Chennappa Nayaka was a Nayaka and trusted general under Sriranga Deva Raya. He married Akkamamba, the daughter of Venkatagiri ruler Velugoti Kasturi Ranga and younger sister of Velugoti Yachama Nayaka.[5]Chennai, the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is named in his honor.
Damarla Moodu Venkatappa Nayaka
Also known as Damarla Venkatadri or Venkatappa as he is called in Dutch records, was the son of Damarla Chennapa Nayaka. He was also in-charge of the administration of the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Peda Venkata Raya, and was the Nayaka of Kalahasti and directly controlled the region up to Wandiwash.
Damarla Ayyappa Nayaka was the brother of Damarla Venkatappa Nayaka and resided at Poonamallee to the west of Madras and administered the territory of Kalahasti for his brother.
Damarla Ankabhupala Nayaka
Damarla Ankabhupala Nayaka was younger brother of Damarla Venkatappa Nayaka and Damarla Ayyappa Nayaka [7][8] Damarla Ankabhupala Nayaka was son of Damarla Chennapa Nayaka. He was Chief of Kalahasti.[9][10] Ankabhugala was a well-known Writer In the Telugu literature Ankabhupala known by a Telugu Poem, Ushaparinayam[11] which he wrote and dedicated to his father, Chennappa Nayaka and Ankabhupala has a single kanda verse (16 ganas with 64 matras) from which one can obtain 108 verses in the metre by shortening or elongating the vowels and changing the sequence of the word [12]
Damarla Ankabhupala was Royal Telugu poet [13][14]
Damarla Timmappa Nayaka
Damarla Timmappa Nayaka son of Damarla Chennapa Nayaka.[15][16][17] He was the Chief of Kalahasti.
Damarla Chenna Venkata
Damarla Chenna Venkata was the son of Damarla Chennappa Nayaka. Chenna Venkata was a poet. He wrote the Telugu poem Chitra Kavita.
^The last name of the rulers is also found written as Nayak, Nayakudu, Nayudu, or Nayakkar, depending on the language and orientation of the writers. The first name (which is a family name) is also written as Damal, a simplified form.
Alpana Pandey, ed. (2015). Medieval Andhra: A Socio-Historical Perspective. Partridge Publishing. ISBN9781482850178. By this time there were many Velama principalities whose were called the Nayakas. Some of the famous Velama Nayakas of the time were those of the Kalahasti, Bellamakonda, jataprolu, bobbili, Velugodu Principalities.
Ravula Soma Reddy, ed. (2007). Studies in the Socio-economic History of Medieval: Andhra Desa. Research India Press. p. 150. ISBN9788189131142. Another interesting thing to be noted in this connection is that several Velama Chiefs , after the conquest of the Rachakonda and Devarakonda Kingdoms carved out small principalities small principalities like those of Velugodu ( Kurnool district ) , Venkatagiri , Kalahasti , Bellamkonda and Nuzividu ( coastal Andhra ) in the Vijayanagara Empire , during the period of the last Sangama rulers.
Alladi Jagannatha Sastri, ed. (1922). A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas. Addison Press. p. 78. According to the social right established so early as during the days of the second descendant Prasaditya Naidu , under orders of the Emperor Ganapathi Rai , making the Padmanayaka Velamas the first and foremost in rank , the chiefs belonging to the other seventy - six Velama sects , Damara Venkatapathi Naidu of Kalahasti included , paid the customary respects to the Rajah on this occasion by keeping themselves standing . Damara Venkatapathi Naidu himself being the brother - in - law of the Rajah was allowed a seat in the south - east of the hall
W. Francis, ed. (1989). Gazetteer of South India. Mittal Publications. p. 20. Kalahasti Zamindari - One of the largest zamindari estates in Madras, situated partly in North Arcot District, partly in Nellore, and partly in Chingleput. Number of villages, 406 in North Arcot, 201 in Nellore, and 206 in Chingleput; area, 638 square miles in North Arcot, 576 in Nellore, and 250 in Chingleput; total population (1901), 223,327. The capital is the town of Kalahasti, where the zamindar resides. The history of the family, which belongs to the Velama caste, is obscure. The original owner of the estate probably received it from a king of the Vijayanagar dynasty in the fifteenth century, on condition of maintaining order. The estate at one time spread as far as the site of Fort St.George, and the Company obtained the land on which Madras now stands from the proprietor in 1639. The settlement is traditionally said to have been named Chennappapatnam in honour of the zamindar's father. The estate came under British control in 1792, and a formal grant to the family was made in 1801. The zamundar afterwards received the hereditary title of Raja. The gross income amounts to over 5 lakhs.
Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway. Higginbotham Publishing. 1900. p. 336. The Rajahs of Kalahasti appear to have always belonged to the Velama caste and to have come south with the Vijayanagar kings who made them menkavalgars or minor custodians , from which position they rose to be Poligars.
