Punganur
Zamindari of British India
c.1300–1952
CapitalPunganur
History 
• Established
c.1300
• Disestablished
1952
Succeeded by
Republic of India
Today part ofAndhra Pradesh, India

Punganur (also known as Poonganur, Punuguru and Punganuru) was a prominent Zamindari estate in the town of the same name, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established by the Morasu Vokkaliga chieftain Timme Gowda.[1][2]

Palace

The estate's namesake palace is a landmark of Punganur. It was constructed in the year 1866 and served as the housing for the ruling family.[3]

History

The Punganur zamindari was established by a Morasu Vokkaliga polygar Timme Gowda.[4][5] Historians believe that the region of Punganur had trading links with the Mediterranean empires during the times of Emperor Ashoka. In the early 16th century, when the Penukonda region came under the attack of the invaders, the local rulers of Punganur were said to have assisted emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya to fight against it. As a gesture, the Vijayanagara emperor gave the Kolar and Suguturu regions to the Punganur rulers, which eventually led to the birth of the zamindari pattern of administration.[6]

Rulers

The estate's rulers bore the title of Raja (the female counterpart being Rani).

List of rulers

  • Thimmaraya II
  • Chikkathimmaraya
  • Veerabasava Chikarayala Yaswanta Bahadur
  • Chikkabasavaraya III

Etymology

The estate and town are named after a local deity Punganuru or Pungamma, who is believed to have saved the town from huge floods. To this day the four reservoirs round the town are named after her, her sisters Subbamma and Rangamma and her brother Royappa, who are said to have dug and built them. They are the principal means of maintaining a stable groundwater level around the town.[7]

References

  1. ↑ L. Krishna Anantha Krishna Iyer (Diwan Bahadur) (1928). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mittal Publications. p. 105. These Morasu chiefs trace their origin to seven brothers who early in the 15th century settled at Avati ( near Nandidrug ... at Kolar and Punganur , and most of the Upper Ponnaiyar basin too , with headquarters at Hoskote and Anekal...
  2. ↑ Rice, B. L. (2001). Gazetteer of Mysore. Asian Educational Services. p. 20. ISBN 978-81-206-0977-8. Timme Gauda went to Sugatur near Jangamkote , and became the ruler of Kolar and Punganur and the founder of ...
  3. ↑ Deccan Herald
  4. ↑ L. Krishna Anantha Krishna Iyer (Diwan Bahadur) (1928). The Mysore Tribes and Castes. Mittal Publications. p. 105. These Morasu chiefs trace their origin to seven brothers who early in the 15th century settled at Avati ( near Nandidrug ... at Kolar and Punganur , and most of the Upper Ponnaiyar basin too , with headquarters at Hoskote and Anekal...
  5. ↑ Rice, B. L. (2001). Gazetteer of Mysore. Asian Educational Services. p. 20. ISBN 978-81-206-0977-8. Timme Gauda went to Sugatur near Jangamkote , and became the ruler of Kolar and Punganur and the founder of ...
  6. ↑ "Rain leaves Punganur palace in state of ruin" in The Hindu
  7. ↑ Punganuru.com
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