Ashta diggajas

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Rayalaseema

Rayalaseema (రాయలసీమ)is a geographic region in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It includes the districts of Kurnool, Kadapa (formerly known as 'Cuddapah'), Anantapur, Chittoor, parts of Prakasam and Nellore districts. Bellary district of the present day Karnataka was part of Rayalaseema till the states were reorganized. The usage of the word and identification to a geographic area is relatively recent (early 20th century).

History

The word "Rayalaseema" means the land ruled by Sri Krishnadevaraya. Rayalaseema was the original home of Eastern Chalukyas. They gradually extended their sway over Karnata country because of the pressure from Cholas kings. Although Rayalaseema is a relatively small region compared to the rest of Telugu speaking regions, its contribution to Telugu, Urdu, arts, culture and literature is immense.

Culture

Amongst the Trilingas, Srisailam is the foremost amongst them is in Rayalaseema. The first settlement of Telugus is said to be in Rayalaseema Region. The oldest written inscription ShilaShaasanam bearing the word Andhra Pathamu has been found in Bellary region (present day Karnataka).

Literature

Telugu culture reached its zenith during the Vijayanagara rule under Sri Krishnadevaraya. Amongst Ashta Diggajas, Allasani Peddana, Dhoorajati, Nandi Timmana, Maadayyagari Mallana and Ayyalaraju RamaBhadrudu are from this region.

Recent notable scholar from the region is Saraswati Putra Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu.

Ghadiyaram Ramakrishna Sharma, a prolific author, historian and social reformer has settled in Alampuram near Kurnool. Sri Ramakrishna Sharma is responsible for restoration of the ancient Jogulamba temple. He is also treated as a bridge between Rayalaseema and Telangana.

Kuntimaddi Sesha Sarma from Anathapuram area was a prolific author in Vishisthadwaita related subjects.

Notable Urdu Literary personalities from this region, Qaisi Qamarnagari, Kareem Roomani, Barq Kadapavi, Ahmadnisar Madanapalle, Qamar Ameeni, Abdul Azeem, Saghar Jayyadi, Sathar Faizi, N.M.Jalib Saaqui Kadapa.

Music

Annamayyaacharaya - Apart from the all too famous songs on Sri Venkateswara, an interesting mention of the lullaby Chandamama Raave, jaabilli raave, which every Telugu mother sings.

Tyagaraja - Belongs to Kakarla family of Rayalaseema region.

SriPada Pinakapani - Settled in Kurnool (21st Century). He is guru of other Telugu stalwarts like Oleti Venkateswarlu, Nedunuri Krishnamurti, Nookala Chinna Satya Narayana, Malladi Brothers and others.

Rallapalli Ananthakrishna Sharma - Sangitha Kalanidhi, a great musicologist and scholar from Ananthapuram area.

Pilgrimage

Rayalaseema has many important places of pilgrimage for Telugu people, Kannadigas and Tamils.

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple - Abode of Lord Venkateswara.
Srisailam - Abode of Mallikarjuna (Lord Shiva).
Ahobilam - Where Narasimha blessed Prahlada.
Srikalahasti- Temple of Lord Shiva
Mahanandi- Lord Shiva temple
Yaganti eswara- Lord Shiva temple
Mantralayam - One of the most important pilgrim places for Madhva sect of Brahmins.
Puttaparthi - Abode of Sri Satya Sai Baba.
Ontimitta - Famous for the temple of Sri Rama, where on the Sri Ramanavami day, Mutyalatalambralu is accorded to the lord by the state government along with Bhadrachalam.
Bramhamgari Matam Famous for the temple Sri Pothuluri Veera Bramhendra Swamulavaru.
Pushpagiri Famous for the temple Sri Chennakesava Swamy beside of Penna River
Kanipakam - Temple of Lord Ganapathi
Lepakshi Famous nandi temple in Ananthapuram district
Tallapaka birth place of annamayya
Hemavati: Famous shiva temple built in 12th century by pallava nolamba kings. It is in madakasira taluke of anantapur district.
Tadipatri Famous for the temple of Lord Sri Rama and shiva

Tourism

Belum Caves - the second largest cave in Indian sub-continent and the longest caves in plains of Indian Subcontinent. It is located at Belum Village in Kolimigundla Mandal of Kurnool District.

Gendi, Kadapa District.

Gurramkonda, Chandragiri, Horsley Hills Talakona of Chittoor district.

Thimmama Marrimanu :- World's largest occupied banyan tree, it covers . Age of the tree 550 years. It holds a Guinness Book record. Near KADIRI, from Anantapur 120 kilometres, from Kadiri 20 kilometres.

Spiritual proponents

Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji - Pontiff of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, is from Bommeparthy (Jayalakshmipuram) in Anantapuram district.
Swami Poornananda ji - Avadhoota Swami of Srisailam.
Yogi Vemana - Poet
Sri Pothuluri Veerabramhendra Swamy - Poet and clairvoyant.
Puttaparti Satya Sai baba - Spiritual and religious savant.
Jiddu Krishnamurti - Philosopher.
Mumtaz Ali - The Satsang Foundation, Madanapalle.

Politics

Rayalaseema is underdeveloped compared to the Coastal Andhra region of the state. The growing movement in Telangana to secede from Andhra Pradesh, as well as southern India's long droughts have caused several movements to coalesce around Rayalaseema's grievances. All of these movements are calling for greater official attention for the region, especially in the form of new water projects to harness the Krishna and Godavari rivers to the aid of the region's beleaguered farmers. Congress MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy of Kurnool, who hopes to unite the Rayalaseema movements, advocates the inclusion of Nellore and Prakasam districts of Coastal Andhra and even the Kannada-speaking district of Bellary in Karnataka into a separate Rayalaseema state.

Various organizations like Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika are demanding the establishment of second capital in Kurnool. Kurnool is an important city in the Rayalaseema region. It was the Capital of Andhra State from 1 October 1953 to 1 November 1956 and at present is the headquarters of Kurnool District.

Rayalaseema was named so in 1928 by Gadicherla Hari Sarvottama Rao, a famous freedom fighter. Before 1928, the area was variously called as Guttha Seema and Ceded Districts.Though the area comprises 4 to 5 districts, several chief ministers came from this region. They include current Chief Minster Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Nara Chandrababu Naidu the ex Chief Minister, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy (the former Chief Minister), Damodaram Sanjeevaiah and Neelam Sanjivareddy the former President of India.

Factionism

The peculiar phenomenon of factionism in Rayalaseema goes back to the times of Vijayanagara Empire. Village chieftains known as "Poligars" / 'Paalegarlu' were crucial for the survival of the kingdom. Vijayanagara Rulers depended upon these chieftains for military support in times of crisis and granted a fair degree of autonomy. The British tried to eliminate factionism in the region by hanging a couple of the Chieftains publicly, but failed to eradicate it. Land Reforms to distribute land and wealth usurped by Palegars have met limited success, which resulted in another violent phenomenon known as Naxalism. Factionism has political patronage and is a flourishing activity today.

Factionism has been hindering the progress of Rayalaseema. Many politicians and families are associated with factionism, spending their valuable time to protect themselves from their opponents and planning how to attack or even kill their opponents. For surviving and managing their gangs, they indulge in rowdyism and asking commissions (or percentages) from the government projects. Because of this, some government projects (such as new broadgauage railway line, irrigation related work etc.) were stopped or postponed. If any government servant does not listen these factionists, they are threatened.