23
2. THE PLATEAU REGION OF ANDHRA PRADESH
Andhra Pradesh, which extends geomatically from 12° 14’ to 29°54’
Northern latitude to 76.50° to 81°.50 Eastern longitude is located on the South
of the Vindhyas.
Its natural situation, spatially, was called as peninsular
situation, where in “the principal characteristic of peninsular is their semi­
detachment from a continent, without the handicap of extreme isolation’1.
It is characterised by a long coast line extending north-east wards and
the Coast was detached from the plateau by a series of hills, disconnected,
but not so of much height, called as the eastern ghats girdling the plateau
and peneplain regions.
Basically plateau is defined as “an elevated tract of comparatively flat
or level land* 2
The physical features of this plateau “have resulted partly
from the very old mountain systems that remain exposed above the vast lava
deposits
and partly from the lava deposits themselves that buried the old
rocks to a great thickness converting the major part of the peninsula into a big
table land or plateau. This is of great geographical stability and is remarkably
immune from seismic disturbances of any intensity*3
24
This plateau region of Andhra Pradesh can be analysed as Physical
features, minerals, edaphic factors, drainage, culture area and historical
geography. Basically the plateau area can be identified as an area covered
by certain higher altitude zones and encircled by different hills.
The
geographers distinguish the plateau as the plateau and lava zones. (Map:
No.1 and Map: No. 2 )
As per the above maps one can understand that the plateau area
indudes such region which has the hill forts of Rayadurgam, Penukonda,
Gutty, Gurramkonda, Chandragiri,
Udayagiri, Gandikota, Siddhavatam,
Gadval, Kondavidu, Bellalakonda, Kondapalle, Devarakonda, Rachakonda,
Panugal, Nalgonda, Golkonda, Khammam, Meddak, Warangal, Nagnur and
Nirmal. This area extends from the South, South West to the North - North West.
In the North West most of the area was characterised by lava
spreading towards the east. Whereas the South West, South and certain
Northern portions represent the table land proper which is not amicable for
wet land agriculture to a major extent.
This plateau region includes the
present day Anantapuram, Kumool, Cuddapah, Chittoor, Prakasam Districts
in toto and parts of Guntur, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahaboohnagar, Medak,
Karimnagar and Adilabad Districts. The plateau land in Guntur district was
popularly known as “Palanadu”;4 which literally means the area of stones
(pala = stone, nadu = area). The lava region is characterised by the reguror
25
1^90N
2
LAVA REGION IN ANDHRA PRAPE5H
(Map No.2)
27
argillaceous soils, where as the rest was characterised by lateriete and red
lomy soils. One can also see the regoliths. Regolith can be defined as ‘the
unconsolidated mantle of weathered rock and soil material on the earth’s
surface, loose earth materials above solid rock.
This is approximately
equivalent to the term ‘soil’ as used by many engineers*5
The plateau area
can be studied as the physical features, minerals, edapic, factors, drainage,
culture and ethnic groups and historical geography.
Physical Features:
Except the ghats the Telingana and Western Rayalasima is a long belt
of penlplains chiefly developed on the gnessic rocks. The general aspect of
the peneplain topography consists of the undulating plain surfaces dotted with
monad rocks (locally called Kondalu) and intersected by almost completely
graded river valleys.
Basically the so-called Krishna - Godavari basin and the Cuddapah Kurnool regions are two major geographical divisions the former being the
youngest and the latter the oldest.
The Cuddapah - Kurnool region is separated by the Velikondalu range
from the eastern planes. The Seshachalam hills, Erramalai hills and
28
Naliamalai hills extend over the present day Chittoor, Cuddapah and Kumool
districts and they extend into the Anantapur District.
Because of this
continuous undulation one can see no extensive land left for cultivation.
The land core of Cuddapah is contiguous to the Archaean band
overlapping with younger upper Gondwanas
with plant beds and marine
shells of the Jurassic period. They are also characterised by a double sand
stone series with shalles (that means stratigraphically a sand stone series
over laid by shalles and sand stones again) and great stratches of coastal
alluvium with a few patches of laterietic rock. This schematic section can be
seen as.
Delta alluvium + laterietic rocks
Sand stone
Shale
Sand stone
Archaean bands
29
This entire system is elder than that formed in Kurnool District. In that
district one can see, “numerous* plateau and a basal diamendiferous
conglomerate’6 This was described by Wadia as Diamendiferous quartz and
this belt was found extending from Bairemkonda of Banaganipalle taluk of
Kurnool District to the area of Guntakal of Anantapur District.
This is all
covered by argillaceous soil and the eastern zone was characterised by
Nallamalai hills. Hence, the Cuddapah, Kurnool stratigraphy can be seen as;
Delta alluvium + Argilllaceous (Regur)
Plateau zone + shalles
laterietic rocks + Diamendiferous Quartz belt
Sand stone
Shales
Sand stones
Archaeans
30
“The heart land of the hilly tract is occupied by the Nandyala basin,
which runs from the confluence of Krishna - Tungabhadra in the North - West
to the Cuddapah in the South - East and is drained by Kunderu”7
This zone as mentioned
by “Prof.
R.L.
Singh, functioned as
geographical central point of dispersal’ 8, how Franz Boas
explains from
Anthropological context. It is attested by a couple of traditions. The eastern
zone belongs to the Jaina tradition and they take Konakondla (Ananatapur
district) as the central
point and one can
see a famous
map of
Jambudvipachakra (Map No. 3) engraved thereby.
Similarly one can also see in the records of Sangama period,
mentioning Gautamipura or Gutti to be the navel of the earth itself.
On the other hand, the
called Telingana.
North-Western counter - part of pleatues as
This is similar to that region wherein, “for an area of some
52,000 KM. the older rocks are covered with great masses of basaltic lava,
which spread over the Deccan or Dakshin tract in upper cretaceous times and
now form the high lands of the lava region’9
32
In this region, “on the
extreme west the region consists of stony
uplands, dotted by rocky hills or crossed by lower ranges, the centre and
north area level plain of black cotton soil, but the eastern portion is made up
of the wide alluvial delta of the Krishna river and almost flat expanse’10
This plateau area is of 2,04,882 KM and identified from the nature of its
magnitude geographically it can be named as of “intermediate’11 size, and it
is having a,
“maximum north - south lengths of 810 Kms and a maximum
east west width of 535 Kms in the north”12
Minerals:
This
above
geological
antiquity
made
the
plateau
area
a
circumferencial zone with many mineral deposits.
Vast deposits of corundum, limenite, asbestos, lead and zinc, have
been located in Anantapur,
Cuddapah and Kurnool districts.
The rock
phosphates are also traced. The plateau in Andhra Pradesh is the only region
where crysotite variety of asbestos is produced.
extensively
mined throughout
Coal is traced and
Telingana; iron ore is traced in Khammam,
Warangal and the whole of Rayalasima, but Anantapur has high grade iron
ore. Clays of Commercial value and lime stones of cement grade are
33
available throughout all the parts of plateau. Graphite is found in Khammam
District,
whereas slate is extensively found in Kumool District.
centrally available in Nellore District.
Mica is
Copper is found in Guntur, Prakasam,
Mahaboobnagar, Karimnagar, Medak and Khamma Districts.
Gold and
Diamonds are available in Anantapur and Kumool and Anantapur Districts.
Eventhough now a days more mining is undertaken, the historical times
also envisaged gold mining and collection of diamonds from the valleys of
Krishna and its tributaries.
Edaphic Factors:
Edaphic is, “a term pertaining to the influence or relationship of soil or
other similar media to plant growth in contrast to atmospheric influences, or
soil properties that effect the growth of a plant”13
“These include all the conditions of the soil such as its chemical and
physical nature, availability of water and air, temperature, acidity or alkalinity
etc., affecting primarily the root system of the plants”14
In the light of the above observations one can understand that the
edaphic factors play a vital role in carryingout the ethos and structure of the
34
human culture as they influence the flora itself. They can be classified as the
soils, the temperature, and the
rain fall.
These three play a predominant
role in understanding the culture, area in its true colours.
[a]
Soils
The soils generally form on the nature of the parent material, prevailing
climate, encircling vegetation, the relief and a span of time.
Of all these
climate influences soil formation both directly and indirectly. Then weathering
of the rocks, the transportation and redeposition of the material remained
through weathering is a direct effect of climate having more bearing on the
development of the soil.
Whereas the climate indirectly influences through
the activity of plant and animal life.
Generally soil can be considered as a source of raw material, as a
source of raw wealth, as a medium for plant growth, as the origin of the river
culture, and as a national
asset.
Man was made through a directive to
occupy the soils and adjust thereby.
In the plateau region of Andhra Pradesh the soils can be classified as
the argillaceous soils or regur, the laterietic soils; the black soils, the red
35
loamy sands
and
the
like.
decomposition of basalt trap.
The
argillaceous
soils
are due to the
They are also called as the regur or black
cotton soil. Whereas the laterietic soils form due to certain decomposition of
the ferraso-ferric materials.
Geographically the soils consist of masab, Kararb, Chalk and regur15
Regur is generalily found in Kumool and almost all the districts of Telingana
area such lands contain fertile black loam. Whereas, nearer the hills one can
see the ferrugineous red varieties, chiefly sands and loams. Chaika lands are
very much common in Anantapur, Cuddapah and Chittoor districts. In these
areas the soil is thin and poor. Much of the portions of Cuddapah -Kumool
tract consists of black cotton soils but in Cuddapah District such black cotton
soils remain waste due to the predominant salts and alkalines.
Red soils are, in situ, derived from the weather of gneisses and
granites. The red colour is due to iron present in a diffused state.
Red soils
cover major parts of Rayalasima, parts of Krishna and Guntur Districts.
A laterietic cap possessing a brick like red colour due to high iron
contents is traced near Anantagiri.
But it is poor in almost all the plant
nutrients, organic matters and soluble salts.
36
One can see the alluvial soil in the course of the rivers Krishna and
Godavari. These soils play a major role being the canvas of all vegetation
[b]
Temperature:
As Andhra Pradesh itself is located geo-matically between 12°
to 19° Northern latitudes, it is basically of tropical connotation. The archaean
and basaltic base in the core of the earth makes the radiation to be more
predominant. As such the entire plateau undergoes a heavy stress of heat.
Presently, due to much deforestation, the entire plateau region is having a
devastating variation
between 42° to 25° celcius.
Even though the entire
plateau is characterised by peninsular location, the temperature, makes it
more of continental nature “where a point or an area occurs up to a great land
mass in such that it has a minimum of contacts with the sea’16
It has a bearing on the life, vegetation and even culture. As has been
told by Russel Smith “Civilization is the product of moderate dimatic adversity
..... no great civilization has risen in warm, moist and tropic areas’17
37
[c]
Rain Fail:
Along with the rainfall, the temperature constitutes the dimate.
The
plateau in Andhra Pradesh is more influenced by the monsoons for rain fall.
The South-Western monsoons emerging from the Arabian sea and the
North - Eastern monsoons are the basic source of rain fall. The geographers
identified four seasons [i] “South-West monsoon (June to September), [ii]
North - East monsoons (October to December), [iii] Winter period (January to
February) and [iv] Hot weather period (March to May)“18
During the South -West monsoons 85.4° is recorded in Telingana and
58.5° in Rayalasima. The mon soons retreat by September.
By that time
Chittoor had the maximum with 37.8 cm and Nizamabad had the minimum
with 7.2.
The average of the normal annual rain fall for the region as a whole
comes to about 85cm.
Spatially the amount of total normal annual rain fall
gradually decreases from North-East to South - West.
The amount being
more than 120cm in the North - Eastern Telingana and less than 60cm in
Anantapur and Western Kurnool Dists. Of Rayalasima, the latter (Anantapur
and Western Kurnool) is a rain shadow area for both the monsoons as, it is
38
located between two uplands- in Karnataka plateau on the west and
the
Andhra ghats in the east. The failure of rains is a common feature of the
climate in this part of the plateau region and somewhat semi-arid conditions
prevail.
This type of the rain fall had resulted in the dry deciduous forests,
where as parts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal,
Khammam, West
Godavari and East Godavari have moist deciduous forests. The tropical thorn
forests or the scrub jungles are confined to the outer edges of hills in
Cuddapah, Chittoor and Anantapur Dists. Mostly, “these scrub lands were in
a transitory stage giving way to grass lands”20.
Thus these edaphic factors as a whole influence the culture area in
toto.
Drainage:
Drainage basin is considered as “the area from which a given stream
and its tributaries receive their water”21. Whereas drainage is a system of the
net work of rivers and other flowing water sources.
Generally drainage
represents a topographical picturisation of the water bodies.
shows the drainage pattern in the plateau.
The map No. 4
40
There is a well accepted adagei “Nadiinaam Saagarogatih”, (all the
rivers have to move for the sea’. The rivers in the plateau are all moving to
the Bay of Bengal as the table land of Deccan is very much elevated on the
Western side. The rivers also take birth in the Western ghats. Godavari takes
birth at Nasik, Krishna at Mahabalesvar, Bhima at Bhima Sankaram and the
like. Of all the river Godavari is the biggest and it is considered to be one the
rivers with much sanctity the others being Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvathi,
Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.
Godavari entering into Andhra Pradesh in Adilabad District separates
the Karim Nagar and Adilabad Districts; flows through Khammam District and
passing through the eastern ghats to enter into the coastal belt.
In the
plateau, it has different tributaries like Wain Ganga, Wardha, Indumathi,
Manjira and Sabari.
Manjira separates Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts.
found in Khamma District
Sabari is
Indravati emerges from Madhya Pradesh and
enters Godavari till the entry of Godavari after crossing Papihills, the entire
river flows only through such
soils. Godavari is the
connfluence with sea.
plateau are covered by lava and argillaceous
lengthiest of all rivers from the point of origin till the
41
In the coastal area the river Godavari is divided into two major streams
Vasishtha on the West and Gautami in the East and in, between one can see
five more streams in toto called as ‘Sapta Godavari Mandala’ and due to its
shape it is called as Kona (Triangle)
bhumi or Konadesa*.
(Presently
constituting the taluks of Amalapuram, Kottapeta and Razole).
River Godavari
functioned
as the major benefactor in the middle
valley as well as the lower valley. The Godavari valley has the population of
the Koyas.
River Krishna enters in Andhra Pradesh at about 16,5 latitude,
separating the Kumool and Mahaboob Nagar Districts. It has major tributary
Tungabhadra and the others namely Bhima and Musi.
Tungabhadra originates in Karnataka and the so called Raichur doab is
the dividing land between Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers.
important
places
like
Adoni
(Adavani
of
historical
One can see
times),
Kumool
(Kandanavolu or Skandapuri of historical times). It was a chronic battle field.
Krishna passes through a gorge at Sri Sailam in Nalamalai hills called as
patalaganga
and with the commencement of lower valley and the same
separates the Guntur and Nalgonda Districts.
merging with Krishna.
One can see chandrabhaga
Macherfa is a famous settlement on Chandrabhaga.
42
The river Musi was another tributary and it was named as ‘Musinadi’ in
records with its tributaries like Aleru, The middle-Krishna valley was populated
by the Chenchus.
The river Gundla Kamma is another significant river.
Tripurantakam,
Markapuram, Vinukonda and Addanki are very much important settlements on
this river. Taking birth in Kumool District, the same flows through Prakasam
District separating Kumool and Guntur and Prakasam and Nellore Districts.
The area drained by Gundla Kamma was called 'Kammanadu’ also mentioned
as ‘Karmarashtra’ in the early records.
The region of Gundlakamma was
characterised by the Boyas.
The river Penner is very much significat drain.
Taking birth in the
Chennakesavabetta of Nandihills in Karnataka Penner flows down through the
districts
of Anantapur,
Cuddapah
and
Nellore
separating Tumkur of
Karnataka, Kurnool and Chittoor districts.
It has famous tributaries namely Chitravati, Papaghni,
Kunderu,
Cheyyeru and Svarnamukhi, Chitravathi flows through Anantapur District
Papaghni flows through
Kadiri Taluk of Anantapur District
Kunderu flows
through Kumool District and joins Penner in Cuddapah District Svarnamukhi
43
flows through Chittoor District Penukonda, Guntur, Tadapatri and Pushpagiri
are famous centres of historical significance in this valley in plateau zone. It
was characterised by the Kurubas, who are more a sheep keeping
community.
By understanding the above drainage pattern,
we can safely
understand that the statement, “The heart land of the hilly tract is occupied by
the Nandyal basin, which runs from the confluence of Krishna, Thungabadra
in the North - West to the Cuddapah in the south east*22, of R.L. Singh is true.
The same functioned not only as the hilly areas heart, but also the culture
area of the plateau region in Andhra Pradesh. Penner and
Godavari formed
its periphery and Krishna and Tungabhadra remained the core being
quantitatively influenced by the West, North- West running Nallamalai hills on
which one can see a peak as ‘Sri Saila’, identified to be a centre of sodoreligious activity.
5.
Culture Area:-
Culture area of the Andhra Pradesh plateau region has its central point
of dispersal, rather geographical centrality, in Nandyal basin. (Map No. 5 )
45
The map clearly indicates the culture area, which can be considered as
that had fostered much amount of the style of life and also inculcated a
pattern.
As per the map, the zone covered by Nallamalai hills on the east,
Thungabhadra on the west, Kirshna river on the north and Nilagiri-Melagiri
region on the South - West is the actual culture area.
It functioned as the
nucleus of the plateau; on one side being overlapped by the peneplain
covered by land and on the other side the Velikondalu separating from the
east-coast
This area represents the Kurubas on the South, South - West; Boyas
on the east; the Chenchus in the central zone and the Koyas in the peripheral
zone
The Kurubas extended from Karimnagar district on the North - West23
to Anantapur District24 on the South - West.
Gundlakamma
The Boyas extended in the
valley, Kanigiri being their centre of activity.
The middle
Krishna valley was occupied by the Chenchus.
Of these three, the Boyas and Kurubas were sanskritised and the
records from 9th A.D. clearly indicate this process. Their traditions became
acceptable as a variant of the great tradition and the Chenchus and Koyas
46
could not be acculturated. There is one major reason for this process. Both
the Boyas and the Kurubas led their lives on cattle keeping and sheep
keeping.
Pastoralism
was their main
vein of economy and hence, the
peneplain zone of Tungabhadra - Penner doab and
Gundlakamma basin
were occupied by the Kurubas and Boyas.
As the records indicate the Boyas were conquerred by Pandaranga24
and his Addaki record clearly says that he demolished twelve Boya Kottams
and the fort of Kattamu.
The Boya land was actullay referrred as Boya
Viharadesa. The Boyas had gone into the system so deep, that, they kept the
cattle pens25 in the temples and also during the Vijayanagara period no
temple was built without the prior permission of Sena boya of Udayagiri26
The Kurubas not only kept the sheep but also resorted to agriculture.
The area upto Kambadur (Anantapur District) was actually termed as ‘Kuruba
Sivara Sima’27.
(The ending zone of Kurubas). Their original place can be
found around Nandyal.
The records of Karimnagar belonging to Western
Chalukyan times refer to the chiefs of Kuruba affiliation, which indicates their
transplantation in that area after conquerring Kumool, Anantapur Districts.
The Chenchus and Koyas had to live in deep forests and hence their
culture could not have much probe into the great tradition.
periphenal tribes of a little importance only.
They remained
47
As per the theoretical modalities identified by Franz Boas, the Kuruba
and Boya groups can be considered as the “set of culture complexes’ 28,
having the Kunderu basin around Nandyaal as the central point of dispersal.
Actually in this context one more doubt naturally emerges.
Weissler
tries to identify the context of the culture, in a culture area, with reference to
technological, artistic and institutilonal features and he names actually such
area as, ‘the area of characterisation’.
If we try to apply this mode to the culture area under study, it can be
understood, since the formation of the black cotton soil, this area had been an
abode of different cultures since palaeolithic period, how noticed by Robert
Bruce Foote29.
Hence, one can see an evolution of technology with the
changes in ecology.
On the other hand, sociologists have a different
argument. It is told that, ‘in the cultural mosaic of India it is difficult to discern
and describe regular and consistent patterns’30.
Basically this observation
speaks of an irregularity and inconsistency in the cultural patterning.
identify
If we
such cultural pattern with the model set by Ruth Benedict, one has
to see, “within a culture there should be the style of each large segment and
these segmental styles would come together into super-style which would be
the design of the culture as a whole. This is called configuration”31.
48
Hence, the culture area is expected to display a configuration of
patterns hierarchically identified as patterns in whole representing,
“a
harmonious configuration. .. which arises out of a main tendency or trend
which every culture exhibits in all its aspects and called genius'32
Hence, in this approach one must see :
[a]
A culture area with geographical context of dispersal.
[b]
Different complexes of population.
[c]
Genius in culture.
[d]
Pattern configuration.
[ej
Area of characterisation
If we consider the low lands of Nandyal with Kunderu as the centre:
Geographically the 16° latitude function as centre. It is a geomatrical
location on which the confluence of Krishna - Tungabhadra and Nallamalai
and Velikondalu series influenced the same.
The Kurubas and the Boyas form the different complexes of population.
49
The genius
in this culture is visible in gradual accommodation of
hunting - gathering and pastoralism to lead to the peasant system with the
impact of the drainage system.
The pattern of configuration can be identified in its harmony with the
changing altitudinal relations between the low laying peneplain and the low
area on one hand and plateau zone on the other. Migrations, conquests and
cattle raids specify how the configuration was thrust upon.
As the area of characterisation, one can see in this zone not only the
earliest faunal species of the sheep, goat, horse and donkey, as traced at
Muchchatla-Chintamanugavi
of Billsurgam,
near
Nandyala,
but also
it
prospered as centre of technology.
At this juncture one has to pointout, can we notice in this culture area
any inconsistency mentioned by Dube?, Such inconsistency and disharmony
in configuration form the base to find out a breach in cultural trends, which
indicates the degree of cultural metamorphosis.
It is also very difficult to
understand this inconsistency as the area itself demanded the interest of the
neighbouring groups, which established relations both with the lava and
plateau regions.
Only the varying political influences throw a light to
understand certain adverse situations, which proposed and promoted cultural
disharmony.
50
In this context, one has to look this area from the ecological
perspective. If we solely consider as the hunter gatherer and pastoral zone, it
must represent such an ecotype which has the qualities like:
[a]
“a categoric unit of of human ecology being located generally in the
pripheral zone of any active political action area;
[b]
the
components
have
geographically
a
wider
distribution,
but
numerically of lesser distribution;
[c]
this ecotype subordinates to the further higher categoric units;
[d]
there are no inter-matrimonial relations within their subsections;
[e]
the hunters-gatherers are purely heterotrophs, where as the pastorals
are partially autotrophs too;
[f]
Conversion of resources is not permanent system in this ecotype*33.
If we consider the culture area as solely of peasant nature, it must
represent, two sets of agricultural relationships within a range of ecological
possibilities. “The first involves energy transfers among organic elements....
51
The second set of relationships involves inorganic agencies or devices’ 34
As well one must also find out:
[a]
“well establishment in the secondary and primary cores;
[b]
permanent affiliation to a single environmental and physical tract;
[c]
the components are geographically of lesser distribution, numerically
and chronologically do have wider - range of distribution;
[d]
being auto-trophic in nature;
[e]
no diversion towards un productive traits; and
[f]
continuous process of conversion of energy as a permanent system’35
Ethnic Groups:
The major ethnic groups (Map No.6) include around plateau area bred,
‘style of life’ in
this culture area, under study being the hunter-gathererer
pastoral ecotypes; also that of the peasant;
The Chenchus, who occupied the Nallamalai hills, which are aptly
named after them as ‘Chenchumala’, are the best example for nomadic and
sedentary traditions. The Boyas, who projected into the Nallamalai hill zone
from that of Velikondalu and tried to extend into the coast held Kottamulu.
Kottamu is a derived form from Sanskrit word 'Goshtha' meaning the cattle
pen. This was also mentioned in the Rigvedic literature as ‘Gotra’.
S.K.U.
:?.ASY
ACC. NoLQJLS&L.
Call. No......... •••••*•«ft**#
53
The Boyas made a way into cattle keeping from hunting and food
gathering.
They speak of semi-auto-trophic situation; but attempted for
permanent settlement36.
The Kurubas, who were else where also mentioned as Kurumbas bore
royal titles37.
It indicates their ascendency and the folk songs like,
Sanaparajula katha’, as prominent in Anantapur District clearly indicates that
they held the reins and had association with regal power. Even the Nolambs,
who ruled Nolambalig38,
32,000 at the peak of their power, can be
understood as derived from Kurubas only.
By that time they occupied the
powerful seats like ‘Adhyaksha’, otherwise spelt in the records as ‘Ajja’
/Ajjaparavara’.
The Kurubas of the woolen ring simply depend on the sheep-keeping,
where as the Kurubas of cotton ring take to agriculture. They satisfy their
permanent affiliation to a single environmental and physical tract being auto­
trophs.
When compared amongst all the Chenchus, the Boyas and the
Kurubas - only the Kurubas can be considered as the pioneers of culture in
this culture area under study.
The Boyas speak of the marginal area,
whereas the Chenchus purely, remain as unaccutturated groups.
54
But the references to Siva Mailikarjuna as Mala - Anna - Mallanna and
Chenchu-Mala-Anna indicate that saiviate tendencies did not forego the idea
of Vedic Rudra, who was identified in Satarudriya as:
“Nilagrivah Sitikanthah Sarva, athah kshamacharah
Nilagrivah Sitikanthah Divagm Rudra Upasritah3^
One who is blue necked and white ochred was called 'Sarva in the
earth and Rudra in the Skies) and he was also described as “Paricharanyam
Patayenamah*40 (Hail lord of the forests in the neighbourhood). It is certainly
an attestation of the symbolised impact of the forest area on the plateau,
which both put together, ‘form the culture area’.
Histroical Geography:
In order to assimilate the character of the culture area under study; it is
very much essential to treat the geographical divisions that were prevailing for
the sake of administrative convenience in the historical past. The plateau and
peneplain area in Andhra Pradesh has distinguishing historical geography.
(Map No. 7)
55
'£iApNP-7
66
Nandyala Sima is the nucleus. Sindhavadi, 1,000 and Jagatapigutti
Rajya, which are encircling Nandyala sima can be considered as the primary
core. The Marjavadi, which also indicates such area, which is a part of the
latter Penukonda, Maharajya, is the secondary core.
Renadu, Boyavihara
desa and Trikuta Malaya form the periphery. (Map No.8)
Nandyala Sima extended along river Kunderu includes some part of
Tungabhadra -Penner doab, Sindhavadi (Map No 9) extends from the SouthWest from Sindhanur of Karnataka towards East, North east upto Gutti,
Jagatapi Gutii Rajya
(Map No. 10) included much of the region between
Tungabhadra - Pennar extending east wards upto Tadipatri, Marjavadi. (Map
No.11) extends from Penukonda to Seshachalam hills. Renadu (Map No. 12)
includes middle pennar valley upto Somasila, properly inter-spersing some
parts of Chittoor District. Boya Viharadesa (Map No. 13) can be identified as
the region drained by Gundla Kanuma extending almost from Vinukonda to
Kandukur.
Trikutamalaya
(Map
No.
14
)
also
known
as,
‘Konda’
Padumatidesa, is extending between Bellamkonda, Kondavidu, Vinukonda
being centered by Kotappakonda.
The
components
of this
culture
area
represent
a
plurality
of
topographic features, which sustained a life well equipped with different
modalities to convert the geomass into biomass and make use for cultural
sustain as well as diffusion.
57
NANDYALA SIMA
(Map No.8)
58
SINDHAVADI
(Map No.9)
59
JAGAPATI GUTTI RAJYA
(Map No. 10)
6o
MARJAVADI (MAHARAJAVADU
(MaipNo.il}
”
61
RENADU
(Map No. 12)
62
BOYA VIHARADESA
(Map No. 13)
PAKANADU
s.
T'
63
z
in
in
*
*iA
m
•LT1
1 CM
80*5£'E
THRIKUTA MALAYA (KONDA PADUMATIDESA)
(Map No. 14)
64
NOTES AND REFERENCES
01.
Negi B.S 1989 :(1977) 'Human Geography’ P.96
02.
Lodha R. M.1992: 'Dictionary of Geography’ P.308
03.
Negi B.S. Op. Cit. P.96
04.
Palanadu is traditionally known for very small pebbly rocks and
unoriganised cults, as mentioned by Srinatha in 14th century.
Chinna Chinna Rallu Chillaradevullu
Naguleti Nillu Naapa Raallu
Sojjajonna Kuullu Sarpambulunu tellu
Pallenata nunna pallelandu.
05.
Lodha R.M. : Op. Cit. P. 338
06.
Negi R.S. 1990: 'Geography of India’ P.328
07.
c
Singh R.L. - 'India A. Regional Geography’ P.825
08.
Majumdar D.N. & Madan T.N.:1993 (1966) : 'An Introduction to Social
Anthropology’ P.22
09
Negi B.S. :1990: 'Geography of India’ P.343
10
Ibid. P.334
11
Negi B.S. : 1989 : (1977): 'Human Geography' P.106
12
Singh R.L. Op. Cit. P.821
13
Lodha R.M. Op. Cit. P.130
14
Dutta A C. : 1980 :(1929): ‘A class Book of Botany’ P.309
65
15
Negi B S. : 1990 : 'Geography of India1 P.331
16
Negi B.S. 1989 (1977) ‘Human Geography1.93
17
Ibid. P.162
18
Singh R.L. Op. Cit. P.826
19
Ibid. P.827
20
Ibid. P. 829
21
LodhaR.M. Op. Cit. P.122
22
Singh R.L. Op.Cit. P.825
23
One
record
dated
1083
from
Vemulavada,
Karimnagar
District
mentions the chalukya rulers as “Kurumba Kadamba Nirmulanana
Ppagadarppa danaram’
IAP Sastri P.V.P. (Ed) 1914 Inscriptions of
Andhra Desa (I.A.P) Karimnagar No. 18 dt. 19-20 P.48, in the same way
in the same district one can see in a Sanigaram record dt. 1.1.28
reference to “Savadora Repola Kuruvaraju’ Ibid. No.22 dt. 27-28 P.57.
24.
The area of Kalyanadurga and Kambadur were mentioned as ‘Kuruba
Sivarasima’.
25.
These were called as ‘Kilaramu’ and the boyas, generally, were kept in
charge of such cattle pens.
26.
Satya Murtv K. 1997: ‘Historical Ecology of Pennar Basin’ P.33
27.
Ramarao M (ed) 1965: ‘Inscriptions of Andhra Desa (IAD) P.35 No. 393
28
Majundar D.N and Madan T.N. Op. Cit. P. 16-17 ”A culture complex is
not an institution; it is the outcome of interaction between several
institutions”.
66
29.
Alehin B.R, & F.R. :1968 : ‘Birth of Indian Civilization’ P.167 & 199
30.
Dube S.C. :1990 : 'Indian Society' P.115
31.
Majundar & Madan - Op. Cit. P.26
32.
I bid.
33.
Satya Murty K. Op Cit. P. 16-18
34.
Burton stein/1980 The Peasant State and Society in Early Medieval
South India1 P.25
35.
Satya Murty K. Op. Cit. Pp. 18-90
36.
Majundar & Madan - Op. Cit. P.169
37.
IAP Karimnagar No.22 LI. 27-28 P.57
38.
Epigraphic Camatica Vol. XI No. 105 ‘A record from Davanagere
mentions as Nolambalige.
Nolambappadi.
39.
Satarudriya P. 38 verse (2)
40.
Ibid. P.18 verse 7
It was also called
Nolambavadi and