Have you ever thought that behind the name of a dynasty, three stories could be hidden – a goddess, a pumpkin, and a town? That’s the real twist in Kakatiya history!
Click here to Read the Telugu version of this article.
After the Satavahanas, it was the Kakatiyas who united the Telugu land under one fold. It was during their reign that the words Andhra and Trilinga became synonymous with race and nation. They ruled from Orugallu (Andhranagari) with the proud title “Andhradeshadheeshwara.” Today, we know that city as Warangal. Their glorious history also includes stopping the Muslim invasions advancing from the north into South India.
But how did their name come about? There are three stories behind it!
The first – They were called Kakatiyas because they worshipped a goddess named Kakati. Vinukonda Vallabhacharya in his Kridabhiramam mentions a temple of Kakitamma in Orugallu.
The second – Kakati means Kushmanda (pumpkin). Among Jain Tirthankaras, the 22nd one, Nevinatha, had Kushmandini as his yakshini. Originally Jains, the Kakatiyas later embraced Shaivism. Unable to abandon their old tradition, they worshipped Kushmandini as Kakitamma, a form of Goddess Durga.
The third – They were called Kakatiyas because they ruled from Kakatipura. This is mentioned in the inscription at Bayyaram Cheruvu.
The Kakatiya saga is not just the story of a dynasty. It is the emblem of Andhra pride. Courage, religious harmony, cultural grandeur… How many secrets did the Kakatiyas hide? And if we dig deeper, how many more tales will emerge?
A goddess, a pumpkin, a town… in which of these lies the secret behind the Kakatiya name? That quest itself is one of history’s most intriguing chapters.
📢 Which story about the Kakatiya name do you think is true – the goddess, the pumpkin, or the town?
💬 Tell us in the comments!