VELAMAS:
The Velamas are one of the ancient feudal communities in Andhra Pradesh controlling land and ruling large areas of andhra for several centuries. There are several ancient velama forts, castles and estates still extant in various parts of Andhra pradesh state, even neighbouring Tamilnadu. Among the famous principalities or "estates" ones are Devarakonda, Rajakonda, Pithapuram, Kollapur. (They are not interested in making hotels out of them, but interested visitors can take a look if the owners are in residence).
There are a few books like Velugodu kings history, accounts of Devarkonda, some details of Velama activity during kakatiya times, then during the Bahamani times. They clashed with the Reddis (regularly) and then had friendly dealings with the Orissa gajapatis and the Bahamanis, but fell afoul of the Vijayanagar empire and suffered a setback. But residual influence of velamas is noted in Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Pithapuram, etc.
While "roots" are conventionally traced to similar sounding Vellalas of Tamilnadu it is unlikely. More likely they might be traced to "lance wielders" (velam --lance) of some ancient army, even Pallavas and Satavahanas. The Pallavas are found as soldiers of the satavahanas initially and then in Guntur-Nellore area. Later they are found in north Tamilnadu area with Kanchipuram as capital. (a section of the land controlling Vellalas also are found later in North Tamilnadu there could be a link, as suggested by a reader, but we have no information. Please send if you have any concrete info about this connection. )
From the surnames there could be a connection to the medieval Gujarat-Rajasthan : needs detailed research.
According to a velamadora friend, among the Velamas today, there are two different physical types commonly seen--the fairer irani-- central asian looking type, and the darker tall well built and wiry type. (ed.--but this is basically amateur anthroplogy not to be taken very seriously : however there are some resemblances to the latter "type" in old paintings, so I've posted it here for people to evaluate)
Famous people
Singa Bhoopala of Rajkonda (nalgonda district) was a patron of art and literature and learned people adorned his court. Even the well known poet Srinatha, acclaimed all over south India of the 15th century, gulped when he was about to enter the gate of Rajakonda...this king was supposedly himself a scholar and not just a thug. There are many anecdotes of the Velama kings. They were said also to be a bit fanatic and extremist when it came to warfare.( but apparently that is exactly the required attitude according to a retired colonel I met.)
Legendary rivalry:
The Velamas were initially not enemies of the Reddis and both got along fine as feudatories of the Kakatiyas. Then in the jockeying for power, especially during the last phase of the Kakatiya kingdom, the professional rivalry went to extremes: the padmanayakas were favourites of the King. General Bobbareddy decided to show the King who exactly were the valourous and important fighters. He decided to wait till the Velama contigent got mauled, and then jump in to save the Velamas as well as the King. Unfortunately his timing was not good and both got beaten soundly. Since then the Velama Barons always saw red and blamed the Reddys for the kakatiya downfall. And whenever they got a chance it is said they took great pleasure in giving trouble to their neighbouring Reddy lords. After kakatiyas' downfall the velamas founded their independent states, the large one being Rajakonda and later Devarakonda (similarly Reddi kingdoms like Kondaveedu and Rajahmundry were founded). There are several famous Velama estates like Pithapuram and Jatprole ( kollapur).
Now the Reddis accuse the Velamas of sucking up to the Bahamanis to keep their state intact, and instead, indulge in attacking the Reddy kingdoms at every opportunity. The Velamas say if not for General Bobba reddy's extra-cleverness during the battle with delhi sultan army, kakatiyas would be intact at least till the British.
There is one more defence of the Velamas: Kaapaya Nayaka of Warangal, who successfully ejected the sultan's viceroy and was elected King, made a deal with the fledgling Bahmani state of Allaudin Hasan Gangu Bahmani. ( --it seems likely when Sultan Hasan was furnished with grand earth shattering titles for himself and names for his kingdom, he stubbornly insisted he was merely Hasan Gangu Bahmani, and his kingdom be named in memory of one Gangu brahman. He remembered his childhood, Gangu brahman's kindness looking after the orphan Hasan.)
Kapaya Nayaka of warangal made more deals with the Bahmani state at the expense of Velama controlled territory which was on the border. The Velamas were furious, so they made their OWN separate deal with the bahmanis, killed Kapaya nayaka and occupied Warangal as well. They constantly attacked the Reddy kingdoms, too. (These things happened long ago and are just legendary memories now, of course, but the rivalry is proverbial and is said to flare up every three -four hundred years). Finally the huge empires of Vijayanagar and the Orissa Gajapatis clashed, and the buffer states of independent Rajkonda and Devarkonda ceased to exist.
The Velamas had to join the imperial service of Vijayanagar as military contingents and regional governors --but posted far away from their old areas as a precaution. Many Velamas thus settled in Tamilnadu and elsewhere: their contingents included other communities also, and they proudly recalled the legends of their ancestral homes of Recherla, Rachakonda and Devarakonda. One reader suggested, the Tamil Vellalas include a Velama section. I have no information on this, but it sounds likely.
The Velamas are numerically small but well organised, for instance the AP Velama Association at Himayatnagar, Hyderabad. They even have a magazine called Velama Vyjayanti.
Palnadu Regions- Palnati Brahma Naidu
Palnadu region is located in current Guntur District, with Krishna river forming its western as well as northern borders, in Andhra Pradesh (Close by and east of Nagarjunasagar / Deverakonda region of Nalgonda dist).
During the said period, some six Velama women are said to have commited 'Sati' by jumping into the funeral fire after the death of their warrior husbands in the battle to capture one Arangetla fort from rival forces in Palnadu region.
'PALNATI' RECHERLA BRAHMA NAYUDU, a valiant fighter, both his father Dodda Nayudu and later he himself were appointed and served as ministers for the then ruling Raju clans in Palnadu area like Alugu Raju. He has strived for progressive and egalitarian ideals in medieval times, ruled as a minister on behalf of minor sons of Alugu Raju from Macherla, a town in Palnadu region close to Guntur - Nalgonda district border.
Brahmanna, as he is popularly called is a staunch Vaishnavite and a devotee of Chennakesava. He was responsible for construction of Chennakeshava Swami temple in Macherla town which is popular even today among the people there.
Brahmanna is said to have adopted a son, a brave warrior called Kannamma, a Mala by caste, as he was childless for a long time.
Peddanna Bada Raju, brave warrior, son of Dodda Nayudu (then minister of Alugu Raju) and elder brother of Brahma Naidu, a velama by birth but given in adoption to then ruler Alugu Raju, and brought up as a Raju by his foster father. He later on said to have married a Raju girl, upsetting his Raju in-laws and their relatives who were not aware of his original caste, come together, decide and vow to kill him at any cost. But Peddanna is said to have defeated single handedly nearly more than one hundred such warriors.
The deceitful infamous 'Nayakuralu' Nagamma, a widow, is the minister for then rulers (Nalagama Raju and Narsinga Raju etc) of Gurajala , a small town in Palnadu region.
Brahmanna along with his troops lives in exile for six and half years after loosing Macherla to Nagamma in a cock fight. He is said to have lived first three years of his exile period along with his brothers and other warriors in and around Deverakonda region of Nalgonda district and said to have established a town called 'Mandadi' there. His two brothers are said to have founded two other towns in the region. Nagamma said to have sent some fierce Boya warriors from Palnadu region to set the new town Mandadi on fire but they failed to carry out her orders. Brahmanna decided to move from there and lived the the next three and half years of his exile period just south of his original Palnadu region border in Guntur district in a village called 'Medapi'.
Brahmanna's sister, Chellamma, is said to have married into a Raju family of Kalyan descent and her son Alla Racha Mallu, a Raju, was later on sent as a peace missionary for negotiations between Brahmanna and Nagamma. He is said to have secretely food poisoned to death by Nagamma and said to have never returned back.
Battle of Palnadu - (1182) at Karempudi village, in Palnadu region, between the former rulers of Macherla and then rulers of Gurajala of Palnadu region at the end of exile period by Brahmanna and failure of peace negotiations and unexpected death of his nephew, Alla Racha Mallu, at the hands of Nagamma. 'Palanati' Recherla Balachendrhrudu (Kaliyuga abhimanyu), son of Brahma Nayudu born after Brahmanna being childless for a long time, fought the Palnadu Battle ferociously and died at a very young age. His wife is said to have attempted to commit 'Sati' but did not succeed.The Battle of Palnadu is remembered and propagated through 'Burra Katha' even today by the people of Palnadu region, and through an annual gathering at the battlefield in Karempudi village to pay respect to warriors
During the said period, some six Velama women are said to have commited 'Sati' by jumping into the funeral fire after the death of their warrior husbands in the battle to capture one Arangetla fort from rival forces in Palnadu region.
'PALNATI' RECHERLA BRAHMA NAYUDU, a valiant fighter, both his father Dodda Nayudu and later he himself were appointed and served as ministers for the then ruling Raju clans in Palnadu area like Alugu Raju. He has strived for progressive and egalitarian ideals in medieval times, ruled as a minister on behalf of minor sons of Alugu Raju from Macherla, a town in Palnadu region close to Guntur - Nalgonda district border.
Brahmanna, as he is popularly called is a staunch Vaishnavite and a devotee of Chennakesava. He was responsible for construction of Chennakeshava Swami temple in Macherla town which is popular even today among the people there.
Brahmanna is said to have adopted a son, a brave warrior called Kannamma, a Mala by caste, as he was childless for a long time.
Peddanna Bada Raju, brave warrior, son of Dodda Nayudu (then minister of Alugu Raju) and elder brother of Brahma Naidu, a velama by birth but given in adoption to then ruler Alugu Raju, and brought up as a Raju by his foster father. He later on said to have married a Raju girl, upsetting his Raju in-laws and their relatives who were not aware of his original caste, come together, decide and vow to kill him at any cost. But Peddanna is said to have defeated single handedly nearly more than one hundred such warriors.
The deceitful infamous 'Nayakuralu' Nagamma, a widow, is the minister for then rulers (Nalagama Raju and Narsinga Raju etc) of Gurajala , a small town in Palnadu region.
Brahmanna along with his troops lives in exile for six and half years after loosing Macherla to Nagamma in a cock fight. He is said to have lived first three years of his exile period along with his brothers and other warriors in and around Deverakonda region of Nalgonda district and said to have established a town called 'Mandadi' there. His two brothers are said to have founded two other towns in the region. Nagamma said to have sent some fierce Boya warriors from Palnadu region to set the new town Mandadi on fire but they failed to carry out her orders. Brahmanna decided to move from there and lived the the next three and half years of his exile period just south of his original Palnadu region border in Guntur district in a village called 'Medapi'.
Brahmanna's sister, Chellamma, is said to have married into a Raju family of Kalyan descent and her son Alla Racha Mallu, a Raju, was later on sent as a peace missionary for negotiations between Brahmanna and Nagamma. He is said to have secretely food poisoned to death by Nagamma and said to have never returned back.
Battle of Palnadu - (1182) at Karempudi village, in Palnadu region, between the former rulers of Macherla and then rulers of Gurajala of Palnadu region at the end of exile period by Brahmanna and failure of peace negotiations and unexpected death of his nephew, Alla Racha Mallu, at the hands of Nagamma. 'Palanati' Recherla Balachendrhrudu (Kaliyuga abhimanyu), son of Brahma Nayudu born after Brahmanna being childless for a long time, fought the Palnadu Battle ferociously and died at a very young age. His wife is said to have attempted to commit 'Sati' but did not succeed.The Battle of Palnadu is remembered and propagated through 'Burra Katha' even today by the people of Palnadu region, and through an annual gathering at the battlefield in Karempudi village to pay respect to warriors
Velama Origin from differnt linguists and Historians
Origin of Velamas
There are four conflicting theories as to the origin of the community.Many believe Velamas migrated from Bihar when they were banished by Chanakya for supporting the Nanda dynasty.Some linguists trace the root of the word Velama to similar sounding Vellalars of Tamil Nadu and assume they are Vellala soldiers and administrators who followed in the footsteps of the Chola expansion to Andhra. The Andhra branch known as Velanati or Velanadu (Tamil/Telugu) Cholas who are also known as Telugu Cholas could have been instrumental in the genesis of the Velama community in AndhraIt is believed that Velamas belong to one of the Original Aryan races of north India who migrated to south India during Chanakya times.But it is also possible that Velama and Vellala are derived from lance wielders where Vel in Tamil stands for a lance. Hence, they could be an indigenous group directly derived from a Neolithic agrarian community.It is possible that they were simply lance wielding soldiers of one of the many local Kingdoms such as Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas or Cholas who came to dominate the land through their service to the kingsIt is also believed that Velamas came from Bengal area. Even today, Velama brides wear saris in the Bengali style. During the wedding the Velama concept of having a mango twig over the heads of the bride and groom is also unique to the Bengali culture. It is believed that a ship load of people from Bengal got shipwrecked in the Bay of Bengal and two groups of survivors managed to reach two points on the Coromandel Coast.
The first one was headed by a person called Adanna and therefore came to be called Adi Velamas and the second group was headed by Padmanna and therefore called Padma Velamas. Also, these new people were good at counting and arithmatic and attracted local landlords and kings to hire them as accountants.The History of Padmanayaka Velamas only is known through various ancient scriptures and ballads.The Padmanayaka Velamas seem to be a different caste altogether based on their physical features and war-like build besides the customs and traditions pointing towards a warrior origin.
There are four conflicting theories as to the origin of the community.Many believe Velamas migrated from Bihar when they were banished by Chanakya for supporting the Nanda dynasty.Some linguists trace the root of the word Velama to similar sounding Vellalars of Tamil Nadu and assume they are Vellala soldiers and administrators who followed in the footsteps of the Chola expansion to Andhra. The Andhra branch known as Velanati or Velanadu (Tamil/Telugu) Cholas who are also known as Telugu Cholas could have been instrumental in the genesis of the Velama community in AndhraIt is believed that Velamas belong to one of the Original Aryan races of north India who migrated to south India during Chanakya times.But it is also possible that Velama and Vellala are derived from lance wielders where Vel in Tamil stands for a lance. Hence, they could be an indigenous group directly derived from a Neolithic agrarian community.It is possible that they were simply lance wielding soldiers of one of the many local Kingdoms such as Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas or Cholas who came to dominate the land through their service to the kingsIt is also believed that Velamas came from Bengal area. Even today, Velama brides wear saris in the Bengali style. During the wedding the Velama concept of having a mango twig over the heads of the bride and groom is also unique to the Bengali culture. It is believed that a ship load of people from Bengal got shipwrecked in the Bay of Bengal and two groups of survivors managed to reach two points on the Coromandel Coast.
The first one was headed by a person called Adanna and therefore came to be called Adi Velamas and the second group was headed by Padmanna and therefore called Padma Velamas. Also, these new people were good at counting and arithmatic and attracted local landlords and kings to hire them as accountants.The History of Padmanayaka Velamas only is known through various ancient scriptures and ballads.The Padmanayaka Velamas seem to be a different caste altogether based on their physical features and war-like build besides the customs and traditions pointing towards a warrior origin.
Velama History- RECHARLA SINGAMABHUPALUDU
Hey friends, this blog was named after our cast history, i dont know how many of us knows historical leaders of our cast. if v asks, everybody says THANDRA PAPARAYUDU, BRAHMANAIDU OR BALACHANDRUDU, but very few knows about RECHARLA SINGAMABHUPALUDU. Here iam taking chance to explain the velama legendery during 14th century.
We all knows kakatiya kingdom has ruled the andhra during 14th century, they ruled not only andhra but also some part of Karnataka. RECHARLA SINGAMABHUPALA (he was the first velama king, estabilished rachakonda kingdom in present Nalgonda district) was the supreme commander and commander in chief for kakateeya kingdom. During that time muslims are trying to occupy south india, they occupy whole north india and a part of south india. Muslims taken the help of Allauddin khilgi to conquer orugallu as their third attempt, but they wont take single step forwrd to occupy Orugallu, because of SINGAMABHUPALA, he leaded the kakateeya army and defeat the allauddin at bheemaram (Presently Bheemavaram near by warangal). King prataparudra called him as Kaliyuga dronacharya, kaakateeya rajya samrakshaka.
There are 3 wars happen between velama kings and kshatriyas, those are bobbili war, palanadu war and jallipalli war. i hope everybody knows first two wars, but i dont know, how many of u guys knows the Jallipalli war.
Here i want to share some information about Jallipally war. During the end of 14th century, there are around 4 kingdoms and more than 50 sansthanas for velama kings, that makes Kshatriya kings reddy kings jealous. Kshatriyas and reddys join hands together to defeat Velama kings, they know very well that, they cant fight with velamas alone. They thought that if they kills the singamabhupala, who is cosidered as a adinayakudu ( not a chiranjeevis movie) by tht time, all velamas going to bow them.
Singamabhupala has two sons, those are ANAPHOTHA NAYUDU and MADAVA NAIDU, those two known for bravery.
Kshatriyas attacked velama kingdom by the time Anaphota naidu and madava naidu went to kalinga. They killed singamanayudu( not singama bhoopaludu), who is the king of chintapalli. singamanayudu is the brother-in-lah of singamabhupaludu.
Singamabhoopaludu called all velama kings and made them ready for war. Kshatreeyas planned to kill the singamabhupala un ethically by calling him for talks, but no king or reddy is ready to kill singamabhupala un ehically, because all those are students of singamabhupala once upon a time.
Poosapati Madhava varma, who is the king of Vijayawada by that time, leading the war on kshatriyas side. He sent his childhood friend (king of Srisailam) thambolla brahmaji to singamabhupala for peaceful talk, but that brahmaji stabbed the singamabhoopala, while he was sleeping in midnight.
All velama kings got angry and they cant digest the death of simgamabhupala, who brings glory to velama cast and who makes velamas, the kings.this news has reached to the sons of Singamabhupala, they came back from Kalinga immediatly. Singamabhupala has taken promise from his sons to kill all Kshatriya kings.
On 7th day of Singamabhupala's death ceremony, all velama kings are promised to kill kshatriyas. And the day for JALLIPALLI WAR came, on that day all velamas prayed SURYA DEVA ( god of Padmanayaka velamas) and BETHALA (guardian of velama caste) and attacked the JALLIPALLI FORT. All velama army made a slogan of "Hara Hara mahadeva' and went to war. Kshatriyas and reddys have the army of around 60000, but velamas alone have 40000 army. But velamas has strong Elephant army, that no body have in india during those days.
War has started. Kshatriyas fighting is for victory, but velamas fighting is for Revenge against the death of singamabhupala. Anaphotha nayudu killed the commender of kshatriyas kondamalraju and datached his head from his body and he pierced the head with ballem and showed to velamas, that makes all kshatriyas scare.
Anaphtha nayudu killed all the main kings like pinnamaraju and myloore raju. Madava nayudu killed the obulu raju and chief of reddy kings "vinukonda maarareddy".
There is one war custom by velamas known as "Bomma kattu", as per that they will make a statue of opponent and they will tied it to their foot and they will tempt the opponent by dragging the statue on earth. All velama kings has followed this custom in jallipalli war.
Finally velamas killed all the kings and reddy opponents, only few are escaped, one of them is Poosapati madava varma( king of vijayawada), who is the primary reason for this war. he ran to gajapati kings and took a shelter there.
finally we won the war. But still velamas are not happy, they did paisachika pooja, that is really terrific called as "ranamukudupu". In midnight they went to war field and chanting all mantras of bhetala, bairava, shakini and daakini and invite all those kshudra shaktis by mixing food and blood in the skulls of their enemies, just think how they take revenge on opponents.
Here iam saying all these to know our legendery status in ancient days, now a days we seems like nothing, there is no unity at all. Here iam not criticizing any other cast people, but iam saying about my cast. if anybody feels bad about any thing just scarap me!! iam thankful to Sri Kotagiri buchinaayana and sri B.G. Naidu, from whom i learn all this velama history!!
Thank you!!
Ganesh Velama
We all knows kakatiya kingdom has ruled the andhra during 14th century, they ruled not only andhra but also some part of Karnataka. RECHARLA SINGAMABHUPALA (he was the first velama king, estabilished rachakonda kingdom in present Nalgonda district) was the supreme commander and commander in chief for kakateeya kingdom. During that time muslims are trying to occupy south india, they occupy whole north india and a part of south india. Muslims taken the help of Allauddin khilgi to conquer orugallu as their third attempt, but they wont take single step forwrd to occupy Orugallu, because of SINGAMABHUPALA, he leaded the kakateeya army and defeat the allauddin at bheemaram (Presently Bheemavaram near by warangal). King prataparudra called him as Kaliyuga dronacharya, kaakateeya rajya samrakshaka.
There are 3 wars happen between velama kings and kshatriyas, those are bobbili war, palanadu war and jallipalli war. i hope everybody knows first two wars, but i dont know, how many of u guys knows the Jallipalli war.
Here i want to share some information about Jallipally war. During the end of 14th century, there are around 4 kingdoms and more than 50 sansthanas for velama kings, that makes Kshatriya kings reddy kings jealous. Kshatriyas and reddys join hands together to defeat Velama kings, they know very well that, they cant fight with velamas alone. They thought that if they kills the singamabhupala, who is cosidered as a adinayakudu ( not a chiranjeevis movie) by tht time, all velamas going to bow them.
Singamabhupala has two sons, those are ANAPHOTHA NAYUDU and MADAVA NAIDU, those two known for bravery.
Kshatriyas attacked velama kingdom by the time Anaphota naidu and madava naidu went to kalinga. They killed singamanayudu( not singama bhoopaludu), who is the king of chintapalli. singamanayudu is the brother-in-lah of singamabhupaludu.
Singamabhoopaludu called all velama kings and made them ready for war. Kshatreeyas planned to kill the singamabhupala un ethically by calling him for talks, but no king or reddy is ready to kill singamabhupala un ehically, because all those are students of singamabhupala once upon a time.
Poosapati Madhava varma, who is the king of Vijayawada by that time, leading the war on kshatriyas side. He sent his childhood friend (king of Srisailam) thambolla brahmaji to singamabhupala for peaceful talk, but that brahmaji stabbed the singamabhoopala, while he was sleeping in midnight.
All velama kings got angry and they cant digest the death of simgamabhupala, who brings glory to velama cast and who makes velamas, the kings.this news has reached to the sons of Singamabhupala, they came back from Kalinga immediatly. Singamabhupala has taken promise from his sons to kill all Kshatriya kings.
On 7th day of Singamabhupala's death ceremony, all velama kings are promised to kill kshatriyas. And the day for JALLIPALLI WAR came, on that day all velamas prayed SURYA DEVA ( god of Padmanayaka velamas) and BETHALA (guardian of velama caste) and attacked the JALLIPALLI FORT. All velama army made a slogan of "Hara Hara mahadeva' and went to war. Kshatriyas and reddys have the army of around 60000, but velamas alone have 40000 army. But velamas has strong Elephant army, that no body have in india during those days.
War has started. Kshatriyas fighting is for victory, but velamas fighting is for Revenge against the death of singamabhupala. Anaphotha nayudu killed the commender of kshatriyas kondamalraju and datached his head from his body and he pierced the head with ballem and showed to velamas, that makes all kshatriyas scare.
Anaphtha nayudu killed all the main kings like pinnamaraju and myloore raju. Madava nayudu killed the obulu raju and chief of reddy kings "vinukonda maarareddy".
There is one war custom by velamas known as "Bomma kattu", as per that they will make a statue of opponent and they will tied it to their foot and they will tempt the opponent by dragging the statue on earth. All velama kings has followed this custom in jallipalli war.
Finally velamas killed all the kings and reddy opponents, only few are escaped, one of them is Poosapati madava varma( king of vijayawada), who is the primary reason for this war. he ran to gajapati kings and took a shelter there.
finally we won the war. But still velamas are not happy, they did paisachika pooja, that is really terrific called as "ranamukudupu". In midnight they went to war field and chanting all mantras of bhetala, bairava, shakini and daakini and invite all those kshudra shaktis by mixing food and blood in the skulls of their enemies, just think how they take revenge on opponents.
Here iam saying all these to know our legendery status in ancient days, now a days we seems like nothing, there is no unity at all. Here iam not criticizing any other cast people, but iam saying about my cast. if anybody feels bad about any thing just scarap me!! iam thankful to Sri Kotagiri buchinaayana and sri B.G. Naidu, from whom i learn all this velama history!!
Thank you!!
Ganesh Velama