Raja Venkatadri Nayudu: 1783-1816

By Nandiraju Radhakrishna

Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu Bahaddurr Mannesultan (1783–1816) was a Zamindar, the ruler of Amaravati, which is presently the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. 

Sir Naidu was popularly known as the first Indian king who revolted against the British rule in India. He ruled from 1783 until the advent of the Britishers into India.

Originally, he ruled from Chintapally presently part of the Krishna District, later he moved to Amaravati, on the banks of the river Krishna. As part of his wish to move the capital city from Chintapally, Sri Nayudu first shifted to Dharanikota and later to Amaravati, which he constructed new city, which is now part of Guntur district.

He was most famous for his benign rule, patronage of the arts and literature, and as a builder of numerous temples in the Krishna river delta. He renovated the ancient temples at Amaravati, Chebrolu, Mangalagiri, and Ponnuru. 

Colin Mckenzee who visited Amaravati in 1797 had praised the glory of Nayudu’s palaces in Asiatic Journal. He maintained a big army, kept a retinue of several thousand men, 300 horses, 80 elephants, 50 camels and uncounted bullock carts.

During his rule, Sir Venkatadri Nayudu suffered with Pindaris, who are known irregular military plunders in the Indian subcontinent during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. They entered Indian continent by associating with Mughal army and later they worked for Maratha armies. They are not regular army, but they work for armies on payment. With the advent of British, these Pindaris started robbing activity. During Nayudu’s time a fragmented group of Pindaris used to engaged in robbing villages in Guntur region. He eliminated those private armies successfully. Further, Sri Venkatadri Nayudu invited about 600 of the men to the luncheon meeting and ordered to kill them. The place where this incident took place is today called “Narukulapadu” (Naruku means axe or to-chop)

After this incident the Rajah became repentant and came to Amaravati and devoted his entire life, time and revenues to building temples of Lord Siva. 

He renovated the Amareswaraswamy temple in Amaravati, got nine learned archakas to be brought for the daily archana of the Lord, and provided them with all the needs of livelihood. The temple as it stands now owes much to him. Venkatadri Nayudu was assisted by a very able minister and poet “Mulugu Papayaradhya.” There were several poets and scholars in the court of Venkatadri Nayudu.

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