Beta I
Beta | |
---|---|
Kakatiya ruler | |
Reign | c. 1000–1052 CE |
Predecessor | Gunda IV |
Successor | Prola I |
Dynasty | Kakatiya |
Father | Gunda IV |
Beta I (r. c. 1000–1052), also known as Garudanka Beta or Garuda Beta, was a member of the
Early life
Beta I's father
According to the Gudur inscription, Viriyala Erra's wife Kama-vasani (or Kamasani), who probably came from the Kakatiya family, helped Beta I. She approached the Chalukya emperor, and re-established the Kakatiya family. She is probably same as "Kuntala-devi" or "Erakasani" mentioned in the later, less reliable text Siddheshvara-charita. According to this text Kuntala-devi was the paternal aunt of Gunda's son Eruka-deva-raja (who can be identified with Beta I).[1][2] She convinced the emperor Bhaskara-vibhu (probably Tailapa II or his son Satyashraya) to enroll Beta as a subordinate in the Anumakonda vishaya.[3]
The Gudur inscription also states that a person named Sura killed Kadaya-nayaka of Velpugonda (modern Jaffargadh 25 miles SE of Warangal); set up Ravva-nripa at Velpugonda; and obtained from him Mogadupalli, Botipadu, Mavidlu, and the friendship of Garuda-raja. This suggests that Sura also helped Beta I ("Garuda-raja"), although his relationship to Beta I, Kama-vasani, or Viriyala Erra is not clear from the inscription. The nature of his help to Beta I is not clear either. Historian K. Harshavardhana Sarma theorizes that "Ravva-nripa" refers to Beta I.[1] It is possible that Beta established a temporary capital at Velpugonda with Sura's help, and later obtained the Annamkonda (Anumakonda) vishaya as a fief from the Kalyani Chalukya king.[4]
Military career
According to the Bayyaram inscription, Beta I killed two chiefs named Anuma and Konda, and established his capital in their town. This suggests that the name of the Kakatiya capital Anumakonda derives from the names of these chiefs. The historicity of this account is doubtful as the name of the place is known to have existed even two centuries earlier (as the variant "Anamkonda"), during the reign of the Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha (r. c. 814–878 CE). It is possible that the Chalukya king allotted Beta I granted the Anumakonda territory to Beta I, and later, the Kakatiya family invented a myth to explain this otherwise uneventful occurrence.[3]
Beta appears to have participated in a successful Chalukya campaign against the Cholas, during the reign of
The last known record of Beta I is dated 1051 CE, and the first record of his son Prola I is dated 1053.[6] So, he probably ruled during c. 1000–1052 CE.[7]
References
- ^ a b c P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 43.
- ^ R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 198.
- ^ a b c R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 199.
- ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 44.
- ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 577-578.
- ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 45.
- ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, pp. 42–43.
Bibliography
- OCLC 252341228.
- N. Venkataramanayya; M. Somasekhara Sarma (1960). "The Kakatiyas of Warangal". In Ghulam Yazdani (ed.). The Early History of the Deccan Parts VII–XI. Vol. IX: The Kākatīyas of Warangal. Oxford University Press. OCLC 59001459.
- N. Venkataramanayya; P.V.P. Sastry (1957). "The Kākatīyas". In R.S. Sharma (ed.). A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985–1206. Vol. 4 (Part 1) (1987 reprint ed.). Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7007-121-1.