WRITTEN By London Swaminathan

swami_48@yahoo.com

Date: 14 DECEMBER 2019

 Time in London – 14-23

Post No. 7341

Pictures are taken from various sources; beware of copyright rules; don’t use them without permission; this is a non- commercial, educational blog; posted in swamiindology.blogspot.com and tamilandvedas.com simultaneously. Average hits per day for both the blogs 12,000

Two Tamil kings used elephant garlanding to win the kingdoms. When elephants garlanded the strangers in the crowd, Karikal Choza and Murthi Nayanar became kings according to legends. In Andhra Pradesh a cock fight was used to decide the Ruler.

The story of Telugu heroine Naayakuraalu is celebrated in song and legend. As an infant she was abandoned by her parents and was discovered and cared by others. One farmer bought her and named her Naagammaa. She married a rich man and on his death inherited a vast fortune.  She succeeded in winning the favour of Anuguraja, a Haihaya prince, who ruled over the small principality of Palnad. He had received that as a wedding present. He ruled in the 12^th century.the chief had three wives and several sons.

The growing influence of Nayakuralu in the court was resented by the minister Dodda and he resigned his office in favour of his son Brahma. Brahma soon brough about the assassination of the chief.  

Nayakuralus influence continued in the reign of net chief Nalagama and she was practically the ruler the minister Brahma persuaded the chief to partition the country. Mallideva , one of the half brothers of the chief , established his rule at Macherla. Brahma became his minister. Other brothers of the chief also lived with Mallideva.

Nayukarulu did not like the division of the country. She challenged Mallideva and Brahma to a cock fight, the wager being that the defeated party should surrender all territory to the victor and live in the forest for seven years. In the contest Brahma’s cock was killed and he along with his master and his half brother retired to the forests in Nallagonda.

Harassed constantly by the agents of Nayakuralu , their life in exile was miserable. On the expiry of seven years , they returned and demanded the restoration of their territory. But Nayakuralu refused.  In the fight that ensued , Nayakuralu donned the armour and fought  at the head of her army, but was defeated and captured. The battle was a bloody one and all the half brothers of Nalagama perished. Brahma generously restored the whole kingdom to Nalagama.

The battle she fought was known as Palnati Yuddham. Two films were taken based on this battle that happened approximately 1000 years ago. Now there is a statue for Nagamma in Dachepal in in Palnadu area of Guntur District.

Nayakuralu had a talent for intrigue and organisation, and her life of adventure was cast in a heroic mould.

Source book – Great Women of India, Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Year 1953

Tags- Nayakuralu, Nagamma, Palnadu, Cock fight, Palnati Yudhdham

–subham–