Suryakshetra 94 - Sri Krishna Devaraya

SURYAKSHETRA –94
Dr P V Sesha Sai
E-Mails: shodasisai@rediffmail.com, shodasisai@yahoo.com, shodasisai@hotmail.com,
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2nd May 2005
What this little man speaks…
Quote: When the defects of others are perceived with so much clarity, it is because one possesses them himself.

It is now time for me in these series of informative letters encircling Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala, to take you another four kilometers from Thondavada, to a total distance of around 15 kilometers from Tirupati. It is the mighty KINGDOM of Royala Dynasty. It is difficult for any one to forget Sri Krishna Devaraya who ruled the Vijayanagar Kingdom from Hampi. What Kind Krishna Devaraya has something with the Chadragiri Fort – may be a question to be put to me now by you. To see the role of Krishna Deva Raya, probably I may have to take you to 966 AD. This Fort was built by that time and in the later part of the century and sometime afterwards as per historical evidences, The great Hari Hara Raayalu and Bukka Rayalu built Vijayanagar Empire. Lord Hampi Virupaaksha was the family Lord of the Rayala Family. They ruled most parts of today Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka with HAMPI as their capital. The family flourished well and established under the rule of SALUVA NARASIMHA RAYALU. He established himself as one of the best rulers and in was in 1426 A.D, he visited Tirumala and that took up time the Chandragiri Fort had a weak ruler and the Fort by Saluva Narasimha Rayalu. From that time Chandragiri gained importance and turned out be a landmark in the family history of Hampi Rulers.

Rayala Family honored the Great Poet Gowda Dindima Bhattu and Kavi Sarvabhowma Srinadh at this Fort. After some time The Second Singarayalu who ruled Hampi had a tough time with Adilshah of Bijapur when the Singarayalu obtained support from the Navab of Golconda and successfully fought the war against the Sultan of Bijapur. It was exactly during this period the rulers of Chandragiri Fort built the temples and shelters at Tirumala. The life of the rulers of Chadragiri was linked to the Lord of Seven Hills.

Soon the famous kind Krishna Devaraya came to power and he contributed his best to the Tirumala Lord. The eyebrows are up and wrinkles of smile are seen on any body face on hearing the name of TENALI RAMAKRISHNA. He was one of the poets out of eight great poets in the Krishna Devaraya Court. Chandragiri Fort witnessed the humorous fight of Tanali Ramakrishan and Kasi Pundit making the TILAKASHTA MAHISHA BANDHANAM as a media. By 1529 A.D the health condition of King Krishna Devaraya deteriorated and Achutaraya – the son of Krishna Devaraya who was the commander in charge of Chandragiri Fort, was crowned as the Emperor of Vijayanagara Kingdom uniquely at the Lotus feet of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. The great poets Purandaradas and Annamaacharya together composed many praising Lord Venkateswara at this Fort. Over a period of time the subsequent rulers of Hampi were forced to surrender their Hampi Fort to the Sultan of Bijapur and took shelter in the Chandragiri Fort. But then the rulers found themselves financially in a bad shape and it was exactly these circumstances forced them to enter into a treaty with the East India Company. On 22nd August 1639 a lease agreement was also signed between the East India Company and the ruler of Chandragiri Fort. But even this has not helped the Rayala Family well, and later in 1642 A.D the emperor was forced to escape to Mysore to save himself and the Chandragiri Fort went into the hands of Navab of Golconda. The present comforts pilgrims enjoy at Tirumala are on account of the stepping stones laid down by the rulers of Chandragiri Fort.

One may surely shed tears on seeing the ruins of the Chandragiri Fort and beautifully carved stones, which speaks of their heroic period in the recent history.

Light and Sound Show is arranged at Chadragiri Fort by AP Tourism Development Corporation and the show starts at 07.00-p.m. everyday. It is equally important for any pilgrim to visit this place and know the history behind the Lord of Seven Hills.
I shall be back again soon… HARA HARA MAHADEVA DR P V SESHA SAI