What is the History of Kammavar Naidus?

Kammavar is a community largely found in Southern Indian states Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Telangana and Karnataka. They are prominent in the telugu lands from 5th century CE. The earliest name of the community is Durjaya later in the period of Kakatiya split into kamma, Padmanayaka and Velamadora.

Several Durjaya chieftains worked as subordinate kings in the districts Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda during the period 500 CE to 1400 CE. Out of them Natavati, Polavasa, Paricchedi, Kondapadamati, Kodravati, Evanikondravati, Konakodravati, Malyala, Viriyala etc are prominent.     

" 14 century poet Srinada wrote in his Bhimeswara puranam that Kamma, Velama, Padmanayaka are three separate castes"

Many Durjayan inscriptions mentioned "Vallutla" as "gotra", for example : the inscription (1125 CE) of Pinnama Naidu in the temple of Sagareswara in Madala village mentioned that he belonged to Durjaya clan and Vallutla Gothra, Another inscription (1282 CE) in the same temple mentioned that Devineni Erra Naidu, Kommi Naidu and Pothi Naidu belonged to the lineage of Buddhavarma, Durjaya clan and Vallutla Gothra, the inscription at Ravuru mentioned that the bodyguards of Queen Rudrama Devi, Ekki Naidu, Rudra Naidu, Pinarudra Naidu and Pothi Naidu belong to Durjaya vamsa and Vallutla Gothra. Ramalinga swamy temple Ravipadu Narasaraopet mentioned Samantha raja Potinayudu of Durjyavamsham, Vallutala gothram. This "vallutla" gothram is found in kamma community only in large numbers.    

Many durjaya kings claimed durjaya as "vamsam" as well as "caste".   There are several instances of  inter marrying with in durjaya royal families. So we can assume that durjaya is a community rather than a "vamsam".

Inscriptions:

1. On a broken Nandi-pillar set up in front of the temple of Ramalingasvami, Ravipadu, Narasaraopeta Taluk, S. 1199.

States that Samanta Poti-Nayaka consecrated the image of Suresvara in Ravuru in the name of his father and for the merit of Kakatiya Rudradeva-Maharaja built a three-peaked temple and a mandapa for it and endowed it with land and that he also presented a flower and fruit garden and a perpetual lamp to the temple. The inscribed stone is said to have been put up by Potinedu’s sons Potaya and Maraya. Potinedu bears a long list o birudas among which are (1) an ornament of Durjayakula (2) the elevator (vardhana) of the Valautla-vamsa, and (3) a lion to the mad elephant, that is Gajapati.

2. On a stone lying in a field at Mukkamala, Guntur Taluk, Guntur District. S. 1130.

States that Vipparula Kondapa-Nayaka and Gundapa-Nayaka of Durjay-anvavaya made gifts of land to certain temples and also to certain persons, presumably servants of the temples, for the merit of Ketaraju.

3. On a pillar in the Amareswara temple, guntur. Records in S. 1079, Isvara, gift of sheep for a lamp by Kavaliya-Singana-Peggada, the minister of the Mahamandalesvara Potaraja, the son of Chagi-Dora of the Durjaya family. 

4. On four faces of a pillar set up in front of the linga on the north side of the kitchen in the temple of Tripurantakesvara, Tripurantakam, Markapur Taluk, Prakasam District. S. 1131.

States that Melambika, sister of Kakatiya Ganapatideva and wife of Ekkadi Malla-Rudra, son of Buddaraja, chief of Natavadi consecrated the image of Mailambikesvara in the temple of Tripurantaka and endowed it with land in the village of Dittalu. Gives the Kakatiya genealogy

After studying several inscriptions some scholars opined that durjayas are north indian kshatriyas who came to telugu lands during the satavahana period and intermixed with local telugu cheiftain families. Afterwards this community name changed as durjaya-kulam. These durjay chieftains used "varma" title during chalukya regime i.e. Mallavarma, Budhavarma.

Who are Durjayas ?

There were several kings with the name durjaya in the past.

1. There were kings with name durjaya in relatives of Pandavas & Kauravas and in their friends.

2. There were kings with name durjaya in Haihayas

3. There was a durjaya king in Danavas.

4. A son of king Suvira of Ikshvaku dynasty (Maha Bharat)

5. A son of king Supratika (Varahapurana)

6. Vardhana dynasty claimed durjya ancestry. see below translation of harsha charitra, sanskrit book, written by Banabatta in 7th century CE.

" From this Puspabhuti there issued a line of kings, as from Vishnu a lotus whose calix the best of the twice-born voluntarily occupied, as from the ocean a treasure of jewels attended by Lakshmi, as from the orient mount a troop of planets including Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, the Moon, the Sun, and Mars, as from the might of Sagara a sea capable of supporting a commerce of greatness, as from Shura a Hari race boasting a Durjaya and a Bala. In which line were born kings free from the stain of violating Dharma, as living beings came from the commencement of the golden age; dominating the world by their splendour, like the rays from the source of light; thronging the regions with their armies in array, like the hills sprung from Brahma; strong to support the world, like the sky elephants born from Brahma's hand; rising in might to guard the oceans, like clouds from the season of rain; bestowing the fruits of desire, like trees of Paradise from the Heavenly Garden; embracing all beings, like the variations of existence sprung from Vishnu."

There may be durjaya kings in Kambhojas and Pallavas. Pala dynasty capital name was durjaya.

Kamma Rulers :

Durjaya Dynasty of Pitapuram: Pitapuram durjayas were subordinate kings of Vishnukundina rulers. During the mid 6th century CE a chief named Ranadurjaya rebelled against their king and established his rule in South Kalinga with Pitapuram as his capital. The kingdom reached great heights under the rule of his grandson Prithvi Maharaja. But Pulakesin II a chalukya king defeated him and driven out from pitapuram. He was able to establish supremacy over the Mudgals by annexing South Toshali. Prithvimaharaja shifted to Viraja where he issued a charter in his 49 th regnal year. He was subsequently defeated and driven out of his province by Sasanka who was able to retain parts of Kalinga to his kingdom

Kakatiyas: The Kakatiya dynasty was a south indian dynasty whose capital was Orugallu / warangal. It was eventually conquered by the Delhi sultanate. Kakatiyas were at first feudatory cheifs of Chalukyas and Rastrakutas. Prola II declared his independce and expanded the dynasty. Kakatiyas were staunch saivites and they claimed suryavansh in their inscriptions so they cannot be yadavs, haihayas and velamas, who were yadu vanshis and vaishnavites. All the temples built by kakatiyas were related to god Shiva. They ruled over entire andhra and telangana area as independent rulers. 

Early Kakatiyas - as Feudataries :
Venna
Gunda I
Gunda II
Gunda III
Erra
Betiya
Kakatya Gundana

Semi Independent and Independent Kakatiyas :

Beta I               - 996-1055
Prola I              - 1055-1076
Beta II              - 1076-1108
Durgaraju         - 1108-1116
Prola II             - 1116- 1158
Prataparudra I  - 1158-1195
Mahadeva        - 1195-1199
Ganapatideva   - 1199-1262
Rudramadevi   - 1262-1289
Prataparudra    - 1289-1323

 

Inscription:

Julakallu, Palnad Taluk, Guntur District on another slab Saka 1711

It refers to the rule of Malraju Gumdraya and states that the temples of Gopalasvami and Bhimesvarasvami at Jalakamti in Bellamkomda-sima having been dilapidated and the worship therein being stopped for the past four years, Buchchanna, son of Ramamnna, grandson of Ragamnna of Pamgguluru belonging to Kakitela-gotra and Kamma-vamsa, got them renovated and the deities reconsecrated therein, for the worship and offerings of which a gift of wet land with sowing capacity of 4 manike and quarter of wetland (velipolamu) was made by Buchchanna, from out of the manya lands bestowed on him by the king. It also records the renovation and reconsecration of the temple of Vinayaka and the deity therein, renovation of the tank which was strengthened with bund and sluice and the exavation of a well nearby by the same donor.

Why Kakatiyas were Kammas :

(1) In Dourvasa Devi Purana” (an epic written by Brahmans), it was mentioned that Prataparudra, a king, will be born in Kamma caste.

(2) Kamma caste original name is Durjaya caste, It was changed as kamma caste during the time of Kakatiyas and Velanati chodas.

(3) Many durjaya Nayak kings claimed vallutla gotram which is present in only kamma caste in large numbers (lakhs of people). few examples

(a) Paruchuri Kethi Nayakudu claimed Durjaya / Kondapadamati Budhavarma lineage

(b) Aluri Potinayudu claimed durjaya caste in Koduru inscription,krishna district

(c) The inscription (1125 CE) of Pinnama Nayudu in the temple of Sagareswara in Madala village mentioned that he belonged to Durjaya clan and Vallutla Gothra.

(d) Another inscription (1282 CE) in the same temple mentioned that Devineni Erra Nayudu, Kommi Nayudu and Pothi Nayudu belonged to the lineage of Buddhavarma, Durjay caste.

(e) The inscription at Ravuru mentioned that the bodyguards of Queen Rudrama Devi, Ekki Nayudu, Rudra Nayudu, Pinarudra Nayudu and Pothi Nayudu belong to Durjaya vamsa and Vallutla Gothra.

(f) Vipparula Kondapa-Nayaka and Gundapa-Nayaka claimed Durjay-anvavaya made gifts of land to certain temples and also to certain persons, presumably servants of the temples, for the merit of Ketaraju, in Palnadu area of Guntur district.

(4) Velanati durjaya choda kings, Rajendra Choda II (1161-1181) had assumed the title " Kamma Durjayakula prakasa "

(5) The surnames and Gothras of Kammas and Velamas were catalogued by Badabanala Bhatta in 1068 CE.

(6) Most of the Kakatiyas and Velanati Durjaya choda kings married Girls / Boys from Durjaya caste only. Most of the durjaya families used Nayaka title only.

(7) Kakatiyas and Musunuris and Suryadevara kings and Ravella kings used the same title "Chalamartiganda" or "Rayagajakesari"

(8) According to Srinadha (1365-1441) Famous Telugu poet Srinatha, while describing the social divisions during his time, categorized Padmanayaka, Velama and Kamma in his Bhimeswara Puranamu.

(.....అందు పద్మనాయకులన, వెలమలన, కమ్మలన త్రిమర్గ గంగాప్రవాహంబులుంబోలె గొత్రంబులన్నియెని జగత్పవిత్రంబులై ప్రవహింపచుండ)

(9) Musunuri nayaks were also relatives of kakatiyas and claimed durjay vamsam in inscriptions. 

Kamma Generals & Commanders during Kakatiya period:

1. Gannamanayaka, General, Minister 

2. Gundaya nayaka (Gajasahini) governer of gurindala and pingali seema

3. Devari Nayaka - governor of Tangeda seema

4. Muppidi nayaka -governer of nellore seema

5. Bollinayaka - governer 

6. Maraya sahini - governer 

7. Jaayapa nayaka - governer of velanadu

8. Pothi nayaka - governer

9. Parvata nayaka - governer

10 Bappana Kamaya - governer of katyadona

11. Vipparala Kondapanayaka - governer

12. Musunuru Nayaks - governers 

13. Ganapati nayak family - governers 

Inscriptions:

Machaya-nayaka is mentioned in the inscriptions as the father of Devari-nayanimgaru, the general of Kakatiya Prataparudra, who ruled Andhradesa from A.D. 1290 to 1323.

inscriptions are found out as belonging to Machayanayaka. The Chintapalli (Guntur dt.) inscription dated A.D. 4-6-1304 (South Indian Inscriptions, X, No.493) records his gift to a temple. Another inscription from Voppicherla (Guntur dt.), dated A.D. 1311 refers to him as the trusted general of Prataparudra, ruling from Gurindala-sthala, Pingali-sthala and other regions. His designation is mentioned here as Maharaya-gajasahini and his title is mentioned as Swami-drohara-gamda. (South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. X, No. 500) The inscriptions of his son also refer to his titles as Raya-sthapanacharya, Chalamarti-gamda, Kaliyuga-virabhadra and Swami-drohara-ganda.

Musunuru Nayaks (1012 CE - 1436 CE) :

After the fall of the Kakatiyas, their empire was annexed by the Delhi sultanate. In 1330 Musunuri Prolaya Nayak published the Vilasa grant, a copper-plate grant near pittapuram, in which he bemoaned the devastation of the telugu country brought about by the Turks and attempted to legitimise himself as the rightful restorer of order. His successor, Kapaya nayak (1333–1368), led a rebellion against the Tughluqs, driving them out of Warangal in 1336. According to the Kaluvacheru grant of a female member of the pantareddi clan in 1423, Kapaya Nayak was assisted by 75 subordinate Nayaks, including Vema Reddi, the founder of the Reddi dynasty. Kapaya Nayak ruled over Telangana and Andhra until 1368. Rachakonda and Devarakonda rulers & Reddy dynasty of andhra were subordinate kings of Musunuri kings until 1368. Musunuri nayaks ruled over small parts in Krishna, Godavari and Khammam districts as feudatories of Velanati chodas, Kakatiyas, Gajapatis & Vijayanagara rayas. Earliest record of Musunuri Nayaks found in 11th century. They built Kondapalli and Rekapalli forts. They claimed durjaya vamsam in their inscriptions. They ruled long period as feudatories (500 years) in Krishna, Godavari & Khammam districts. The last inscription of Musunuri nayaks was found at Rajahmundry dated 1436 AD, by Musunuri veera anapota nayaka.

List of Musunuri kings :
Musunuri Gundaya
Musunuri Mucchaya
Musunuri Potaya
Musunuri Proli
Musunuri Pochaya
Musunuri Deva
Musunuri Kama
Musunuri Raja
Musunuri Prolaya
Musunuri Erapotha
Musunuri Kapaya
Musunuri Mummadi
Musunuri Immadi
Musunuri Deva
Musunuri Anapotha
Musunuri Vinayaka Deva
Musunuri Vira Anapota

Godavari Nayaks : A cousin of Musunuru brothers was appointed as ruler of two godavari districts Rajahmundry / korukonda as capital. Their rule lasted for a century from 1330. They ruled as subordinate kings of Musunuris and Reddy dynasty.

Korukonda chiefs inscription:

On a pillar in the compound of the temple of Lakshminarasimhasvami on the hill at Korkonda, Rajahmundry Taluk, East Godavari District. S. 1275 

States that Bhattari, the Vaishnava guru of Mummadi-Nayaka of Korukonda left his mortal body and reappeared as god Narasimha on the top of the Parasara hill, king Mummadi-Nayaka made a gift of two villages and some lands and gardens to the said temple. The inscription gives a genealogy of Mummadi-Nayaka and says that he ruled over the country on both sides of the Godavari consisting of Panara, Kona, Kuravataka, Chengara etc. Districts.

Mummadi Nayaka married the niece of Kapaya Nayaka. Mummadi Nayaka lived till 1388. He had three sons who ruled for a period of 40 years and later they were reduced to feudatories of the Reddys of Kondaveedu. This dynasty is semi independent and samantharajas of musunuri nayaks & kondaveedu reddy kings ruled between AD 1330 to AD 1430. Dynasty line - Anapota nayaka - Mummudi nayakers - sons of Mummudi nayakas - Mummidi nayaka II.

Velanadu Durjaya chodas: They were Vassals of later cholas and western chalukyas and ruled over the velanadu region of Kamma rastra in modern Guntur district. The region situated within the south of Kamma rastra is called Shatsahasra or Velanadu. During its peak the chiefs also ruled area of Venginadu, the land between Krishna and Godavari rivers. They belonged to the Durjaya kulam, so they were also called as Durjayas of Velanadu. Rajendra Choda II had assumed the title " KammaDurjayakulaprakasa ". They were not telugu chodas. They were durjaya kings, who worked as samantha rajas to later cholas. So they adopted choda title.

Gonka I - 1076-1108

Rajendrachoda - 1108-1132

Gonka II - 1132-1161

RajendrachodaII - 1161-1181

Gonka III - 1181-1186

Prithviswara - 1186-1206

Rajendrachoda III - 1206-1216

After the fall of the kingdom cheifs of this family shifted to Nellore & chittore regions and ruled small parts for a while. Madduramma temple, Huskur might be built by them

Pemmasani nayaks : Pammasani nayaks at first rulers of Bellamkonda seema, in Guntur district. Proudadevaraya gifted gutti seema and gandikota seema to Timmanayudu in 1422 as recognition of his valour. Series of kings of this family ruled till 1652. During the heyday, their control extended from Krishna up to Anantapur districts. The annual income was twenty five lakhs of rupees out of which nine lakhs of rupees were paid as tribute to the Vijayanagar kings. The area under their control was about 6000 sq miles to 16000 sq miles in different period. They ruled over parts of Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool, Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur. They issued own coins.  They maintained an army of 25,000 to 80,000 soldiers.

List of Pemmasani Kings:

Pemmasani Kumara Veera Timma Nayaka (1423 - 1462) A. D.

Pemmasani Veera Timma Bhupathi (1446 - 1462) A. D.

Pemmasani Chenna vibhudu (1462 - 1498) A. D.

Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka (1498 - 1520) A. D.

Pemmasani Timma Nayaka (1520 - 1542) A. D.

Pemmasani Narasimha Nayaka (1542 - 1562) A. D.

Pemmasani Bangaru Timma Nayaka (1562 - 1598) A. D.

Pemmasani Timma Nayaka (1598 - 1623) A. D.

Pemmasani Chinna Timma Nayaka (1623 - 1652) A. D.

Pemmasani Inscription

Chinnakotla, Dharmavaram Taluk, Anantapur District. 1626 A.D.

It state that, when the king was ruling from Velluru, Venkatapati-nayaka, son of Venkatadri and grandson of Lingana of Kotapadu granted some lands obtained by him as amara from Pemmasani Inumadi Timma-nayaka.

On a slab near the temple tank at Kuvam,

Tiruvallore Taluk, Chinglepout District. S. 1592

Records that Pemmasani Kumara Timmanayanivaru planted a plantain tope on the tank bund in Kuvvam which was under his government and dedicated it to Tervikkolesvarasvami, in the reign of Qutb Shah of Golkonda.

Ravella vari Samsthanam : The first mention of a Ravilla chieftains was found in the inscription of Rajaraja III (AD 1257). Ravilla chiefs ruled Srisailam and Dupatiseema from AD1364 as vassals of Vijayanagar dynasty. Later they were given Darsi seema, Podili seema, Udayagiri seema and Survepalli seema samsthanams in old nellore district, AP. They ruled till mid 17th century. 

Inscriptions in Nellore district showed that during the rule of Araviti kings, Ravella/Ravilla clan controlled Podili (Tippa Nayudu), Udayagiri (Koneti Nayudu), Kocherlakota (Timma Nayudu), Survepalliseema (Ravella Muddukrishnappa).

Malla, Tippa, Papa, Tippa II, Ayyappa, Linga, Linga II, Konda are famous among them. Malla used to maintain 6000 soldiers, 400 horses. His annual income is 13000 gold coins.

Malla Nayaka (AD 1495) who served as a commander in Saluva Narasimha Raya’s army. Malla vanquished the army of Qutb Shah (Bahmani General) at Gudipadu and cut the general into pieces. Konda (son of Linga I) who served Saluva Timmaraya conquered Adoni fort by defeating Naudul Khan at Manavapuri. Tippa II’s son Ayyappa was a decorated commander in the army of Rama Raya. He ruled from Tirumanikota. He recovered Penukonda and Adoni forts from Abdullah Qutbshah of Golkonda in AD 1611. He was decorated with many titles such as Aswarevanta, Parabalabhima, Chalamartivaraganda, Adavanidurgagarvavibhala, Hattumuvvraganda. Later, Linga II, grandson of Ayyappa, commanded the Vijayanagar army and captured the forts of Kurnool, Gandikota and Adoni. Gopala Kavi who described the exploits of Linga II was patronized by him.

Revella Inscription:

Koduru, Nellore Taluk, Nellore District.

On a stone set up in a street. Sriranga III, 1645 A.D.

This is dated Saka 1567, Parthiva, Chaitra su. . . . corresponding to 1645, A.D., March.

It registers the settlement of the fees (meras) due from the village Koduru in Sariyepalli-sima for the upkeep of tanks by Ravela-Venkatadri who is said to have obtained the village as amaram from Ravela Muddukrishnappa-nayaka who held Sariyepalli-sima as nayankara from the king.

Sayapaneni vari Samsthanam: Sayapanenis were sub-ordinate rulers of Vijayanagar dynasty. The  great ruler Shayappa naidu got 533 villages surrounding srisailam from Sri Krishnadevaraya.

Gangayya Nayudu (AD1564) ruled during the time of Rama Raya. His son Venkatadri (1589) was the contemporary of Venkatapati Raya II. Venkatadri was also a poet. His work “Sakalajanasajivanamu” was a well-acclaimed ‘Prabandha’ in Telugu literature. Venkatadri’s wife Govindamba was a sister of Pemmasani Thimma Nayudu, ruler of Gandikota. By the time Gangappa took over in AD 1626 the Golkonda Sultanate consolidated its control over Rayalaseema.Their territories extended from Markapuram - Srisailam - Nandikotkuru (Including parts of Nallamala forest). Dupadu and Daddanala were their capitals. This Samsthanam was taken over by the british during 19th century after several trails and tribulations like several other zamindaris. The origin of sayapaneni rulers dates back to 1369 CE (in Podili taluka).

Suryadevara vari Samsthanam : Suryadevara Nayaks ruled Pulivarru Seema in the Repalli taluk of Guntur district and were commanders in the army of vijayanagar kings in 14th, 15th and 16th  centuries. The Suryadevara Nayaks are seen in the inscriptions from 1500 CE onwards. They played a prominent role in the battles of krishnaraya with gajapati kings of Kalinga. They ruled Pulivarru seema in the Repalli taluk of Guntur district. They belonged to Vipparla Gothra and had titles such as Orayuri Puravihara, Puliyatalataraya, Gandabherunda, Gandaraganda, Karavalabhairava, Rajivachurakara, Viskhapattana talagundugandara, Katakahannibbaraganda, Saptadivichurakara andKadanaprasanga which point out their display of valour in battles at Vishakapatnam, Cuttak, Aratlakota etc. They constructed Rachru and Peteru forts. Prominent Suryadevara nayaks were Timma, Yerra and Musalaya. The Suryadevara fortunes declined after the battle of tallikota. Rachuru fort was given to a Velama Zamindar Manikyarao by Golkonda ruler Qutub shah in 1600 CE.

Vaasireddi vari Samsthanam: Vaasireddy Pothineedu was the first known person who ruled near Pitapuram during Reddy dynasty period. Later they shifted their base to Nandigama-Penuganchiprolu area. Afterwards they ruled nandigama paragana, kondapalli seema with 218 villages. Hyderabad nawabs grated them another 333 villages in Kondaveedu seema, Guntur district. With that their territory increased to 551 villages. During Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu regime he occupied several other villages without permission of british, Even he did not care british. He purchased several other villages from the defaulted zamindars. At the end their territories extended from Penuganchiprolu to Ongle (pandillapalli), They purchased few villages near Machilipatnam and Rajahmundry too. They paid 80,000 pagodas as peshkash. At one point Venkatadri naidu asked the british for entire guntur district for a peshkash of 3,00,000 pagodas. He has a bunglow in Amaravati worth 50,00,000/-, with some gold ariticles. Later his adopted sons sold all the gold for court cases purpose. The vasireddy dynasty ended in mid 19th century due to property dispute between their two adopted sons. Several areas like Penganchiprolu, Nandigama, Jaggaihpeta, Chebrolu, Vinukonda, Mangalagiri, Amaravati, Ponnuru, Bellamkonda were under their rule

List of Rulers :

Pothineedu (AD 1413)

Mallikarjunudu (AD 1500 - 1527)

Sadasivarayalu

Ramanna ( AD 1668-1686 )

China Padmanabhudu ( AD 1686-1712 )

Buchi Raghavaiah ( AD 1712-1714 )

Chandramouli ( AD 1714-1722 )

Peda Narasanna ( AD 1722-1727 )

Peda Suranna ( AD 1727-1738 )

China Suranna ( AD 1738-1740 )

China Narasabhupathi ( AD 1740-1758 )

China Ramalingam ( AD 1758-1760 )

Naganna ( AD 1760-1763 )

Ramanna ( AD 1763-1783 )

Jagganna ( AD 1763-1765 )

Venkatadri Naidu ( AD 1783-1816 )

Yarlagadda vari Samsthanam : Yarlagadda vari Samsthanam established in 16th century and ended in 20th century. They had 100 villages in their Zamindari surrounding Challapalli village, Krishna district. The famous king was Raja Yarlagadda Ankeeneedu ruled from 1710-1723.

Vasireddy zamindari - Muktyala  -  This zamindari was established by Vasireddy Chandramouli.  They ruled over 23 villages  surrounding Jaggaiahpeta in 19th and 20th century.

Balusu zamindari - Kapileswarapuram - This zamindari was established by Balusu Sarvarayudu in 1818 CE. They ruled over 12 villages in east godavari district.

Several kamma nayaks were appointed as samantha rajas during Velanati chodas, vijayanagar rayas, Gajapati kings, etc below is the list of prominent families among them

• Macha family (Guntur dist)
• Adapa family (Gunturu & Krishna dist)
• Gollapudi family (Nellore dist)
• Ravi family (Prakasam dist)
• Divi family (Prakasam dist)
• Dasari family (Krishna dist)
• Medarametla family (Prakasam dist)
• Mandadi family
• Podillapalli family
• Koneru family (Krishna dist)
• Kamineni family (Biccavolu & kalidindi)
• Sakhamuri family (Guntur dist)
• Chirumamilla family (Guntur & Krishna dist)
• Bokkasam family (Guntur & kurnool dist)
• Atluri family (Krishna dist)
• Vemula family (Guntur dist)
• Katta family (Krishna dist)
• Konda family
• Kilari family (Kavali)
• Paruchuri family (Prakasam dist)
• Alamandala family (Prakasam dist)
• Chode family
• Nalla family
• Yalamati family
• Indlamudi family
• Vantipilli family (Prolunadu, kakinada, kalapakanadu)
• Muppalla family
• Gurijala family (Sabbi mandalam)
• Saronathas (Eluru)
• Saagi family (Guntur dist)
• Tumaati family
• Talluri family
• Uppala family
• Manchella family
• Tangeti family
• Kurapati family
• Uppalapati family
• Challa family
• Godugu family (Chennuri seema)
• Bandaru family
• Kondapalli family
• Kandimalla family
• Pamulapati family
• Surapaneni family (Guntur dist)
• Morumpudi family

Zamindari clans durng british period :

Adusumilli  - Rangapuram

Sunkavalli  -  Markondapadu

Alluri  -  Annavarapupeta

Pendyala  -  Dommeru

Chitturi  -  Katavaram

Mullapudi  -  Vundrajavaram

Jagarlamudi  -  Kommalapadu

Manne  -  Gummampadu & Paidimarri

Yarlagadda - Katuru

Manam - Velpucherla mukasa

Madala - Surepalli mukasa

Yarlagadda - Cherukuru

Shakamuri - Kocherla mukasa

Chaava - Chandarlapadu

Karuturi - Duvva estate of peddapuram zamindari

Anchuru - Bandepalli

Yalamanchili  - Koniki mukasa

Lingam  - Ramannagudem mukasa

Kotha - Gangappalem

Yarlagadda - Pedavegi

Koduri - Komar

Mallipeddi   -   Tellapadu

Immani   - Malakapalli
Kodali - Appikatla  
Vakkiligadda - 3 Majra villages, Krishna dist.  

Chowdaries :

Ibrahim Qutubshah captured kondavidu in 1579, Rayarao his marata commander appointed chowdaries to 497 villages. Prominent among them

Nallamothu clan - Nadendla

Alapati clan - Ponnuru

Vadlamudi clan - Ravipadu

Suryadevara, Kosaraju, Vemulapalli clans - Pulivarru

Devabhaktuni clan - Chebrolu

Melimi, Yalamanchali clans - Meduru

Manam clan - Santaravuru

Paruchuru clan

Dasari clan - purushottapatnam

According to kamma vari chatuvulu Khaja, Regula, Pinnamaneni, Jasti, Parvataneni, Kommineni, Kodali, Mandava, Vellanki, Karlapudi, Mullanki, Chalasani, Boppana, Lingam, Maganti, Virapaneni, Kalagara, Kamineni, Tammareddy clans also worked as chowdaries

Rayalaseema Palegallu :

Palegar was the feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and petty kings appointed by the Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai Nayakars during the 16th–18th centuries. Most of the palegars were from Boya, Golla and Ekari castes. Few kamma clans were also appointed as palegars,  like

• Mikkilineni clan
• Chunduru clan
• Sammeta clan
• Yenugula clan
• Narravula clan
• Gogataneni clan
• Malempati clan
• Cheruku clan
• Kuchi clan
• Battina clan
• Nallamvaripalle palegar
• Maddineni palem palegar

During vijayanagar kingdom one kamma palegar was ruling in Anantapur district and one in Bellary district. During vijayanagar kingdom there were 37 kamma samantha nayaks and 66 kamma prabhus. Kaifiyats were source for palegars history. There were also few zamindars in seema like Lingamneni family, Kurra family, Payyavula family, Maddipatla family etc. 

Madurai Nayackers :

In 1538, the Vijayanagara commander Kotikam Nagama Nayaka defeated Veerasekara Chola who occupied the Pandyan region. However, Nagama Nayakka declared independence from the Vijayanagara dynasty instead of handing back the kingdom. To check the rebellion of Nagama Nayaka, emperor Krishnadevaraya sent a large force under Viswanatha Nayak. Vishwanatha Nayaka was the son of Nagama Nayaka. Viswanatha eventually defeated and imprisoned his father. He was rewarded by the Vijayanagara king who made him the Viceroy of the Tamil Country. Krishnadeva Raya did not punish Nagama Nayak. The emperor gave him some religious work and allowed him to attend the royal court. Viswanatha Nayaka obeyed the orders of the Vijayanagara king nominally, and placed the Pandya on the throne who ruled for a while. However, Vishwanatha Nayaka later set out to rule on his own account; and in 1559 when the Vijayanagara Kingdom was in decline, he established a dynastic rule. After Vishwanatha Nayaka took over the country, it was held by his kin for two centuries, with a few short periods of break, until Sultans took it in 1736. Vishwanathanayak, Tirumala Nayak were great kings in Madurai nayaks. Madurai nayackers were relatives of pemmasani clan. 

List of kings:

Viswanatha nayak (1529-1563)

Kumara Krishnappa nayak (1563-1573)

Muttu krishsnappa nayak (1602-1609)

Muttu virappa nayak (1609-1623)

Thirumalai nayak (1623-1659)

Muthu alakadri nayak (1659-1662)

Chokkanatha nayak (1662-1682)

Rangakrishna muthu virappa nayak (1682-1689)

Rani Mangammal (1689-1704)

Vijayaranga chokkanatha nayak (1704-1731)

Rani Meenakshi (1731-1736)

British record :

Viajya Meenakshi Naidu, the minister to the King of Madura gave the following testimony in writing to the East India Company about Pemmasani family

" It is also said that the Pemmasani Naidus went against Kerala, took possession of the place and restored it to Muddu Veerappa Naidu, King of Madhra and Trichinapally, who sought their aid.

The ancestors of the Pemmasani family, during the reign of the Royars, where the rulers of Gandikota. After the fall of the place, they repaired to our domains, when Viswanatha Naick, The King of Madura, conferred on them the Jaghir of Kuruvi Kulam. All the Polegars, with the exception of the Polegar of Kuruvi Kulam, under the jurisdiction of the King of Madhura. whenever they went to their King, whould pay homage to him by prostrating themselves before him after placing in his presence flowers made of silver and gold and also a silk cloth, and then stand at a respectful distance with folded hands. On the contrary, when ever the Pemmasani Naidus were announced before the King, he would welcome them by shaking their hands and offering them an equal seat."

Madurai nayaks appointed some of their relatives as governors to provinces in Madurai kingdom. Descendants of Madurai Nayak kings were living in Vellikuruchi village. Local Courts accepted them as Madurai nayackers descendants. 

Kandy Nayaks :
The Nayaks of Kandy (also referred to as the were the rulers of the kingdom of kandy between 1739 to 1815, and the last dynasty to rule on the island. Their rise to power came about as a result of the death of Vira Narendrasinha, who left no legitimate heir- the throne passed to his brother-in-law, who was crowned as Sri Vijaya Rajasinha in 1739. 

List of rulers:
Sri Vijaya raja singha (1739 - 1747)
Kirti Sri raja singha (1747-1782)
Sri Rajadhi raja singha (1782-1798)
Sri Vikram raja singha (1798-1815)


During Vijayanagar kingdom and Nayaka kingdom there were several kamma samsthanams in Tamilnadu, notable are

• Pemmasani clan - Kurvikulam 
• Ravella clan - Ilavarasanandal, Tirukottapalli / Koviladi 
• Bellam clan - Seevelpatti 
• Pemmasani clan - Nayakar patti 
• Golla clan - Ninaynandel, Chandragiri, Thiruvatturu 
• Pemmasani clan - Thiruvalluru - Chengalpattu 
• Bollini clan - Melkalatturu 
• Kotha clan - Tiruchi 
• Tummal clan - Gudiyattam 
• Bangaru Tirumal family - Vellikuruchi, Dindigal

Martial clans in tamilnadu : Kakarla, Rachakondla, Namburu, Pacha, Ravuri, Nadendla, Duggina, Nalla 

On a stone lying in a field at Mukkamala, Guntur Taluk, Guntur District. S. 1130.

States that Vipparula Kondapa-Nayaka and Gundapa-Nayaka of Durjay-anvavaya made gifts of land to certain temples and also to certain persons, presumably servants of the temples, for the merit of Ketaraju.


On four faces of a pillar set up in front of the linga on the north side of the kitchen in the temple of Tripurantakesvara, Tripurantakam, Markapur Taluk, Prakasam District. S. 1131.
States that Melambika, sister of Kakatiya Ganapatideva and wife of Ekkadi Malla-Rudra, son of Buddaraja, chief of Natavadi consecrated the image of Mailambikesvara in the temple of Tripurantaka and endowed it with land in the village of Dittalu. Gives the Kakatiya genealogy


On a pillar in the Amareswara temple, guntur. Records in S. 1079, I&vara, gift of sheep for a lamp by Kavaliya-Singana-Peggada, the minister of the Mahamandalesvara Potaraja, the son of Chagi-Dora of the Durjaya family.


On a pillar lying in the prakara of the same temple. Records in S. 1082 gift of two
lamps by Kallaya-Nayaka, the younger brother of Pota, the son of Chagi-Dora of the Durjaya family, and by his wife, who was the daughter of Muchchaya-Nayaka of Rachchuru, of the same family.


On a slab planted in front of the temple of Gopalasvami, Pinnali, Palnad Taluk, Guntur District. S. 1214. States that Bollaya-Nayaka chief of Madapalli on the southern bank of the Godavari rebuilt the temple of Bhimanatha of Pingali and endowed it with land.
Rao Bahadur: (British Titles) :

Bollini Munuswamy Naidu
Kakarla Rangaswamy Naidu
Kovelamudi Gopala Krishnaiah
Jagarlamudi Kuppuswamy Chaudary
Chalasani Satyanarayna Chaudary
Balusu Buchi Sarvarayudu
Kosaraju Ramayya Chaudary

Kammavar Naidus in Tamil Nadu:

Unlike mainland, there were several divisions in kammas in the past in Tamil Nadu 1. Pedda Kammas / Goda Chatu Kammas 2.Chinna Kammas/ Gampa Kammas 3.Gandi Kota Kammas.                                     4. Vaduga Kammas                                               5. Kota Kammas                                                      6. Kudi paita Kammas                                            7. Eda Paita Kammas.                               8.Bamgaru Kammas.                                        Now all these divisions vanished. It is due to girls  with higher educational qualification, not getting the boy within their division. It can be seen in marriage rituals where elders pointing out the customs pertaining to their division.