A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas/24th Generation
Twenty-fourth Generation.
Rajah Sree Bangaru Yachama Naidu Bahadur.
Born 1722 A.D., installed 1755 A.D., died 1776 A.D.
Rajah Sarwagna Kumara Yachama Naidu. (23) Papamma =Rajah Bangaru Akkamma of Yachama Naidu = of ihasti Damara (24) Chengati Jupalli family. family.
Introductory. — As mentioned in the last generation, Rajah Sarwagna Kumara Yachama Naidu Bahadur had two sons, Bangaru Yachama Naidu and Pedda Yachama Naidu. The elder son naturally inherited the several taluks in the enjoyment of his father at the time of his death and began to bring them under his proper control. But just then disputes arose between the brothers and the younger wanted to share certain taluks in the enjoyment of his brother. Strangely enough affairs underwent a sudden change at Arcot also. The Nawab was over-thrown by a Senshar Jung, who usurped the throne without the knowledge of the Mogul Emperor. So the Rajah thought that he might get his Sannad renewed by the lawful Nawab after one should be appointed by the Emperor himself. Meanwhile the younger brother Pedda Yachama Naidu, attempted to get the sanction and Sannad for the whole Estate of Venkatagiri even from the usurper at Arcot. Knowing this the elder brother approached the Nawab Senshar Jung and put forth his claim for the Sannad. The Nawab justly decided after a thought that he would place the whole matter before the Delhi Emperor and wanted both to await final orders, advising them in the meantime to live in peace at different places. The brothers returned accordingly to their respective centres and each exercised what control he could over the tract of territory that fell into his hands and generally continued to quarrel with the other as before. It may be remembered in this connection that even during the life time of his father, Pedda Yachama Naidu gave trouble to his brother and father by putting obstacles in the way of smooth management of the Estate, which required not only oral chastisement but open conflict with the wire-pullers and the same spirit of quarrelling for succession continued in his veins even during the short period of these six years, for the course of events suddenly changed and the cruel hand of fate snatched him from the world in 1754 A.D., and the unlawful Nawab of Arcot was also replaced by Walaja Bahadur, under orders of the Emperor. Thus Bangaru Yachama Naidu received the Sannad for the whole Estate in Hizri 1167 (1753 A.D.) under seal of the new Nawab Walaja Bahadur, and another from the Emperor, two years later with the seal of the Vizier of Aurangzib Aziphad Dawlah in 1755 A.D., and was installed the same year with Rajah Bahadur and other titles.
The following incident is recorded with regard to this installation. According to the social right established so early as during the days of the second descendant Prasaditya Naidu, under orders of the Emperor Ganapathi Rai, making the Padmanayaka Velamas the first and foremost in rank, the chiefs belonging to the other seventy-six Velama sects, Damara Venkatapathi Naidu of Kalahasti included, paid the customary respects to the Rajah on this occasion by keeping themselves standing. Damara Venkatapathi Naidu himself being the brother-in-law of the Rajah was allowed a seat in the south-east of the hall. The Telugu verses composed for the occasion and since preserved bear testimony to this fact.
Before taking up the martial career of the Rajah, a brief description of his titles and honours. Jupalli Muvvala Naidu, a vakil and relation of the Rajah, was sent to the Court of the Mogul Emperor Muhammad Azazuddin Alangir Sen, son of the Emperor Ahmed Shah, and he soon gained the goodwill of the Court. By his influence the Rajah got the titles of Rajah Bahadur and Pancha Hazari Mansab, besides Asal Iza Phalat, which were duly communicated in Thajviznamah Julu Sen 2 with the seal of Aziphad Dawlah Syed, Muhammad Khan Bahadur Jaffar Jung and Siphaha Sardar Emperor's Vizier. Muvvala Naidu himself was kindly presented the title Yeka Hazari Mansab and granted the honour of Pan Saddi Sawari. Some time later, Nizam Ali Khan Asibja Sen, fourth son of Asibja, who was the Nawab of Hyderabad, was highly pleased with the valour and military skill of the Rajah and recommended him for one more Hazari Mansab and thus got for him from Jallaluddin, the titles of Shash Hazari Mansab, Jhalardar Phalaki and others, which were communicated under his own seal Asibja Nizam-ul-mulk, Nizam-ad-Dawlah, Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur Patab Jung, Siphaha Salar in Zulu Sen 5.
Military. — The Rajah was of great help to the Nawabs of Arcot and of Hyderabad in their different expeditions in the Carnatic. The following is an incident which goes to prove the fear in which he was held by the contemporary chiefs and the respect enjoyed by him in the Court of the Nawab. Once Matla Varu proudly raised the white Nishan, resembling the white Nishan of Venkatagiri Rajahs, presented as an exclusive title and honour to Prasaditya Naidu by Emperor Ganapathi Rai and instantly the Rajah complained to the Nawab of Arcot resenting the action. He said that during the days of his father, when Makaraju Varu committed a similar breach, his father threatened them with battle and got their Nishan coloured and that the same procedure of open conflict would have to be adopted if Matla Varu persisted. Knowing this the Nawab at once ordered that the Matla Nishan should be bordered red and the same observance reported to the Raja.
Religious. — Those being days of Aurangzib's destruction of the Hindu temples and idols, a pious man of Benares had a dream that he was ordained by God Siva to take a particular idol of His, lying hidden in the Ganges to Venkatagiri, and hand it over to His devoted follower the Rajah. Next morning when the pious man awoke and entered the Ganges to have his daily bath, he came across, to his great surprise, the same idol at the appointed place. So he picked it up and travelled with it to Venkatagiri in obedience to the Divine Precept. The same night the Rajah also had a similar dream at Venkatagiri that His Almighty Siva, told him about the Brahmin and his arrival with the idol, advised him to build a temple in his name, and promised him and his descendants all glory, happiness and prosperity. The dream repeated itself a number of times, and served to increase the faith of the Rajah. When after a few months the Sadhu arrived, the Rajah welcomed him with a fitting reception, and installed the idol in a grand temple, built for the purpose on the left bank of the Kaivalya, in an auspicious moment in 1760 A.D.
Then the necessary improvements to the temple were made. A huge tower at the entrance was constructed 82 feet high with an imposing gate-way and high compound wall. Also a big stone-built hall opposite to the main tower with a gold flagstaff, Another temple too in the same premises for the worship of Sree Kumaraswamy, the son of Siva and his two consorts. In 1774 A.D. the Rajah dedicated as a perpetual gift, the income of a village Chintagunta in Venkatagiri taluk, to meet the expenses of daily worship.
Chief among the other religious endowments are (1) a choultry built at Nayudupet 
Temple of Sree-Kasi-Viswanatha Swami (Tower 82 feet high at Venkatagiri, built in 1760 A.D.)
the Rajah's (Dora Vari) tank and choultry, and (3) the gift of twenty-nine agraharams detailed below : —
Seventeen from Venkatagiri taluk, six from Sagutur, four from Polur, one from Pellur and one from Podili.
Not less is the attention bestowed on other improvements and buildings in the Estate. The main Palace at Venkatagiri was built in 1775 A.D., and nice-looking palaces were also built at Nayudupet and Mannur Polur. The rock-fort about eight miles West of Venkatagiri Town was greatly improved. On the rock were built two new halls and the existing buildings and water-sources repaired. Defensive arrangements were made round the hill and decent lodgings constructed at Penchalu Valley and Palayamkota. On account of the frequent Muhammadan raids the Estate Treasury was also removed to the top of the rock.
Literary. — The lyrical poems known as the "Five Gems" sung by the poet Kasturi Rangappa, in praise of the Rajah is the extant evidence of his literary taste.
As the Rajah had no sons, he took a boy of his next cousin Alavalapati Varu, in adoption to himself and named him after his father Kumara Yachama Naidu. He then attained Nirvana in 1776 A.D. His beloved wives Papamma and Akkamma accompanied him on the funeral pyre and thus ended the twenty-second year of his public career at an age of 55.