Page:The Aristocracy of Southern India.djvu/127

Rh The brothers who succeeded their father rendered themselves very popular by their amiability and noble nature, and after a time they paid a visit to the Nizam, with the sunnuds their predecessors had received from him. The Nizam gave them a warm reception and granted them lands which were one third of Kallikote, and which is now known as Chattramutta. They took arms against Machandri who was in possession of Paluru, defeated him in battle, and while about to kill his wife, she obtained from them a promise that they and their successors, would perform the ceremony known as Pithirni in com- memoration of their death. This is performed every year on the first Sunday of the month of Chaitra. They secured the Punkala Muttah which is one third of Kallikote, Birudi and Atagada, the neighbouring Zemindaries of Kallikote with a sunnud from the Nizam, Gendu died childless but Kirthan had sons. One of them went to Jalanthra, married the daughter of the Rajah of that place, and stopped there. The other, Syam Sundara Deo, married the two daughters of Katur Bhibul Singh of Benares. After ruling the estates for a time, he went on a pilgrimage to Kameswaram and other places leaving his son Gangadhar as his successor.

Gangadhar was very religious and therefore established 32 temples in his estates. He extended the canals called Kharkari and Kalajur. He performed a jagam at Kontapoda, where he established a Siva Linga dedicatee? to Siddeswar. He went against the Rajah of Puri and defeated him in battle. He was a learned man and he had a host of educated men under him for the management of his estate. He was succeeded by his son Vikrama Deo, who married the two daughters of Katoor Mahadeo Singh of Benares and also the three daughters