SWAMI SRI VEERABRAHMENDRA

A Monograph on Pothuluru Veerabrahmendra Swamy

The rebellion went on for sometime. The acces¬sion of Venkata II neither brought about any change in the prevailing conditions of unrest nor could supress the rebellion. Native kings like Nandyala Krishnamaraja fomented sericus revolts. The battle at Jammalamadugu fought by Krishnamaraja in the years 1597 and 1598 affected the district of Cuddapah, Eut since Venkata II stood firm with courage he could end the revolt fomented by Krishnamaraja. the lost glory of the empire appeared to have been restored to a great extent but the empire was soon deprived of Its protector and guide in 1614 A.D. by the death of Venkata II. He had no sons and hence nominated his nephew Sriranga as his successor. But this raised complications and divided camps of the nobility which lead to factions that finally resulted in the cold blooded murder of the royal family. Ramadevaraya, blooded murder of the royal family. Ramadevaraya, son of Sriranga escaped from prison. A fecticn of the nobility who supported his father raised him to King ship. After the death of Venkata II, the disastrous civil war had almost convulsed the Vijayanagar empire for about fifteen years, during the reign of Ramadeva (A.D. 1614-30). These circumstances drew the attention of the rules of Deccan who awaiting an opportunity. The Sultan of Bijapur wanted to establish himself in the western Telugu Country. He organized under Abdul Wahhab Khan an expedition against Kurnool. Its chief, Gopalaraja, appealed to the neighbouring chiefs for assistance. The fight drew Matli Tiruvendgalanatha Devachoda Maharaja a chief holding sway over portions of Kurnool district into its ambit when others, including Gopalaraja, ran for their lives. Tiruvengalanatha alone fought valiantly and perished in the battle.

Here a word is to be added about the Matil family which endeavoured to continue the traditions of the Vijayanagar empire in varied spheres of activity in the decades following the battle of Rskshssi-Tangadi. A damaged epigraph of 1606 A.D., at Ganganapalli of Cuddapah District refers to the rule of Matli Tiruvengaianatha. He was entangled in local wars and had victory over the Chiefs of GandiKota at ‘Mscanolu’. He overthrew the Governor of Udayagirl fort and also captured Pandillapalli, Koketam and Kallur besides the forts of Vellala and Porumamilla (as described in the poem entitled “Kumudvatikelyanamu”). Then he marched to the rescue of Gopalaraja, the Chief of Kurnool whose fort was baseiged by the forces of the Sultan of Bijapur. Even Ramadeva, Son of Sriranga II, could not go to the rescue of Gopalaraj as he was absorbed in his own upleasant affairs. The great Tiruvangalana the Devachode Msharajs alone fought the battle most valiantly and atlast lost his life. Ramaraja had a premature death (A.D.1630) which set the seal to the conquest of Kurnool by the Sultan of Bijepur. This unhappy event once again plunged the country into the worst state of anarchy.