WHO ARE PADMANAYAKA VELAMAS? Velama community played very important role in the history of Andhra Pradesh .Velamas belong to chaturth varna in the social cadre. They are invariably identified with warrior class. Most of the people remember the names of Tandra Papayya (Papa Rayudu)of Bobbili, Brahmanaidu and Balachandrudu of Palanadu as the great persons from the Velama community. In fact there are many stalwarts from the community from the past history who have been forgotten. Velama commanders were very prominent during the reign of Kakateeya Kings at Warangal during12 to 14 centuries. They occupied important positions in the army of King Prataparudra deva II in 14 century. It is learnt that Recharla Singa Bhoopalaudu was a Velama warrior of great repute and he was occupying the position of Commader in Chief of Kakateeya Army.He was reportedly having titles, Kakateeya rajya samrakshaka and Kaliyuga Dronacharya. Andhra history is replete with mutual bickerings between Kammas, Reddys and Velamas.Velama chieftains and feudatories fought relentlessly with Reddy and Kamma chiefs during 14 and 16 centuries. The bickerings during the reign of King Parataparudradeva are well known and were at zenith.In fact from the time of prataparudra only velama chieftains were appointed as viceroys and this became an eyesore for the reddys. Muslim sultans from North started their campaigns in 14 century during the reign of Prataparudradeva and Alluddin Khilji sultan of Delhi sent his Eunuch General Malik Kafur to conquer Waranagal and Devagiri which were the large and rich kingdoms in South India. But Muslim armies were defeated at Upparapalli in Karimnagar District and also at Bheemavaram near Warangal. These were conclusive victories.For some time Warangal had peace. However subsequently Mulsims were victorious and Parataparudradeva agreed to pay tribute to Delhi sultan and his reign continued. After the death of Allauddin Khilji, the tribute was stopped and the Sultans from Tughlaq dynasty consequently sent large armies to discipline southern kingdoms. Although Kakateeya armies repelled the attacks Juna Khan ( Later Mohd Bin Tughlaq) again invaded with great army and during this period bickerings and rivalries between the Velama and Reddy communities were at the peak. The padmanayaka velamas were reportedly favorites of the King. General Bobbareddy of Kakateeya army decided to show the King who exactly were the valorous and important fighters. He decided to wait till the Velama contigent got mauled, and then jump in to save the Velamas as well as the King. Unfortunately, his timing was not good and both were defeated. The foolishness, partisan attitude and the inefficiency of the kakatiya general who was unfit to defend the honour of his people ruined the empire. Velamas suffered grievous casualties and died in large numbers due to an incapable and stupid decision of this person. Prataparudradeva was captured by Muslim troops and was made a prisoner. Warangal city was devastated and looted and temples were defaced and damaged. These damages can be seen even today where statues with defaced faces, broken limbs look helplessly at the visitors and mock at the inability of Hindus to defend them. Huge carved pillars of the temples were also broken into pieces and structures were pulled down. Warangal fort is the testimony to vandalism by Muslim armies much before the damage done to Hampi and vijay nagar in 16 century. Prataparudradeva the king was taken to Delhi. But on the way he reportedly committed suicide by jumping in river Narmada ( Some say it was Godavari river). From then onwards, Velama chiefs blamed Reddy Chiefs and community that acts of Reddys were solely responsible for the loss of Kakateeya kingdom.Or else, the kingdom would have flourished for many more centuries and even up to 1947. At a crucial time the black sheep has backstabbed the telugu warrior community. Thus relations between Reddys and Velamas became bitter and bitter day by day. Kakateeya dynasty collapsed and Warangal was occupied by Muslims and Muslim governor Malik Maqbool was appointed by Mohd Bin Tughlaq and Warangal was named sultanpur. However the chieftains of Prataparudradeva did not loose heart. Under Prolayanaika a Kamma chieftain at Rekapalli ,they continued to wage guerilla war against the Muslim occupational forces. After Prolaya Naikas death his cousin Kapayya Naika ( Kapaneedu) took over the command and conducted a long guerilla war and after 10 years Malik Maqbool was defeated and Muslim armies were driven away and Warangal was liberated. There were 75 chieftains under Prataparudra deva and they elected Kapayya naika as the new ruler at Warangal and as successor to the Kakateeya kings. Velama scion Singha Bhoopala was one of the powerful scion in Telnagana while Vema reddy was another powerful chieftain in coastal Andhra located at Addanki. While Kapayya Naika was consolidating at Warangal,A Mulsim chieftain of Mohd Bin Tughlaq at Daulatabad ( Devagiri) revolted against Delhi. Kapayya Naika helped him by sending 1500 cavalry as he thought that a Mulsim kingdom between Delhi and south would be buffer state and that it would be a safe proposition. Probably this step was not liked by Singama Bhoopala. The Muslim chieftain became successful in his revolt and he was crowned as Allauddin Hasan Gangu Bhamaniat at Daultabad. As events proved later, this friendship and good relations did not last long as he invaded territories of Kapayya naika and he had to cede Kaulas fort, few elephants and good amount of money.Relations between Kapayya and Singama Bhoopala also got strained and Singama Bhoopala established an independent kingdom at Pillala Marri in Nalgonda district revolting against Kapayya Naika.Later the capital was shifted to Rachakonda ( Rajukonda or Rajadri). Singama Bhoopla had two valiant sons. They were Anapotha Naika and Madav naika.This revolt surely must have annoyed Kapaya who was the ruler.On the other hand Velama king conducted parleys with Bhamani sultans and befriended them.Thus Telugu kings had no unity. It is learnt that the Raju and Reddy Chieftains of the kingdom were jealous of growth of Singama Bhoopal a velama, who had large elephant army and troops of 40000 strength. Raju chieftains attacked Velama kingdom when the sons of Singama bhoopala were away and killed singamanauyudu brother in law of Singama Bhoopala and the ruler of Chintapalli ( Near Jaggayyapeta). Poosapati Madhava varma the king of Vijayawada at that time was leading the war on kshatriyas side. He sent his childhood friend (king of Srisailam) Thambolla Brahmaji to Singamabhupala for peace talks, but Brahmaji stabbed Singamabhoopala, while he was sleeping in midnight and killed him. All velama kings were enraged and they could not digest the death of Singamabhupala, who brought glory to velama caste The news reached to the sons of Singamabhupala and they came back from Kalinga immediatly. Singamabhupala has taken promise from his sons to kill all Kshatriya kings and take revenge. On 7th day of Singamabhupala's death ceremony, all velama kings promised to kill kshatriyas. Before embarking on war over Jallepalli all velamas prayed to Sun god ( god of Padmanayaka velamas) and Bhethala(guardian of velama caste) and attacked the Jallepalli fort shouting Har Har Mahadev. Anaphotha nayudu killed the commander of kshatriyas kondamalraju and severed his head from his body and he pierced the head with his spear and lifted it up sending shivers among the enemy. Anaphotha nayudu killed all the main kings like Pinnamaraju and Myloore raju. Madava nayudu killed the Obulu raju and chief of Reddy kings "vinukonda maarareddy". There is one war custom among velamas known as "Bomma kattu", as per the custom they make a statue of opponent and they will tie it to their foot and they will tempt the opponent by dragging the statue on earth. All velama kings followed this custom in Jallipalli war.Velams were victorious in this war and most of the enemy leaders were slain while Poosapati Madhava Verma the ruler of Vijaywada escaped and took shelter with Kalinga Gajapathi.Velamas were not happy winning the war and they performed Pooja of demons called Paisachika Pooja also called Ranamu kudupu. At midnight they went to war field and chanting all mantras of Bhetala, Bhairava, Shakini and Dhaakini and invited all those kshudra ( evil spirits) shaktis by mixing food and blood in the skulls of their enemies. This was a terrible practice in those days. Velamas were not satisfied and they soon attacked Kapayya Naika and a battle was fought at Bheemavaram near Warangal. Kapayya was exhausted with constant battles with Bahmanis and velamas.His son Vinayaka Deva was earlier killed by Mahmud shah I the Bahmani sultan very cruelly at Velamputta and he was under great pain. In the severely fought battle Kapayya reportedly was killed by deceit by Anapotha naika who was the ruler of Rachakonda. Soon Devarakonda province was given to his brother to rule and thus Devarakonda became another Velama kingdom. Both Rachakonda and Devarakonda kingdoms always worked together throughout their existence and also vanished together. Velamas occupied Warangal fort and the territories.The velama kings fought always with Reddy kings of Kondaveedu( shifted to Kondaveedu from Addanki).Prolaya Vema reddy declared independence after the death of Kapayya Naika of Warangal. Velamas in collusion with Bahmanis sultans fought battles with Vijay nagar empire and slowly lost their independence. Soon Bhamanis sultans, Vijaynagar empire and Gajapathi of Kalinga clashed in Telangana and Andhra and in the events Velamas lost their power and had to leave the state and serve with Vijaynagar empire as soldiers, commanders and chieftains at different places. Since a hundred years a lot of confusion is being created about 'naidus' and history. If we glance at a history of 1000 years, the kings of Kammanadu,who later came to be known as the "Kammas", first used the title. It naturally passed on to the Velamas, who were split from the Kammas with Brahma Naidu as their founder. During the Vijayanagar empire, some other castes like the Boyas served in the army as 'senanayakas'. They were also called "nayakas" But, why so many other communities including 'bhogam' people are calling themselves as 'naidus' is puzzling. After Since around the 1930's efforts have began to distort the Andhra history as propaganda started to become more powerful than the facts. Some 'Kingdoms' have been newly created as having ruled Andhra in the 14th century and their role is being blown out of proportion. Today, historians are taking lot of care not to mention the word 'Kamma/Velama' when they had to mention the castes of the kings. Wherever the term 'naidu' appears, they are creating ambiguity ( because many castes like the boyas who served in the vijayanagar army had 'naidu' as title and in the last century many servant and concubine castes of the Kammas and Velamas started calling themselves 'naidus', to boost up their social status ), citing a few boya nayakas becoming kings. The inscription of Vemareddi stating that he has served the 'lotus feet of Kapaya Nayaka' is not mentioned anywhere. And historians are overlooking a simple fact that the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Musunuri Nayakas and later the Vijayanagar kings had a common emblem; Adi Varaha (a wild boar), with a sword and moon crescent indicating they were continuation of the same lunar clan of kammas/velamas. Every word in the following paras has proof,unless one doesn't wish to see the truth. the krishna valley east of srisailam was called karmarashtra or later kammanadu/velnadu/palnadu.this land was sought after by various kings as it is fertile, full of rivers and rivulets and more importantly diamonds are available near paritala etc.(among worlds top 10 diamonds 4 are from here).the lunar clan chalukyas from the north and cholas and pallavas of the south used to dominate the area alterntively,finally these clans amalgamated with a small dose of haihayas from gujarat into a group called kamma//velama after the country.it is a generalised term like rajput which within itself is a congregation of various ruling clans.raju, rao,raidu,naidu,verma,neni,needu were various titles used by the kammas/velamas.these people also had good relations with the hoyasalas of karnataka,whereas western chalukyas were their own self. In 11th & 12th centuries the social setup was in a turmoil because of veersaivism which actually consolidated the then sudras (includes reddis/ kapus) against the aristocracy(kammas/velamas and brahmins).this was very intense in karnataka and in andhra a little less. a reddi(kapu;reddi means a kapu or farmer;all reddis are basically kapus eg;panta kapu. pakanati kapu)woman called nagamma sought to popularise saivism and also uplift her community.she was cunning and brave.she rose to the level of confidant and minister to the king,to counter this veerashivism Brahma naidu followed veera vaishnavism and he took even untouchables into its fold,who were actually left out by shaivism.but inadververtently,brahma naidu furthered nagammas cause, as his actions caused him to be thrown out of community(veli) and he split the kamma caste by founding the velama caste. N.B; the social status of reddis was quite low during this time as is evident from books like 'suka sapthati kathalu'. nagamma was called 'nayakuralu' ,not 'reddemma'.though nagamma was able to enter some reddis into the army,which was hitherto prohibited for them,we can find from the palnati charitra that brahma naidu refused to fight with a reddi who challenged him terming it is insulting to him. Reddis rose to the level of generals in the 150 years from palnati battle to the time of prataprudra.prataprudra did not treat the reddi generals on par with kamma/velama.keeping this in mind the reddi generals did not cooperate in the final battle with muslims,the inferiority of the reddis has cost andhra its glory and independence.and for the first time in the history of india,capital lost to muslims was recaptured by a hindu king viz.musunuri prolaya naidu and kapaya naidu. kapaya naidu made his trusted aide, prolaya vema reddi, who claimed to have served his lotus feet,king of a small town called addanki.a reddi promoted as a king for the first time in the andhra history,which was hitherto the domain of kammas(and hence velamas). this was against the objections made by brahmins,that they cannot coronate a gotra less reddi(kapaya naidu offset this by permitting the reddi to have the gotra of brahma naidu) and velama king singama naidu of racha konda. this difference of opinion and singam naidu frequently harassing the reddi invoked the intereference of kapaya naidu,and this became a full-fledged kamma-velama clash.initially kapaya naidu killed singama naidu,but his death was avenged by his son anapothu naidu who not only killed kapaya naidu,but his entire kin who were rulers of various small kingdoms in coastal andhra,anapothu naidu was called 'somakula parasurama'.This Jallepalli war made Rajus wary of Velamas, which in turn lead to Bobbili war subsequently as Rajus perceived Velamas to be a big threat to thier kingdoms. Due to this vaccum created by the the death of so many princes,the reddis were able to occupy a few more forts like kondaveedu,kondapalli etc. they have not built those forts,they were existing centuries before they became kings,sorry 'reddi kings'.they did not last long. This Reddy kingdom ruled for about one and half century only from Addanki and later on from Kondpalli. Their kingdom even in their heyday, extended only from Nellore to Rajamundry.It may be noted that they have never ruled over Telengana or any other area of south India at all. That is all the entire story of reddy rajulu in Telugu lands!They were thwarted by the solar clan kings from orissa or odhra.these kings were first called odhra or vaddera kings,but slowly they were being called just kings or rajulu,which was hitherto the id of kammas/velamas and rajus and eventually the servants and soldiers who came along with these kings started calling themaselves vadde rajulu.thus the title raju was usurped away from kammas/velamas.the second famous title naidu is now being usurped by so many including 'bhogam' or prostitutes in the sense that they carry a tinge of kamma/velama blood in them.) Historically there was never any enmity between the velamas and the Reddis but for the Bobbareddys faux pas. There can not be, as their status and professions were different. The velamas were warriors whose profession was fighting and ruling and they built forts and tanks wherever they went, whereas the reddis were into cultivation. After being introduced into the military service by a reddi woman Nayakuralu Nagamma who shrewdly entered the court of the kings of Palnadu after appeasing the king with her talent and beauty, the reddis served the velamas loyally in various ranks. And the great Musunuri Kapaya Naidu made Vemareddi (a pantakapu ), who proclaimed himself a servant of his lotus feet, a king, amid strong opposition from the Velamas, because Vemareddi was not eligible for coronation as he was a sudra. Actually this deed of Kapaya Naidu sparked off a Kamma-Velama clash and cost him his life and kingdom and threw Andhra permanently into the hands of muslims. Being hot-tempered and fighters for justice, the Kammas/Velamas are easily influenced by ideals that seem to stand for justice and equality and their lands were distributed to labourers who got into posession of fertile lands became very rich and powerful and started calling themselves 'naidus'. (An essential quality of human psychology which yearns for identity after the basic needs are satisfied; next stage is fighting for supremacy). They became so possessive of the word 'Naidu', that they are claiming even historical figures like Raja Venkatadri Naidu, the famous king of Amaravati of 19th century as belonging to their castes. As a climax to such identity-seeking and self-boosting gimmicks, the greatest king of Vijayanagar, Sri Krishna Deva Raya is being claimed by these neo-rich people as belonging to their castes (god only knows the reasons) and his statues are being unveiled in caste meetings. There is some news that Kammas and Velamas belong to one race at the beginning. We can get evidence for caste wise division from Palnati kings rule. Brahma Naidu was a velama, Nagamma Nayakuralu is a Reddy. Palanati kings of Macherla and Gurajala appointed these two as mantris during their rule in 11th and 12th centuries. Surname were also prevalent during that time. Atluri, Potluri, Gundu, Edupuganti, Nadindla etc. surnames visible in inscriptions from that time. Some more evidences for Kamma and Velama relation.... (1) Badabanala Battu divided kamma and velama gothrams and made separate lists for kammas and velamas. (2) Battarajus tell stories that kammas and velamas were one tribe (see pages of Batrajus in Edgar Thurston South Indian Castes and Tribes Book). (3) There is a story that Goddess Lakshmi ear ring (kamma) was taken away by some Rakshasas and she prayed the lard and some worriers born and they went for that kamma and fought with Rakshas and one group brought that kamma they were called as kammas others didnot bring the kamma they were called as Velamas. (4) It was written in Chittore dist. manual that Those people having Gosha they were called velamas and Those poeple don't have gosha were called as kammas. (5) There is resemblence between Kamma and Velama Gothras and Surnames. (Don't match with Reddys and Kapus Gothras and Surnames) etc.... Reddys were inhabitants of Kadapa, Kurnool, Nalgonda and Mahaboob Nagar Dist., around 1000 AD shifted to other areas. Kapus (Telugu-Teligi Kapu-Kapu) were inhabitants of Godavari, Vishaka, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and shifted to other areas around 1000 AD. After the fall of the kakatiya empire reddys became the henchmen of the muslim/nizam kingdoms, got jagirs by serving them at the cost of the velamas. They even sported muslim names and became their kotwals, grabbed lands and became desmukhs and desais. This trend persisted till telangana communist revolt in which however the reddys became arch enemies of the muslim rule and also against razakars and palyed a scintillating role in Telengana liberation. With the fall of the muslims, reddys became richer as they are concentrated more in and around Hyderabad and also as muslim legacy and lands have fallen to the vassals. During the 1960's and the 70's Andhra affluent vleamas considered physical work degrading and it became fashionable to go to clubs, drink and play cards. And maintaining concubines has come down as an aristocratic custom from generations. Very rich Velama families became debt-ridden and sold their gold, lands and properties while their uneducated serfs(Paleru) and servants who were accustomed to physical work and their concubines ('bhogam' people) became new masters of the lands and properties and eventually became rich. All these neo-rich people of so many miscellaneous castes started calling themselves 'naidus'. All these miscellaneous communities were initially loyal and respectful to the Velamas, but as generations changed, and the newly acquired riches bloated their egos (There is a saying about the low born;One forgets his caste if his stomach is full ). Who are padmanayaka Velamas? For the first time in history the cast ‘Velama’ appears in Palnadu war. We conclusively know that Brahmanayudu and Balachandrudu were velamas. In fact Brahmanayudu is considered to be the moolapurushudu for velama cast. After the palnadu war velamas got separated from kammas and crossed Krishna river and went to Kakatiya empire, patronized by the kakathiya empire they flourish and contribute for its growth. This is south side of the Krishna river story. On the north side of the Krishna river, the story emerges as follow: Bethala nayakudu the moolapurushudu of padmanayaka velama community while plowing the fields in Pillalamarri village near Suryapet finds a huge treasure and with the blessings of goddess Kali, he goes on to establish kingdom and become a ruler. Historically Pallavas were telugu rulers and were velamas, they ruled from present Chennai and kanchipuram.British historians have categorically stated that Pallavas were Velamas. The cast name is derived from ‘Vel’ the weapon of lord Subramanya/Karthikeya. This god is the commander of the gods army and so velamas are also proved to be far superior fighters. Pallavas themselves were a branch of earlier Sathavahanas. The word Pallava means a branch or a twig and Pallavas definitely branched off from Sathavahanas. Persons who are eager to know more may also refer to this blog: http://controversialhistory.blogspot.in/2007/10/origin-of-cholas-tamil-myth.html. Pallava are branch of Chutu Satakarni. There is an inscription in Karnataka about the marriage. Chola king marriage is big myth, with no basis.Velanati Cholas were Velamas. Tamilians should never forget that they were ruled by Telugus throughout the history. Velama's are of the warrior caste of andhra pradesh from ancient times. Traditionally they have put great value on etiquette and the military virtues and take great pride in their ancestry. They are famous for their truculent code of honour and a fierce pride that led to intrigue, family feuds, and territorial warfare throughout the history of Andhra pradesh. Some linguists trace the root of the word Velama to similar sounding Vellalars of Tamil Nadu and assume they are Vellala soldiers and administrators who followed in the footsteps of the Chola expansion to Andhra. The Andhra branch known as Velanati or Velanadu (Tamil/Telugu) Cholas who are also known as Telugu Cholas could have been instrumental in the genesis of the Velama community in Andhra It is believed that Velamas belong to one of the Original Aryan races of north India who migrated to south India during Chanakya times. But it is also possible that Velama and Vellala are derived from lance wielders where Vel in Tamil stands for a lance. Hence, they could be an indigenous group directly derived from a Neolithic agrarian community. The area from Godhavari-Krishna river mouth to south upto Chennai was called velnadu. The area called pallavanadu or palnadu also derived its name from pallavas. Both these areas also intermingled with kammanadu. These people were also known as vellala mudaliars in Tamilnadu and also as Vokkaligas in Karnataka inclusive of the Hoysala empire. Both the velamas and kammas were warriors from the beginning and ruled extensively throughout the Indian southern peninsula inclusive of the Deccan platue. Both these communities are aggregation of Sathavahanas/Chalukyas/Pallavas/Cholas that ruled south India extensively over long periods till the war of palnadu after which the caste crustification took place, before this the caste equations were in a state of flux and inter marriages among the warrior classes took place extensively. Velamas championed the cause of fair fighting and fierce fighting, maintained rajput trditions in telugu lands- including gosha and sati for their women-this proved to be their bane.They perished in more numbers in any war than any other people. They are the smallest numeric group in upper strata, only bigger than rajus, another reason being they are a splinter group from kammas. The warrior classes of Telugu land are Rajus, Velamas, Kammas, Reddys and Kapus and others to some limited extent. They have fulfilled the kshatriya dharma in Southern India and are Kshatriyas. Out of these Rajus are the latest migration to the Telugu lands and a class apart. Out of the remaining Kapus are the base class from which the other three classes are derived. We may recall the puranam saying ‘kapulella kamma velama lairi’. They were all cognate near or far but evolved differently in different geographical regions. Reddy and Rao as such is not a caste- It is a title. All the Reddys are motadi kapus/gutadi kapus/pakanati kapus/guradi kapus/panta kapus/patha kapus/kotha kapus etc. etc. Out of these only panta and motadi kapu/reddys can only claim some parity with kammas and velamas. Reddys claim Rastrakuta lineage. Kapu is the bedrock of telugu warrior classes strata, this term is so pervasive in telugu lands and is a very inclusive term. It also encompasses telagas, turpu kapus, balijas, ontaries and munnuru kapus. Similarly reddy is also inclusive term for upper class kapus. Reddy title adaptation has become so extensive among kapus in Telengana and Rayalaseema that there are no general kapus in these two regions but only munnuru kapus in Telengana and Balijas in Seema.This explains the reason for the large numeric strength of reddys in telugu lands. Tlengana velamas and reddys are naive and open, all telengana people are innocent and can be easily played upon- reason- they have no modern education,impoverished and illiterate for ages under the muslim rule as at Independence of India. They were not exposed to modern world, business, trade and industry, so seemandhra people had advantage of ages when AP state was formed. Post independence, seemandhra reddys and kammas have become more practical, politically and in wealth accumulation. Kammas have taken to different fields and particularly cine field and liquor field made them to thrive. Seema reddys monopolised politics and judiciary(and other services to some extent)- they knew that this is a deadly combination to exploit society and people. Basically seema reddys are feudal, unscrupulous and unethical to the core! The 'reddy' tail helped them in a big way as telengana reddys rallied beyond them, but unfortunately seema reedys have used them only as a prop and exploited all and enriched themselves. Their political monopoly was broken by NTR and kamma political era started. During about five decades seemandhra people exploited telengana and grabbed all the resources. Particularly during YSR era, it was a total greedy land grabbing period, fed up with all this telengana people rallied beyond TRS and fought for separate state. Telengana people have perfected the art of fighting on impoverished bellies for ages, because of the adverse conditions they lived under for long. So nothing could stop them and separate state was formed. Seemandhra kammas and reddys are very cast conscious and exclusive but telengana velamas and reddys are not so, they are very inclusive and sharing people. Nemesis has fallen on seema reddys, which they deserve well- they are the biggest losers in a separate state. Both kammas and velamas should forget their egos and understand that they have common origins. It is not incidental that both the kammas and velamas have so many common house names and also gothras. Nearly 60-70% percent of the house names and gothras are common to both of these communities with some minor variations. Brahmanayudu belonged to Recharla gothram, this gothram is common to both the kammas and velamas and this gothram is cherished by both these communities. Many famous personilitis have this gothram in both the communities.Early woman education in Kammas was one main reason which caused their rapid development in post independent India whereas non-education of the woman in Velamas is the reason for their fall. The difference between Kammas and velamas is so small that in Nellore and Chittore districts, it is said that those who wear pardha are called velamas and those who do not wear are called kammas.Most of the house names ended with 'neni' and next 'pati' for both these communities but in Telengana velamas acquired 'palli' or 'pelli' names subsequently. These suffixes came according to the villages or hamlets from where they originated,in later periods.Present day egos of both these communities cannot change the facts of the history. Velamas in coastal Andhra had huge kingdoms from Chennai to srikakulam along the coast, major ones being- Kalahasti, Venkatagiri, Narasaraopet, Nujuvidu, Pithapuram and Bobbili with many minor kingdoms and zamindaris, which were very affluent but their affluence proved to be their undoing. They spent lavishly and had all the vices. Due to the gosha system their woman folk were not educated and they thought it to be infra dig to take up employment. Their wealth was lost to their paleirs, concubines and vices. They are now a faint shadow of their past glory.Chennai city area was under the Raja of Venkatagiri, this area was given by the Raja to the Britishers for building their fort, which later developed into the present city. Velamas ruled in telengana from Pillamarri, Panagal, Rachakonda, Amanagal, Devarakonda, Bhuvanagiri, Velugodu, Palvancha, Molangoor, Dharmapuri-kotilingala, Naspur, Bandalingapur and Kollapur and some other places during various periods. Kollapur kingdom was instrumental in founding of many coastal velama kingdoms. They also held many forts and samsthanams in telengana but during nizam era reddys became vassals of muslims and velamas were replaced by them extensively in telengana. Velamas had a fancy for riverbeds and they loathed dry areas. Velamas of telangana were also loath take up employment but the scenario has changed over the last 2 decades, they are now out and out for education and employment. They have become competitive on many fronts. So now only the velamas of telangana are a force to reckon with and will compete in all fields in the coming days. Having gone down to the nadir, the giant wheel should go up!