Recherla Rudra


Rudra of Recherla family, also known as Rudrireddi and Rudra-senani, was a 12th-13th century military commander, administrator and vassal of the Kakatiya kingdom of present-day India. Around 1198 CE, the Kakatiya king Mahadeva was killed in a campaign against the Seunas, and his son Ganapati was captured by the enemy. Rudra administered the kingdom in Ganapati's name, and reinstated him on the throne after his release. Rudra established the Palampet town, and commissioned the Ramappa Temple there.

Family background

Rudra was born to mother Bejjama alias Bejjamba and father Katreddi alias Kataya. Rudra's 1213 CE Palampet inscription, which calls him the "lord of Recherla", describes his lineage as "famous and most noble". It names Brahma sena-pati as the progenitor of his family, and suggests that Brahma raided Kanchi as a Kakatiya general. His descendants included Kataya, who was also a military general and "conqueror of foes". Kataya's son Kama defeated Manthenya Gunda as a commander of the Kakatiya king Prola's army. Kama's son Kataya, the father of Rudra, was also a general and a devotee of Shiva.

Military career

Rudra served as the commander-in-chief of the Kakatiya army during the reign of the Kakatiya king Mahadeva. In 1198-1199 CE, Mahadeva was killed in a battle against the Seuna kingdom, and his son Ganapati was captured by the enemy.
During Ganapati's captivity, Rudra appears to have handled the administration in Ganapati's name, as suggested by his titles Kakatiya-rajya-bhara-dhaureya and Kakati-rajya-samartha. Epigraphic evidence suggests that he suppressed rebellions from feudatories and repulsed invasions. The 1218 CE Nattaramesvaram inscription states that Rudra defeated an obscure king named Nagati, forcing him to flee to Kolavenu region. This event happened during the reign of Mahadeva, or shortly after his death. Rudra's Palampet inscription describes how he rescued the Kakatiya kingdom from grave misfortune:
Ganapati was released from Yadava captivity sometime in 1199 CE. The Ramakrishnapuram inscription states that Rudra reinstated Ganapati on the throne.
According to some scholars, such as M. Somasekhara Sarma, Rudra also repulsed an invasion by the Chola ruler Kulottunga III. Others, such as P. V. P. Sastry dispute this in absence of concrete evidence.
According to the Godiasla inscription, Rudra's brahmana minister Rajanayaka defeated one Godhumarati at Bokkera, captured Udayagiri, and drove away Padi-raya.

Palampet

Rudra established the town of Palampet and commissioned the construction of the Ramappa Temple there, as attested by a 1213 CE inscription. Although Palampet is now a small village, it was an important town during the Kakatiya period. The temple is also called Rudreshvara, a word play on the name of the builder and the deity.
According to the Palampet inscription, Rudra granted the village of Nekkonda to the temple. He also endowed the temples of Rudreshvara, Kateshvara and Kameshvara with the village of Nadakude. In addition, he granted the villages of Upparapalli and Borlapalli to the god Gaurisha on 31 March 1213.