Battle of Palnadu

THE BATTLE OF PALNAD (1176-1182 A.D.)

The reign of Rajendra Choda II, which witnessed the Velanati family's glory reaching its zenith, was also marked by the dwindling dominion of the family. The foremost cause of this was the battle of Palnad or Palanadu. This battle was due to the internecine fight within the family of the Haihayas of Palanadu, who were the vassals and close relations of the Velanati Durjayas. Strangely, there is no epigraphic evidence for this episode. All that is known is only from Srinatha's 'Palnativiracharitra' in dvipada metre and also from the local legends. When fact is sifted from fiction, the following details may be discerned. Nalagama was the son of Alugu Bhupati of the Patanati Haihaya family through Mailama, the daughter of Gonka II. He succeeded his father to the throne about 1147 A.D. His stepbrothers were Malideva and others. Doddanayudu and his son Brahmarrayudu, who were the agents of Velanadu at Gurizala, ushered in an era of great religious revival and social awakening in Palanadu. Especially Brahamanna. after becoming the Arbiter of Politics in Palnad as the prime minister of Natagama. attempted to establish a new religion and a new social order which did away with distinctions of caste. However his teachings caused an uproar in the country. Being a devotee of

Siva, Nalagama did not like and promptly checked Brahmanna's religious activity and social reform. Meanwhile Aravilli Nagamma, a woman-statesman and warrior of remarkable ability, popularly known as 'Nayakuralu', came upon the scene. Soon she managed to become Nalagama's chief adviser and friend at the court. Then she took up her place in the councils of the king. Differences arose within the court. The Virasaiva and Viravaishnava (Brahmanayudu was an advocate) faiths also played their part. Brahmanayudu took his supporters, the kings step-brothers Malideva and others along with him, retired from Gurizala and established a separate and independent court at Maoherla. Malideva was related to the Kalachuri dynasty of Kalyani, having married the the only daughter Rayamurari Sovideva.






Mutual suspicion and rivalry between the two courts reached a high pitch and Nagamma, on the pretext of defeat of Malideva's faction in a cock-fight, forced them to retire from Palanadu for a period of seven years into exile. After the expiry of the period of exile, Brahmanna sent Alaraja, son of Kalachuri Kommaraja and the son-in-law of Nalagama, to Gurizala demanding restoration of the share for Malideva. The demand was turned down and Alaraja was poisoned to death under the secret orders of Nagamma. The enraged Brahmanna declared war on Gurizala. The fierce and decisive battle was fought at Karempudi on the banks of the river Naguleru. The Kakatiyas, the Hoyasalas and the Kota chiefs who were the vassals of the Velanati chief, supported the cause of Nalagama, whereas Malideva got support from the Kalachuris. Nalagama appears to be the victor.
The civil war in Palanadu shook the Velanati kingdom to its foundations. 'A whole generation of powerful warriors, the flower of Andhra soldiery perished in the great slaughter on the field of Karempudi for nothing. The tragedy of Palanad sealed the doom of the Velanati rule and paved the way for final disappearance of the last vestiges of the Chalukyan sovereignty in Vengi.' The battle exposed the weakness of the Velanati kingdom. The Kakatiyas of Anmakonda and the



Telugu Chodas of Pakanedu and Pottapi began their raids. The Kalachuri forces fell upon Velanadu. At the same time. Kakati Rudradeva led his forces into Vengi in support of the Chalukyan families there. Under these conditions, Rajsndra Choda II passed away and his son Gonka III succeeded to the throne of Vetanadu