Ganta Stambham Clock Tower
Vizianagaram was ruled by different Hindu emperors of Kalinga (ancient Odisha) up to the medieval period. After the fall of the centralized Gajapati empire of Odisha, the region was governed by the Golkonda rulers. The ancestors of the Maharajas of Vizianagaram are believed to be the descendants of MahaRanas of Udaipur, the Sisodia dynasty and Vasishta gotra.
An important event in the history of the district which occurred at
about this time is the war between the Rajas of Vizianagaram and Bobbili, popularly known as Bobbili Yuddam. The war was fought between the MahaRaja of Vizianagaram and the Rajah of Bobbili on 24 January 1757.
Rulers of this princely state belong to the Pusapati
family. The village Pooshpadu in Nandigama Taluq was built by Amala
Raju. The village later came to be known as Pusapadu, and the Kshatriyas living there came to be known as Pusapatis.
Rulers of this kingdom belong to the Pusapati clan.The Pusapati Royal
family belongs to the Suryavanshi/Solar Dynasty Kshatriyas of Udaipur
MahaRana family genealogical tree of which Ramachandra of
Ramayana.According to Edward B. Eastwick, The Maharajah of Vijayanagaram
claims descent from the Maharanas of Udaipur and is of the Vasistha
Gotra or the Sisodhya branch of the Guhilot tribes. A brother of the
Maharana emigrated to Oudh, and in the 529 A.D. his descendant, Madhava
Varma, marched with Four clans into the Dakhan, and conquered the
country from Ramanad to Katak. His capital was Vijayanagar, afterwards
transferred to Bezawada. His descendants reigned over this kingdom for
921 years. In 1512 they were subjected by Sultan Kuli of the Golkonda
dynasty. Under the 5th King of that line an ancestor of the present
ruler of Vijayanagaram was made Subahdar of the North Sarkars. The
Emperor Aurangzeb confirmed the Subahdar in his office and gave him a
two-edged sword(zulfikar), which is still used in the coat-of-arms of
the family. In 1817 the father of the present ruler made over his estate
to Government to clear off his debts of 200,000 rupees. In 1827 he
again made over his estate and died at Banaras, leaving a debt of
1,100,000. His successor, the later Maharajah Vijayarama Gajapati Raju
III, was recognized in the room of his father in 1845 and had several
honors conferred on him by the British Government. Lord Northbrook
obtained for him the title of His Highness, and had his name enrolled
among those of chiefs entitled to return visits from the Viceroy. He was
clear of debt and distinguished himself by many acts of charity. His
son was born December 31, 1850 and a daughter is married to His Highness
Maharaj Kumar Singh, cousin and heir apparent of H.H.Maharajah of
Rewah. The area of the country is 2,965 square miles (8,000 km2) with a
population of 800,000 persons. Still in the coastal Andhra region, the
last name Pusapati is associated with this ruling Dynasty. Additionally,
the Pusapati has obtained power in modern India through participation
in Government.The Rajahs of Vizianagaram obtained the title of
'Gajapathi', by right of conquest after the battle of Nandapur, in the
Northern Circars in the sixteenth century. They never paid chouth to the
Maharattas or any money as tribute to the French.The village Pooshpadu
in Nandimandalam Taluq was built by Amala Raju. The village later came
to be known as Pusapadu. Therefore, the Kshatriyas living there came to
be known as Pusapati.The [Pericchedi|Paricchedi] Kings were ancestors of
the Pusapati royal family who built Bezawada (Modern Vijayawada) off
the river Krishna by 626 AD and another capital in Kollipaka
establishing themselves for nine centuries there.Paricchedis were
staunch patrons of Hindu Dharma in contrast to the Chalukyas, who
initially were patrons of Jainism.[2] The family name was changed to
Pusapati after moving to the coastal region. The name is derived from
the Sanskrit Pushavat (Pushan), meaning of the sun, to highlight their
Suryavanshi lineage. They founded the city of Vizianagaram, named after
Vijay Rama Raju, spelled with a Z to differentiate it from the
Vijayanagar Dynasty in Hampi. They obtained the title of Gajapathi,
after the battle of Nandapur, in the Northern Circars in the 16th
century. The Maharaja of Vizianagaram is stated to be descended from the
Ranas of Udaipur,[3] the Sisodia branch of the Guhilot tribe and
Vasishta gotra. According to the traditions of the Udaipur house, a
member settled in Ayodhya (Oudh) and in the 6th century AD emigrated to
Telingana, accompanied by representatives of the Vasishta, Dhanunjaya,
Kaundinya and Kasyapa gotras. In 1484 Pusapati Rachi Raju wrote Vasistha
Gotra Kshatriya Sisa Malika.The Rajas allied themselves with the
Gajapathi Emperor of Orissa against the Vijayanagar Empire initially but
after being conquered by Krishna Deva Raya they became their feudal
allies. They, along with the other allies of Vijayanagar were conquered
by Sultan Kali, the founder of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golkonda but
by 1652 the 5th king of the subsequent Pusapati line was made Subahdar
of the Northern Circars and they re-established themselves in the
Vizagapatnam country. They obtained the title of Gajapathi, after the
battle of Nandapur, in the northern circars in the 16th century.By 1713
they erected the fort at Vizianagaram where they have since resided. In
1827 Maharajah Vijay Rama Gajapati Raju III[6] had several honors
conferred on him by the British Government. Lord Northbrook obtained for
him the title of His Highness, and had his name enrolled among those of
chiefs entitled to return visits from the Viceroy with a 13 gun salute.
Vijay Ram Gajapati Raju Pusapati, the last crown prince of
Vizianagaram, popularly known as P.V.G. and reverentially called "Raja
Sahib".Until India got its Independence in 1947,United Kingdom of Both
Vizianagaram & Visakhapatnam were ruled by Pusapati Royal Family.
Their Kingdom extended also beyond to some parts like Kotipalli in East
godavari & some parts of Srikakulam & Borders of Orissa. The
Kingdom of Pusapati Royal Family is the Largest & Royal Kshatriya
Kingdom in Andhra Pradesh. Later on after Independence, Government
divided both Visakhapatnam & Vizianagaram as separate Districts.
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