Padmanabham

Padmanabham
Village
View of Padmanabham Hillock and River Gosthani
Padmanabham Show map of Andhra Pradesh Padmanabham Show map of India Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 17°59′00″N 83°20′00″E / 17.9833°N 83.3333°E / 17.9833; 83.3333Coordinates: 17°59′00″N 83°20′00″E / 17.9833°N 83.3333°E / 17.9833; 83.3333
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Visakhapatnam
Elevation	23 m (75 ft)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Padmanabham is a village and mandal in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India.^[1]

View from Lower Padmanabham Temple

Sri Krishna Devaraya Vijayastambha (Victory Pillar) at Potnuru in Padmanabham Mandal of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh

There is a famous Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple on this hill; before independence, this temple was allotted 3000 acres by the Pusapati royal family of Vizianagaram & RajaSagi royal family of Pandrangi.

Geography

Padmanabham is located at 17°59′00″N 83°20′00″E / 17.9833°N 83.3333°E / 17.9833; 83.3333.^[2] It has an average elevation of 23 meters (78 feet).

Battle of padmanabham

The Battle of Padmanabham was fought on July 9, 1794 AD, between the British, led by Colonel Pendergast, and the Kshatriya Kings(Lineage of "Pusapati" Surname with "Gajapati" title) named Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapathi Raju of Vizianagaram kingdom and RajaSagi Rama Chandra Raju of Pandrangi Royal family because they have refused to pay taxes to the British as they opposed British governance over their kingdom. This opposition had been going on after their grandfather’s time. Colonel Pendergast was sent by the Governor of Madras, John Andrews. Pusapati China Vijaya Rama Raju along with RajaSagi Gopala Narasa Raju (Younger brother of Raja Sagi Rama Chandra Raju) and Raja Sagi Rama Chandra Raju was also Brother-in-Law or Shadrakulu in Telugu for the Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapathi Raju. Both the Kings (Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapathi Raju and RajaSagi Gopala Narasa Raju) were amongst the 800 soldiers of Vizianagaram and Pandrangi kingdoms who lost their lives in the war, allowing the British to gain full control over the kingdoms. The battle lasted only for a day as the British were better equipped with rifles and cannons whereas the kings lacked those weapons. After the death of Pusapati China Vijaya Rama Raju in 1794, his son Pusapati Narayana Gajapathi Raju was guarded by RajaSagi Royal family till 1796, when Narayana Gajapathi Raju was crowned king of Vizianagaram empire. After being crowned, he showed his appreciation to RajaSagi royal family for their support and sacrifice by granting the Estates of Mokasas of 'Kota Uratla/Thangedu' along with Visakhapatnam to RajaSagi Rama Chandra Raju. Sagi Rama Chandra Raju had attained the title of Raja in 1778 after he was gifted a 101 doors mega fort in Pandrangi Village in Padmanabham Mandal. From 1796 onwards the Raja title became a part of the family name and he and his heirs have been referred to as the house of Raja-Sagi.This "RajaSagi" family was also one of the descendants of ancient "Chagi Dynasty".^[3][4][5][6]

Later from this "Raja Sagi" family of Pandrangi Village, Raja Sagi Padmanabha Raju served 27 years as Samithi President for Bheemili who is instrumental in getting Beach road which is connecting RK beach and Bheemili. His elder son Raja Sagi Suryanarayana Raju (RDSSN Raju) won as MLA in 1972 from Bheemili. He also served as Correspondent & Treasurer for Mansas Trust for 18 years. Mansas trust consists of 16 educational institutions including engineering college, BED college, law college, MBA college, junior colleges, English & Telugu medium schools. Padmanabha Raju younger son Raja Sagi Appala Narasimha Raju won as MLA from Bheemili in 1985, 1989, 1994 and 1999. Also served as Excise minister in NT Rama Rao cabinet. He also served as Zonal chairman for APSRTC, Chairman for AP Assembly estimates committee, Chairman for AP Assembly library committee, Director of AP Tourism, Secretary for State Telugu Desam Party (TDP)^[7]

References