THE ROLE OF PEMMASANI NAYAKS FOR GROWTH OF VIJAYNAGAR EMPIRE..I

THE ROLE OF PEMMASANI NAYAKS FOR GROWTH OF
VIJAYNAGAR EMPIRE

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

PART I


Successive rulers of Vijaya nagar empire that was founded by Harihara Raya and Bukka Raya brothers on the banks of Tungabhadra river in Bellary district of present Karnataka state stopped Islamization of South India very strongly with great determination for 300 years. They lived by sword. The empire was founded at a most crucial time under the guidance of saint Vidyaranya Swamy after the fall of Deccani Hindu kingdoms such as Kakateeyas of Warangal , Yadavs of Devagiri and Hoyasalas of Dwarasamudram at the hands of invading Delhi sultan Mohammed Bin Tughlaq in the 14 century. The internal rivalry between Kakateeyas of Warangal and Yadavs of Devagiri resulted in the quick fall of Warangal and Devagiri later at the hands of Mohd Bin Tughlaq in 14 century . Entire south India lay bared to the cruelties, brutalities, barbaric conduct, grave crimes and vandalization by Muslim armies that created havoc among population. Temples were looted , destroyed and desecrated. Women were raped and abducted as sex slaves. Men and children were slain and taken as slaves. All religious rituals in temples seized to exist. Copper plate Inscription of Musunoori Prolaya Naika at Vilasa in Andhra Pradesh is a testimony to the misdeeds of invading Muslims. A Muslim kingdom was established at Madhura ( Maber) right in the heart of South India. It appeared as if Hindu culture and heritage would be very seriously eroded under Islamic oppression.

However, Musunoori Prolaya Naika and later his cousin Kapayya Naika with the vassals of former Kakateeya empire and with the help of other followers waged relentless guerlilla war for 10 years against Muslims and drove away Malik Maqbool the governor of Warangal . Kapayya Naika established himself as successor to Kakateeyas at Warangal and assumed imperial titles as Andhra desa dheesa and Andhra Surathrana .The efforts of Prolaya Naika and Kapayya naika can be recognized as a greatest and most successful effort in medieval times by Hindu chieftains in restoring Hindu prestige and honor in India while in north India no such revival took place. No praise is sufficient for the efforts of Musunoori Nayakas in this direction. Soon Muslims from Karnataka were also driven out and Hindu prestige was restored to a very great extent. At this point of time, the power of Tughlaqs waned out at Delhi and Muslim viceroy at Daulatabad ( devagiri) revolted against Tughlaqs regime and established an independent kingdom. He was Hasan gangu Bahaman Shah and later he shifted his capital to Gulbarga on the northern side of Vijay nagar. This Muslim kingdom soon became a pain in the neck for Vijay nagar. Entire history of Vijay nagar is the history of warfare between the warring Hindu empire and aggressive Bahamani kingdom. Bahmani kingdom at a later date disintegrated into five provinsional kinmgdoms such as Berar, Bidar, Ahmed nagar, Bijapur and Golconda. These five kingdoms fought each other constantly and also with Vijaynagar.

Kapayya naika in fact helped Hasan Gangu Bhaman shah by sending 1500 cavalry in support of him when he revolted against Delhi’s regime at Daulatabad ( Devagiri). He aasumed that a buffer state between Delhi sultans and the Hindu kingdoms would be beneficial. But he failed to realize that Bahmani kingdom would be no different from Delhi sultanate. Ungrateful Bahman shah Bahmani after consolidation soon attacked Kapayya naika and he had to come to terms by surrendering Kaulas fort, money and few elephants. Soon Velama scion Singama Naika at Rachakonda who was a vassal of Kapayya naika revolted and established a separate kingdom. There were constant fights between Kapayya and Rachkonda rulers and Kapayya died in a battle by deceipt at Bheemavaram near Warangal with Rachankonda ruler Anapoth Naika. Vinaya Deva the sonf Kapayya Naika was earlier killed in a battle by Muhammed shah Bhamani I and thus dynasty of Kapayya became extinct. Many chieftains of Kapayya naika migrated to Vijaynagar for a living. Reddy vassals at Addanki ( Later shifted to Kondaveedu) also declared independence soon. They had constant enmity with rulers of Rachakonda and Devarkonda and fought many battles. Telangana soon fell to Velama rulers of Rachakonda. Rulers at Rachakonda and Devarakonda constantly fought with Reddy kings of Addanki and later of Kondaveedu and Vijaynagar empire in collusion with Bahmani sultans. Entire Telangana and Andhra regions became battle grounds for constant warfare. People greatly suffered in these wars. However the Rachakonda kings later lost their kingdom to Bahamani sultans. The Velama chieftains and the members of the clan migrated to Vijay nagar and served the emperor as commanders, chieftains and at places as governors. Most of them distinguished themselves for their valor, honesty , integrity, patriotism and commitment. Apart from the Velama clan, members of Kamma clan too served kings of Vijaynagar with great distinction and dedication. They rose to the position of provincial rulers, commanders, Chieftains and important advisers.

Vijaynagar empire steadily grew and consolidated itself as a paramount power in south India. The Empire was ruled by four successive dynasties such as Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Araveeti clans. Harihara raya was the first Sangama ruler who found the dynasty and the capital at Vijaynagar at the inspiration of Swami Vidyaranya Swamy in 14 century. The empire steadily grew a very strong and kept Muslims at bay. Bahmani kingdom and Vijay nagar empire were found rather in same period and thus fought constantly for superiority in Deccan. Reddy kingdom at Kondaveedu was finally consumed by Vijay nagar after the death of its last ruler Racha Vema Reddy who was a tyrant and was assassinated by one of his Balija chieftain named savaram Ellaih at Kondaveedu after a brief rule of five years.. The Muslim kingdom of Madhura ( Mabar ) that was found by Tughlaq was also defeated and annexed by prince Kumara Kamana of Vijaynagar during the rule of Bukka Raya I and thus only powers that were left in south India were at loggerheads all the time. Gajapathi rulers of Orissa too had a stake in the control of some provinces in south India. However during the rule of Sri Krishna Deva Raya , Gajapathi’s forces were defeated at every place and entire areas in south were captured from him. The forces of Gajapathi were driven out of Andhra provinces and a victoty pillar was erected at to potnur by Krishan Deva Raya. The clan of Pemmasani nayaks of Kamma Community distinguished themselves in bringing glory to Vijaynagar empire in all wars. Vijay nagar rulers can not be absolved of cruelties perpetuated on their own kith and kin for the sake of capturing power. They too kept close relatives under captivity to avoid trouble. It was the order of the day. Such things happened in all kingdoms such as Bahmani kingdom and Mughals and also in Rajput kingdoms in north India. Four dynasties ruled the empire and at the end of each dynasty, there was bloodshed and a powerful and new chieftain usurped the throne when the king was very weak, oppressive or was a mere infant. Murders were committed to usurp the throne and this was common in those days. Might is right was probably the principle of action. Within the dynasty too power struggle took place for the throne and the one who enjoyed confidence of influential vassals and chieftains enjoyed power as the king. But every dynasty systematically protected Hindu faith from the invading Muslims armies of Deccani sultanates or Bahmani kingdom right from the days of Harihara Raya the first king to the last emperor Sri Ranga III who died in harness devoid of the empire after he was betrayed by some of his own vassals.


TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II