Recherla Rudra

Rudra of Recherla (IAST: Recerla) family, also known as 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 (Yadavas), 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.

Not to be confused with the Kakatiya king Rudra-deva.
Recherla Rudra
Commander-in-chief of the Kakatiya army
MonarchMahadeva
Regent of the Kakatiya dynasty
MonarchGanapati
Personal details
Born12th century
Died13th century
ProfessionAdministrator and commander-in-chief of Kakatiya army
Military service
AllegianceKakatiya dynasty
CommandsKakatiya Army

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 (Yadava) kingdom, and his son Ganapati was captured by the enemy.[1]

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.[2] 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:[1]

He forsooth cut off the head of a haughty feudatory, and set it up for public view, stuck upon the top of a lofty flag-staff, as a scarecrow to frighten the flocks of these wild beasts that are hostile kings.

Palampet inscription of Rudra[2]

Ganapati was released from Yadava captivity sometime in 1199 CE. The Ramakrishnapuram inscription states that Rudra reinstated Ganapati on the throne.[1]

According to some scholars, such as M. Somasekhara Sarma, Rudra also repulsed an invasion by the Chola ruler Kulottunga III.[2] Others, such as P. V. P. Sastry dispute this in absence of concrete evidence.[1]

Palampet
Ramappa Temple at 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 Rudresvara ("Lord of Rudra"), a word play on the name of the builder (Recherla Rudra) and the deity (Rudra being another name for Shiva).[3]

References
  1. P.V.P. Sastry (1978). N. Ramesan (ed.). The Kākatiyas of Warangal. Hyderabad: Government of Andhra Pradesh. pp. 103–107. OCLC 252341228.
  2. N. Venkataramanayya; M. Somasekhara Sarma (1960). "The Kakatiyas of Warangal". In Ghulam Yazdani (ed.). The Early History of the Deccan Parts VII - XI. Vol. IX: The Kākatīyas of Warangal. Oxford University Press. p. 600. ISBN 9788170691259. OCLC 59001459.
  3. Susan L. Huntington; John C. Huntington (2014). The Art of Ancient India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 552. ISBN 9788120836174.
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