Pemmasani Timma Nayaka

Pemmasani Timma Nayaka was the ruler of Gandikota in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. He was a satrap of the Vijayanagar kings.

Pemmasani rulers came into prominence during the Vijayanagar period. The Pemmasani warriors were previously serving the Kakatiya dynasty as army commanders and migrated to Vijayanagar in 1370 CE after the downfall of the Musunuri Nayaks. The ancestors of the Pemmasani clan (Gothram: Musunulla) belonged to Bellamkonda in ancient Kammanadu.

Timma Nayaka was a commander in the army of Proudha Devaraya (1420-448 CE), also known as Devaraya II. The Vijayanagar King granted Yadaki paragana in 1422 CE to Timma after his victory over Ahmed Shah in the battle of Kalubarige (Gulbarga). He ruled Gutthi (Gooty) and Gandikota regions and used to pay an annual tribute of nine lakh rupees to the Vijayanagar king. He developed Gandikota as an impregnable fort. Timma minted his own coins with Veerabhadra’s icon. During his long rule, he constructed many temples and tanks and brought recognition to Gandikota.

Timma had 25,000 infantry, 15,000 horsemen and 40 elephants. The annual income of Gandikota was about 25 lakhs (2.5 million) rupees. He commanded an army contingent of 8000 soldiers during the battle of Kalubarige (Gulbarga). A property of 1240 kuntas in the city of Vijayanagar served as a camp for the Pemmasani warriors.

He built many villages, tanks and temples in the Yadaki paragana. The village Venkatapuram was built in the memory of his mother Venkatamma. He had a minister by name Chennama Raju, son of Mahabashyam Mahadeva Bhatta. His son Veerathimma ruled Gandikota after him.