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Castes of India
Velama, Velama Dora
Classification	Warriors, Zamindars, Leaders, Landowners, Entrepreneurs,Farmers
Subdivisions
Significant populations in	Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
Languages	Telugu, Tamil
Religions	Hinduism

Velama (Telugu: వెలమ) is one of the older feudal castes or social groups in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They ruled parts of Andhra Pradesh during 14th and 15th centuries.

General Background

Feudal past

The military exploits of Velamas form an important part of Telugu tradition, history and folklore. They have hitstorically displayed chivalry and valour in various battles, including those of Kakatiya kings, Palnadu and Bobbili. The lives of popular Velamas such as Recherla Rudra, Gandra Abhishek, Thandra Papa Rayudu and Palnati Brahmanaidu feature prominently in this history. Their practice of traditions such as Sati indicate that they are of Aryan descent, although with extensive inter-mingling with other martial races of India. Velama kings regularly clashed with the Reddys but maintained friendly relationships with the Orissa Gajapatis and the Bahmanis. Velama influence is noticeable in Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Adilabad, Nalgonda, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Khammam, Godavari, and Prakasam districts of the Andhra Pradesh and Kingsville of Texas,

Origin of the community

Several conflicting theories have been postulated on origin of the community -

• Velamas migrated from Bihar, banished by Chanakya for supporting the Nanda dynasty.
• Velamas belong to one of the original Aryan races of North India who migrated to South India during the times of Chanakya.
• Velamas were soldiers in many Telugu kingdoms such as Chalukya, Chola, Kakatiya and Vijayanagar and came to dominate the land through their service to the kings..
• The Padmanayaka Velamas seem to be a different caste altogether, based on their physical features, customs and traditions.

Velama sub divisions

All the divisions are based on their original living location. Major divisions in Andhra Pradesh are:

• Padmanayaka Velama
• Adi Velama
• Koppula Velama
• Polinati Velama

Padmanayaka velamas are also called as Padma Velamas. They live mostly in Telangana districts like Karimnagar, Warangal, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Rangareddy, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Hyderabad, and Coastal Andhra. They are also found in Addanki (Ongole), Vijayawada, Kakinada, Nuzvidu and the villages surrounding these places. Politically, socially and economically, they played a prominent role in the growth of Andhra Pradesh.

Adi Velamas are seen in Machilipatnam, Rajahmundry, Hyderabad, amongst other regions.

Polinati Velamas are seen in Srikakulam and other coastal Andhra districts. Most Polinati Velamas have Naidu as their middle name, and their primary occupation is farming. They play a dominant role in Srikakulam district politics and form the backbone of this district's economy.

Koppula Velamas live in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry and other coastal Andhra districts. Most Koppula Velamas have Naidu as middle name i.e. suffix in their names and their primary occupation is farming. They play key roles in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam district politics and are vital to these districts' economy.

Leadership

Velama generals worked for different Kakatiya kings who ruled from Warangal. Some of the Padma Nayakas who fought battles along with other Nayakas during Kakatiya rule are:

Ganapathi Deva Period (1199 – 1262 A.D.)

• Recherla Rudra, Commander-In-Chief (Senani) of Kakatiya king Ganapathi Deva's army, built the artificial Ramappa Lake (1156), and the Ramappa Temple(1213), both of which are intact and located 60 km from Warangal^[1]
• Recherla Raja Nayaka helped Ganapatideva in conquering parts of Kalinga, Vengi and Bastar.

Rani Rudrama Devi Period (1259 – 1289 A.D.)

• Recherla Prasaditya, along with other Reddi and Kayastha Nayaks (Gona Gannaiah, Jannigadeva, Tripurar, Ambadeva) help consolidate the position of Rani Rudrama against nobles and her step-brothers.

Prataparudra II Period (1289 – 1323 A.D.)

Prataparudra II entrusted the defense of the 77 bastions of Warangal to 77 Velama Nayakas.

• Recherla Venna, along with other Nayaks (Pothuganti Maili), fought and cut short the expedition of Alauddin Khilji at Upparapalli (now in Karimnagar) in 1303 CE.
• Erra Dacha Nayaka
• Recherla Singama Nayaka

Palnadu Battle

Palnadu region is located in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. Dodda Nayudu and his son Brahma Nayudu served as ministers under Haihayas kings such as Alugu Raju ruling at Macherla. Brahma Nayudu strived for progressive and egalitarian ideals. Nalagama Raju and Narasinga Raju were ruling at Gurajala, a small town near Macherla. Nagamma, a widow and an orthodox minister, did not relish the progressive ideals of Brahma. In a cock fight, a popular sport of those times, Macherla lost to Gurajala. Brahma and his followers had to live in exile as part of the gamble. Subsequent to the return from exile tensions between both the kings led to the battle of Palnadu (1182 CE) at Karempudi village. Macherla was defeated, a generation of warriors perished and Brahma took to renunciation. Peddanna

Rachakonda Kingdom

Recherla Singama Nayaka, the first King of Recherla clan of Velamas, was closely followed by the Devarakonda Chiefs. Stories of his valour are still sung as ballads. His sons Anavota Nayaka and Mada Nayaka carried on his legacy after his assassination by Jallipalli Kshatriyas.

Devarakonda Kingdom

Eight kings ruled Deverakonda from 1287 to 1475 CE. Some of the kings who ruled Deverakonda Kingdom are:

• Raja Maada Nayudu II
• Raja Peda Vedagiri Nayudu (1384 - 1410 CE)
• Raja Maada Nayudu III (1410 -1425 CE)
• Raja Lingama Nayudu (1425 - 1475 CE), the last of the eight Kings.
• Devarakonda Fort

Velugoti Clan

Recherla chiefs of Rachakonda and Devarakonda served as vassals of Bahmanis after Musunuri Kapaaneedu was killed. Their descendents acquired Zamindaris (Samsthanams) in Mahboobnagar, Kurnool and Raichur Districts.

• Jetaprolu Samsthanam is a historic Samasthanam in the Nizam dominion in Telangana region. The Jetaprolu family gave rise to Rajas of Bobbili (Vizianagaram district), Pithapuram (East Godavari), Malleshwaram (Krishna District) and Venkatagiri (Nellore District).

Vijayanagar Empire

Velamas who did not relish serving as vassals to Bahmanis migrated to Vijayanagar empire. As this empire expanded some of the Nayaks were sent to places in southern Tamil Nadu like Madurai and Thanjavur. Those Velamas settled in newly acquired territories are referred to as Velama Naidus.

Velugoti Samsthanams

• Pithapuram
• Panagal
• Bobbili
• Raja Rao Venkata Gopala Krishna Ranga Rao - Raja of Bobbili of the battle of Bobbili fame
• Rani Mallamma Devi, wife of Ranga Rao and sister of Tandra Papa Rayudu. A brave woman, she wanted to fight the battle of Bobbili along with the men, rather than commit suicide or be killed by her own army. However, prevalent Velama customs mandated that she be stabbed by her own body guard as per the orders of her husband Ranga Rao.
• Thandra Papa Rayudu^[2] was a valiant fighter and brother of Rani Mallamma Devi. He was away at the time of the battle, and avenged the killing of all his relatives by killing Vijaya Rama Raju of Vizianagaram. However, he had to kill himself, as did the two accomplices to his act, after they were surrounded by the combined forces of Vijaya Rama Raju and Bus
  • Sri Kalahasti (Damerla Family)
  • Narsaraopeta (Malraju family)
  • Nuzividu (Meka Family)

  Patronage of Telugu literature and culture

  Velama rulers patronized several contributors to Telugu literature and culture.

  Pithapuramu

  The kings of Pithapuramu established literary organizations like the 'Andhrasahitya Parishattu'. Devulapalli Subbarayasastri, whose work included Ramarayavilasamu, Kumara Satakamu and who co-authored Ravuvamsamuktavali in Sanskrit and Telugu with Devulapalli Venkatakrishnasastri, was from Pithapuramu.
  
  Other writers, and their work, included:
  • Vakkalanka Veerabhadrakavi : Vasavadattaaparinayamu.
  • Kuchimanchi Jaggakavi : Subhadraaparinayamu.
  • Kuchimachi Gangana : Satakanttharamayanamu.

  Bobbili

  Scholarly families like Kotra, Kotikalapudi, Mandapaka, Mandavemula and Susarla flourished in this kingdom. Sir Venkateswarachalapatirangarao (1862-1926) supported many poets and funded the printing of several books.
  • Kotra Balakavi : Vimalangi Parinayamu and Bhallanacharitramu.
  • Kotikelapudi Venkatakrishna Somayaji: Tarakabrahmamu, Dilipacharitramu, Prabodhachandrodayamu and Meghasandesamu
  • Mandapaka Peraya: Nirdoshtyadasaradhi Satakamu, Kumudvati Parinayamu and Indumati Parinayamu.
  • Mandapaka Parvateeswarasastri: Krishnabhyadayamu and Radhakrishna Samvadamu.
  • Mandavemula Venkataramaya: Kriyayogasaramu.

  Venkatagiri

  • Returi Rangaraju: Bhanumati Parinayamu.
  • Mudumbi Ayyappadikshitulu: Vishnupuranamu.
  • Velugoti Kumarayachendrulu: Sabharanjani, Manssakshyam.
  • Gopinadha Venkata: Srimadramayanamu, Brahmavaivartapuranamu, Krishnajanmakhandamu and Brahmananda Satakamu,
  • Tarkabhushanamu Venkatacharylu: Sringarakalpavalli.
  • Tirumalasetti Jagnnadha: Halasya Mahatmyamu.

  Sri Kalahasti

  • Damerla Vengalabhupaludu : Bahulasva Charitramu.
  • Damerla Ankabhupaludu: Ushaparinayamu.
  • Lingaraju (Kumara Dhurjati): Kalhatimahatmyamu and Dvipada Bhagavatamu.
  • Sishtu Sarvasastri: Amarukamu and Jnanaprasunambika Satakamu
  • Kalatturi Vikrala Raghavacharylu: Vedasamrajyamu, Suryasiddhantamu and Vyakhyanamu.
  • Damerla Venkatabhupaludu: Setukhandamu.

  Nuzividu

  • Venkatacharyudu: Indumati Parinayamu.
  • Anivilla Venkatasastri Apparaya: Yasaschandrodayamu and Alankarasudhasindhumaheswara.
  • Dittakavi Ramayogi: Rajgopala Satakamu and Mahisasuramardani Satakamu.
  • Madabhushi Venkatacharya: Bharatabhyudayamu, Pushpabanavilasamu, Ramavadhuti Taravali.
  • Venkatadri Apparao Bahaddur Ramadasu: Jyotirleela, Govardhanoddharanamu and Andhrashtapadulu.
  • Duriseti Venkataramacharyulu: Anarkali.
  • Venkat

  Narasaraopeta

  • Ahobila: Kavisirobhushanamu and Kalindikanya Parinayamu.
  • Pattabhiram: Malarajugudanarayanopakhyanamu, Vajrapanjara Satakamu and Syamantakopakhyanamu.
  • Dittakavi Narayana: Rangaraya Charitramu.

  Primary references

  1. Katten, Michael; Making Caste In Nineteenth-Century India: A History of Telling the Bobbili Katha & Velama Identity, University of California at Berkeley, USA
  2. Roghair, Gene H; 1982, The epic of Palnadu: a study and translation of Palnati virula katha, a Telugu oral tradition from Andhra Pradesh, India, Oxford University Press
  3. Talbot, Cynthia; 2004, Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra (Hardcover), Oxford University Press
  4. Prasad, Durga; 1988, History of the Andhras Till 1565 A.D., Durga Prasad, PG Publishers, Guntur
  5. A History of Telling the Bobbili Katha & Velama Identity, Michael Katten, University of California at Berkeley

  Other references

  1. ^ Source: 11' x 2' black granite slab Inscription erected at Ramappa Temple premises, Palampet village in 1213.
  2. ^ B. M. G.. The Tiger of Bobbili. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.

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