Pedda Koneti Nayak was a governor of Penukonda under the Vijayanagar Empire who later proclaimed his independence and founded the Penukonda Nayak kingdom. He reigned from 1635 to 1652.He ruled Penukonda, Rayadurgam and Kundurpi Forts.[1]
Ancestry and personal life
editHe was the son of Kasturi Nayaka and his grand father Akkapa Nayak had enjoyed high favour with the fallen kings of Vijayanagar who were ruling at Chandragiri. He hailed from the Vasarasi family of Balija caste.[2] He married uddlamba, the daughter of Vijayanagara king Peda Venkata Raya.[3]
Reign
editKoneti Nayaka impressed Venkata III with his valour and obtained Penugonda as a Chief.[4] Some years afterwards the Bijapur king took Penukonda, but left Pedda Koneti Nayak in possession of Kundurpi Drug on condition that he paid tribute and rendered military service. Koneti Nayak, then, turned out Bommalla, its tyrannical ruler and established his supremacy over it and reigned at Rayadurgam in his stead.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Rangachar Vasantha, ed. (2000). Penugonda Fort: A Defence Capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Vol. 1. Sharada Publishing House. p. 74. ISBN 9788185616681.
- ^ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, ed. (1946). Further Sources of Vijayanagara History. University of Madras. p. 302.
A description of the way in which Venkatapatiraya of Raya-Veluru granted the government of Penugonda to the Raya-dalavayi Pedakoneti Nayadu. On Sravana ba. 10 of Yuva of 146 years ago corresponding to S. S. 1558, (the Raya) granted the government of Penugonda to Koneti Nayadu, the son. of Kastuiri Nayadu, the son of Akkapa Nayadu, who was the son of Canca(ma) Nayadu of Candragiri, a member of the Vasarasi family of the Balija caste. The ayakat of the territories of Rajaraja Sri Raya-dalavayi who ruled the forts of Penugonda, Kundurpi, Rayadurgam..... great prosperity.
- ^ V.R. Acarya, ed. (1954). Sri Prasanna Venkatesvara Vilasamu. Bulletin of the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Madras. p. 49.
The above said Peda Kōnēti Nṛpati ( Nayak ) First , king of Penukonda . ( 1635 A.D. ) then of Kundurti ( 1652 A.D. ) and of Rayadurga ( 1661 A.D. ) was a Balija by caste , having the surname Vānarāsi . His father Kastūri Nāyak and grand father bencama Nayak had enjoyed high favour with the fallen kings of Vijayanagar who were ruling at Chandragiri. Kōnēti Nayak himself had married the daughter of ( apparently the fruit of left handed marriage ) Āraviti Vīra Venkatapati Rāyalu of Vijayanagar family.
- ^ M. H. Rāma Sharma, ed. (1978). The History of the Vijayanagar Empire: Decline and disappearance, 1569-1679. Vol. 1. Popular Prakashan. p. 287.