Page:A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas.djvu/52

 importance. Mada Naidu not only rendered valuable service to his brother in fightings battles, but himself defeated Anapotha Reddi, a relation of Anavema Reddi near Dannala.

He built a huge rock-temple at Umamaheswaram, a holy place at the northern foot of Srisailam. The date of its construction is proved by the inscription in the temple itself to be 1376 A.D. His capital Devarakonda with Madhavapuram at its foot was highly improved during his time. The detailed description of Devarakonda is rather out of place in the present family history, but it may be said that it was a natural fort almost impregnable, in 360 blocks or divisions with nine main and thirty-two sub-entrances, a big granary to contain 125,000 putties of corn, with nine sardars, each sardar being at the head of 12,000 troops and nine gate-defenders. Descendants of these families live there to the present day and are still in possession of the jaghirs granted by the Recharla Kings.