The Permadi Chiefs of Koraprolu (Medak)
The Permadi Chiefs (c. 973 – 1158 CE) were a resilient feudatory lineage governing the Methuku-70 region (modern-day Medak). Operating from their capital at Koraprolu, they served as the strategic backbone of the Western Chalukyan administration within the vast Savalakha-Mandala province.
Key Historical Significance: They oversaw the profound transformation of the Medak region from a military fodder station into a prosperous "rice bowl." Their 180+ years of rule provided the administrative continuity necessary for the agricultural revolution that defined central Telangana.
1. Origins and Rise
Following the collapse of the Rashtrakuta Empire in 973 CE, the Western Chalukya King Tailapa II appointed the Permadi family as Mahamandaleshvaras. They were tasked with securing the Kasavula-70 (a 70-village cluster), which served as a vital buffer zone for the Chalukyan heartland.
2. Rulers - Titles and Achievements
Soma Permanadi I (c. 973 CE)
The founding patriarch who established the administrative seat at Koraprolu. He was responsible for the initial military organization of the 70-village division during the Rashtrakuta-Chalukya transition.
Pampa Permadi (c. 1014 CE)
A visionary ruler who shifted the regional focus from defense to development. Under his guidance, the first major irrigation tanks were constructed, facilitating the shift toward large-scale paddy cultivation.
Somapermmanadi III (c. 1152 CE)
Representing the final era of Permadi rule under the Chalukyas, he maintained the "Methuku-70" prosperity until the rising tide of Kakatiya expansion annexed the region under Rudradeva.
3. Administration
The Permadis administered a compact unit of 70 villages (Nadu). This was a sub-division of the Savalakha-Mandala (the "1.25 Lakh" unit). Their governance was highly localized, allowing the region to remain stable even during imperial succession wars in the capital, Kalyani.
4. Economy and Trade
The transition between these two names defines the Permadi legacy:
- Kasavula-70: The military-pastoral phase, focused on providing fodder (Kasavu) for Chalukyan cavalry.
- Methuku-70: The agricultural phase. As irrigation matured, the region became famous for its rice (Methuku = grain of rice), eventually evolving into the modern name Medak.
The Permadis pioneered the "Chain of Tanks" irrigation system, connecting natural topography with man-made reservoirs to ensure year-round water for agriculture.
5. Society
Society was characterized by the growth of agrarian wealth and religious patronage. The Permadis followed the Saptasantana tradition, encouraging the elite to build tanks and temples as acts of social and spiritual merit.
6. Art and Culture
They were major patrons of the Kalyani Chalukya architecture. The Ramalingeswara Temple at Nandikandi is their crowning achievement, featuring a unique star-shaped (stellate) plan and intricate carvings that served as a precursor to the Thousand Pillar Temple of the Kakatiyas.
7. Foreign Relations
The Permadis were the primary "Guardians of the Savalakha-Mandala." They secured the trade corridors and metropolitan hubs like Potlacheruvu (Patancheru) against external threats, ensuring the safety of the Western Chalukya secondary capitals.
8. Achievements and Legacy
Their most enduring legacy is the creation of the agricultural infrastructure that made Medak the rice bowl of Telangana. The administrative stability they provided allowed the region to flourish during the transition between empires.
9. Chronology, Dating and Inscriptions
- 973 AD (Koraprolu): Foundation record of Soma Permanadi I under King Tailapa II; marks the start of the Kasavula-70 era.
- 1014 AD (Nandikandi): Record of Pampa Permadi; documents temple patronage and the rise of agricultural prosperity.
- 1076 AD (Patancheru): A vital record identifying the Permadis as the "Guardians of Savalakha-Mandala" during the accession of Vikramaditya VI.
- 1152 AD (Dakur): Record of Somapermmanadi III; confirms 180 years of administrative continuity for the Permadi lineage.
10. Successor States/Vassals
Following the decline of the Western Chalukyas around 1158 CE, the Kakatiya King Rudradeva annexed the Methuku-70 region. The Kakatiyas did not dismantle the Permadi system; instead, they expanded the "Chain of Tanks" irrigation model, carrying the legacy of the Permadi Chiefs into the golden age of the Kakatiya Empire.
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