Pemmasani Timmanayudu II was a member of the Pemmasani Nayaks. He was the son of Pemmasani Ramalinga I and a contemporary of Vira Narasimharaya and Krishnadevaraya. [1] After the death of his father, Timmanayudu went to inform the Vijayanagara Emperor of the progress made in developing the Rayalaseema region. The emperor was so pleased with what he heard that he made Timmanayudu the commandant of the Gandikota Fort on behalf of Saluva Govindaraja, its governor. [1] Then, Timmanayudu gave control of Yadiki and Tadipatri, which were previously controlled by his ancestors, to a relative and shifted to Gandikota. [1]
Timmanayudu strengthened Gandikota Fort, and he administered Gandikota sima. [2] The kaifiyat of Tadipatri states that the Madhwa teacher Vysaraja passed through the estates of Timmanayudu while on his pilgrimage to Rameswaram. [3] Vysaraja appointed a Madhawa archaka in a temple near Tadipatri. [3]
While Timmanayudu was at Gandikota, his deputies continued developing Tadipatri and Yadiki. [2] Timmanayudu also was involved in Tadipatri. Timmanayudu built the Chintalarayaswami Temple (Sri Chintala Venkataramana Temple) in Tadipatri after Vishnu supposedly told Timmanayudu in a dream that a temple should be constructed for him. [4] [5] Timmanayudu appointed two archakas and a chief-priest, and he gifted lands to the temple. [6] The Chintalarayaswami Temple is considered as one of the finest examples of Vijayanagara architecture. [6]
Timmanayudu had three children: Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu II, Erra Timmanayudu (Pedda Timmanayudu), and Chinna Timmanayudu. All three brothers would become "famous" in Vijayanagara history. [7]
Kamma is a largely Hindu caste from South India. The community of Kammas is believed to have originated from agriculturists of the Kammanadu region of the erstwhile Guntur district and Ongole division in Andhra Pradesh. Propelled by their military activity in the Vijayanagara Empire, Kammas are believed to have spread out from the region during the Vijayanagara period, followed by some in-migration during the British period and out-migration again during the twentieth century. Today they are regarded as one of the richest groups in Andhra Pradesh and are a dominant caste from Coastal Andhra with socio-economic and political prominence throughout the Telugu-speaking regions of India.
Krishnadevaraya was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the greatest rulers in Indian history. He ruled the largest empire in India after the fall of the Islamic Delhi Sultanate. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians. Krishnadevaraya earned the titles Andhra Bhoja, Karnatakaratna Simhasanadeeshwara, Yavana Rajya Pratistapanacharya, Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana, Gaubrahmana Pratipalaka and Mooru Rayara Ganda. He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula by defeating the sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Gajapatis of Odisha, and was one of the most powerful Hindu rulers in India.
Rama Raya, popularly known as "Aliya" Rama Raya, was a statesman of the Vijayanagara Empire, the son-in-law of Emperor Krishna Deva Raya and the progenitor of the Aravidu dynasty of Vijayanagara Empire, the fourth and last dynasty of the empire. As a regent, he was the de facto ruler of the empire from 1542 to 1565, although legally the emperor during this period was Sadasiva Raya, who was merely a puppet ruler. Rama Raya was killed at the Battle of Talikota, after which the Vijayanagara Empire got fragmented into several semi-independent principalities paying only nominal allegiance to the empire.
Harihara II was an Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama Dynasty. He patronised the Kannada poet Madhura, a Jaina. An important work on the Vedas was completed during his time. He earned the titles Vaidikamarga Sthapanacharya and Vedamarga Pravartaka.
Kadapa district is one of the twenty six districts in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. In the 2022 reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh districts, the district boundary was largely restricted to the Kadapa parliamentary constituency area. It is one of the eight districts in the Rayalaseema region. Kadapa is the administrative headquarters for this district.
Gandikota is a village and historical fort on the right bank of the Penna river, 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The fort was the centre of power for various dynasties, such as the Kalyani Chalukyas, Pemmasani Nayakas, and the Golconda Sultanate. A sand fort was constructed by Kaka Raja, Vassals of Kalyani Chalukya rulers. Various additions of Islamic architecture were made during subsequent Muslim rule. The fort is a centrally protected monument of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Tadipatri is a city in Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh at the border of Nandyala district and Kadapa district. It is a Selection Grade Municipality City Council. Tadipatri is a headquarters of Tadipatri mandal in Anantapur revenue division. The Chintala Venkataramana Temple is located on a five-acre site in Tadipatri. The Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple is located one kilometer from the city, overlooking the Penna River.
The origin of the Vijayanagara Empire is a controversial topic in South Indian history, with regard to the linguistic affiliation of the founding dynasty, the Sangama family. The Vijayanagara Empire rose to power in southern India in the 14th century CE. Over the past decades historians have expressed differing opinions on whether the empire's founders, Harihara I and Bukka I, were of Kannada people or Telugu origin. There are various opinions about role of the Vidyaranya, the Hindu saint and guru of Harihara I and Bukka I in the founding of the Vijayanagara empire.
Pemmasani Kamma Nayaks were a ruling clan in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They came into prominence during Vijayanagara Empire. After the Battle of Talikota in 1565 AD, the collapse of Vijayanagara Empire led to the emergence of Pemmasani Nayakas in the Rayalaseema region. They belonged to the Kamma social group.
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu was a hereditary King of Chintapalli, later Amaravathi, in the Palnadu district of India, under the British East India Company. He had under his control 552 villages and towns located in Guntur and Krishna districts and their environs. Peeved by the perceived mistreatment by the East India Company, he abandoned his hereditary palace at Chintapalli and built a new palace and town at Amaravathi, the site of the ancient Satavahana capital. In the process of its construction, his workers unearthed the famous Amaravati Stupa as well as causing considerable damage to it.
Pemmasani Timmanayudu I, also known as Thimma Nayudu, was the progenitor of the Pemmasani Nayaks, as per the kaifiyat of Tadipatri. The Pemmasani migrated from Telugu regions to serve the Vijayanagara Empire militarily.
Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu was an army commander of a Vijayanagara military unit. An inscription dated to 1544 CE, which was found in Tallaproddatu, states that Pemmasani Ramalinga enjoyed the nayankara of the village. Phillip B. Wagoner who analysed 17th century Telugu text Rayavachakamu noted that it is not known whether Ramalinga Nayudu served Krishnadeva Raya or some later ruler.
The Nayaks of Gingee (Senji) were Telugu rulers of the Gingee principality of Tamil Nadu between 16th to 18th century CE. The Gingee Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh. They were subordinates of the imperial Vijayanagara emperors, and were appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagar Emperor who divided the Tamil country into three Nayakships viz., Madurai, Tanjore and Gingee. Later, after the fall of the Vijayanagara's Tuluva dynasty, the Gingee rulers declared independence. While they ruled independently, they were sometimes at war with the Tanjore neighbors and the Vijayanagara overlords later based in Vellore and Chandragiri. Gingee ruler Surappa nayaka had a brother called Era Krishnappa Nayak whose son established himself in Karnataka and his family came to be known afterwards as the Belur Nayakas.
Chandragiri Fort is an historical fort located in the Chandragiri suburb of Tirupati. It is situated in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is mostly associated with the Vijayanagara Emperors. In 1460 CE Odra Gajapati Kapilendra Dev captured the Chandragiri Fort.
Damarla Chennapa Nayaka was a Nayaka ruler of Kalahasti and Vandavasi under the suzerainty of Vijayanagar emperor Venkatapati Raya. He was also the Dalavoy or the Commander-in-Chief of the emperor.
Tondaimandalam, also known as Tondai Nadu, is a historical region located in the northernmost part of Tamil Nadu and southernmost part of Andhra Pradesh. The region comprises the districts which formed a part of the legendary kingdom of Athondai Chakravarti. The boundaries of Tondaimandalam are ambiguous – between the river basins of Penna River and Ponnaiyar River. During the reign of Rajaraja I, this region was called as Jayankonda Cholamandalam.
Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is a Siva shrine situated on the southern bank of the Penna river in Tadipatri, Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was built between 1490 and 1509 by Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu I, a chieftain of the Gutti-Gandikota region during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Chintalarayaswamy Temple or Sri Chintala Venkataramana Temple is a Hindu Vaishnavite temple situated at Tadipatri, a town in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is referred to as Chintala Venkataramana. The temple was built by Pemmasani Timmanayudu II of the Pemmasani Nayaks. It is situated on the bank of the Penna River, which passes through the town. The temple has granite sculptures and is classified as one of the Monuments of National Importance by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The temple has a Garuda Mandapa built as chariot with rotating granite wheels, which is similar to the one found in the Vithala Temple of Hampi.
Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu I was a member of the Pemmasani Nayak clan in the 15th century Vijayanagara Empire in southern India. He developed the hamlet of Tallapalle, renaming it to Tadipatri upon orders of the Vijayanagara emperor. He built a fort in the town and the Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple. Another temple to Obaleswara in Kurnool District is also attributed to him.
Pemmasani Erra Timmanayudu, also known as Pedda Timmanayudu or Yara Timmanayudu, was a member of the Pemmasani Nayaks in the 16th century Vijayanagara Empire in South India. He is credited for the rise of Rama Raya to the throne of Vijayanagara, and he was the commandant of the Gandikota Fort. His brother was the notable Commander Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu.