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Rudrama Devi

April 28, 2023

For the 2015 film, see Rudhramadevi (film). For the 2021 television series, see Rudramadevi (TV series).

Rudrama Devi (r. c. 1262-1289), also known by her regnal name Rudra-deva Maharaja, was a Kakatiya queen regnant who ruled substantial parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India. She was among the few and the most successful female rulers of Indian history.

Rudrama-devi
Raya-gaja-kesari
A 21st century statue of Rudrama
Reignc. 1262–1289
PredecessorGanapati-deva
SuccessorPrataparudra
Died1289 or 1295
Possibly at Chandupatla
(now in Telangana, India)
SpouseVirabhadra
Regnal name
Rudra-deva Maharaja
DynastyKakatiya dynasty
FatherGanapati-deva

Rudrama's father and predecessor Ganapati, who had no son, appointed her as his co-regent around 1260. By 1263, Rudrama became the sole ruler, although she was not formally not anointed as a sovereign at least until 1269. Early during her reign, Rudrama appears to have faced a revolt, which she was able to suppress with the support of her loyalists. She recovered some of the territories that the Kakatiyas had lost to their southern neighbours - the Pandyas - during the late 1250s and the early 1260s. She also repulsed invasions by the Seunas (Yadavas) from the north-west, and the Gajapatis from the north-east. In the 1270s and the 1280s, Rudrama lost much of her southern territory to a revolt by the Kayastha chief Amba-deva, and likely lost her life in a conflict against him in 1289. Her grandson Prataparudra succeeded her on the Kakatiya throne.

The reign of Rudrama was remarkable for the rise of several non-aristocratic warriors in the Kakatiya service. She strengthened the Warangal Fort by raising the height of its inner wall and constructing an outer wall surrounded by a moat.

Early life

Rudrama-devi, also known as Rudramba, was a daughter of her predecessor Ganapati. Kumara-svami Somapithi, in his commentary on Vidyanatha's Prataparudra-yashobhushanam, states that Rudrama was a daughter of Ganapati by queen Somamba. However, at another place in the same text, he incorrectly names Rudrama as the chief queen of Ganapati. Some other sources also incorrectly describe Rudrama as a wife of Ganapati, including the Venetian traveler Marco Polo (who visited the Kakatiya kingdom around 1293 CE), and the 17th-century text Pratapa-charitra. However, contemporary epigraphic evidence makes it clear that Rudrama was a daughter of Ganapati, not his wife.[1]

Rudrama married Vira-bhadra, a son of Indu-shekhara, the Chalukya chief of Nidadavolu.[2] There are several instances of Kakatiya monarchs reinstating defeated families to power and establishing marital relations with them: it is possible that Ganapati had subjugated this Chalukya branch during his conquest of Vengi in 1240. He probably arranged Rudrama's marriage shortly after,[3] in order to secure the political allegiance of the Chalukyas of Nidadavolu.[4]

Ascension

Ganapati apparently retired after suffering defeats at his southern frontier, against the Pandyas, in the late 1250s.[5] He had no male heir,[6] and nominated Rudrama as his successor. She began to rule as a co-regent from c. 1260 under the regnal name Rudra-deva Maharaja.[5] Ganapati probably became too old and weak to govern, and assigned Rudrama to run the government.[7] She appears to have become the sole ruler in 1263.[8]

The 1266 CE Tripuranthakam inscription of the Kakatiya maha-pradhana Pedda Mallaya Preggada mentions Maharaja Ganapati-deva as the ruling sovereign, not Rudrama. The 1269 CE Duggi inscription of the Kakatiya subordinate Janniga-deva describes Rudrama as pattoddhati (a mistake for pattoddhrti, meaning "chose royalty"). This suggests that in 1269, Ganapati was alive and Rudrama had not formally been anointed as a sovereign: officially, she was still a queen designate.[9]

Epigraphic evidence suggests that in the 1260s, the Kakatiyas lost control of several territories that were part of Ganapati's kingdom at its greatest extent. The southernmost territories were lost to the Pandyas, parts of coastal Andhra in the east were lost to the Gajapatis, and parts of Telangana in the north-west were lost to the Seunas (Yadavas).[10] In the Vengi region, no Kakatiya records have been found for the period 1262-1278, which suggests that their former vassals - the Kona Haihaya and the Chalukya chiefs - no longer acknowledged the Kakatiya suzerainty.[11] It is possible that the Kakatiya monarch granted autonomy to the Chalukyas of Nidadavolu, because Vira-bhadra of this family was Rudrama's husband; however, this is not certain.[12]

Revolts

It appears that some nobles and Rudrama's own relatives did not approve of a woman being nominated to the throne. The 17th-century text Pratapa-charitra states that two men named Hari-hara and Murari-deva revolted against Rudrama. The text describes them as Ganapati's sons from his junior queens.[5] It states that they captured the Kakatiya capital Warangal, and ousted Rudrama from there. Rudrama then rallied her supporters, recaptured the fort, and had her half-brothers killed. This account is not supported by any other evidence, and no other source mentions these purported sons of Ganapati.[9] According to the Tripurantakam inscription of Ganapati's sister Mailama, Hari-hara was actually a paternal uncle of Ganapati.[5] Though the historicity of the Pratapa-charitra account is doubtful, it probably preserves the memory of a rebellion against Rudrama.[13]

Pratapa-charitra states that Prasaditya assumed the titles Kakatiya-rajya-sthapan-acharya (Sanskrit for "a pillar of support for the Kakatiya kingdom"[14]) and Raya-pitamahanka, highlighting his role in the re-establishment of the Kakatiya power. It is Prasaditya's family chronicle, so it exaggerates his role in suppressing the rebellion against Rudrama. Several other chiefs assumed similar titles, which suggests that they may have also helped Rudrama suppress the rebellion.[13] For example:

  • The following Kakatiya subordinates assumed the title Raya-sthapan-acharya in their inscriptions dating from 1275 to 1290 CE:[13][15][5]
    • Maha-pradhana Kannara-nayaka (or Kandara-nayaka)
    • Maha-pradhana Ganapati-deva (or Ganapad-deva) Maharajulu
    • Nisshanka Mallikarjuna Nayaka
    • Amba-deva of Kayastha family
  • The Malayala chief Gundaya-nayaka and Madaya-nayaka assumed the epithets (biruda) svami-drohara-ganda[13]
  • Machaya Nayaka bore the epithet svami-drohara-ganda and svami-vamchakara-ganda[13]

Some early 14th-century chiefs, such as Devari Nayadu (fl. 1313-1317) and Kachaya Reddi, also bear similar titles, but they likely did not fight for Rudrama; they probably assumed these titles after fighting against the invasions from the Delhi Sultanate.[13]

Reign

Conflict with the Gajapatis in coastal Andhra

Epigraphic evidence suggests that during much of the 1260s and 1270s, the Gajapatis from the north-east maintained a presence in the coastal Andhra region, which was a part of Ganapati's kingdom at its greatest extent. For example, a 1262 CE Draksharamam inscription mentions Nara-simha-naradhipa ("Narasimha, the lord of men"), who was most probably the Gajapati king Narasimha I. Bhanudeva I, the son of Narasimha, invaded Vengi around 1274 CE, as attested by his two inscriptions at Draksharamam.[10] Arjuna-deva, the Matsya chief of Oddadi, as well as other chiefs, accompanied him.[12]

Rudrama sent an army led by the brothers Poti Nayaka and Proli Nayaka against the Gajapati forces. The two brothers assumed the titles Gajapati-matta-matanga-simha ("lion to the rutting elephant") and Oddiyaraya-manamardana ("the destroyer of the pride of the Odia king"). This suggest that they repulsed the Gajapati invasion.[12] Their army appears to have re-established the Kakatiya authority in much of the coastal Andhra region, with the Gajapati power restricted to the north of the Godavari River.[10]

The Kakatiya rule in the region is attested by a 1278-1279 CE inscription of Karaparti Suraya Reddi, who describes himself as a servant of Kakatiya Rudradeva Maharaja, that is, Rudrama. His inscription records a gift to the temple of the god Bhimeshvara at Draksharamam.[12] Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Kakatiya control of the coastal Andhra region remained unchallenged during the rest of Rudrama's reign.[13]

Conflicts with the Pandyas and their vassals

Towards the end of the Ganapati's reign the Pandyas had conquered the southernmost part of the Kakatiya territory, including Nellore, and their vassals ruled this area in the subsequent years.[16] The 1264 CE and 1269 CE inscriptions of Rudrama's Kayastha subordinate Janniga-deva claim that he ruled the area extending from Panugal in the north to Kaivaram-kota in the south;[16] Ganapati had conferred this area as a fief upon him.[17] However, epigraphic evidence suggests that much of this area was controlled by Pandya allies: the Kalukada chiefs Keshava-deva and his brother Raya-murari Soma-deva.[18]

An undated Chidambaram inscription of the Pandya prince Vikrama states that he did not march further north because he did not want to fight a woman who had assumed the name of a king. According to historians N. Venkataramanayya and M. Somasekhara Sarma, this may be euphemistic cover for his failed expedition against Rudrama.[16]

Inscriptions of Rudrama and her subordinates, discovered in the Kadapa and Nellore areas, suggest that Kakatiyas regained control over some of the territory that they had earlier lost to the Pandyas:[19]

  • The 1264 CE Nandalur inscription of Nagaraja, the pradhani of Rudrama's subordinate Janniga-deva, records a gift to the temple of Samuya-natha-svami.[19]
  • The 1268 CE Atluru inscription near Siddavatam also attests to Janniga-deva's control over the area. Although the inscription is damaged, and the name of the issuer is lost, his titles and date indicate that he was Janniga-deva.[19]
  • Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Kakatiyas also ousted the Pandya vassal Vira Rajendra Chola (likely Rajendra Chola III[16]) from Nellore. Mahamandaleshvara Naga-deva Maharaja, a vassal of Rudrama, ruled at Nellore during 1271-1275.[19]

The Kakatiya subordinates soon lost these territories to rival chiefs, who were probably Pandya vassals. The Telugu Choda chief Vijaya Ganda-gopala appears to have displaced the Kayasthas. Tiru-kalatti-deva II (alias Tribhuvana-chakravarti Irumadi), the eldest son of the former Choda ruler Manuma-siddhi II, appears to have displaced Naga-deva from Nellore in 1263. He apparently ruled Nellore during c. 1279-1283, before another Choda chief Manuma-Gandagopala displaced him.[20]

Conflict with the Seunas

The Seuna (Yadava) king Mahadeva invaded the Kakatiya kingdom during Rudrama's reign. The Seuna records, including Mahadeva's inscriptions and Hemadri's Vrata-khanda, suggest that he achieved military successes against the ruler of Tilinga (Telangana), that is, the Kakatiya monarch. For example, they claim that Mahadeva was "the uprooter of the stalk of the lotus of the head" of the ruler of Tilinga, that he blew away this ruler like a strong wind blows away cotton, and that he "captured in battle the elephants and the five musical instruments" of this ruler.[21] The Vrata-khanda claims that Mahadeva left Rudrama free because he was reluctant to kill a woman.[22] The epithet "the uprooter of the stalk of the lotus of the head" appears to be a hereditary title inherited from his great-grandfather Jaitugi, who is known to have killed a Kakatiya king. Other claims made in the Seuna inscriptions are clear exaggerations.[21]

The records from Telangana suggest that Rudrama not only repulsed the Seuna invasion, but also annexed a part of their territory. The 17th-century text Pratapa-charitra describes the episode as follows: Mahadeva besieged the Kakatiya capital Warangal for 15 days, but Rudrama led the Kakatiya forces to destroy his 300,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry. Rudrama then chased Mahadeva to the Seuna capital Devagiri; there, Mahadeva sued for peace, agreed to pay her 10 million gold coins as war indemnity, and concluded a peace treaty. Rudrama distributed the money among her commanders, set up a victory pillar in the Seuna territory, and returned to her own kingdom.[23]

The Pratapa-charitra claims, such as Rudrama's purported destruction of the 300,000 infantry and 100,000 cavalry, are obvious exaggerations. However, epigraphic and numismatic evidence suggests that Rudrama indeed repulsed a Seuna invasion:[24]

  • A fragmentary Bidar Fort inscription mentions Rudrama's subordinate Bhairava of Sinda family, and states that he accompanied Rudrama as a commander of her army in all her expeditions. Bidar is located in the southern part of the traditional Seuna territory, and this inscription may have been issued during Rudrama's offensive against the Seunas, in the Bedadakota (present-day Bidar) area.[25] The inscription mentions her title as Raya-gaja-kesari, which she inherited from her father.[26]
  • A 1267 CE Panugal inscription of records of the Seuna prince Sharnga-pani-deva to the temple of Chhaya-Somanatha. The inscription describes him as a son of the Seuna king Simhana and a subordinate of the Kakatiya Manuma-Rudradeva, that is, Rudrama. According to historian M. Somasekhara Sarma, this Sharnga-pani-deva is same as the Sharnga-pani-deva described in the 1268 CE Hire-Kogilur inscription as the father of Mahadeva. He theorizes that Mahadeva's father Sharnga-pani-deva seized Panagal during the Seuna invasion of the Kakatiya territory, and acknowledged her suzerainty after the Seuna defeat.[24] However, historian P.V.P. Sastry theorizes that Sharnga-pani-deva (or Sarjnapani-deva) of the Panugal inscription was another Seuna prince who sought asylum with the Kakatiyas because of his differences with Mahadeva.[25]
  • In 1922, a set of 43 gold coins issued by Seuna kings was unearthed at Rachapatnam near Kaikaluru. M. Somasekhara Sarma notes that the treasure cannot be considered to be a proof of Seuna presence in the Kakatiya country, as coins travel extensive distances; for example, Roman coins have been found in southern India because of trade. According to him, the coins may have been part of the war indemnity that the Seunas paid to Rudrama according to the Pratapa-charitra.[27]

Amba-deva's revolt

Members of the Kayastha family, who held a fief in the southern part of the Kakatiya kingdom, appear to have been loyal to Rudrama during the tenure of the brothers Janniga-dev and Tripurari-deva.[25] Their younger brother Amba-deva, who became the Kayastha chief in 1272,[20] appears to have been loyal to Rudrama for some time, as suggested by his title raya-sthapanacharya ("a pillar of support for the kingdom"[14]).[11] However, his inscriptions do not mention any overlord, which suggests that he soon asserted independence, giving up his allegiance to Rudrama.[28]

Amba-deva's 1290 CE Tripurantakam inscription, records his military successes, including his victories over the feudatories and allies of Rudrama.[29][28]

  • In 1273, he defeated the Shripati Ganapati, the ruler of the Gurindala (Gurazala or Gurijala) area.[30] A 1268 CE Mutukur inscription suggests that Ganapati was a vassal of Rudrama.[30]
  • Amba-deva claims to have cut off heads of 75 chiefs (nayakas) in battle.[29] These chiefs were probably Rudrama's subordinates, whom she sent to subjugate Amba-deva after his victory over Shripati Ganapati.[30] The number 75 and the beheading claim are likely poetic exaggeration, and may be interpreted to mean that Amba-deva simply defeated the entire Kakatiya army.[31]
  • Amba-deva claims to have caused his destruction or ruin (vidhvamsa) of Kopperunjinga alias Kadava-raya,[31] a Pandya vassal who was also possibly a Kakatiya ally at the time.[32]
  • Sometime before 1281, Amba-deva appointed Manuma Ganda-gopala on the throne of Nellore.[33][31]
  • Amba-deva defeated Manu-Mallideva, the Telugu Choda ruler of the Eruva region, and annexed his territories.{sfn|R.S. Sharma|1957|p=221}} Although Manu-Mallideva's inscriptions do not mention any overlord, he may have been a Kakatiya subordinate.[34]
  • Amba-deva also defeated the Pandya ruler Maravarman Kulashekhara, and his allies, the Kalukada chiefs.[35] He established a marital alliance with a chief named Bollaya, and conquered the Pendekallu area.[34][29]

With these victories, Amba-deva carved out an independent principality that included almost all of the former south-western parts of the Kakatiya territory to the south of the Krishna River.[33] As a result, at the time of Rudrama's death, the Kakatiya kingdom was smaller than the one she had inherited; nevertheless, it was still larger than it had been during the early part of her father's reign.[36] The distribution of inscriptions that mention her as sovereign suggests that the Kakatiya sphere of influence shrank during her reign.[37]

Death

 
The 1289 CE Chandupatla inscription that mentions the death of Rudrama

Rudrama appears to have been killed in November 1289 CE by Amba-deva's forces. This theory is supported by the following evidence:[38]

  • The 27 November 1289 Chandupatla inscription records warrior Puvvula Mummadi's gift of some land to the god Soma-natha-deva, for the merit of Rudrama (called "Kakati Rudrama-devi") and her general Mallikarjuna-nayaka. It states that both of them had attained Shiva-loka, that is, died, presumably a few days before the date of the record.[39]
  • A 1290 CE inscription, issued by Mallikarjuna's son Immadi Mallikarjuna-nayaka, attests that Mallikarjuna was a general of Rudrama; this inscription was issued for the merit of "Kumara Rudra-deva Maharaja".[39]
  • These inscriptions suggest that Rudrama and her general Mallikarjuna died at the same time. According to historian P.V.P. Sastry, Rudrama was likely very old at the time - around eighty years - and therefore, probably did not lead her forces in a battle. However, she may have accompanied her army - commanded by Mallikarjuna - to inspire them.[39]
  • Amba-deva's 1290 CE Tripurantakam inscription states he deprived Mallikarjuna-pati of seven limbs. This Mallikarjuna, whom the inscription describes as an enemy of gods and brahmanas, appears to be same as Rudrama's general Mallikarjuna.[40] In this context, the "seven limbs" appear to refer to the seven constituent members of Mallikarjuna's royalty,[28] defined in the Sanskrit thesaurus Amara-ksoha as "king, minister, friend, treasury, territory, forts and forces".[40]
  • Amba-deva's revolt is the only political disturbance known to have taken place in the Kakatiya kingdom around 1289 CE. Besides claiming to have deprived Mallikarjuna of his overlord (one of the "limbs"),[41] Amba-deva also claims to have "vanquished" all the kings of Andhra.[34] This suggests that he was responsible for killing Rudrama: according to Sastry, he did not explicitly state that he killed Rudrama, because boasting about killing an old woman would have discredited him as a warrior.[40]

In 2017, archaeologist D. Kanna Babu of Archaeological Survey of India identified two sculptures at Pochalamma temple in Bollikunta as depictions of Rudrama. The first sculpture shows her riding a horse with reins in her left hand and a sword in her right hand; it features an overhead umbrella - the royal insignia. The second sculpture shows her tired, seated sorrowfully, and leaning towards left; the royal umbrella is missing, presumably because she lost it in the battle; and there is a buffalo - the vehicle of Yama, the lord of death. According to Babu's interpretation, the sculptures depict Rudrama's death in a battle against Amba-deva.[42]

Around 1291, during the reign of Rudrama's successor Prataparudra, the Kakatiya forces defeated Amba-deva.[43] Earlier historians believed that Rudramadevi ruled until 1295, because some records before this year name Prataparudra as Kumara (Prince) Rudra.[44] However, the discovery of the Chandupatla inscription confirmed that Rudramadevi died before 27 November 1289.[39][45] Moreover, some records before 1295 (such as the 1292 Inkirala inscription) call Prataparudra a Maharaja ("great king"). It appears that Prataparudra continued to be called Kumara Rudra for some years after ascending the throne, because this was a familiar usage.[44]

Administration

According to an early 14th-century text, Rudrama's father Ganapati considered her equal to a son, and therefore, decided to use a male persona for her.[46] Rudrama thus promoted a male image to rule in a patrilineal society that traditionally excluded women from political power: she assumed a male name and wore masculine clothing.[47] Her husband Vira-bhadra finds few mentions in historical records and did not actively participate in the administration.[36]

Rudrama recruited several non-aristocratic warriors into the Kakatiya service: her successor Prataparudra as well as the later Vijayanagara rulers adopted this policy as well.[36] Epigraphic evidence suggests that during and after the later part of Ganapati's reign, the number and proportion of officers (as opposed to chiefs and princes) among individuals acknowledging Kakatiya overlordship increased significantly. For example, out of the 34 Kakatiya subordinates known from Kakatiya inscriptions during the early part of Ganapati's reign (c. 1199-1230 CE), 47% were chiefs and princes, while 26% were officers. From Rudrama's reign, 63 subordinates are known: only 17% of these were chiefs and princes, while 38% were officers. This suggests that, during this period, the noble families declined while the importance of the officers grew.[48] In the Kakatiya administration, the officers with the designation anga-rakshaka (bodyguard) first appeared during Rudrama's rule, and virtually disappeared during the reign of her successor Prataparudra.[14]

The Malayala and Recherla chiefs, who played an important role during the reigns of the preceding kings Rudra and Ganapati, appear to have retired from active service during Rudrama's reign. New chiefs, such as Reddis of Gona family and the Velamas, emerged as the important generals during her time.[11]

Notable subordinates of Rudrama included:

  • The Reddi chiefs of the Gona family: Gona Gannaya and his general Vitthala helped Rudrama's successor Prataparudra conquer the Bellary and Raichur forts from the Seunas.[49]
  • The Velama chief Prasaditya, who commanded the south-western region of the Kakatiya kingdom.[49]
  • The Kayastha brothers Janniga-deva, Tripurantaka (alias Tripurari), and Amba-deva, who ruled in succession.[25] Amba-deva appears to have been loyal to Rudrama for some time, as suggested by his title raya-sthapan-acharya, before he asserted independence.[11]
  • The Are vassals migrated from western Deccan to the Srisailam area, which came to be known as Are-bhumi or Are-vidu. Sharnga-pani-deva, a son of the Seuna king Simhana, was the most important Are vassal of Rudrama. Ranaka Gopa-deva-raja, a military commander mentioned in the 1273 CE Gundalapadu inscription, was another chief of Are ancestry.[49]
  • Bhairava, son of Maila of Sinda family, was a vassal of Rudrama. According to the Bidar inscription, he assisted the queen in her successful military campaigns in Vengi, Dravila, and the Seuna kingdom.[50]
  • Sura, a chief (samanta) of the Viriyala family, served the queen as a military commander (senadhipati) in the northern region.[50]
  • The chiefs of the Cheraku family served as Rudrama's commanders in the southern region.[50]
  • Minister (maha-pradhana) and commander (senadhipati) Annaya-deva of Induluri family was Rudrama's son-in-law.[51]
  • Ponkala Mallaya Preggada, another maha-pradhana, held the office of bahattara-niyogadhipati,[50] the superintendent of 72 niyogas or royal offices.[17]

Constructions

Rudrama continued the fortification of Warangal by raising the height of a curtain wall, approximately 0.75 miles (1.21 km) in diameter, to 20 feet (6.1 m). This wall was made of granite blocks, was surrounded by a wide moat, and had 45 bastions, which were 40-60 feet on a side. She also commissioned the construction of an outer earthen wall, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in diameter, and surrounded by an additional 150 150 feet (46 m)-wide moat.[52]

Rudrama built a ranga-mandapa dedicated to her family deity Svayambhu-deva (Shiva) in the Warangal Fort. A sculpture discovered among the ruins of this structure depicts her as a lion-mounted warrior holding a dagger and a shield in her hands. The image also depicts an elephant holding a lotus in its trunk: according to historian P.V.P. Sastry, it represents Rudrama's title Raya-gaja-kesari.[53]

Family and succession

Rudrama and her husband Vira-bhadra had three daughters: Mummadamma, Rudrama, and Ruyyama (alias Ruyyamba).[2] According to Vidyanatha's Prataparudra-Yashobhushana, Mummadamma married Mahadeva.[50] Rudrama, the princess who shared her mother's name, married the Seuna (Yadava) prince Yellana-deva (or Ellana-deva[2]), who held a fief near Guntur, as suggested by his Alapadu inscription.[54] Ruyyama married the minister and commander Annaya-deva of Induluri family, who was a son of Gannaya.[51]

Since queen Rudrama had no son, her father Ganapati asked her to adopt Mummadamma's son Prataparudra alias Vira-rudra as her own son. Rudrama did so, and nominated Prataparudra as her successor.[50]

Rudrama had a sister named Ganapama-devi (or Ganapamba), who married Beta of Kota family.[6]

In popular culture

Among the historical rulers of India, Rudrama was one of the few women who inherited the throne from her father. She was also among the most successful women rulers of medieval South Asia, by the length of her reign as well as by the area of her kingdom. The historical traditions written in the centuries immediately following her death did not celebrate her as an important female monarch, and instead presented her as a widow queen who ruled on behalf of her infant son. However, in the 20th century, she became a source of regional pride in the Andhra Pradesh (later split into Telangana).[46]

In 2015, filmmaker Gunasekhar made a Telugu film Rudhramadevi on the life of Rudrama Devi with Anushka Shetty playing the titular role.[55]

Peninsula Pictures produced a serial on Star Maa titled Rudramadevi which pictured the childhood of Rudramadevi to the TV viewers for 100 episodes.[56]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 620.
  2. ^ a b c P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 128.
  3. ^ Cynthia Talbot 2001, pp. 155–156.
  4. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 112.
  5. ^ a b c d e R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 218.
  6. ^ a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 615.
  7. ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, pp. 620–621.
  8. ^ Cynthia Talbot 2001, p. 273.
  9. ^ a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 621.
  10. ^ a b c R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 219.
  11. ^ a b c d R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 224.
  12. ^ a b c d Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 623.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 622.
  14. ^ a b c Cynthia Talbot 2001, p. 159.
  15. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 119.
  16. ^ a b c d Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 624.
  17. ^ a b R.S. Sharma 1957, pp. 214–218.
  18. ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, pp. 624–625.
  19. ^ a b c d Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 627.
  20. ^ a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 628.
  21. ^ a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 625.
  22. ^ R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 219-220.
  23. ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, pp. 625–626.
  24. ^ a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 626.
  25. ^ a b c d R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 220.
  26. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, pp. 121–122.
  27. ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 626-627.
  28. ^ a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 629.
  29. ^ a b c R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 221.
  30. ^ a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 630.
  31. ^ a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 631.
  32. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 124.
  33. ^ a b R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 222.
  34. ^ a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960, p. 633.
  35. ^ Ghulam Yazdani 1960, pp. 629, 632.
  36. ^ a b c Cynthia Talbot 2008, p. 612.
  37. ^ Cynthia Talbot 2001, p. 134.
  38. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 125-126.
  39. ^ a b c d P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 125.
  40. ^ a b c P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 126.
  41. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, pp. 125–126.
  42. ^ K. Venkateshwarlu (5 December 2017). "Two sculptures of Rani Rudrama Devi shed light on her death". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  43. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, pp. 129–130.
  44. ^ a b P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 129.
  45. ^ B. Satyanarayana Singh 1999, p. 3.
  46. ^ a b Cynthia Talbot 2008, pp. 612–613.
  47. ^ Barbara N. Ramusack 1999, p. 37.
  48. ^ Cynthia Talbot 2001, p. 158.
  49. ^ a b c P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 127.
  50. ^ a b c d e f R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 225.
  51. ^ a b R.S. Sharma 1957, pp. 225–226.
  52. ^ Richard M. Eaton 2005, p. 17.
  53. ^ P.V.P. Sastry 1978, p. 122.
  54. ^ R.S. Sharma 1957, p. 226.
  55. ^ . The Times of India. 6 October 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  56. ^ "Rani Rudrama Devi to begin on Star Maa". Telugu Cinema. Retrieved 16 January 2021.

Bibliography

  • B. Satyanarayana Singh (1999). The Art and Architecture of the Kākatīyas. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-86050-34-7.
  • Barbara N. Ramusack (1999). "Women in South Asia". In Barbara N. Ramusack; Sharon L. Sievers (eds.). Women in Asia: Restoring Women to History. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-25321-267-2.
  • Cynthia Talbot (2008). "Rudrama‐devi, Queen of Kakatiya dynasty (r. 1262–1289". In Bonnie G. Smith (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History. Vol. 3. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195148909.001.0001. ISBN 9780195148909.
  • Cynthia Talbot (2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195136616.
  • 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. ISBN 9788170691259. 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.
  • Richard M. Eaton (2005). A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521254847.
  • P.V.P. Sastry (1978). N. Ramesan (ed.). The Kākatiyas of Warangal. Hyderabad: Government of Andhra Pradesh. OCLC 252341228.

External links

  •   Media related to Rudrama Devi at Wikimedia Commons


April 28, 2023
rudrama, devi, 2015, film, rudhramadevi, film, 2021, television, series, rudramadevi, series, 1262, 1289, also, known, regnal, name, rudra, deva, maharaja, kakatiya, queen, regnant, ruled, substantial, parts, present, telangana, andhra, pradesh, southern, indi. For the 2015 film see Rudhramadevi film For the 2021 television series see Rudramadevi TV series Rudrama Devi r c 1262 1289 also known by her regnal name Rudra deva Maharaja was a Kakatiya queen regnant who ruled substantial parts of present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in southern India She was among the few and the most successful female rulers of Indian history Rudrama deviRaya gaja kesariA 21st century statue of RudramaReignc 1262 1289PredecessorGanapati devaSuccessorPrataparudraDied1289 or 1295Possibly at Chandupatla now in Telangana India SpouseVirabhadraRegnal nameRudra deva MaharajaDynastyKakatiya dynastyFatherGanapati devaRudrama s father and predecessor Ganapati who had no son appointed her as his co regent around 1260 By 1263 Rudrama became the sole ruler although she was not formally not anointed as a sovereign at least until 1269 Early during her reign Rudrama appears to have faced a revolt which she was able to suppress with the support of her loyalists She recovered some of the territories that the Kakatiyas had lost to their southern neighbours the Pandyas during the late 1250s and the early 1260s She also repulsed invasions by the Seunas Yadavas from the north west and the Gajapatis from the north east In the 1270s and the 1280s Rudrama lost much of her southern territory to a revolt by the Kayastha chief Amba deva and likely lost her life in a conflict against him in 1289 Her grandson Prataparudra succeeded her on the Kakatiya throne The reign of Rudrama was remarkable for the rise of several non aristocratic warriors in the Kakatiya service She strengthened the Warangal Fort by raising the height of its inner wall and constructing an outer wall surrounded by a moat Contents 1 Early life 2 Ascension 2 1 Revolts 3 Reign 3 1 Conflict with the Gajapatis in coastal Andhra 3 2 Conflicts with the Pandyas and their vassals 3 3 Conflict with the Seunas 3 4 Amba deva s revolt 4 Death 5 Administration 6 Constructions 7 Family and succession 8 In popular culture 9 See also 10 References 10 1 Bibliography 11 External linksEarly life EditRudrama devi also known as Rudramba was a daughter of her predecessor Ganapati Kumara svami Somapithi in his commentary on Vidyanatha s Prataparudra yashobhushanam states that Rudrama was a daughter of Ganapati by queen Somamba However at another place in the same text he incorrectly names Rudrama as the chief queen of Ganapati Some other sources also incorrectly describe Rudrama as a wife of Ganapati including the Venetian traveler Marco Polo who visited the Kakatiya kingdom around 1293 CE and the 17th century text Pratapa charitra However contemporary epigraphic evidence makes it clear that Rudrama was a daughter of Ganapati not his wife 1 Rudrama married Vira bhadra a son of Indu shekhara the Chalukya chief of Nidadavolu 2 There are several instances of Kakatiya monarchs reinstating defeated families to power and establishing marital relations with them it is possible that Ganapati had subjugated this Chalukya branch during his conquest of Vengi in 1240 He probably arranged Rudrama s marriage shortly after 3 in order to secure the political allegiance of the Chalukyas of Nidadavolu 4 Ascension EditGanapati apparently retired after suffering defeats at his southern frontier against the Pandyas in the late 1250s 5 He had no male heir 6 and nominated Rudrama as his successor She began to rule as a co regent from c 1260 under the regnal name Rudra deva Maharaja 5 Ganapati probably became too old and weak to govern and assigned Rudrama to run the government 7 She appears to have become the sole ruler in 1263 8 The 1266 CE Tripuranthakam inscription of the Kakatiya maha pradhana Pedda Mallaya Preggada mentions Maharaja Ganapati deva as the ruling sovereign not Rudrama The 1269 CE Duggi inscription of the Kakatiya subordinate Janniga deva describes Rudrama as pattoddhati a mistake for pattoddhrti meaning chose royalty This suggests that in 1269 Ganapati was alive and Rudrama had not formally been anointed as a sovereign officially she was still a queen designate 9 Epigraphic evidence suggests that in the 1260s the Kakatiyas lost control of several territories that were part of Ganapati s kingdom at its greatest extent The southernmost territories were lost to the Pandyas parts of coastal Andhra in the east were lost to the Gajapatis and parts of Telangana in the north west were lost to the Seunas Yadavas 10 In the Vengi region no Kakatiya records have been found for the period 1262 1278 which suggests that their former vassals the Kona Haihaya and the Chalukya chiefs no longer acknowledged the Kakatiya suzerainty 11 It is possible that the Kakatiya monarch granted autonomy to the Chalukyas of Nidadavolu because Vira bhadra of this family was Rudrama s husband however this is not certain 12 Revolts Edit It appears that some nobles and Rudrama s own relatives did not approve of a woman being nominated to the throne The 17th century text Pratapa charitra states that two men named Hari hara and Murari deva revolted against Rudrama The text describes them as Ganapati s sons from his junior queens 5 It states that they captured the Kakatiya capital Warangal and ousted Rudrama from there Rudrama then rallied her supporters recaptured the fort and had her half brothers killed This account is not supported by any other evidence and no other source mentions these purported sons of Ganapati 9 According to the Tripurantakam inscription of Ganapati s sister Mailama Hari hara was actually a paternal uncle of Ganapati 5 Though the historicity of the Pratapa charitra account is doubtful it probably preserves the memory of a rebellion against Rudrama 13 Pratapa charitra states that Prasaditya assumed the titles Kakatiya rajya sthapan acharya Sanskrit for a pillar of support for the Kakatiya kingdom 14 and Raya pitamahanka highlighting his role in the re establishment of the Kakatiya power It is Prasaditya s family chronicle so it exaggerates his role in suppressing the rebellion against Rudrama Several other chiefs assumed similar titles which suggests that they may have also helped Rudrama suppress the rebellion 13 For example The following Kakatiya subordinates assumed the title Raya sthapan acharya in their inscriptions dating from 1275 to 1290 CE 13 15 5 Maha pradhana Kannara nayaka or Kandara nayaka Maha pradhana Ganapati deva or Ganapad deva Maharajulu Nisshanka Mallikarjuna Nayaka Amba deva of Kayastha family The Malayala chief Gundaya nayaka and Madaya nayaka assumed the epithets biruda svami drohara ganda 13 Machaya Nayaka bore the epithet svami drohara ganda and svami vamchakara ganda 13 Some early 14th century chiefs such as Devari Nayadu fl 1313 1317 and Kachaya Reddi also bear similar titles but they likely did not fight for Rudrama they probably assumed these titles after fighting against the invasions from the Delhi Sultanate 13 Reign EditConflict with the Gajapatis in coastal Andhra Edit Epigraphic evidence suggests that during much of the 1260s and 1270s the Gajapatis from the north east maintained a presence in the coastal Andhra region which was a part of Ganapati s kingdom at its greatest extent For example a 1262 CE Draksharamam inscription mentions Nara simha naradhipa Narasimha the lord of men who was most probably the Gajapati king Narasimha I Bhanudeva I the son of Narasimha invaded Vengi around 1274 CE as attested by his two inscriptions at Draksharamam 10 Arjuna deva the Matsya chief of Oddadi as well as other chiefs accompanied him 12 Rudrama sent an army led by the brothers Poti Nayaka and Proli Nayaka against the Gajapati forces The two brothers assumed the titles Gajapati matta matanga simha lion to the rutting elephant and Oddiyaraya manamardana the destroyer of the pride of the Odia king This suggest that they repulsed the Gajapati invasion 12 Their army appears to have re established the Kakatiya authority in much of the coastal Andhra region with the Gajapati power restricted to the north of the Godavari River 10 The Kakatiya rule in the region is attested by a 1278 1279 CE inscription of Karaparti Suraya Reddi who describes himself as a servant of Kakatiya Rudradeva Maharaja that is Rudrama His inscription records a gift to the temple of the god Bhimeshvara at Draksharamam 12 Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Kakatiya control of the coastal Andhra region remained unchallenged during the rest of Rudrama s reign 13 Conflicts with the Pandyas and their vassals Edit Towards the end of the Ganapati s reign the Pandyas had conquered the southernmost part of the Kakatiya territory including Nellore and their vassals ruled this area in the subsequent years 16 The 1264 CE and 1269 CE inscriptions of Rudrama s Kayastha subordinate Janniga deva claim that he ruled the area extending from Panugal in the north to Kaivaram kota in the south 16 Ganapati had conferred this area as a fief upon him 17 However epigraphic evidence suggests that much of this area was controlled by Pandya allies the Kalukada chiefs Keshava deva and his brother Raya murari Soma deva 18 An undated Chidambaram inscription of the Pandya prince Vikrama states that he did not march further north because he did not want to fight a woman who had assumed the name of a king According to historians N Venkataramanayya and M Somasekhara Sarma this may be euphemistic cover for his failed expedition against Rudrama 16 Inscriptions of Rudrama and her subordinates discovered in the Kadapa and Nellore areas suggest that Kakatiyas regained control over some of the territory that they had earlier lost to the Pandyas 19 The 1264 CE Nandalur inscription of Nagaraja the pradhani of Rudrama s subordinate Janniga deva records a gift to the temple of Samuya natha svami 19 The 1268 CE Atluru inscription near Siddavatam also attests to Janniga deva s control over the area Although the inscription is damaged and the name of the issuer is lost his titles and date indicate that he was Janniga deva 19 Epigraphic evidence suggests that the Kakatiyas also ousted the Pandya vassal Vira Rajendra Chola likely Rajendra Chola III 16 from Nellore Mahamandaleshvara Naga deva Maharaja a vassal of Rudrama ruled at Nellore during 1271 1275 19 The Kakatiya subordinates soon lost these territories to rival chiefs who were probably Pandya vassals The Telugu Choda chief Vijaya Ganda gopala appears to have displaced the Kayasthas Tiru kalatti deva II alias Tribhuvana chakravarti Irumadi the eldest son of the former Choda ruler Manuma siddhi II appears to have displaced Naga deva from Nellore in 1263 He apparently ruled Nellore during c 1279 1283 before another Choda chief Manuma Gandagopala displaced him 20 Conflict with the Seunas Edit The Seuna Yadava king Mahadeva invaded the Kakatiya kingdom during Rudrama s reign The Seuna records including Mahadeva s inscriptions and Hemadri s Vrata khanda suggest that he achieved military successes against the ruler of Tilinga Telangana that is the Kakatiya monarch For example they claim that Mahadeva was the uprooter of the stalk of the lotus of the head of the ruler of Tilinga that he blew away this ruler like a strong wind blows away cotton and that he captured in battle the elephants and the five musical instruments of this ruler 21 The Vrata khanda claims that Mahadeva left Rudrama free because he was reluctant to kill a woman 22 The epithet the uprooter of the stalk of the lotus of the head appears to be a hereditary title inherited from his great grandfather Jaitugi who is known to have killed a Kakatiya king Other claims made in the Seuna inscriptions are clear exaggerations 21 The records from Telangana suggest that Rudrama not only repulsed the Seuna invasion but also annexed a part of their territory The 17th century text Pratapa charitra describes the episode as follows Mahadeva besieged the Kakatiya capital Warangal for 15 days but Rudrama led the Kakatiya forces to destroy his 300 000 infantry and 100 000 cavalry Rudrama then chased Mahadeva to the Seuna capital Devagiri there Mahadeva sued for peace agreed to pay her 10 million gold coins as war indemnity and concluded a peace treaty Rudrama distributed the money among her commanders set up a victory pillar in the Seuna territory and returned to her own kingdom 23 The Pratapa charitra claims such as Rudrama s purported destruction of the 300 000 infantry and 100 000 cavalry are obvious exaggerations However epigraphic and numismatic evidence suggests that Rudrama indeed repulsed a Seuna invasion 24 A fragmentary Bidar Fort inscription mentions Rudrama s subordinate Bhairava of Sinda family and states that he accompanied Rudrama as a commander of her army in all her expeditions Bidar is located in the southern part of the traditional Seuna territory and this inscription may have been issued during Rudrama s offensive against the Seunas in the Bedadakota present day Bidar area 25 The inscription mentions her title as Raya gaja kesari which she inherited from her father 26 A 1267 CE Panugal inscription of records of the Seuna prince Sharnga pani deva to the temple of Chhaya Somanatha The inscription describes him as a son of the Seuna king Simhana and a subordinate of the Kakatiya Manuma Rudradeva that is Rudrama According to historian M Somasekhara Sarma this Sharnga pani deva is same as the Sharnga pani deva described in the 1268 CE Hire Kogilur inscription as the father of Mahadeva He theorizes that Mahadeva s father Sharnga pani deva seized Panagal during the Seuna invasion of the Kakatiya territory and acknowledged her suzerainty after the Seuna defeat 24 However historian P V P Sastry theorizes that Sharnga pani deva or Sarjnapani deva of the Panugal inscription was another Seuna prince who sought asylum with the Kakatiyas because of his differences with Mahadeva 25 In 1922 a set of 43 gold coins issued by Seuna kings was unearthed at Rachapatnam near Kaikaluru M Somasekhara Sarma notes that the treasure cannot be considered to be a proof of Seuna presence in the Kakatiya country as coins travel extensive distances for example Roman coins have been found in southern India because of trade According to him the coins may have been part of the war indemnity that the Seunas paid to Rudrama according to the Pratapa charitra 27 Amba deva s revolt Edit Members of the Kayastha family who held a fief in the southern part of the Kakatiya kingdom appear to have been loyal to Rudrama during the tenure of the brothers Janniga dev and Tripurari deva 25 Their younger brother Amba deva who became the Kayastha chief in 1272 20 appears to have been loyal to Rudrama for some time as suggested by his title raya sthapanacharya a pillar of support for the kingdom 14 11 However his inscriptions do not mention any overlord which suggests that he soon asserted independence giving up his allegiance to Rudrama 28 Amba deva s 1290 CE Tripurantakam inscription records his military successes including his victories over the feudatories and allies of Rudrama 29 28 In 1273 he defeated the Shripati Ganapati the ruler of the Gurindala Gurazala or Gurijala area 30 A 1268 CE Mutukur inscription suggests that Ganapati was a vassal of Rudrama 30 Amba deva claims to have cut off heads of 75 chiefs nayakas in battle 29 These chiefs were probably Rudrama s subordinates whom she sent to subjugate Amba deva after his victory over Shripati Ganapati 30 The number 75 and the beheading claim are likely poetic exaggeration and may be interpreted to mean that Amba deva simply defeated the entire Kakatiya army 31 Amba deva claims to have caused his destruction or ruin vidhvamsa of Kopperunjinga alias Kadava raya 31 a Pandya vassal who was also possibly a Kakatiya ally at the time 32 Sometime before 1281 Amba deva appointed Manuma Ganda gopala on the throne of Nellore 33 31 Amba deva defeated Manu Mallideva the Telugu Choda ruler of the Eruva region and annexed his territories sfn R S Sharma 1957 p 221 Although Manu Mallideva s inscriptions do not mention any overlord he may have been a Kakatiya subordinate 34 Amba deva also defeated the Pandya ruler Maravarman Kulashekhara and his allies the Kalukada chiefs 35 He established a marital alliance with a chief named Bollaya and conquered the Pendekallu area 34 29 With these victories Amba deva carved out an independent principality that included almost all of the former south western parts of the Kakatiya territory to the south of the Krishna River 33 As a result at the time of Rudrama s death the Kakatiya kingdom was smaller than the one she had inherited nevertheless it was still larger than it had been during the early part of her father s reign 36 The distribution of inscriptions that mention her as sovereign suggests that the Kakatiya sphere of influence shrank during her reign 37 Death Edit The 1289 CE Chandupatla inscription that mentions the death of Rudrama Rudrama appears to have been killed in November 1289 CE by Amba deva s forces This theory is supported by the following evidence 38 The 27 November 1289 Chandupatla inscription records warrior Puvvula Mummadi s gift of some land to the god Soma natha deva for the merit of Rudrama called Kakati Rudrama devi and her general Mallikarjuna nayaka It states that both of them had attained Shiva loka that is died presumably a few days before the date of the record 39 A 1290 CE inscription issued by Mallikarjuna s son Immadi Mallikarjuna nayaka attests that Mallikarjuna was a general of Rudrama this inscription was issued for the merit of Kumara Rudra deva Maharaja 39 These inscriptions suggest that Rudrama and her general Mallikarjuna died at the same time According to historian P V P Sastry Rudrama was likely very old at the time around eighty years and therefore probably did not lead her forces in a battle However she may have accompanied her army commanded by Mallikarjuna to inspire them 39 Amba deva s 1290 CE Tripurantakam inscription states he deprived Mallikarjuna pati of seven limbs This Mallikarjuna whom the inscription describes as an enemy of gods and brahmanas appears to be same as Rudrama s general Mallikarjuna 40 In this context the seven limbs appear to refer to the seven constituent members of Mallikarjuna s royalty 28 defined in the Sanskrit thesaurus Amara ksoha as king minister friend treasury territory forts and forces 40 Amba deva s revolt is the only political disturbance known to have taken place in the Kakatiya kingdom around 1289 CE Besides claiming to have deprived Mallikarjuna of his overlord one of the limbs 41 Amba deva also claims to have vanquished all the kings of Andhra 34 This suggests that he was responsible for killing Rudrama according to Sastry he did not explicitly state that he killed Rudrama because boasting about killing an old woman would have discredited him as a warrior 40 In 2017 archaeologist D Kanna Babu of Archaeological Survey of India identified two sculptures at Pochalamma temple in Bollikunta as depictions of Rudrama The first sculpture shows her riding a horse with reins in her left hand and a sword in her right hand it features an overhead umbrella the royal insignia The second sculpture shows her tired seated sorrowfully and leaning towards left the royal umbrella is missing presumably because she lost it in the battle and there is a buffalo the vehicle of Yama the lord of death According to Babu s interpretation the sculptures depict Rudrama s death in a battle against Amba deva 42 Around 1291 during the reign of Rudrama s successor Prataparudra the Kakatiya forces defeated Amba deva 43 Earlier historians believed that Rudramadevi ruled until 1295 because some records before this year name Prataparudra as Kumara Prince Rudra 44 However the discovery of the Chandupatla inscription confirmed that Rudramadevi died before 27 November 1289 39 45 Moreover some records before 1295 such as the 1292 Inkirala inscription call Prataparudra a Maharaja great king It appears that Prataparudra continued to be called Kumara Rudra for some years after ascending the throne because this was a familiar usage 44 Administration EditAccording to an early 14th century text Rudrama s father Ganapati considered her equal to a son and therefore decided to use a male persona for her 46 Rudrama thus promoted a male image to rule in a patrilineal society that traditionally excluded women from political power she assumed a male name and wore masculine clothing 47 Her husband Vira bhadra finds few mentions in historical records and did not actively participate in the administration 36 Rudrama recruited several non aristocratic warriors into the Kakatiya service her successor Prataparudra as well as the later Vijayanagara rulers adopted this policy as well 36 Epigraphic evidence suggests that during and after the later part of Ganapati s reign the number and proportion of officers as opposed to chiefs and princes among individuals acknowledging Kakatiya overlordship increased significantly For example out of the 34 Kakatiya subordinates known from Kakatiya inscriptions during the early part of Ganapati s reign c 1199 1230 CE 47 were chiefs and princes while 26 were officers From Rudrama s reign 63 subordinates are known only 17 of these were chiefs and princes while 38 were officers This suggests that during this period the noble families declined while the importance of the officers grew 48 In the Kakatiya administration the officers with the designation anga rakshaka bodyguard first appeared during Rudrama s rule and virtually disappeared during the reign of her successor Prataparudra 14 The Malayala and Recherla chiefs who played an important role during the reigns of the preceding kings Rudra and Ganapati appear to have retired from active service during Rudrama s reign New chiefs such as Reddis of Gona family and the Velamas emerged as the important generals during her time 11 Notable subordinates of Rudrama included The Reddi chiefs of the Gona family Gona Gannaya and his general Vitthala helped Rudrama s successor Prataparudra conquer the Bellary and Raichur forts from the Seunas 49 The Velama chief Prasaditya who commanded the south western region of the Kakatiya kingdom 49 The Kayastha brothers Janniga deva Tripurantaka alias Tripurari and Amba deva who ruled in succession 25 Amba deva appears to have been loyal to Rudrama for some time as suggested by his title raya sthapan acharya before he asserted independence 11 The Are vassals migrated from western Deccan to the Srisailam area which came to be known as Are bhumi or Are vidu Sharnga pani deva a son of the Seuna king Simhana was the most important Are vassal of Rudrama Ranaka Gopa deva raja a military commander mentioned in the 1273 CE Gundalapadu inscription was another chief of Are ancestry 49 Bhairava son of Maila of Sinda family was a vassal of Rudrama According to the Bidar inscription he assisted the queen in her successful military campaigns in Vengi Dravila and the Seuna kingdom 50 Sura a chief samanta of the Viriyala family served the queen as a military commander senadhipati in the northern region 50 The chiefs of the Cheraku family served as Rudrama s commanders in the southern region 50 Minister maha pradhana and commander senadhipati Annaya deva of Induluri family was Rudrama s son in law 51 Ponkala Mallaya Preggada another maha pradhana held the office of bahattara niyogadhipati 50 the superintendent of 72 niyogas or royal offices 17 Constructions EditRudrama continued the fortification of Warangal by raising the height of a curtain wall approximately 0 75 miles 1 21 km in diameter to 20 feet 6 1 m This wall was made of granite blocks was surrounded by a wide moat and had 45 bastions which were 40 60 feet on a side She also commissioned the construction of an outer earthen wall 1 5 miles 2 4 km in diameter and surrounded by an additional 150 150 feet 46 m wide moat 52 Rudrama built a ranga mandapa dedicated to her family deity Svayambhu deva Shiva in the Warangal Fort A sculpture discovered among the ruins of this structure depicts her as a lion mounted warrior holding a dagger and a shield in her hands The image also depicts an elephant holding a lotus in its trunk according to historian P V P Sastry it represents Rudrama s title Raya gaja kesari 53 Family and succession EditRudrama and her husband Vira bhadra had three daughters Mummadamma Rudrama and Ruyyama alias Ruyyamba 2 According to Vidyanatha s Prataparudra Yashobhushana Mummadamma married Mahadeva 50 Rudrama the princess who shared her mother s name married the Seuna Yadava prince Yellana deva or Ellana deva 2 who held a fief near Guntur as suggested by his Alapadu inscription 54 Ruyyama married the minister and commander Annaya deva of Induluri family who was a son of Gannaya 51 Since queen Rudrama had no son her father Ganapati asked her to adopt Mummadamma s son Prataparudra alias Vira rudra as her own son Rudrama did so and nominated Prataparudra as her successor 50 Rudrama had a sister named Ganapama devi or Ganapamba who married Beta of Kota family 6 In popular culture EditAmong the historical rulers of India Rudrama was one of the few women who inherited the throne from her father She was also among the most successful women rulers of medieval South Asia by the length of her reign as well as by the area of her kingdom The historical traditions written in the centuries immediately following her death did not celebrate her as an important female monarch and instead presented her as a widow queen who ruled on behalf of her infant son However in the 20th century she became a source of regional pride in the Andhra Pradesh later split into Telangana 46 In 2015 filmmaker Gunasekhar made a Telugu film Rudhramadevi on the life of Rudrama Devi with Anushka Shetty playing the titular role 55 Peninsula Pictures produced a serial on Star Maa titled Rudramadevi which pictured the childhood of Rudramadevi to the TV viewers for 100 episodes 56 See also EditHistory of women in early modern warfareReferences Edit Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 620 a b c P V P Sastry 1978 p 128 Cynthia Talbot 2001 pp 155 156 P V P Sastry 1978 p 112 a b c d e R S Sharma 1957 p 218 a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 615 Ghulam Yazdani 1960 pp 620 621 Cynthia Talbot 2001 p 273 a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 621 a b c R S Sharma 1957 p 219 a b c d R S Sharma 1957 p 224 a b c d Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 623 a b c d e f g Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 622 a b c Cynthia Talbot 2001 p 159 P V P Sastry 1978 p 119 a b c d Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 624 a b R S Sharma 1957 pp 214 218 Ghulam Yazdani 1960 pp 624 625 a b c d Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 627 a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 628 a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 625 R S Sharma 1957 p 219 220 Ghulam Yazdani 1960 pp 625 626 a b Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 626 a b c d R S Sharma 1957 p 220 P V P Sastry 1978 pp 121 122 Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 626 627 a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 629 a b c R S Sharma 1957 p 221 a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 630 a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 631 P V P Sastry 1978 p 124 a b R S Sharma 1957 p 222 a b c Ghulam Yazdani 1960 p 633 Ghulam Yazdani 1960 pp 629 632 a b c Cynthia Talbot 2008 p 612 Cynthia Talbot 2001 p 134 P V P Sastry 1978 p 125 126 a b c d P V P Sastry 1978 p 125 a b c P V P Sastry 1978 p 126 P V P Sastry 1978 pp 125 126 K Venkateshwarlu 5 December 2017 Two sculptures of Rani Rudrama Devi shed light on her death The Hindu Retrieved 1 April 2023 P V P Sastry 1978 pp 129 130 a b P V P Sastry 1978 p 129 B Satyanarayana Singh 1999 p 3 a b Cynthia Talbot 2008 pp 612 613 Barbara N Ramusack 1999 p 37 Cynthia Talbot 2001 p 158 a b c P V P Sastry 1978 p 127 a b c d e f R S Sharma 1957 p 225 a b R S Sharma 1957 pp 225 226 Richard M Eaton 2005 p 17 P V P Sastry 1978 p 122 R S Sharma 1957 p 226 Anushka to do a Tamil Telugu period film The Times of India 6 October 2012 Archived from the original on 9 July 2013 Retrieved 24 November 2012 Rani Rudrama Devi to begin on Star Maa Telugu Cinema Retrieved 16 January 2021 Bibliography Edit B Satyanarayana Singh 1999 The Art and Architecture of the Kakatiyas Bharatiya Kala Prakashan ISBN 978 81 86050 34 7 Barbara N Ramusack 1999 Women in South Asia In Barbara N Ramusack Sharon L Sievers eds Women in Asia Restoring Women to History Indiana University Press ISBN 978 0 25321 267 2 Cynthia Talbot 2008 Rudrama devi Queen of Kakatiya dynasty r 1262 1289 In Bonnie G Smith ed The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History Vol 3 Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acref 9780195148909 001 0001 ISBN 9780195148909 Cynthia Talbot 2001 Precolonial India in Practice Society Region and Identity in Medieval Andhra Oxford University Press ISBN 0195136616 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 Kakatiyas of Warangal Oxford University Press ISBN 9788170691259 OCLC 59001459 N Venkataramanayya P V P Sastry 1957 The Kakatiyas 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 Richard M Eaton 2005 A Social History of the Deccan 1300 1761 Eight Indian Lives Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521254847 P V P Sastry 1978 N Ramesan ed The Kakatiyas of Warangal Hyderabad Government of Andhra Pradesh OCLC 252341228 External links Edit Media related to Rudrama Devi at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rudrama Devi amp oldid 1152072393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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