Kakatiyas - Identity and Early History
Many inscriptions and literary works reveal some information on the identity and early history of the Kakatiyas, and this information led to two different types of opinion among the historians. In the Eastern Chalukyan king Danarnava's Magallu inscription (A.D.956), for the first time Kakartya Gundyana and his preceding three generations are mentioned. Some historians argued that he is the founder of the Kakatiya dynasty. There is no unanimity on the birth place of the Kakatiyas. According to some historians, Kakatipuram village was their early home and with that they got the name Kakatiya, however some historians opposed this version. As per the second group, the Kakatiyas worshipped 'Kakati', the local mother goddess (Jain Goddess), and hence they got the name.
Kumaraswamy Somapeethi, the commentator on the Prataparudriyaya of Vidyanatha, who lived in the 15th century mentioned that because they worshipped Kakati goddess, one of the forms of goddess Durga, they got the name Kakatiyas ('Kakatiyas', p.29). The author of Kridhabhiramam, Vinukonda Vallabharaya, in his work mentioned the idol of Kakati goddess (Kridhabhiramam poem no.128). Sitabkhan's inscription of the 16th century (IAP Wgp296 Vol II 132-136), mentions that Sitabkhan reinstated the idol of Kakati in the Warangal fort, when the idol was destroyed by the army of Delhi Sultans. Though Kakati is not mentioned in the Hindu puranas as one of the forms of Goddess Durga, but many of the village goddesses were accepted as the forms of Durga, hence Kakati was considered as one of the forms of Durga, and she is worshipped along with Ekaveera, a village goddess.
Kakatiyas as Feudatories
Historians describe the early members of the family as feudatory Kakatiyas. Among them first was Kakartya Gundyana, whose name is mentioned for the first time in the Danarnava's Magallu inscription. Starting from Kakartya Gundyana to Rudra I or Rudradeva, that means from A.D. 956 to A.D. 1162, and the rulers of the areas of present Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam, were known as Feudatory Kakatiyas. Among them Kakartya Gundyana, Rastrakuta, Eriya Rastrakuta, Betaraja I (A.D.995-1052), Prolaraja I (A.D.1052-1076), Betaraja II (A.D.1076-1108), Prolaraja II (A.D.1116-1157), Rudradeva (A.D.1158-1162) are important. In this the last ruler Rudra's rule from A.D.1158-1162 is considered as Feudatory phase and from A.D. 1163-1195 is considered as independent Sovereign Kakatiya rule.
Kakartya Gundyana played a crucial role in the conquest of Bezawada fort under the Rastrakuta Krishna II, but lost his life in the Peruvangooru battle with the Vengi Chalukyas. Impressed by the faithfulness and courage of his feudatory, Rastrakuta emperor appointed Kakartya Gundyana's son Eriya as the administrator of Kurivadi (Warangal) seema, which was ruled by the Mudigonda Chalukyas. The Rastrakutas aimed to get their dominance over the area between the Vengi Chalukyan and the Rastrakutas, for this they kept the Mudigonda Chalukyas under their control. After the appointment of Eriya Rastrakuta as the administrator of Kurivadiseema, the rule and the relations with the people of Telangana by the Kakatiyas started for the first time.
Betaraja I
When Kakartya Gundyana died, Betal was a small child, and the responsibility of protecting the kingdom fell on his maternal aunt Kamasani and her husband, Veeriyala Errabhupati. Errabhupati reinstated Betal in Kakatipuram after defeating Betal's enemies in fierce battle and saved the throne, and expanded the rule of Betal to Koraviseema. Veeriyala ErraBhupati's death gave the enemies of Betal one more chance to finish him off. Expecting the danger from the attack by the Vengi Chalukya, Kamasani advised Beta to accept the Kalyana Chalukya king as his overlord. As a feudatory of Kalyana Chalukyas, with their help Betal was prepared to face the attack from the Vengi rulers. Betal had the title "Kakatipuradhinatha".
Prolaraja I (A.D.1050-1075)
Prolaraja I was the son of Betaraja I. The Khajipeta, Pillalamarri, and Palampeta inscriptions inform his great achievements. He had set right the chakrakuta, conquered the Konkana Mandala, killed Gonaaraja of Purukuta, and defeated the Bhadranagapuradeeshvara. Appreciating his achievements, Kalyana Chalukya Someshvara I appointed him as feudatory ruler of Anumakonda Vishaya, with hereditary rights. Though Anumakonda was under his rule, recognition from the overlord enhanced the status of Prola I.
Prolaraja I's majority victories are related to the battles of his overlord. According to Bilhana's Vikramankadeva charitra, Someshvara I sent an army to conquer the Chola kingdom under the leadership of his son Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya's army conquered Konkan, moved through Kerala and Pandya kingdoms and reached Gangaikondapuram, and occupying Gangaikondapuram reached Kanchipuram and occupied it. From there the army moved to Vengi and reached Chakrakuta. Prola I fought Konkana, Gangaikonda, and Kanchi wars along with the king moving to Chakrakuta handed over it to his overlord. He defeated its ruler Bhadrangapura located on the banks of Indravati River, and killed the Purakuta king in the battle. All these wars are related to the conquests of Kalyana Chalukyas. Later he defeated the Kodavarti Duggaraju (ruling near Warangal) and occupied it.
Betaraja II (A.D.1075-1108)
After the death of Prolaraja I, his son Betaraja II ascended the throne. His Anumakonda inscription (A.D. 1070-80) does not mention his title "Tribhuvanamalla", whereas his Khajipeta inscription of A.D.1090 mentions this title with another one "Vikramachakriya". Nelaturi Venkata Ramanayya explains that in the internal war between Kalyana Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI and his brother Someshvara II, Vikramaditya took action on Beta II and put him in a dangerous situation, finally Beta II surrendered to Vikramaditya, then Vikramaditya VI gave him Sabbi sayera mandala. But this argument of Venkataramanayya was not acceptable to many historians.
During this period there was a fierce enmity between the Chola Chalukyas and Kalyana Chalukyas, and to occupy Vengi Vikramaditya might have sought the help of Kakatiya Betaraja. In helping and conquering Vengi Betaraja's minister Vaizadandanatha played an important role. Feeling happy over this king Vikramaditya VI handed over Sabbi Mandala to Betaraja which enhanced his respect. Betaraja took the titles like Mahamandaleshvara, Tribhubanamalla, Vikramachakri etc. His spiritual Master (guru) was Rameshwara Deekshitha. As per available sources, in A.D. 1108 when Beta II died his son Durgnrupati ascended the throne.
Prolaraja II (A.D. 1115-1157)
He was the strongest ruler among the feudatory Kakatiyas, ruled from A.D. 1115 to 1157, ascending the throne after his brother Durgaraju. Immediately after ascending the throne, he defeated the feudatory rulers of Kalyana Chalukyas in the wars, who were on the border with his kingdom, and this fact is supported by his son Rudradeva's famous thousand pillar temple inscription at Anumakonda. Paramara Jaggadeva, ruler of Kolanupaka was defeated by Prolaraja II. In A.D. 1137 Kalyana Chalukyan king Jagadekamalla II, who was the friend of Prolaraja II, and both their armies together attacked the army of Kanduri Chodas and defeated Tailapa, who had earlier defeated Bheema Choda and killed him. He marched his army up to Srisailam and erected the pillar of victory.
During his period, friction developed between the Polavasa lords and Kakatiyas, though both of them were the feudatories of the Kalyana Chalukyas. Whenever there were family feuds over inheritance, both took the opposite side, and sometimes took the same side. Prolaraja made war with Rajendra Chola. In Telangana Prolaraja II was successful in putting a stop to the importance of the Kalyana Chalukyas and made the Kakatiyas a strong force. In the last Prolaraja II was killed by the enemy forces and was succeeded to the throne by his son Rudradeva, who ascended the throne in A.D.1158, remained as feudatory until A.D.1162 and declared independence.
Quick Review
- Magallu inscription (A.D. 956) - first mention of Kakartya Gundyana
- Name from Kakatipuram village OR goddess 'Kakati'
- Kakati = local mother goddess, form of Durga
- Worshipped with village goddess Ekaveera
- Under Rashtrakutas, then Kalyana Chalukyas
- Ruled Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam areas
- Eriya Rastrakuta - first administrator of Kurivadiseema
- Independent rule begins A.D. 1163
- Kakartya Gundyana - founder figure
- Betaraja I - title 'Kakatipuradhinatha'
- Prolaraja I - got Anumakonda Vishaya
- Betaraja II - got Sabbi Mandala
- Prolaraja II - strongest feudatory ruler
- Defeated Paramara Jaggadeva of Kolanupaka
- Allied with Jagadekamalla II (A.D. 1137)
- Marched to Srisailam, erected victory pillar
- War with Rajendra Chola
- Killed in battle, succeeded by Rudradeva
Telangana History & Culture - Kakatiya dynasty overview
