The battle took place between 1178 and 1182 AD beteen
Nalagamaraju, a Haihaya Kshatriya king who ruled the area of Palnadu in Guntur
District and his step brother Malidevaraju.
Nalagamaraju was supported by the
Reddy lady Nagamma while Malidevaraju was supported by Recherla Brahmanaidu who
was a social reformer.
When Anuguraju of the Haiahays migrated to the Andhra area
from Jajablpur in Madhya Pradesh, he clashed with the Velanati Chodas of
Velnadu who ruled from Chandavolu.
Velanati Gonkaraju installed Anuguraju as king of Palnadu at
Gurajala after giving his daughter Mailama Devi to him in marriage.
As
Anuguraju is non Telugu speaking and has migrated to Andhra area only at that
time, and is unfamiliar with the local people, Gonkaraju appointed Dodda Naidu
of Recherla Gotra as his minister to guide him.
Anugu Raju had 2 more wives, Viravidya Devi and Bhoorama
Devi. Anuguraju was however childless and adopted the eldest son of his
minister Dodda Naidu.
Soon after this
Mailama Devi gave birth to a son called Nalagamaraju. Disillusioned with the
turn of events Dodda Naidu stepped down as minsiter of Anuguraju and made his
younger son Brahma Naidu as a minister instead. Nalagamaraju became king after
Anuguraju.
Nalagamaraju had a step brother called Malidevaraju who
married a princess from the Kalachuris of Kalyanadurga in Karnataka.
Brahma Naidu was highly respected in his time and is a
warrior, scholar and reformer. Brahmanaidu captured the fort of Shimoga from
the Veera Saivaites on the request of the Kalyani Chalukyan King of Kalyani.
The king in turn gave
his daughter Sirimadevi in marriage to Malidevaraju.
Brahma Naidu was a staunch
Vaishnavaite and founded a new sect called Veera Vaishnavism as against Veera
Saivism which was prevalent then and which allowed the Sudras into its fold but
not untouchables. The social reforms like Chapa Koodu (having food sitting side
by side on a mat irrespective of caste) intiated by Brahma Naidu have
antagonized the conservatives of the Palnadu society.
Brahma Naidu did not stop with Chapakoodu and in this he is
centuries, nay 800 years ahead of the present day social reformers. He had all
castes including the scheduled Castes in his army. In fact Kannamanedu from the
Scheduled caste was treated almost like Brahma Naidus own son and was made the
commander of his army.
The conservatives found an able leader in one Reddy lady
named Nagamma who is known as Nayakuralu. Nagamma joined the court of
Nalagamaraju and gained his confidence. Therafter she made Nalagamarju displace
Brahma Naidus men from key positions. The differences in the court and the
royal family grew which led to the division of the Kingdom.
Nalagamaraju’s half brother Malidevarju moved to Macherla and
set up a separate kingdom there. Brahma Naidu moved to Macherla along with
Malidevaraju.
Mutual suspicion between the two kingdoms grew and Nagamma
under the pretext of Malidevas defeat in a cockfight exiled them for 7 years
from Palnadu. After the exile Brahma Naidu sent Alaraju the brother in law of
Malidevaraju to claim Malidevaraju’s share.
The demand was turned down and
Alaraju was poisoned in Cherlagudipadu by the orders of Nagamma. His wife
Perindevi committed Sati with Alaraju. This enraged Malidevaraju and Kommaraju
who was the father of Alaraju. Brahma Naidu then declared war on Gurajala.
The battle was fought at Karempudi on the banks of the river
Naguleru. Nalagamaraju was supported by the Kakatiyas, Kota Vamsa, Hoysalas and
Paricchedis. Malidevaraju was supported by the Kalachuris of Kalyanadurga.
Nalagamarajus side was victorious in the battle and
Malidevaraju died fighting. Brahma Naidu was forced to reinstate Nalagamarju.
Balachandrudu the valiant son of Brahma Naidu died in this battle along with
his wife Manchala.
A whole genration of Andhra warriors perished in the battle.
This battle weakened the Velnati Chodas and this later helped the Kakatiyas to take
over their domain.
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