Coinage of the Telugu Chodas of Nellore. King Bhoja II, 1216-1316 CE. Uniface flan with central lion standing left, four additional lion, two śri, uncertain, and bhujabha legend in Telugu punchmarks
Telugu Chodas of Velanadu (Velanati Chola) were one of the Telugu Choda families. Velanadu is located in the modern
Rajendra Chola I who helped the Eastern Chalukyas and the Velanadu Chodas with whom the Cholas had marital ties.[6]
The Velanati Chiefs rose to prominence among the vassals of the Chalukyas of Vengi during the early days of
Kulothunga Chola I and served as the Later viceroys faithfully as their trusted lieutenants and generals. Finding his dominion dwindling, due to the ascendancy of the Kalyani Chalukyas in the Vengi country, Kulothunga Chola lent support to his loyal chieftains of Velanadu to bring the situation under control and rule over Vengi as his vassals. Evidence is available to the effect that five chieftains of Velanadu ruled over the country after which it was overrun by the Kakatiyas and became a part of their kingdom.[7]
The Telugu Chodas of Renadu (also called as Renati Cholas) ruled over Renadu region, the present day
Pallavas. They used the Telugu language in their inscriptions of the sixth and eighth centuries. Such inscriptions have found near Muddanur,[9] and at Gandikota, Jammalamadugu and Proddatur. The earliest of this family was Nandivarman (500 AD) who claimed descent from the family of Karikala and the Kasyapa gotra. He had three sons Simhavishnu, Sundarananda and Dhanunjaya, all of whom were ruling different territories simultaneously.[10] The family seems to have had its origin in Erikal in the Kadapa district.[11] Dhanunjaya is described as Erikal-Mutturaju and as ruling Renadu.[12] In the first half of the seventh century, we find Punyakumara, a descendant of Dhanunjaya, ruling over Renadu and Hiranyarashtra. He too bears the title Erikal-Mutturaju.[13]
Pottapi Chodas
Telugu Chodas of Pottapi ruled the Cuddapah region after the fall of the Renati Chodas. Pottapi lay on the northern fringe of
Tondai Nadu according to Dalavaypuram copper plates of Pandya king Parantaka Viranarayana. In Madras Museum copper plates, this Srikantha claims descendant from Tamil king Karikala Chola through Sundarananda of Renati Chodas. The Anbil plates[14] of Parantaka Chola II and Velanjeri plates[15] of Parantaka Chola I mention the name Sri Kantha whose name preceedes that of Vijayalaya Chola, however, it's unknown if both individuals are the same and share any relations between.[16]
The term Pottapi Chola is associated as a title with many of the chiefs of this family as for example Madhurantaka Pottapi Chola Ghattiyarasa and Madhurantaka Pottapi Chola Vimaladitya. Pottapi Cholas use the Charana Saroruha prasasti in their inscriptions.
^Andhra Pradesh (India), Bh Sivasankaranarayana. Andhra Pradesh district gazetteers, Volume 1. Printed by the Director of Print. and Stationery at the Govt. Secretariat Press; [copies can be had from: Govt. Publication Bureau, Andhra Pradesh], 1976. p. 60.
^Sailendra Nath Sen. Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International, 1999. p. 471.
^Indian History Congress. A Comprehensive History of India: pt. 1. A.D. 300-985. People's Pub. House, 1981. p. 382.
^C. A. Padmanabha Sastry. Administration in Andhra: From the Earliest Times to 13th Century A.D. B.R. Publishing Corporation, 1990. p. 126.
^Mahalingam, T. V.; Gupta, S. P.; Ramachandran, K. S. (1976). Readings in South Indian History. B.R. Publishing Corporation. pp. 63–64. Archived(PDF) from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
