A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas/26th Generation

by Alladi Jagannatha Sastri

Twenty-sixth Generation.

Raja Sree Bangaru Yachama Naidu Bahadur

(Born 1791 A.D., installed 1804 A.D., died 1848 A.D.)

Papamma of Jupalli family = Rajah Sree Bangaru Yachama Naidu. (26) = Ammakkamma.

Rajah Sree Vidwat Kumara Yachama Naidu.

Rajah Sree Kumara Yachama Naidu. (27)

Daughter.

Private Life and Character. — The Rajah's eldest son Vidwat Kumara Yachama Naidu was requested by Lakshma Rao, the father's father of the present Rajah of Jatprole to be given in adoption as his own son; but the father declined. Unfortunately, the boy died on account of sickness in his nineteenth year even after his marriage. Thus his second son became heir.

The Rajah was fond of horse-riding and hawk-hunting, but his chief pride lay in elephant-challenge.

Public.—The Rajah assumed charge of his Estate in 1804 A.D., when he was but a boy

Raja V. Bangaru Yachama Naidu Bahadur (26th Generation).

of fifteen. He was presented the usual Khillat and gifts by the Government at the time of his installation. Soon disputes arose in the

household, and his step-mother at the instigation of some evil-advisors questioned the validity of his adoption. She therefore claimed ownership of the Estate on the ground of an agreement said to have been executed by her husband in her favour, and filed case No. 294 of 1808 A.D. She claimed besides in O.S. No. 295 of the same year right of jewels belonging to her and valued at two lakhs. Even his mother Kumara Vengakkama Garu who willingly adopted him to be her son declared the heir illegal on Sastric grounds and wanted the Zamin for herself in Original Suit No. 44 of 1809 A.D. But the District Judge dismissed all these cases declaring the adoption quite legal and the suit for jewels incredible. There was also a dispute with the Government in case No. 13 of 1818 of the District Court of Nellore. The Government claimed the right of enjoyment of two places Pudi and Periyamit belonging to the Venkatagiri Estate, because they were Inam villages. But the Judge decided against the Government and decreed with costs, as the annual Peishkash of this Zamin was not fixed on income but on terms of military tenure.

Once in His Excellency's Camp at Nelaballi in Sagutur taluk the Rajah had an interview with H.E. the Governor of Madras, Sir Thomas Munro, and he received from him a present of an English rapier and other honours.

He bought the valuable emerald which was once presented to Yerra Dacha Naidu the fourth member of his line for his victorious Military career, but which had subsequently reached other hands. The emerald was in the custody of the Pittapur Rajahs and now Buchi Thammaiya Garu, a member of that line, mortgaged it to the Rajah, for a sum of money, and when he came back to take it, he was persuaded to sell it and the jewel was thus retained in the Estate.

In 1825 he built an Ambari all lined with gold in the form of the one presented by the Mogul Emperor. He also built the East Mahal and other Palaces.

Religious. — He effected several improvements in the local temple of Sree Kasi Viswanatha. A mandapam was built for the Utsa Vigrahams (idols generally taken out in pro- cession). An idol of Kumara Sundareswara was also set up in the temple in memory of his revered father. Another was erected in the north-west corner of the main streets. The Silver Elephant and other Vahanams were prepared for the festivals. A double-storeyed and spacious building was constructed just opposite to the temple wherein to locate the Vahanams. The Rajah added the temple of Kodanda Ramaswami to the existing one of Varadaraja. He gave as charity eight agraharams for the temples and as many as thirty-eight for Brahmins.

Miscellaneous, — The poet named Sataghantam Rangaiya dedicated his Hemadri Dandakam to this Rajah. He had as his Dewan, Booduri Subrahmanyam who considerably improved the income of the Estate. After a long rule of forty-four years and in his fifty- eighth year, he passed to heaven in 1848 A.D. Readers are here warned that the allegations and abuses heaped on members of this family in a false history of the Velugoti family called Velugoti Vari Vamsavali are utterly groundless. The book is perhaps due to the attempt at Dewan's murder by Chengati Varu, failing which they committed suicide.