Another branch of the Telugu Cholas was the family of
the CHODAS OF NELLORE. The doyen of the Telugu poets,
Tikkana, in the introduction of his 'Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu',
gave an account of the history and antecedents of
this family. These Chodas also claimed descent from the
famous Karikala Chola. They ruled over their kingdom consisting
of the Nellore, Cuddapah, Chittur and Chengalput districts
with Vikramasimhapura (modern Nellore) as their capital.
The first important chief in the family of the Nellore Chodas
was one Chola Bijjana. As a feudatory of the Western
Chalukya Someswara I (1042-68 A.D.) of Kalyani, he took
part in the wars of the Chalukyas and Cholas. In recognition
of the loyalty and services of his descendants to the Chalukyas
of Kalyani, Vikramadiya II (1076-1126 A.D.) appointed them
as rulers of Pakanadu.
Later Tikka (1223-48 A.D.) father of the famous Manumasiddhi,
extended the sway of the Nellore Telugu Chola family
as far south as the river Kaveri. He owed nominal allegiance
to the already crippled Chalukya-Chola emperors of the South,
but was independent ruler for all practical purposes. Along
with the Hoyasala Vira Narasimha, he rendered yeomen service
to the Chalukya-Chola ruler Rajaraja lII in restoring him back to his throne by repulsing the attacks of Aniyanka Bhima, Kopperunjinga and the Pandyas. Subsequently, whan the Hoyasala Vira Narasimha's successor Somesvara, desirous of making the Chalukya-Chola ruler a puppet in his hands, joined hands with the Pandyas and attacked Rajendra IIl, who ascended the Chalukya-Chola throne in 1246 A.D., Choda TiKka came to the rescue of the emperor. He defeated both the Hoyasala and the Pandyan forces and got thereby the Tondaimandalam region for himself. He even assumed the title 'Cholasthapanacharya'. During the reign of Tikka's son and successor Manumasiddhi II (1248-63 A.D.), the power of the Nellore Chodas was at its low ebb. One Vijayagandagopala, probably a member of the Telugu Cholas, secured the friendship of Somesvara and Rajendra III and occupied the southern parts (Chengalput area) of the Nellore kingdom, defying Manumasiddhi's authority. In addition to this, Manuma was driven out from Nellore by his agnates Tikkana and Bayyana The Vaidumba chief Rakkesa Ganga occupied the Cuddapah region. Under these circumstances, Manuma's well-wisher and minister Poet Tikkana. who was a diplomat as well, went to Warangal and secured the great Kakatiya monarch Ganapatideva's support for his master. The Kakatiya forces effectively tackled the rivals of Manumasiddhi and reinstated him on his paternal throne. Ganapatideva got of course a big slice of Manuma's realm in the process.
With the death of Manumasiddhi II, the Nellore kingdom lost its individuality, became a battre-ground between the Kakatiyas and the Pandyas and changed hands frequently. In the reign of Kakati Prataparudra II, the Nellore region became part and parcel of the Kakatiya empire and lost its political significance. The period of rule of the Telugu Chodas was in particular significant for the development it received in the Telugu literature under the patronage of the rulers. It was the age in which the great Telugu poets Tikkana, Ketana and Marana enriched the literature with their remarkable contributions, Asalready referred Tikkana Somayaji was the well-wisher and minister of Manumasiddhi II of Nellore. His diplomacy helped his master in securing the help of Kskati Ganapatideva for getting back his throne. This great poet had for his credit two important works in Telugu. The first one is 'Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu'. Though a highly Sanskritised style was employed, it is characterised by excellent literary qualities and abounding elements of Pathos and heroism. However it is the 'Andhra Mahabharata' which brought for Tikkana undying fame and made him one of the immortals. Though it is a translation of the last fifteen parvas of the Mahabharata, left out by his predcessor Nannaya, yet Tikkana put life and blood into it with an avowed objective of making it a Kavya. His delineation of character, dramatic dialogue and lucid and at the same time suggestive exposition of facts are masterly in nature. His broad spiritual outlook, lofty idealism, high imagination and splendid diction made him 'Kavi Brahma' (The Supreme Creator among Poets)
'Abhinava Dandin' Ketana, who was a contemporary of Tikkana. dedicated his 'Dasakumaracharitramu', written in tasteful and sweet style, to him. He also translated Vijnaneswara's 'Mitakshari', a Sanskrit commentary on the 'Yajnavalkya Smriti', into Telugu under the name 'Vijnaneswaramu'. Another work of Ketana is 'Andhra Bhashabhushanamu', a book, on metrical grammer in Telugu. Marana was another contemporary of Tikkana, He was also a desciple of the latter. He translated the 'Markandeya Parana' into Telugu. His work, became a source book to many subsequent Telugu poets who selected their themes from the many delightful stones incorporated in it.
to the Chalukya-Chola ruler Rajaraja lII in restoring him back to his throne by repulsing the attacks of Aniyanka Bhima, Kopperunjinga and the Pandyas. Subsequently, whan the Hoyasala Vira Narasimha's successor Somesvara, desirous of making the Chalukya-Chola ruler a puppet in his hands, joined hands with the Pandyas and attacked Rajendra IIl, who ascended the Chalukya-Chola throne in 1246 A.D., Choda TiKka came to the rescue of the emperor. He defeated both the Hoyasala and the Pandyan forces and got thereby the Tondaimandalam region for himself. He even assumed the title 'Cholasthapanacharya'. During the reign of Tikka's son and successor Manumasiddhi II (1248-63 A.D.), the power of the Nellore Chodas was at its low ebb. One Vijayagandagopala, probably a member of the Telugu Cholas, secured the friendship of Somesvara and Rajendra III and occupied the southern parts (Chengalput area) of the Nellore kingdom, defying Manumasiddhi's authority. In addition to this, Manuma was driven out from Nellore by his agnates Tikkana and Bayyana The Vaidumba chief Rakkesa Ganga occupied the Cuddapah region. Under these circumstances, Manuma's well-wisher and minister Poet Tikkana. who was a diplomat as well, went to Warangal and secured the great Kakatiya monarch Ganapatideva's support for his master. The Kakatiya forces effectively tackled the rivals of Manumasiddhi and reinstated him on his paternal throne. Ganapatideva got of course a big slice of Manuma's realm in the process.
With the death of Manumasiddhi II, the Nellore kingdom lost its individuality, became a battre-ground between the Kakatiyas and the Pandyas and changed hands frequently. In the reign of Kakati Prataparudra II, the Nellore region became part and parcel of the Kakatiya empire and lost its political significance. The period of rule of the Telugu Chodas was in particular significant for the development it received in the Telugu literature under the patronage of the rulers. It was the age in which the great Telugu poets Tikkana, Ketana and Marana enriched the literature with their remarkable contributions, Asalready referred Tikkana Somayaji was the well-wisher and minister of Manumasiddhi II of Nellore. His diplomacy helped his master in securing the help of Kskati Ganapatideva for getting back his throne. This great poet had for his credit two important works in Telugu. The first one is 'Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu'. Though a highly Sanskritised style was employed, it is characterised by excellent literary qualities and abounding elements of Pathos and heroism. However it is the 'Andhra Mahabharata' which brought for Tikkana undying fame and made him one of the immortals. Though it is a translation of the last fifteen parvas of the Mahabharata, left out by his predcessor Nannaya, yet Tikkana put life and blood into it with an avowed objective of making it a Kavya. His delineation of character, dramatic dialogue and lucid and at the same time suggestive exposition of facts are masterly in nature. His broad spiritual outlook, lofty idealism, high imagination and splendid diction made him 'Kavi Brahma' (The Supreme Creator among Poets)
'Abhinava Dandin' Ketana, who was a contemporary of Tikkana. dedicated his 'Dasakumaracharitramu', written in tasteful and sweet style, to him. He also translated Vijnaneswara's 'Mitakshari', a Sanskrit commentary on the 'Yajnavalkya Smriti', into Telugu under the name 'Vijnaneswaramu'. Another work of Ketana is 'Andhra Bhashabhushanamu', a book, on metrical grammer in Telugu. Marana was another contemporary of Tikkana, He was also a desciple of the latter. He translated the 'Markandeya Parana' into Telugu. His work, became a source book to many subsequent Telugu poets who selected their themes from the many delightful stones incorporated in it.
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