Alladi Jagannatha Sastri

“ He was frugal, yet charitable to an extreme, and to him even charity and religion meant a system. His love of humour and sound sense of equity, combined with a ready and open criticism, while making him an object of terror to all wrong-doers, won for him in the end the love and esteem of all. ”

“ He then wrote to Aurangzib to say, "On account of envy and ever-increasing malignity, Rajah Bangaru Yachama Naidu was treacherously murdered, by Surap Singh the defender of Jinji. The heirs left behind are young. So I propose that in the interests of their safety the boys be placed at Venkatagiri and a jaghir granted to them of the neighbouring taluks and some more, for Venkatagiri has a strong hill-fort and has been in the possession of their ancestors." ”

“ Military. — As the "Nellore District Manual" says, the Rajah was the first of the house, who was brought into relation with the English. In the year 1782 A.D., disputes arose between Hyder and the Nawab of Arcot, the latter being aided by the English. On the request of Hyder Ali, the Zemindar of Kalahasti went over to his side with an army, but the Rajah of Venkatagiri unmindful of the prowess of Hyder, assisted the Nawab and the English, for which act of kindness he
received from the Nawab his grateful thanks and rich presents in the form of an elephant and the precious "Sasperu Laggi." ”

“ In Madras a choultry was built next to Monegar's Choultry for feeding a hundred poor persons and giving alms to another hundred every day and the charity thus started this year became permanent when the Rajah invested a lakh of rupees in Government Securities on 28th June, 1870, for its up-keep. The Rajah saw for the first time the Rajah Surabhi Venkata Jagannatha Rau Bahadur, Rajah of Jatprole in the Nizam's Dominions, who had now been to Madras and who strengthened the acquaintance by paying a visit to Venkatagiri a few days later and proving his skill as a rider. ”

“ He effected several improvements in the local temple of Sree Kasi Viswanatha. A mandapam was built for the Utsa Vigrahams (idols generally taken out in pro- cession) . An idol of Kumara Sundareswara was also set up in the temple in memory of his revered father. Another was erected in the north-west corner of the main streets. The Silver Elephant and other Vahanams were prepared for the festivals. A double-storeyed and spacious building was constructed just opposite to the temple wherein to locate the Vahanams. The Rajah added the temple of Kodanda Ramaswami to the existing one of Varadaraja. ”

“ In Kurchedu itself his capital, a temple was built and idols set up in it, in the likeness of his parents and sisters who died at North Mallur. The daily worship in these temples continues to this day.
Then came the unexpected end of his earthly existence. Before his death he sent for his elder brother and handed over his taluks to him as he had no sons to succeed. Thus these taluks also passed to the Venkatagiri Estate. General. — Rajah Sarwagna Kumara Yachama Naidu Bahadur was restored to the Estate of Venkatagiri in his sixth year and he lived to an age of 59. ”

“ On hearing these details of such a heinous deed, many warriors joined the camp of Yacha Sura with a determination to restore the young prince to the throne of Vijayanagar, and when the word of challenge to fight was sent by Yacha Sura, Jagga Rai tried his best to persuade him to give up fighting but failed and in the end was forced to flee for life. Thus, the object of Yacha Sura was fulfilled, and with the crown and royal ornaments of his father taken as booty from Jagga Rai's camp, Rama Rai IV was duly declared king. ”

“ Bramha Naidu, one of his brothers, is the hero of Palnad, as described in the Veera Charitram written by the great Telugu poet Sree Nadha. The description of the valour of Palnad heroes does not exactly form a part of this history. So in passing, it may be said that this Bramha Naidu, on account of his valour and victory is credited to this day with super-human powers and Divine lore, and is believed, like King Arthur, to be still living somewhere only to return in time of need. ”

“ Private Life and Character. — The Rajah's eldest son Vidwat Kumara Yachama Naidu was requested by Lakshma Rao, the father's father of the present Rajah of Jatprole to be given in adoption as his own son; but the father declined. Unfortunately, the boy died on account of sickness in his nineteenth year even after his marriage. Thus his second son became heir.
The Rajah was fond of horse-riding and hawk-hunting, but his chief pride lay in elephant-challenge. ”

“ Knowing this the Nawab at once ordered that the Matla Nishan should be bordered red and the same observance reported to the Raja.
Religious. — Those being days of Aurangzib's destruction of the Hindu temples and idols, a pious man of Benares had a dream that he was ordained by God Siva to take a particular idol of His, lying hidden in the Ganges to Venkatagiri, and hand it over to His devoted follower the Rajah. Next morning when the pious man awoke and entered the Ganges to have his daily bath, he came across, to his great surprise, the same idol at the appointed place. ”

“ His brothers son Venkatadri Naidu is the founder of Venkatagiri which is the capital of Venkatagiri Estate. Venkatadri Naidu defeated Gobburi Poligars of Kalimili, a name by which Venkatagiri was previously known, subsequently occupied it and made it his chief residence, naming it after himself. Though the place thus passed into the possession of Venkatagiri family, it was not till the twenty-third generation that it became the capital of the Rajahs. ”

“ The younger son then quarrelled with his brother and retiring to the taluks in the north advised the people there to withhold paying rent to his brother. The elder at once wrote to his father who hastened to Kurchedu and chastised his son for the unbecoming behaviour. Then the enemies of the Rajah, who were the cause of sowing such seeds of disaffection between the brothers next came to the father to try their skill in that direction, but the father soon understood their real motives and thought to punish them, when they escaped and rose in open revolt. ”

“ The other buildings of interest in the Town are the Jubilee Rest-house, the Rajah-Nivasa-Bhag and Gymkhana, and the Khas Bungalow generally used as rest-house for distinguished European guests. One attractive feature of the town is the big and beautiful gardens by which it is surrounded. The Langarkhana gardens in the north, the Khasa gardens in the south, the Gymkhana gardens in the south-east, and the Venu gardens in the east are among the chief. ”

“ These generations can be passed over with a sentence on each. Thimma Naidu (eighth generation) defeated some Pandya Kings and several Ghurjara rulers and is so recorded in a Telugu verse. His second son Chitti Dacha Naidu belongs to the main line. His elder brother Dharma Naidu, from whom descended the line of Pithapuram Rajahs, is famous for building the strong fort of Nallakonda in a taluk of the same name in the Nizam's Dominions and this is evidenced by the Sannad of Kancherla Varu (appended) . ”

“ Coming to the brothers of the Maharajah, among those that went in adoption to other Estates, the Kumara-Rajah of Pittapur, born in 1858, was deprived of his Estate and so he spent his time mostly in Madras. He is known for his general good nature and love of sports. ”

“ Some time later, Nizam Ali Khan Asibja Sen, fourth son of Asibja, who was the Nawab of Hyderabad, was highly pleased with the valour and military skill of the Rajah and recommended him for one more Hazari Mansab and thus got for him from Jallaluddin, the titles of Shash Hazari Mansab, Jhalardar Phalaki and others, which were communicated under his own seal Asibja Nizam-ul-mulk, Nizam-ad-Dawlah, Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur Patab Jung, Siphaha Salar in Zulu Sen 5. ”

“ The Nawab, Sultan Abdul Hassan Khudaff came to know this and once offered a great reward to Bangaru Yachama Naidu in the event of his capturing the rebel. The Rajah readily consented and was making arrangements to attack the enemy. With the assistance of Damara Venkatapathi Naidu and his followers, he marched to the hilly tracts of Rapur, and leaving behind some part of his forces to keep watch in the hills and search for the foe, he soon marched to Lakkireddipalli. ”

“ The Rajah was in a dilemma, to abandon the wealth or to find a person who would willingly offer his life for his wealth. Then came Rechan who was prepared to die cheerfully in return for the Rajah's granting him a boon that should be strictly observed by his descendants for all time to come. The boon runs thus: "Any marriage of a member of the Rajah's family has to be preceded by a marriage in Rechan's family duly performed at the Rajah's expense," which thus presupposed the protection of Rechan's line. ”

“ On 8th September, 1875, in honour of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales landing in Bombay, grand celebrations were held in Venkatagiri and a Poor-house was established for feeding and clothing the poor. Subsequently he received the invitation to go to Madras when the Prince came to Madras and he went there accordingly followed by his eldest son. Both on the occasion of the Prince's alighting from the train in Madras and in the Durbar the Rajah had his usual honours. ”

“ Sati Temple at Venkatagiri.
Civil and Criminal Administration, these powers being taken by the Government. Religions. — The first act of the Rajah was to build a temple in the name of his mothers who faithfully sacrificed their lives on the funeral pyre. Statues of the parents (almost life-size) had been prepared and set up in a temple out of reverence and to this day they are worshipped daily and consulted for advice and guidance on important occasions after due invocation. ”

“ In his private life he felt very much attached to his brother who not only contributed to the extent of his Estate, but rendered invaluable assistance in the battlefield by defeating all their enemies. ”

“ Venkatagiri taluk is rich in forests, the main variety of country wood being chandanam and yepa. Venkatagiri town is the Headquarters of the Rajah and the capital of the Estate. It is nearly 100 miles north-west of Madras and 50 miles south of Nellore. Eight miles to the west of this town is situated on the hills a strong Durg. ”

“ A contemporary of the King Proudha Deva Raya, Lingama Naidu lived in the middle of the fifteenth century. His conquests seem to be numerous and occupy full two pages of Telugu history. From it, we learn that he was a terror to the wicked and a protector of the poor. ”

“ There are four towers on Rachakonda with rock-built ramparts, twenty yards high, and there are other towers on the second hill also. The big gateways leading up hill are of special interest to the spectators. The central hall of the palace called Boddu-Chavika is still intact. Temples of Ramaswami and Veerabhadra are the only two in sound condition to-day. There are besides a river flowing north-east, many wells and tanks. South of Rachakonda is Vedagiri with its cave-temple of Varaha-Narasimha. ”

“ Four lions are carved on its sides and in the centre of it is a peculiar hollow which can be filled with water to make the seat cool in summer. In form, it is like Delhi throne or that at Hyderabad. A river flows close by, and the place commands very fine weather. It now contains a Forest Office and a Post Office.
Near Velugodu were built two tanks, one in his own name, and the second in the name of his daughter Mallamma. When he died, a poet called Mallanna wrote in his name a poem called "Vaikuntarohanam" or ascent to heaven. ”

“ The Rajah had given large sums of money to Sri Venkateswara of Tirupati on previous occasions and this year he gave the village named Maddali in Gudur taluk worth 30,000 rupees. With the income of this village it was intended to feed thirty people every day. In 1872, he went to Benares for the fourth time. It was then that he met in Calcutta, and had exchange of visits with H. E. Lord Napier, the Viceroy, and his successor. This had already been mentioned under events of public importance. This time he built a choultry in Benares to feed twenty persons every-day. ”

“ The history of the other members of this generation is not eventful. Only two events deserve mention. The first is the assistance rendered to Mannavaru when Kolamachella was attacked by the Muhammadans. The second is the defeat of the famous Anavema Reddi at Dannala fort by Naga Naidu, which finds a mention in Singabhupaliyam. Naga Naidu is specially remembered by a fort built in his name in Rachakonda taluk. ”

“ On the 19th March, 1920, the Rajah was raised to the rank of Honorary Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor of Madras. In 1921 he was nominated as a member of the Council of State (which he has subsequently resigned) newly opened after the Reform Act of 1920, and on 1st January, 1922, honoured with the rare distinction of K.C.I.E.
He extended the size of the Estate by purchasing several villages, Arthamala, Putheri, Kotambedu and others, formerly belonging to the Kalahasti Estate, at a cost of nearly a lakh-and-a-half rupees. ”