PROLARAJA II OF KAKATEEYA DYNASTYCOULD NOT ESCAPE DESTINY….. A LEGEND

       PROLARAJA II  OF KAKATEEYA DYNASTYCOULD NOT ESCAPE

                                          DESTINY….. A LEGEND

                                              Dr K Prabhakar Rao

                     Prolaraja II ( 12 century) was  the noted ruler from the dynasty of Kakateeyas who ruled at Warangal in Telangana province of AP state.  The entire dynasty  is said to have ruled for 1000 years. However originally they were only feudatories to Eastern Chalukya  monarchs . When  Eastern Chalukyas power was  much reduced they came under Kalyani Chalukyas who ruled at Kalyani now in Karnataka and known as Basava Kalyan. Prola Raja II is responsible for firmly establishing Kakateeya power in the region and brought most of the provincial rulers under him by might of his sword. After him, his son Rudra Deva ( Also known as Prataparudra Deva I ) became the ruler and  conquered most of Telugu land and exercised his authority. A legend states that Prola Raja II met his end at the hands of his son unknowingly although he made all efforts to defeat the destiny.

                   Prola Raj II  although had everything he desired had no offspring and  almighty blessed him with a son after a long period and he was much delighted. However the Purohits and astrologers warned him that  his son would be the cause for his death. The worried king at once ordered that the new born be disposed off secretly and  the infant was given to two  confidant soldiers to carry out the gruesome job. On a dark night the soldiers went away to forest and came across a  an old Shiva  temple. The soldiers who were kind hearted could not kill the infant and left the child near temple steps and vanished from the scene. In the early hours, the priest of the  shrine came to the temple and found the crying infant un attended. He immediately picked him up and took him home and his wife was highly thrilled as she had no children. The priest named him as Rudra deva and brought him up as his own son. As the prince grew up as a Brahmin boy, he demonstrated great qualities befitting of a  king. He mastered  scriptures and always liked    martial arts and soon  became very proficient in martial arts, horse riding, use of various arms like swords, spears, lances and in   archery.  The priest knew that one day the prince would  rule the land although he did not know that he was the son of the king of the land.

                        Years passed by and Prola Raja  was also getting old.    It was the practice in those days to conduct annual  competitions where people from the kingdom could take part and show their merit in various sports and arts. Prola Raja  announced conduct of  competitions in  wielding of various weapons. Many youths and warriors turned up at the event and Rudra also attended the  event. Young Rudra defeated every one in all classes of weapons at the event and won the prizes and medals and appreciation of the king. Prola Raja was  wonder struck at the appearance and gait of the youth and  enquired about his parents from him. Rudra answered that he was the son of a priest of an old Shiva temple in the forest.

                        After this event the king  had no peace and  all the time he was thinking about Rudra. He decided to see the priest in the forest and one day he visited him taking escort with him.The priest was surprised at the sudden visit of the king to his humble hut and received him with all humility and respects. After  being seated comfortably the king   enquired about Rudra and after repeatedly  pressing on, the priest revealed that  rudra as an infant was found at the temple steps may years ago and has been brought up as his own son. The king soon left the place after thanking the priest and immediately called the two soldiers who were given the task of killing the child many years ago. The soldiers by this time were aged and they immediately accepted that they left the baby near a temple in the forest as they could not kill the infant. The soldiers were sent away and from that day onwards Prola Raja could not sleep. His longed for love  from his able son . He could not reveal the facts openly and as the days passed by his longing became more intense.

                Unable to bear separation further, the king on a dark night went to the temple in the forest alone on a horse. Rudra was sleeping on a flat stone outside the temple and fast asleep. The king went to him and sat near his head. He was in great agony seeing his son sleeping on a stone and slowly toughed him. Rudra deva  suddenly woke up and in utter darkness he could not see any thing. Fearing that some thief or enemy was nearby he drew his sword kept close to him and stabbed the king.The king fell down in agony at the most unexpected event and was profusely bleeding.  Hearing the sounds the priest came out with a lamp and saw the king lying in a pool of blood and was shocked at the event.  The king under great pain revealed to the priest that Rudra deva was his own son who was left at the temple when he was an infant. He also  narrated why  such act was done.  As the sun rays  started showing up the king breathed his last and gave up his soul. Rudra was inconsolable having learnt that the slain king was his own father. Soon the nobles and court officials arrived and knew what exactly happened and they felt very sad at the death of Prola Raja. Soon Rudra Deva was crowned as the next ruler at Hanamkonda the capital of Kkateeyas.

             Destiny had its way and efforts made by Prola Raja II to outwit destiny did not succeed. Rudra Deva became a very famous ruler of the dynasty and built the Warangal  fort, 1000 pillered temple at Hanam konda that exist even today. With might of his sword he expanded his  kingdom greatly and sent 1500 cavalry in support of Nalgama Raju in Palanati yuddham ( Battle of palanadu ) in 1184-1186 . Rudra deva  died ina battle with Jaitugi the yadava ruler of Devagiri.He had no children and after him his brother Mahadeva Raja succeeded him.Kakateeya dynasty produced great rulers such as Rani Rudrama Devi, Ganpathi deva and Prataparudra Deva II.