Pithapuram (Pithikapuram), a temple city in the Godavari delta country north of Kakinada, with the Kukkuteswara (Puruhutika) shrine and the Kunti Madhava temple, is where the Wikipedia article on the Velanati Chodas says Prithviswara ruled from.
The town is a seat of the Eastern Chalukyas and Chola-Chalukyas centuries before (from memory) and the likely working capital of the Velanati king when he is in the north of his country. His old family seat is Chandavolu on the other side of the delta; he moves between the two, and the Palnadu war has drained his fighting strength. On the likely course the Kakatiya move on the delta begins in 1201 and ends with his death about 1207.
Who holds it
- Name
- Prithviswara (Pruthviswara)
- Title
- King of the Velanati Chodas
- Since
- 1186 (reigned 1186 to 1207: Wikipedia, Velanati Chodas)
- Born
- not known
- Family
- Of the Velanati Chodas, vassals of the Chola crown; his successor Rajendra Choda III rules 1207 to 1216 (Wikipedia).
- Confidence
- medium
The Velanati Chodas article (read) says Prithviswara ruled from Pithapuram; the Telugu Cholas article names Dhanadapura, later Vengi and Pithapuram, as the capitals; the campaign board names Chandavolu as the seat.
Lord in 1200
Prithviswara, king; a governor when he is at Chandavolu.
Overlord
Kulottunga III Chola, nominal
How things stand that morning
The Velanati king is in possession and weaker than he looks.
Communities
Telugu Brahmins, temple priests and Shaiva ascetics; Jain remains from earlier centuries.
Walls and castle
Not known for 1200.
Trade and crafts
Rice, cloth and coastal trade through the Godavari delta ports; temple town.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1201 to 1203Kakatiya pressure on the Krishna gap, then on Divi.Depends on: Peace in the Kakatiya upland. Stopped by: A Kakatiya succession quarrel.
- About 1207Prithviswara is killed in battle; Rajendra Choda III succeeds (1207 to 1216) and the Kakatiyas annex Velanadu (Idupulapadu inscription of 1209).Depends on: The earlier steps succeeding. Stopped by: A Chola or Ganga intervention.
Where the sources disagree
- Board 'chandavolu-velanadu' names Chandavolu as the Velanati seat; the Velanati Chodas article (read) says Prithviswara ruled from Pithapuram. Both are drawn: Chandavolu as the old seat, Pithapuram as the working seat.
Evidence: The Velanati Chodas and Telugu Cholas articles (read) give the reign and the capitals; the town's life is not in them.
Primary sources for Velanati Chodas (Velanadu)
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Corpus of Inscriptions in the Telingana Districts, Various (Kakatiya chancery and temple scribes), edited by P. Sreenivasachar (inscriptions of the 10th to 15th centuries; edited 1940 to 1942). The Kakatiyas of Orugallu (Warangal) are known for 1200 almost entirely from inscriptions, and this Hyderabad Archaeological Series corpus is the main printed collection. Read online
- South Indian Inscriptions (Archaeological Survey of India), Various (Chola, Pandya and other chanceries and temple scribes), edited by E. Hultzsch, V. Venkayya, H. Krishna Sastri and successors (inscriptions of the 7th to 17th centuries; the series ran from 1890). The temple inscriptions printed here are the primary record of the Tamil country in 1200. Read online
Sources and studies
- Wikipedia: Velanati Chodas (read this session)
- Wikipedia: Telugu Cholas (read this session)
- Wikipedia: Chalukya Cholas (read this session)
- OMNIA board notes for this place (a lead only, checked against the sources above)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.