Pemmasani Nayaks

Pemmasani Nayaks, of Kamma caste were a martial clan in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They came into prominence during Vijayanagar times as rulers of Gandikota ["Rayavachakam" by Viswanatharaya Sthanapati (Telugu)] [Vijayanagara, Burton Stein, Cambridge University Press, 1989, p.88, ISBN 0521266939] . The Pemmasani warriors were one among the Kamma clans previously serving Kakatiya dynasty as army commanders and migrated to Vijayanagar in 1370 CE after the downfall of Musunuri Nayaks in Warangal ["Kammavari Charitra" (in Telugu language) by K. B. Chowdary, 1939. Revised Edition, 2006, Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur,India ] .

Origin

The hard earned independence of Telugu land came to an end in fifty years with the martyrdom of Musunuri Kapaneedu in 1370 A.D at the hands of Velamas who colluded with Bahmani sultan (Musunuri Nayaks) [A Forgotten Chapter of Andhra History, M. Somasekhara Sarma, 1945, Andhra University, Waltair ] . A large number of remaining Nayaks who served under Kapaneedu migrated to Vijayanagar and sworn allegiance to Bukka Raya, a close associate of Kapaneedu in protecting the Hindu dharma in Dakshnapatha (Deccan). Among them, Pemmasani clan which earned laurels for their bravery and defense of Vijayanagar Empire in the coming four centuries was the most illustrious. Generations of Pemmasani clan were commanders for various dynasties of Vijayanagar Empire [Vijayanagara, Burton Stein, Cambridge University Press, 1989, p.92, ISBN 0521266939] . The original surname of Pemmasani Nayaks was Aalum. The Pemmasani lineage can be traced from Venkatapati Nayudu, father of Timma Nayudu. Proudha Devaraya gifted the Yadaki Paragana to Timma Nayudu in 1431 as recognition of his valour in many a battle with Muslims. Timma was instrumental for the victory in the battle of Gulbarga in which Proudha Devaraya defeated Ahmed Shah [Quarterly Journal of Mythic Society, Vol. XXX, No.2, p. 186] . The forts of Yadaki, Gutti and Gandikota are the symbols of Pemmasani Nayaks. During the heyday, their control extended from Krishna up to Anantapur districts. The annual income was twenty five lakhs of rupees out of which nine lakhs of rupees were paid as tribute to the Vijayanagar kings [Pemmasanivari Charitramu (Telugu), M. Lakshminarasima Sarma] . The ancestors of Pemmasani clan (Gothram: Vallutla) belonged to Bellamkonda in ancient Kammanadu. A branch of Pemmasani clan belong to Musunurla gothram which point out their origin from the village Musunuru in Krishna district and their possible relation to the Musunuri Nayaks.

Illustrious rulers

The first ruler of Pemmasani clan was Kumara Thimma Nayudu who fought many a battle and won the trust of Bukka Raya. He built many forts in Jammulamadugu, Vajrakarur, Kamalapuram, Tadipatri, Pamidi etc. Later, Dharma Nayudu served as a General of Proudha Devaraya (Devaraya II).

Thimma Nayudu: Thimma was a commander in the army of Proudha Devaraya (1420-448 CE) who granted Yadaki paragana in 1422 CE after Thimma's victory over Ahmed Shah in the battle of Kalubarige [Quartely Journal of Mythic Society, Bangalore, Vol. 30 (2), p. 186 ] . He ruled Gutthi and Gandikota regions and used pay an annual tribute of nine lakhs of rupees to the Vijayanagar king. He developed Gandikota as an impregnable fort [Carnatic Chronolgy: Hindu and Mahomedan, C. P. Brown, 1863, Bernard Quaritch, London, p.64] . Thimma minted his own coins with Veerabhadra’s icon. He ruled for a long time, constructed many temples and tanks and brought recognition to Gandikota. His son Veerathimma ruled Gandikota after him.

Ramalinga Nayudu: Veerathimma had a son by name Chennappa who had two sons Ramalinga and Pedathimma. Ramalinga ruled Gandikota (1509-1530 CE) during the time of Krishna Deva Raya. Ramalinga had 80,000 soldiers under him and he played a major role in the victory of Krishna Deva Raya over the combined armies of Kalubarige, Golkonda and Ahmednagar [Krishnadeva Raya, M. Rama Rao, 1971, National Book Trust, New Delhi, p. 17] . He became the most favorite commander of Krishna Deva Raya and played a pivotal role in the battle of Raichur [A Forgotten empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India by Robert Sewell, http://historion.net/r.sewell-vijayanagar-history-india ] . His exploits in the battle were extolled by many Telugu poets. He was most feared by the Muslim Generals of Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Golconda [Tidings of the king: a translation and ethnohistorical analysis of the Rayavachakamu by Phillip B. Wagoner. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 1993, Page 138-139, ISBN 0-8248-1495-9, http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=62773998 ] . Ramalinga constructed many temples in Anantapur region.

Pedathimma Nayudu: Pedathimma led the Vijayanagar army to victory in many battles. He became famous for the slaying of Dastur Khan. He had three sons, Narasimha, Balichinna and Chinathimma.

Thimma Nayudu II participated in the expeditions of Krishna Deva Raya and captured Udayagiri, Addanki, Kondapalli, Rajahmundry and Katakam (Cuttack). He also played a crucial role in the conquest of Ummattur ["Krishnaraja Vijayamu" by Kumara Dhurjati (Telugu)] .

Bangaru Thimma (Arathimma) Nayudu: After the death of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529 CE his son-in-law Rama Raya took control of the kingdom. Bahamani sultan colluded with Salakam Timmaraja and raided Vijayanagar. Ramaraya took refuge in Gandikota. Bangaru Thimma vanquished Bahamanis in a fierce battle at Komali, killed Salakam Timmaraja and restored the throne to Ramaraya [Further Sources of Vijayanagar History by K. A. Nilakanta Sastry, 1946, http://www.archive.org/details/FurtherSourcesOfVijayanagaraHistory ] ..

Pedaveera Nayudu was the contemporary of Srirangaraya and Venkatapatiraya. During the twilight of Vijayanagar Empire Gandikota rulers Bojja Thimma Nayudu and Venkatagiri Nayudu steadfastly helped Sriranga Raya by keeping Golkonda and Bijapur armies at bay.

Decline

The last ruler of Gandikota was Chinna Thimma Nayudu. At the behest of the minister Podila Linganna, Mir Jumla, the General of Golkonda Nawab raided Gandikota in 1594 [Carnatic Chronology: Hindu and Mahomedan, C. P. Brown, 1863, Bernard Quartich, London] . There was stiff resistance. The fort was captured only after Linganna plotted and poisoned Chinna Thimma. Pinnayya Nayudu, son of Chinna Thimma and still very young, was saved and taken to Mysore by his relatives ["Gandikota Patanam" by K. Raghavaiah ] . Most of the Gandikota families (sixtysix surnames) migrated to Guntur, Kavetirajapuram (Chittor Dt), Madurai, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram etc. The Zamndaris of Ilaiyarasanadal and Kurivikulam in Tamil Nadu belong to Pemmasani families [The Aristocracy of Southern India, A. Vadivelu, 1984, Mttal Publications, New Delhi, p. 167] . These people are collectively called Gandikota Kammas. A section of them is called ‘Gampa Kamma’. The meaning of Gampa in Telugu is ‘Large Basket’. It is not clearly known how this name came into being.

Some well-known Gandikota Kammas in modern times include Archbishop Arulappa, Vaigo, Arcot N. Veeraswami and R. Prabhu.

Notes