SWAMI SRI VEERABRAHMENDRA

A Monograph on Pothuluru Veerabrahmendra Swamy

Although Ramadeva was succeeded by his cousin Peda Venkata (Venkata III - A.D. 1630-42) the latter had to cjn'and against Tirnmaraja (a paternal uncle of Ramadeva) and Sriranga III (a nephew of Venkata). Unfortunately Sriranga HI joined hands with Randaulah Khan, a Bijapur genera! and defied Venkata. Abdullah Kutb Shah who did not bear tha extending influenea of the Sultan of Bijapur in Kafnatak, despatched an army in 1642 against Venkata who was unable to resist the Goiconda forces and therefore, retired to the mountainous tracts of Chittoor where he died the same year (A.D. 1642).

Sriranga III succeeded Venkata III. The Sultan of Golconda organized two invasions against Sriranga III. The first invasion resulted in Sriranga’s victory and the second ended in a treaty. But the Sultan of Golconda and B'japur entered into mutual agreement to divide the country among themselves, in furtherance of this treaty the Sultan of Golconda sent an army under Mirjumla and saw that Sriranga remained a king but without kingdom. Sriranga was helpless and was constrained to withdraw and retreat to Mysore never to return.

The fight of Sriranga was a prelude to the systematic subjugation of the smail Independent principalities by the Sultans of Deccan. The capture of Gandikota in 1650 A.D. by Mir Jumle was the most significant for the District of Cuddapah.

The Sultans of Deccan always tried to establish small principalities and install potty Nawbs as their deputees. This was how the Nawab of Kurnool, the Nawab of Cuddapah, the Nawab of Siddhout and the Nawab of Banaganapalle came into existence.

Veerabrahmam visited the courts of almost all these petty Nawabs who either invited him or created a situation that he visited their court. Some of these Nawabs became faithful devotees of Veerabrahmam. How the Swamy was able to bring them round is really very interesting.

Before these petty Nawabs were installed, the political and social conditions of the Telugu Country were very precarious. The political events resulted in great unrest among the people. The native kings and the Deccan Sultans fought with one another and the result of which the common man was put to great hardship. There was no security for him. Added to this, the unwanted reign of the pretty Nawabs lead to religious disputes also. In their cruel attempt to bring the common man into their fold, they crushed him under their iron heels. The helpless commoner could tolerate their tyrannical encrochment into his social and religious life which finally resulted in a civil war