Kattama raju

1.காட்டமராஜு

2.Epic of Katama Raju:

Prakasam district was immortalized in the annals of the history and folklore of the Telugus with the battle of #Erragaddapadu fought between rulers of Nellore namely Nallasiddhi and the Golla community headed by #Katamaraju in the last quarter of 13th century. 

Though all the warriors on the side of Katamaraju perished in the battle,

 the heroic saga of him and the warriors fought on his side perpetuated with a ballad known as #Katamaraju_Kathalu.

Katamaraju Katha:

 Katamaraju story is in the form of a long verse transmitted orally from generation to generation. The story speaks about three generation of Golla/Yadava chiefs culminating in the Battle of Erragaddapadu.

 The narration contains about 21 stories with historical facts pertaining to the Yadava chiefs belonging to #Yelamanchili region of present Vishakapatnam district, which later migrated to the region of Nellore and Prakasham districts in the south.

#Avula_Valuraju who was the Yadava chief of Yelamanchili in Vishakhapatnam district. His parents were #Kariyavula_Ganguraju and #Gangamma.

 He had three brothers, namely Harigopala, Nandagopala and Govardhana. 

Avula Valuraju picked up a quarrel with one of his neighbouring chiefs, Kalabuta Ganguraju of Kandemondemula Kota by 

promising protection to the latter’s ministers who were to be punished by their chief on charges of corruption. 

All his brothers died fighting the chief of Kandemondemula Kota. Avula Valuraju had 5 sons and one daughter. He also left for the battle field after arranging the succession of his second son, Peddiraju to the estate. Valuraju also died in the battle.

Peddiraju ruled Yelamanchili for about 10 years and then moved to Pampadri with his brothers where he ruled for seven year. Since he had no children he divided his property of Cows, Gold, Jewellary and other valuables among his brothers and left for #Kalyana_Pattanam where he got 

a son, #Katamaraju and a daughter,#Papanuka. 

He dies in a battle fighting his enemy, #Valiketuvaraju, who was later killed by Katamaraju. 

As a strange co-incidence all the brothers of Peddiraju also died fighting their 

enemies in separate engagements. 

Later, #Baktiranna, son of Poluraju,

the youngest of the brothers, took initiative to bring the third generation back to Yelamanchili. 

Thus, Katamaraju and Papanuka also come back to Yelamanchili, Katamaraju ascended the throne of Yelamanchili.

After some time Katamaraju moved with his cattle to Srisailam and turned towards Nellore where Nallasiddi was ruling at the time.

Katamaraju was warned by his kinsmen not to go towards Nellore because Mukkanti of Nellore had killed his uncle Poluraju. 

Despite the warning, Katamaraju entered into an agreement with Nallasiddi on the 

payment of grazing tax which led to a fresh trouble between Katamaraju and Nallasiddi.

 In a battle that followed Katamaraju killed Nallasiddi and avenged the death of his uncle but he had also succumbed to his 

injuries in the war.

 Thus, the narration culminates in the death of Katamaraju who occupied a place of pride in the minds of Yadavas.

 The story assumed the status of a Purana and an epic. Katamaraju is praised by the Yadavas as the incarnation of Lord Krishna.

Though the legend of Katamaraju traces his family pedigree from Lord Krishna, various traditional literary sources differ with one another regarding the number of generation to which he beginning from Lord Krishna. 

According to various sources, the number of generations between Lord Krishna and Katamaraju ranges between 11 and 23.26

However,

 the last three generations consisting Valuraju, 

Peddiraju and 

Katamaraju are not disputed by any source.

 The historicity of these three 

chiefs in succession can be corroborated with the epigraphic and other literary sources.