramanamu etc.
Manda Chittikamasastri                                         translations of puranas like Matsya, Kurma, Markandeya etc.
Kolluri Kamasastri                                                Andhradharmasindhu
Gurajada Venkatapparao                                      Kanyasulkamu
Gurajada Sriramamurty                                         Biography of Gurajada Venkatapparao
Bahujanapalli Sitaramacharyulu                             Trilinga Lakshanaseshamu
Tacchuri Singanacharya                                        Gayakaparijatamu

King Gajapati Vijayarama (1883-1902)
Adibhatla Narayandasu                                       translations of Omar Khayyam into Telugu and Sanskrit
Medepalli Venkataramanacharylu                        Devavrata Charitra, Setubandhamu etc.

King Gajapati Alakanarayana (1902-1937)
Adibhatla Narayanadasu                                     Navarasatarangini
Bhogaraju Narayanamurty                                  Andhrakavita Charitramu, Kankanamu, Vasaviparinayamu,
                                                                          Vimaladevi, Andhra Rashtramu, Ramavasa Charitra,
                                                                           Padugakatnamu, etc.
Akundi Venkatasastri                                          Kautileyardhasastramu
Burra Seshgirirao                                                Abhishekrupakamu

Later writers include:
Toleti Venkatareddy                                          Rashtraprabodhamu
Ganti Suryanarayanasastri                                  Kalinga-Vijayanagara Charitra
Bulusu Venkatramanayya                                  Gajapatirajula Telugusahitya Poshanamu
 
 

Venkatagiri

Venaktigiri kingdom was ruled by Velugoti family of Velama tribe/caste.  This family migrated from Velugodu in Telangana to Andhra and established themselves in Venkatagiri in 1600 AD.

Velugoti Rayudappa Nayani (1600)
Returi Rangaraju                                             Bhanumati Parinayamu

Velugoti Kumarayachamnayani (1777-1804)
Mudumbi Ayyappadikshitulu                           Vishnupuranamu
Narakuri Narayanappa                                    Parijatamu

Velugoti Kumarayachendrulu (1832-1892)
Velugoti Kumarayachendrulu                          Sabharanjani, Manssakshyamu etc.
Gopinadha Venkata                                        Srimadramayanamu, Brahmavaivartapuranamu,
                                                                      Krishnajanmakhandamu, Brahmananda Satakamu,
                                                                      Bhagavadgita Sastramu, Sisupalavadha, Radhikaparinayamu
                                                                      Srimadramanauja Charitramu, Adityahrudayamu etc.
Tarkabhushanamu Venkatacharylu                  Sringarakalpavalli
Tirumalasetti Jagnnadha                                  Halasya Mahatmyamu
Odayaru Viranagaya                                       Sivaratri Mahatmyamu
Mandapaka Parvatiswarasastri                       Radhakrishna Samvadamu
Chilakapati Venkataramanujasarma                Gopikathsudhalahari, Vinodakathakalpavalli
 

Karveti

This kingdom was part of North Arkad and Chittoru districts.
Chadalavada Mallana                                   Vipranarayana
Rigvedi Venkatachlam                                  Ramayanamu
Rigvedi Venkatanarayana                             Gitagovindamu (Telugu) , Madanagopala Vijayamu, Lakshana
                                                                    Parinayamu, Krishnavilasamu (Sanskrit)
Polipeddi Venkataraya                                 Venugopala Satakamu, Lavanya Satakamu, Titladandakamu etc.
Anantaraju Subbaraya                                  Sadasiva Satakamu
Garudadri Subrahmanya                               Satrughnavijayamu
 

Sri Kalahasti

Damerla family of Velama tribe/caste ruled Kalhasti.

Damerla Vengalabhupaludu (late 1500)    Bahulasva Charitramu
Damerla Ankabhupaludu                         Ushaparinayamu
Nadiminti Venkatapati                             Abhishiktaraghavamu
Ravukondalarayudu                                 Chitrakavitvadarpanamu
Lingaraju (Kumara Dhurjati)                    Kalhatimahatmyamu, Dvipada bhagavatamu
Venkatapati                                             Ratnavali Parinayamu
Munipalle Subrahmanyasastri                   Adhyatmramayan Kirtanalu
Sishtu Sarvasastri  (1830-1880)              Amarukamu and Jnanaprasunambika Satakamu
Kotra Lakshminarayanasastri                   Lakshminarayaniyandhra Dictionery
Kalatturi Vikrala Raghavacharylu(1840-1890) Vedasamrajyamu, Sikshabhashyamu,
                                                              Sulbasutramu, Rahsyatrayabhashyamu, Suryasiddhanta
                                                              Vyakhyanamu, Grahadarshamu, Dharmanirnayamu,
                                                              Vruttisngrahamu, Andhrabhasha Mahima Varnanamu
Damerla Venkatabhupaludu                     Setukhandamu
 

Nujividu

This is a Velama kingdom in Krishna District.

Venkatacharyudu                                  Indumati Parinayamu
Anivilla Venkatasastri                            Apparaya Yasaschandrodayamu, Alankarasudhasindhumaheswara
                                                             Mahatmyamu, Rukminni Parinayamu, Bhaskara Prasasti, etc.
Dittakavi Ramayogi                                Rajgopala Satakamu, Mahisasuramardani Satakamu, Raghutilakahelavati
                                                             Dandakamu, etc.
Madabhushi Venkatacharya                   Bharatabhyudayamu, Pushpabanavilasamu, Ramavadhuti taravali etc.
Bukkapattanamu Raghavacharyulu         Andhradesha Charitra and Kuvalyasva Vijayamu
King Venkatadri Apparao Bahaddur Ramadasu:  Jyotirleela, Govardhanoddharanamu, Andhrashtapadulu,
                                                             Sobhanachala Mahatmyamu, Andhragitgovindamu, etc.
Duriseti Venkataramacharyulu                Anarkali
Yarroja Madhavacharyulu                     Maghavalayamu
 

Narasaraopeta

This kingdom was ruled by Malraju family of Velama tribe/caste.  This is also known as Bellamkonda kingdom.

Ahobila                                               Kavisirobhushanamu and Kalindikanya Parinayamu
Pattabhiram                                         Kavisarpagarudamu, Kavimushikamarjalamu, Marunnandana Satakamu,
                                                           Malarajugudanarayanopakhyanamu, Vajrapanjara Satakamu, and
                                                           Syamantakopakhyanamu
Dittakavi Narayana                              Rangaraya Charitramu
Dittakavi Ramachandra                        Uddandagopalaraya Satakamu and Raghukulatilaka Satakamu
Venkata and Pardhsardhi                     Vichitraraghavamu
 

Amaravati

This is a kingdom in Guntur district ruled by Vasireddy families of Kamma tribe/caste.

Enugula Veerasamayya                          Kasiyatra Charitra
Mulugu Papaya                                     Devibhagavatamu, Ahalyasankrandanamu, Sarvamadhuramu, Indratmaja
                                                             Parinayamu, Ghurjara Charitramu, Santanu Charitramu,
                                                             Srimadvemanaradhya Charitramu, Sahasrahridayanuranjamu (Telugu);
                                                             Aryasati Sivastotramu, Ekadasi Champuvu, Srikalyana Champuvu
Amaravadi Ramakavi (1840-1918)        Draupadiparinayamu and Vasireddiyamu (historical)
 

Polavaramu

Polavaramu was ruled by Koccharlakota family, a Brahmin Dynsaty.

Koccharlakota Ramachandra-                Apavadatarangini, Prabhuviswasamu, Milleru Doravaari Jeevitam,
venkatakrishnarao                                  Rajatarangini, Sahasika Kathavarnanamu etc,
(Bahaddur Zameendar) (1872-1919)      The Zameendaar also establised a monthly, "Saraswati" in 1898

Tirupati Venkatakavulu                           Buddha Charitramu
Peddada Nagaraja                                  Sakuntalaparinayamu
 

Lakkavaramu

This was also a Brahmin ruled Kingdom, ruled by  Mantripregada family.

King Mantripregada Bhujangarao          Vasantakusumamamu, Varakanta, Sivapuranamu, Markandeya 
(1872-1948)                                        Charitra, Sankarataravali (poetry); dramas like Vidynmala,
                                                            Sasirekha, Chitraharischandra, Pandavajnyatavasamu,
                                                            Uttararamacharitramu,  Prasannaraghavamu, Sakuntalamu etc.;
                                                            Novels like Manorama,  Rajahamsa, Vasantika, VijayankaSahasamu;
                                                            Prose like Ganamrutamu, Sisusanjeevani;
                                                            Philosophical works like Bhagavadgita, Tatvameemamsa,
                                                            Sivagitalu;
                                                            Also Christian works like Kraistavagudardhamu, Muttayi,
                                                            Luka, Yohanu etc. In addition, he wrote "History of Telugu Literature"
                                                            (in English),  and established a monthly literary journal, "Manjuvani."
 

Munagala

This is Zamindari in Krishan district.
Varadaraja Nandikeswarasastri         Sivatatvasudhanidhi and Setumahatmyamu
Komarraju Ramalingakavi                  Virabhadra, Srigiri, and Malleswara Satakamulu
Komarraju Venkatasivudu                  Repalarajalinga Satakamu
 

References:
History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh, By Rao
Telugu Sahitya Samiksha, by Nagayya
 

Sreenivasarao Vepachedu, August 8, 2000