Kota Vamsa in Telugu means Fort Dynasty and is used to refer to the medieval dynasty which ruled over a small region of Andhra Pradesh (Guntur district) with Dharanikota as their capital from around 8th century AD to the mid 12th century AD. Kota Kings were of Dhananjaya (gotra) and are considered to be the ancestors of the Rajus of Dhananjaya (gotra). The Kotas ofDhananjaya (gotra) appear as the second among the four important branches of Kshatriyas in Telugu land, even to this date. Kota Vamsa kings are no way related to Kota kings of Rajasthan.
History
From the Chalukya period (around 7th century AD), there were small dynasties ruling over parts of Andhra. Amongst them were the Parichedis, Chagis, Kalachuris and the Kota Kings (Kota Vamsa). Kota Kings initially patronised Jainism and later on they also patronised Hinduism like the Chalukyas. They favoured Shaivism and their family god was Amareswara of Amaravati. They built several Hindu temples during their reign.
Kota Kings followed the varna system. The Brahmins were held in high esteem in the society. They were given gifts of land and money. The Kshatriyas were the ruling class. The Komatis (Vaisyas) was trading community.
Some historians mention that Dhanunjaya gotra of Kota Kings might have come from there ancestor Prince Dhananjaya who ruled Madhyadesa. Ancestry of Kota kings.
Kota Kings most of the time of their reign enjoyed independent rule, while in their later stage of their reign they became subordinates of Kakatiyas. Kota Kings had lot of political successes during their reign. Kota Vamsa was closely connected by marriage ties with the Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Paricchedis, Chagis and Kalachuris. Kota Betaraja married Ganapamba, daughter of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. Kota Betaraja was the last ruler of the Kota Dynasty which ended in 1268 AD.
Much information about the initial Kota Kings is not exactly known, Kota Hariseemakrishna was said to be the founder of the Kota dynasty. Basing on inscriptions of later Kota kings, Kota Bhimaraja ruled in 11th century AD.
Kota Ketaraja II who was the common ancestor of Andhra Kshatriya families of Datla, Dantuluri,Pakalapati,Bhupathiraju and Jampana etc. ascended the throne in 1182. Kota Ketaraja II ruled the entire Kota Kingdom consisting of Shatsahara, Kondanatavadi, Kandravadi, DoddiKandravadi and Kondapadumati districts from 1218 AD with the help of his two sons Kota Bhimaraju and Rudraraju.
List of the later Kota Kings (rulers):
- Kota Bhimaraja I - 1100 AD.
- Kota Ketaraja I - 1130 AD.
- Kota Bhimaraja II.
- Kota Ketaraja II - 1182 AD to 1232 AD.
- Kota Rudraraju.
- Kota Betaraja - 1268 AD.
There are several inscriptions mentioning Kota Ketaraja and Kota Betaraja, who built several temples around Dharanikota and Amravati region. The inscriptions in the temple of Amravati, Kota Ketaraja has been mentioned along with his minister Proli Nayudu.
After the decline of Kota kings in 1268 AD. The following inscriptions of Kota kings descendants were found:
1. Rudraraju was mentioned in the records of Kunkalagunka in 1275 AD. Rudraraju was the grandson of Kota Rudraraju, son of Kota Ketaraja of main branch Kota Kings.
2. Pochalamadevi, Wife of Kota Manma Ganpadevarajulu was mentioned in Srikakulam records. Kota Manma Ganpadevarajulu was son of Kota Ganapati, son of Kota Ketaraja III.
3. Inscriptions of Golugonda and Madgole mentioned the rule of Bhupathiraju for a period of time.
4. Dantuluri Gannabhupala of Kota lineage was mentioned as ruling the tracts about Dharanikota about 1400 AD.
5. Famous Telugu poet Srinatha wrote Dhananjaya Vijayam and dedicated it to Dhantuluri Gannabhupala of Kota lineage.
6. Mahamuni Kavya Kanta Ganapathi Shastry mentioned in his book that King Dantuluri Gannabhupala gave away his daughter Surambika to Ana Vema Reddy who ruled Addanki, Dharanikota and Kondaveedu in marriage. This was mentioned to be the first marriage between Kshatriya and Reddy communities.
7. The Lords of Kota appeared as the feudatories of Pusapati Rachiraju Tammaraju in 17th century.
Decline1. Rudraraju was mentioned in the records of Kunkalagunka in 1275 AD. Rudraraju was the grandson of Kota Rudraraju, son of Kota Ketaraja of main branch Kota Kings.
2. Pochalamadevi, Wife of Kota Manma Ganpadevarajulu was mentioned in Srikakulam records. Kota Manma Ganpadevarajulu was son of Kota Ganapati, son of Kota Ketaraja III.
3. Inscriptions of Golugonda and Madgole mentioned the rule of Bhupathiraju for a period of time.
4. Dantuluri Gannabhupala of Kota lineage was mentioned as ruling the tracts about Dharanikota about 1400 AD.
5. Famous Telugu poet Srinatha wrote Dhananjaya Vijayam and dedicated it to Dhantuluri Gannabhupala of Kota lineage.
6. Mahamuni Kavya Kanta Ganapathi Shastry mentioned in his book that King Dantuluri Gannabhupala gave away his daughter Surambika to Ana Vema Reddy who ruled Addanki, Dharanikota and Kondaveedu in marriage. This was mentioned to be the first marriage between Kshatriya and Reddy communities.
7. The Lords of Kota appeared as the feudatories of Pusapati Rachiraju Tammaraju in 17th century.
It is believed that after the decline of Kota Vamsa in mid 12th century AD the Kotas dispersed and named themselves after the villages of their origin such as Jampana, Dantuluri, Datla,Pakalapati, Chintalapati, etc. Very few Kotas migrated to different parts of the country, it was known in history that Kotas served Nizams.
The Jampana, Dantuluri, Datla, Pakalapati and Nallaparaju royal families of Dhananjaya Gotra, who were Zamindars of Rama-Chandra-Puram, Mogalthur, Kotapalli, Ghandavaram, Kuppili,Moida and Mutta Talaga Chirala.