Introduction (Chagi Dynasty)

The Chagis or Tyagis were the rulers of the Natavadi and Vijayavativishayas with capitals at Gudimetta, Vijayananda and Vinukonda, at different times for nearly three centuries and a half with interrugnums some long in the middle. The Chagi dynasty owed nominal allegiance to the Cholas, perhaps the Kakatiyas and the Gajapatis. The rulers were warriors and administrators and in fact independent for all practical purposes. Their kingdom was not small, political achievements not insignificant compared to other dynasties in Vengi at the time excepting the Velanandus and the Telugu Chodas. The family name of the Chagis was Vipparla. The Chagis had their own coinage and contracted diplomatics allianes of marriage with the Kakatiyas and the Kondapadumatis and were the originators of the Palnad Haihaya and a Telugu Chola dynasties.

Early history

The caste of the Chagis is uncertain. Some inscriptions call them Sudras, while others and Ramavilasa by Telugu Lakshmana kavi of a much later date, mention them as Kshatriyas. One inscription says that among the Kshatriya-Kulas was born Vipparlavamsa, in which were born great warriors and saints like Nagarjuna. Chagi Venkana was of the solar race. But many Chagi records trace the ancestry to Duijaya and Durjayakula. Duijaya, according to some inscriptions, was born in a caste born from the feet of Vishnu and. according to others he was born from Brahma and was the lord of the west (Paschimadhisvara) and protector of the earth. A few records of the 13th century of the time of Ganapati of the Kakatiyas refer to him as of the lineage of Karikala. It is not possible to see whether this Ranajaya, Ramadurjaya of Velanandu records and Tandivada plates of Prithvisvara are identical for want of data and harder still to accept the suggestion of their identity with Durjaya. His son was Ranajaya according to the genealogy of the Sagi family. Many a dynasty in Andhra—the Kakatiyas, the Kondapadumatis, the Parichchedis, the Natavedis and others claim descent from Durjaya. But the historicity of this semi mythical personage is shrouded in mist as in the case of Kariakla and Tnlocha-apallava Hence on the basis of a single epigraph mentioning Muppa as son of Durjaya which may first mean that Muppa is a descendant of Durjaya and nothing more as attested by other Chagi records to say that allowing on average of twenty five years for each generation it would appear that the family came into prominence under Durjaya some time abouts 971 is incorrect.

The Chagis were Sudras to begin with and assumed Kshatnya lineage later on like the Reddis of Rajahmundry. According to Ramavilasa, the Chagi ancestry is as follows: Brahma was born from the navel lotus of Vishnu and from his Marichi. Marichi’s son was Kshyapa and his son was Bhaskara. Bhaskara’s son was Vaivasvata whose son was Manu, and Manus son was Ikshvaka. In Ikshvakavamsa was born Kakutsa, Raghu and Dasaratha. Dasaratha’s son was Rama and in Suryavamsa, Sagivamsa became famous.