A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas/20th Generation
Twentieth Generation.
Pedda Yachama Naidu alias Yacha Sura.
Kasturi Rangappa Naidu (19) alias Krishna Rangappa Naidu.
Kumara Rangappa Naidu.
Pedda Yachama Naidu (20).
Sarwagna Singama Naidu.
Kumara Rangappa
Venkatadri Naidu.
Thimma Naidu.
Kumara Naidu. Naidu.
Ramabhadra Naidu.
Kumara Yachama Naidu. (21) = Varadamma
Venkatappa Naidu.
Chinna Venkatappa Naidu.
Bangaru Yachama Naidu (22)
Pedda Yachama Naidu surnamed Yacha Sura, the second son of Kasturi Rangappa Naidu ruled over Perimidi, which was granted by Veera Venkatapathi Rai, with his capital at Madurantakam.
His life is famous for two military achievements of his time. One is the battle of north Mallur in 1602 A.D., in which he defeated Pedda Naidu. Once when Yacha Sura went with his followers and occupied the fort of North Mallur, the chief of those parts Yaradi Nagappa Naidu sent for his warlike brother-in-law Davala Papa Naidu and giving him the assistance of his tributary chiefs and several Reddi warriors of the place besides the elephantry and cavalry supplied by the heads of Jinji and Tanjore, despatched him against the enemy. The forces that thus marched against Yacha Sura comprised 1,000 Sardars, chief among whom was Papa Naidu, an elephantry of 100, cavalry of 1,000, and an infantry of 30,000, and they soon reached North Mallur. Having heard news of this preparation, Yacha Sura with the assistance of his younger brother Sarwagna Singama Naidu, fearlessly opposed them and with an army of only 2,000 so completely defeated them that not only were the forces put to flight but the thousand chieftains were all slain to a single man. Papa Naidu himself being beheaded in the field.
The second incident is what is connected with the history of the Vijayanagar kings. The following is a description seen on page 222 of the seventeenth chapter of the history of Vijayanagar, as compiled by Dr. Sewell. The genealogical tree for reference is as follows:—
Kings of Vijayanagar (at Chandragiri.)
Rama Roy III.
Venkata Roy I. or Venkatapathi Roy (1586–1614 A. D.) Married (1) sister of Narappa Roy.
Sister (Lakkamamba) M. Vobala Roy.
(2) Bayamma,
Chinna Vobala Roy.
Jagga Roy.
Brahmin Girl = Chikka Roy I.
Thirumala Roy II (died childless).
Ranga Roy III (alias Chikka Roy).
First son died in prison.
Third son killed in prison.
Ranga Roy IV.
When the Vijayanagar kings had their capital at Chandragiri, Venkata Rai I reigned from 1586—1614 A.D., and was then succeeded on his death by his son Ranga Rai III, surnamed Chikka Rai, whom he nominated as his heir, because he had known the intentions of his second consort Bayamma in her bringing up a Brahmin girl as her own daughter. On Ranga Rai's coming to the throne, Jagga Rayudu, Thimma Rayudu and Mada Naidu declined to accept his sovereignty and set up Chikka Rai the supposed nephew of Jagga Rai as the real heir. The minister, the commander and Narappa Naidu being also inimical, Jagga Rai supported the claimant. So they all joined together and finally captured and imprisoned in a fort Ranga Rai together with other members of his family. Chikka Rai thus became the ruler.
But all the time Yachama Naidu stood aloof without siding Jagga Rai in spite of the repeated requests of the latter, for he was convinced with the guilt of that party. He even sent word that he could not support an upstart of doubtful birth and parentage. All other chiefs were one by one passing to the side of Jagga Rai. But Yachama Naidu alone planned the escape of the fugitives in different ways, yet all in vain. But finally with the help of a washerman he got the second son of Ranga Rai a boy of twelve years released, by being taken out in a bundle of clothes. The rumour of the release brought a few warriors to his side. A later attempt to release the rest of the family by digging an underground passage proved a failure. Finally, the commander at Vobaleswar was bribed to murder the prison guards and throw open the gates of the fort. This succeeded and news was sent to Yacha Sura to come ready for the attack. But meanwhile Jagga Rai also came to know the plan and effecting an entrance by a back-gate not only killed the commander Vobaleswar and his followers but deputed his younger brother Vobala Rai to massacre the king and his family in the prison. Vobala Rai then entered the prison and made an end of them all. Therefore the only heir left behind was the boy who was under the shelter of Yacha Sura. On hearing these details of such a heinous deed, many warriors joined the camp of Yacha Sura with a determination to restore the young prince to the throne of Vijayanagar, and when the word of challenge to fight was sent by Yacha Sura, Jagga Rai tried his best to persuade him to give up fighting but failed and in the end was forced to flee for life. Thus, the object of Yacha Sura was fulfilled, and with the crown and royal ornaments of his father taken as booty from Jagga Rai's camp, Rama Rai IV was duly declared king.
The chronicler Dr. Sewell makes mention in his manual of a letter obtained from the Portuguese Record in Lisbon, which was the foundation for all this writing. The letter, it seems, was addressed by a Portuguese Barados to his home from Cochin on 12th December 1666, and contained this information. The description given by a Zemindar of Kalahasti Damara Vengala Bhupala in his Telugu "Bahulaswachritra" bears ample testimony to this military and victorious career of Yacha Sura and to many other occasions at North Mallur, Chingleput, Palyamkota, Madura, Jinji and Trichinopoly.
(The successful execution of this mission put into the possession of this family, the place which has since become the headquarters, says Nellore Manual, page 718.)