Cheraku Chiefs

The Cheraku Chiefs (c.1085 AD to 1323 AD) 
Similar to the names of other families of chiefs this family also got its name after the small town Cheraku in Eruva region and were subordinate/feudatory rulers of Kandur Cholas and later Kakatiyas from around.

Goruvankapalli inscription of Śaka 1214 calls these chief as belonging to the Ikshukula

Capitals : Jammulur (Nalgonda) and Amarabad (Mahabubnagar) regions.

The first capital of Cheraku chiefs was Jammulur, tirumalagiri talk, Nalgonda District.

Cheraku family is the one which played an important role in the affairs of the Kakatlya empires and inscriptions embodying the fact come from Kurnool, Nalgonda, Mahaboobnagar and Krsna districts. They served as subordinates under Kakatiya Rudradeva, Mahadeva, Ganapatideva, Rudrama devi and Prataparudra periods.

Devarakonda of Nalgonda district, Cherakupalli village of Nakrekal taluq were their native places.

Jammuluru branch
Cheruku rulers of Jammuluru have an area comprising of Tungaturti Devarakonda, Huzurnagar, Nakrekal, Motkur, Kodad, and Miryalaguda taluqs of Nalgonda district.

c.1085 AD : Kata I was the founder of Cheraku Reddy dynasty
According to the Jalālapuram epigraph , Kata the earliest Cheruku Prabhu born of the fourth caste killed Kongonda Dhavala like a tiger with ferocity and obtained Cheraku- twelve included in the Eruva - vishaya from Bhima - naresvara probably Bhimachoda II (1077 AD - 1091 AD)

Keta I, Sura I, Bolla I (sons of Kata )

1125 AD : Keta I
Wives of Keta I are Tikkambika and Mallambika, Kamamibika

The inscription then refers to Keta, whose wife was Kappamba. His relationship with the above-mentioned chiefs cannot be stated, as the inscription is damaged. To them were born three sons, Kata, Mara and Bolla. They belonged to the Cheraku family, and gained prosperity by the grave of Rudra and his younger brother Mahadeva of the Kakatiya dynasty. 

This inscription, which belongs to the reign of Kakatiya king Ganapatideva, introduces the chiefs of Jummaluru, who are said to be of the fourth caste. In that family, Keta was born. His wife was Kama to whom he begot four sons, Kataya, Mara, Erra and another, whose name also was Erra. 

It then introduces the king Rudradeva of the Kakatiya family and seems to refer to the destruction of the army along with a certain Gandanarayana. The country of king Udaya was also occupied and he was defeated in the war. 

Rendered military to Kakati Rudra in his conflict with Choda Cheifs, their erstwhile masters. Thus the changed their loyalty from Choda chiefs to rising Kakatiyas, who made them the hereditary maha-smanthas ruling the hill tracts of the present Acchampet taluk.

Kata II, Mara, Erra I and Erra II (Sons of Keta I)

1155 AD : Kata II
When Käkati Rudradeva waged war against Choda chiefs of Kanduru , it is said , Kata and his three brothers of the Cheraku family rendered military help to the Kakatiya king.

Kata and his brothers of the Cheraku family who according to their Jammuluru epigraph assisted him in subjugating Kandūrunāḍu from the Choḍa chiefs Bhima and Udayachoḍa and obtained the region of Cheraku - 70 as appanage

Kalvakol, Kollapur.
This inscription is on a pillar lying in front of the Siva temple outside the village.Incomplete. This gives a lengthy genealogy of Kakatiyas, beginning with Kakati Prola who is said to have defeated Manthena Gonda, Govinda dandadesa, Chododaya (Udaya Choda) and Tailapa. He had two sons Rudradeva and Mahadeva through Muppala devi. Rudra became the king of Hanumakonda. He is said to have vanquished some local chiefs and founded localities in memory of such victories, naming those localities after the vanquished towns.

His faithful commandant Kata Chamupati belonged to the Cheruku family, who was first made the lord of Jammuluripura for the region of Eruva mandala. Subsequently he was Mattewada made the lord of Cheruku town ship with 60 villages.

Kata had three sons Kata, Mara and Bolla. The last named Cheraku Bolla was said to have served Kakatiya rulers Rudra deva and Ganapati deva. Kakatiya Rudra deva is said to have confirmed the lordship of Rapudi on Eraya and another kata.


Among the sons of Kata II, Bolla II was the most famous. Bola II is said to have served in succession, the Kakatiya kings Rudra, Mahadeva and Ganapati who favoured him with the lordship of amy regions. 

1199 AD : In the Kalvakolanu inscriptions we understand the herioc demise of Kata and Mara  elder brothers of Bolla II along with Kakatiya Mahadeva

1199 AD - 1253 AD : Bolla II or Cheraku Bollayya Reddy
Wife : Mallamba
Bolla is said to have obtained lordship over some principalities on account of his friendship with the Kakatiyas. He caused the excavation of several tanks, established sastras, planted groves, and set up water-shests for the distribution of cool water. He acquired merit by showering gold and gifting cows. 

His wife was Mallamba through whom he had four sons, Ganapati, Visvanatha, Keta, and Immadi Visvanatha.

He had became the ruler of Jammulur and helped Recharla Rudrasenani during his battles to save the Kakatiya kingdom. In exchange for this, Ganapatideva pre-sented him with Amarabad and velpur regions also.

Cheraku Bollayya Reddy built Keteswara, Koteswara, Mareswara and Suryadevara temples in Jalalpur (Jalalpur of Tirumalgiri mandal in Nalgonda dt. was their Jammulur). According to the Jalalpur inscription

1235 AD : Edampalli, Devarakonda Taluk.
This inscription is on a pillar in the mandapa of the Sivalaya. It records that Samanta Cheraku Bolli Reddi who bears among others the title of Kakatiya -Kanaka-prakara (the protector of the fort-wall of the Kakatiyas) made the gift (not mentioned) for the anga-ranga- bhogas and offerings to the god Mahesvara. It is to be noted that the record is incised on the same stone of the previous number, that is the grant of Kanduri Udayaditya Choda, dated S.1157. Secondly this is not dated. Thirdly it does not specify the nature of the gift. Thus it seems to be a renewal of the previous gift made by Udayaditya choda, whom Cheraku Bollaya reddi, the Kakatiya subordinate, might have succeeded not long after the date of the first grant. It is not known whether the succession took place either by defeat of the Choda chief or by any order of the Kakatiya king. The exact date of the record cannot be ascertained.

1262 AD : Alampur inscription records the renovation of a pillar (kambam) of the temple of Brahmesvaradeva by Bammisetti for the merit of Cheraku-Murari Ketaya, Danay-Murari Immadi-Devaya, Dushtarankusa Annaya and Jagadala Marayya.

1253 AD - 1301 AD : Ganapati, Visvanatha, Keta II and Immadi Visvanatha sons of Bolla II
Cheruku rulers of Jammuluru have an area comprising of Tungaturti Devarakonda, Huzurnagar, Nakrekal, Motkur, Kodad, and Miryalaguda taluqs of Nalgonda district.

1253 AD : 

31st October A.D. 1269 : Cheraku Ganapaddeva gave one maruturu to the god for the merit of Marayareddi. The same chief also gave some gardens on the way to Ponumgata and a tank Nallagumta on the way to Jenapadu.

1280 AD : Ganapati, Keta II and Immadi Visvanatha sons of Bolla II
Bollaya's descendants ruled these regions along with Jammulur. They issued 22 inscriptions there. They inform us about the structure of Telugu language at that period. They built temples at Kaluvakolanu, Jalalpur, Amarabad, Kurella, Udimalla and other places.

28th October, 1300 AD : Nadigudem, Huzurnagar Taluk.
This inscription is on a stone pillar lying in the fort (brought from Taduvayi). The record refers to the reign of Kakatiya Prataparudra. His subordinate Mahasamanta Cheraku Jagaddalu Maraya Ganapaya raddi's officer Ketu lemka and all the people made the gift of 2 visas per mada out of all the gadyas (cash) due to the Government. Similar gift was made by the people of the Nelamarri village. Another gift of Palmyra grove was made by Agasala Devozu to the same god.

1301 AD - 1317 AD : Annama Reddi (son of Ganapati)
1306 AD : Ramarajupalli, Achempet Taluk.
This inscription is in a field to the east of the Village. Records the gift of 1 marttar wetland situated behind the temple and 2 khandikas of velipolamu to Prolakamma by Sriman Mahasamanta Cheraku Annaya, a feudatory of the Kakatiyas.

1314 AD : Nadigudem
This inscription is on a pillar lying in the Zamindars residence, dated Saka 1236, Ananda, [Sre]shtha, ba. 10, Friday. Registers a grant of land by Mahasamanta Cheraku Jagadalu Annama-Reddi and another with the consent of the people of Taduvayi for, offerings and worship of the god Mailaradeva of the village.


Amarabad Branch
1253 AD - 1265 AD : Immadi Visvanatha son of Cheraku Bollayya or Bolla II
1253 AD : Indreshan, Mahbubnagar District.
This inscription was dated S. 1175, Pramadi, Vaisakha su. 5, Friday. A long description of the Charaku family of Kakatiya subordinates along with that of Kakatiya Rudra and Ganapati deva was given. Immadi Visvanatha son of Cheraku Ballaya, a faithful Dandanayaka of Ganapatideva consecrated three Shiva Lingas Bollesvara, Mallesvara and Ganapesvara and built temples and endowed them with gifts. He also constructed tanks and wells and arranged for water shelters. His other gifts to Srigiri Mallikarjuna and Bramesvara of the Paschima Dvara are also mentioned.

Immadi Vivanatta is described as a great hero and was held in high esteem by his overlord Kakatiya Ganapatideva. He built three temples in the village of Repundi, established in them three Shiva Lingas, Bollesvara, Mallesvara and Ganapeswara probably named after his parents and his eldest brother, gave 40 navaratnas of land under Mamidinaruva, two Khandikas of land to the south-east of Kadapa Reyi and east of Ganimetta, He also gave to brahmins, Lenjinta and Surepalli as agraharas to Vishnudevarya and Brahmesa who reside at the paschima dvara of Srigiri (Alampur). a tank called Lakshapathi tataka situated to the south of the village Karapaka to Mallikarjuna Deva of Srisaila. To the same deity, the village of Rajavrolu, and a half share of a tank (tataka), of Doddapalli were given. At this point, Immadi Devaya Radhinisvara is introduced. It is difficult to say whether he is different from Immadi Visvanatha also styled as Radhinisvara, whose great qualities are praised in the following verses in the inscription. Immadi Visvanatha seems to have gifted two muraturs of land behind the tank Mamidinauva to the stone mason Malloju, the sutradha (the architect of the temples).

Immadi Visvanatha (son of Bolla II) and his descendents made Amarabad as their capital. The Amarabad family must have governed the area around Achampet and Alampur taluqs touching the present Kurnool district. 

2nd May, A.D. 1264 : Amarabad, Nagarkurnool Taluk.
This inscription is on a stone slab in front of the Siva temple in the village. It records a gift of land of 1 ma, behind the canal of Kothkunta by Cheraku Immadi Deva, who installed Sri Siddha mahalakshmi devi, for the health, longevity and prosperity of Cheraku Immadi Visvanadhadeva. (The grant has a long list of land gifts). The grant was entrusted to Annajiyya, son of Narajiyya to maintain the daily rituals such as naivedya etc. The record also mentions another gift made to Lakshmi devi, to the merit of Dandemaraju Peddi Bollya Reddi. This gift comprises wet land in Burugupalli Gundala Kalva, 5 Edumu in Tigalappalli, 10 Pandumu in Chikurenu Balla, and 5 Endumu outside. It should be shared at the rate of 2/3 to Annajiyya and 1/3 to Sikale who will enjoy it.

1265 AD - 1270 AD : Immadi Devaya II (son of Immadi Visvanatha)
Immadi Devaya appears in the inscriptions of his two sons from the Kalvakolanu region, a part of Kandurunadu.

Kaluvakolanu,
Belonging to the reign of Kakatiya Prataparudra, it records a gift made by Prolaya- reddi, son of a mahasamanta Cheraku Jagaddala Immadidevaraya.

Three records of the time of Kakatiya Prataparudra (A.D. 1291-1323) mention the chiefs mahasamanta Ganapatideva, Immadi Devaya and Prolaya Reddi, son of mahasamanta Jagaddala Immadi Devaraya, all of the Cheraku family.


1271 AD - 1305 AD : Immadi Bolla IV or Immadi Jetti Bollaye reddi (son of Immadi Devaya II) 
26th December, A.D. 1271 : Irvin, Kalwakurthy
Reign of : Rudradeva and Immadi Bolla Reddi.
This inscription is on a pillar in the midst of the village. This inscription records a gift of land to God Indresvara by mahasamanta Vavilala Rudraya reddi for the merit of his sister Rudrasani. This inscription refers to the fact that there were matrimonial alliances between Cheraku and Vavilala families.


Immadi Mallikarjuna nayaka son of mallikarujuna nayaka who was the minister of the king, made the gift of vrittis of wet land behind the Udayadity- samudra, arranged five special canal facility to that big land.

5th April, A.D. 1286 : Amarabad.
This inscription is on a slab in front of the Siva temple in the Village. Records a gift of 1 Patuka of Nirunela (wet land) behind the temple to God, Chanda Mallaya deva, for the merit of Jeti Bollaya Immadi deva. It also records the gift of half (arda) the wetland in Burugu Gundala Kalva to Goddess Lakshmi devi by Dandema raju, for the merit of Peddi Bollaya Reddi and 5 Edumu in Tigalapalli and Pandumu in Chikulapalli. Also contains a list of gifts.

June 1295 AD : Amarabad, Mahaboobnagar District.
This inscription is on the other side of the stone slab lying outside the Siva temple. Dated S 1217 Manmatha, Ashadha su. Thursday (A.D. 1295, June). This records the grant of Pogasiri vangu canal as vritti by Aveta Nayudu and Boppari of Amaradi for the merit of Bollaye reddi. Certain Pocha gave the canal at the instance of Narasimha Shetty, the Komati.Pocha is said to be a Mahasamanta of Cheraku Immadi Jetti Bollaye reddi.

1304 AD : Medavaram, Nalgonda.
This inscription engraved on a slab up in a field outside the village, is in Telugu language and characters and belongs to the reign of Kakatiya Ridradeva-maharaju. Dated in Saka 1226, krodhi (A.D. 1304), it registers a grant of land for the ranga-bhoga of the deity Svayambhu-Somanathadeva of Medavaram by mummadi Devaraju belonging to Karikala- vamsa, Kasyapa-Gorra and Malav-aravaya. The gift was made for the welfare of mahasamanta Immadi Bolaya-reddi, of the Cheraku family.

3rd January A.D. 1305 : Rangareddigudem.
This inscription is on a stone set up outside the village. States that, while Mahamandalesvara Rudradeva maharaja of the Kakatiya family was ruling the kingdom of the world; Mahapradhana Bacharavuta and Malavanvaya Mummadideva maharaja of the lineage of Karikala and of the Kasyapa gotra made a gift of land for the anga and ranga bhogas to the god Svayambhu Somanathadeva of Medavura for the increase of the duration of the life, health and prosperity of Mahasamanta Cheraku Immadi Bollaya Reddi.

1321 AD : Prolaya-Reddi son of mahasamanta Cheraku Jagaddala Immadi Devaya
3rd September, A.D. 1321 : Kalvakolanu, Kollapur Taluk
This inscription is on a slab in front of the Chennakeshwara temple. Records a gift of money collected at a visamu, i.e. a sixteenth for every mada on articles sold and on salaries at Kalavakolanu for worship and offerings to god Prasanna-Vallabhadeva by Prolaya-Reddi, son of mahasamanta Cheraku Jagaddala Immadi Devaya, for his own merit.

Veluru Branch
1253 AD - 1269 AD : Visvanatha / Peda Devaya I (son of Bolla II) 
ruled with Veluru as capital, comprising Veluru, Goruvankapalli and Kurulla and some part of Nandikotkur taluq of Kurnool district under their control.

The grant gives the genealogy of four commanders-in-chief starting from, Bolliah, his son Deviah, his son Veluri Bolla and his son Rajarudra.

1269 AD - 1289 AD : Veluru Bolla III (sons of Peda Devaya I)
31st October A.D. 1269 : Cheraku Veluri Bollaya raddi gave for the offerings of the god one maruturu of land near the bund of the tank Nallamjeruvu. The same chief gave some more lands at Amaravuramu (Amararam or Amarabad) and Ganapavuram.

1288 AD : It is known from the present record that Bollayareddi was ruling his realm from his nelavldu Kamdanavolala in AD.1288

It is significant to note here that Bollayareddi did not make a reference to his overlord in the present record. It is likely that Btdlayareddi during the last days of Rudramadevi’s reign defied the authority of the Kakatiyas.

1289 AD : Cheraku Bollayareddi who, in all probability extended his support to Ambadeva, the arch enemy of Rudramadevi.

1289 AD - 1320 AD : Cheraku Rudraya Reddi or Rajarudra son of Veluri Bolla III
Cheraku Rajanarendra mentioned in this connection is the same as Rājarudra of the Cheraku family mentioned elsewhere , and that after their punishment at the hands of Tātapinnama they became feudatories of the Kākatīyās .

Tātapinnama , the progenitor of the later Araviḍu dynasty rose to prominence , probably during the last days of the Kakatiya rule with Aravitikota

1290 AD : It is known from the Tripurantakam record of A.D. 1290 that Ambadeva offered his daughter to certain Rajanna, son of Bollayapati along with the town Nandanapura with all its income as dowry. Some scholars identified the above referred Bolaya and his son Rajanna with the Cheraku Bollayareddi and his son Rajarudra

26th April, A.D. 1290 : Malayala, Nandikotkur Mandal, Kurnool. 
This is dated Saka. 1212, Vikriti, Vaisakha su. 15, Thursday weekday wrong, corresponding to 1290 A.D. April 26th Wednesday. This inscription records that Sarvayesvarayyaṁgaru established a matha at Malayala and end wed it with lands (vrittis) given to him by Rudradeva son of mahasamanta Cheraku Bollayareddi, in addition to the already land gifts made by Bollayareddi previously. The matha with the endowments was kept in charge of mahadeva, son of his brother Sadashiv Ayyagaru. The lands are located in the villages namely nandikoṭtukuru, Atukura, Orivakallu,102 Sevtavahanikota Devunur karivena, kannamaḍakala, Chanugomda, Mimdavemula, Anukomda and lamjyaprolu (?) and Tekuru belonging to naravadi.

1291 AD : inscription of Lingala in the same taluq and dated in Saka 1213, Nandana or 1291 A.D., one Racharudradeva son of Mahasamanta Cheraku Veluru Bollaiah Reddy is mentioned as a vassal of Kakati Prataparudra. 

1291 AD : Juturu, Kurnool. 
This inscription is on a Nandi-pillar in a field known as basavannapadu on the way to Juturu from Lingala, dated Saka 1213, Nandana, Phalguna, su., 5. Sunday. Registers grant of lands made by Racha Rudradeva, son of Mahasamanta Cheraku Veluri Bollaya Reddi, to god Mallikarjuna for the pamchamrita-mahapuja and mahanaivedya and worship of the god for maintaining the satiras (charity homes) on the occasion of the former`s visit to Srisailam for the vasanta-mahostava of the god. The gift lands which situated in Kamnadu were made over to the Kalmatha and entrusted to Paramasivacharya, the pontiff of the matha

9th June A.D. 1294.  : Kurella, Ramannapet Taluk. 
The inscription refers to the reign of Prataparudradeva. The commander of his armies Rudraya, son of Cheraku Veluri Bollaya, is stated to have made the grant of the village Kudedlu with sarva-bhogas to his purohita Lakshmidharappana, on the occasion of the lunar eclipse.The donee in his tum, retaining a portion of it for himself, donated some vrittis to the deities Svayambhudeva of Orugallu, Narasimhadeva of Mettu (probably Mettupalli), Somanathadeva of Kollipaka, Somanathadeva of Sírivodu, Uppula devara, Visvanathadeva and Kesavadeva of Kudedlu, all these being the old vrittis of Devas and Brahmanas numbering 52. The vrittis of the vidvan Mahajanas are specified by names and their respective shares. Some of them were Bhattas and some were ghata sasins.


1318 AD : Bollaram
Dated Saka 1240 (A.D. 1318), it refers to certain gifts made by Cheraku Rudraya Reddi while Kakatiya Prataparudra had been ruling.

5th May, A.D. 1320 : Bollaram, Devarakonda.
This inscription is dated S. 1242, Rudri, Jyeshtha su. 7 sukravara [A.D. 1320, May 15, Thursday, not Friday]. Partly damaged. It seems to register some (grant) by Cheraku Rudraya  Reddi. Details not clear.

1293 AD : Son of Veluru Bollaya issued a copper plate granting the village of goravankapalli to brahmins who performed the obsiques at Gaya for his deceased father. 

1291 AD : Nandikotkur, Kurnool District.
This inscription is on Nandi-Pillar set up in a field (Sur No. 116) outside the village, dated Saka 1213, Khara, [Vaisakha, su. 15,] Thursday. Registers a grant of land at Nandikotkuru made by Rudradeva, son of Mahasamanta Cheraku Manuma Bollaya Reddi, to Sarvesvarayyamgaru for the merit of his parents. The latter in turn gave away the gift lands to the temple of Sarvvesvaradeva and Bollesvaradeva founded by him at Malyala.

Kayasta Ambadeva gave his daughter in marriage to Rajanna, son of Cheraku Bolla III along with Nandapura in 1290 AD.

1318 AD : Maheswara Reddi
1318 AD : Velpanuru, Kurnool. 
This inscription is inscribed on three fragments of a slab lying in the Ankalamma temple, dated Saka 1240, Kalayukta, Asvayuja, su. 11, Thursday. Fragmentary. Registers gifts of land at several places made by Mahasamanta Cheraku Mahesvara Reddi who was ruling over Kamnadu, for worship of god Mulasthana Siddhanthadeva of Velpunuru.





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