History of Kamma Catholics

There are several stories in circulation about how the Kamma caste originated.

In ancient times, Kammas and Velamas were one caste performing duties of national defense and agriculture. As families grew, the custom of 'Ghasha' (women staying indoors without working) increased. There was no consensus on whether to continue or abolish this custom. Finally, it is said that those who agreed to come out and work ("Kamma" meaning signed on palm leaves) were called Kammas.

Another story says that during a war involving Kakatiya Prataparudra, his ear ornament (Kamma) was lost, and the brave warriors who fetched it were called Kammas.

During Sri Krishnadevaraya's time, it is a notable story that those who carried diplomatic messages written on 'Kammas' (palm leaves) as representatives for administrative affairs were formalized as 'Kammavaru'.

Kammas possessed Kshatriya characteristics, lived by arms, and performed duties of public administration, bravery, and chivalry.

After the Golconda Qutb Shah occupied the Kondaveedu kingdom, he divided the area into 14 divisions (samithis). He appointed Kammas as Chowdaries (protectors of the law) for their administration. Since then, Kammas have been using the "Chowdary" title.

Between 1500–1600 AD, Kammas followed the Polygars (Nayaks) system along with their kings and rulers.

'Rashtram' or 'Radha' previously referred to the extensive land area outside the capital. In the Andhra region, this Kamma territory has a very ancient history:

From 1330 to 1424 AD, this Kamma Rashtram was ruled by the Reddys as an integral part of the Kondaveedu kingdom.

There is another important historical reason for the special prominence of 'Kamma Rashtram' and 'Kammanadu' — this region flourished as the birthplace of valuable, priceless quality diamonds.

In 1565 AD, French diamond merchant J.B. Tavernier visited and clearly stated that this diamond was found in Kolluru village, south of Pulichinta in Guntur district, and north of Bellamkonda fort. Even today, this area is marked as 'Diamond Poramboku' (prohibited land) in revenue records. This diamond, weighing around 900 carats, traveled from the Telugu country to the Golconda Nawabs, Delhi Badshahs, and finally adorned the British Queen's crown.

This diamond, weighing around 410 carats, was found in Paritala village, Krishna district, in 1701 AD. It adorned the crown of the French Emperor. It is a historical specialty that both these world-famous diamonds were found in 'Kammanadu', close to Raja Vasireddy's capital (Lakshmipuram).

The history of Gandikota is a golden chapter in the history of the Kammas. It is built on a hill 10 kilometers from Jammalamadugu in the present Y.S.R. Kadapa district, at a height of 1,670 feet above sea level. Because the Pennar river flows through a deep gorge (gandi) for about 5 km, forming a natural moat around the fort, this fort remains impregnable. The "Gandikota Kaifiyat" states that it was built by Kakaraja on January 9th, 1123 AD. This region was part of the Cuddapah Nawab's principality, encompassing several taluks in Cuddapah, Anantapur, and Kurnool districts.

This region, which was important even during the Kakatiya period, became part of the Vijayanagara Empire.

During the time of Harihara Bukkaraya, Mikkilineni Ramanayudu ruled this region. Kumar Timmanayudu from Bellamkonda in Guntur district came to Gandikota as an 'Illarikapu alludu' (resident son-in-law) and became the progenitor of the Pemmasani dynasty.

The Pemmasanis supported the Kakatiyas and Vijayanagara kings from the beginning. Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu was the Commander-in-Chief of Sri Krishnadevaraya. The relationship became stronger because Rayalu was the son of Nagamamba, the sister of the Pemmasanis. When going to war, Rayalu used to send special invitations to Kamma chieftains like Vithalappanayudu and Parashuramanayudu. At that time, there was an army of around 80,000 Kammas. It is believed that the surname "Sayappaneni" originated from the name of the commander Sayappa Nayudu.

From 1431 to 1652 AD, the Kammas ruled for two and a half centuries with Gandikota as their center, and with the support of the Vijayanagara emperors, appointed their relatives as rulers of Madurai, Thanjavur, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Thus, the rule that began in Gandikota spread to Ceylon.

The Kammas who reached Gandikota mainly depended on agriculture. The women of these Kammas did not come out to work, which is why they were also called 'Illellani Kammavaru' (Kammas who do not leave the house). The surnames of Gandikota Kammas were formed from the names of the places their ancestors lived — examples include Potakamuru, Edapalli, Malepadu, Eturu, and Pondota (Poothota). Women who wore their saree pallu over the right shoulder were identified as Gampa Kammas, and those who wore it over the left shoulder were Induru Kammas.

Scholars say that Christianity is not a Western religion, but originated in Asia, and had a presence in India long before the arrival of the British.

Thomas Didymus, one of Jesus' disciples, came to Kodungallur in Kerala in 52 AD and established seven churches. This incident happened many years before Christianity received official recognition in Rome. Thomas was finally martyred in Chennai.

After Vasco da Gama came to India, the propagation of Christianity reached a new stage. However, due to the lifestyle of the Portuguese, Christianity earned the bad name of being the "Parangula Matham" (religion of foreigners).

Father Roberto de Nobili (17th century AD), an Italian Jesuit, respected Indian culture, wore saffron robes, practiced vegetarianism, and studied Sanskrit and the Vedas. Through this approach, he attracted thousands of people.

Political and geographical factors contributed to the Kammas converting to Christianity.

In North India, there were trade disputes between the Portuguese and the Muslims. At the same time, there were serious political differences between the Gandikota Kamma rulers and the Muslims. In this context, Muslims became common enemies for both the Kammas and the Portuguese. According to the principle of "an enemy's enemy is a friend," the two became allies.

To establish their dominance, the English began to attract the Reddy and Kamma castes who were losing their official positions but had influence among the people.

In the 17th century AD, French missionaries Becheppa Modio and D.O. Cotinho preached Christianity according to the Brahmin customs of that time. In this way, it is known that the Kondaveedus were the first to convert to Christianity in the year 1733.

The last ruler of the Pemmasani dynasty that ruled Gandikota was Pinnayya, son of China Timmanayudu. Mir Jumla, on behalf of the Golconda Sultan, laid a severe siege and through trickery, fully captured Gandikota on 25-8-1652. With Gandikota falling into Muslim hands, the Kammas who held prominence in the administration lost their livelihoods and were forced to leave the area.

Due to the fall of Gandikota and famines, the Kamma Catholics undertook three main migrations:

In the year 1833 AD, another major famine situation occurred in Kammanadu. This is known as the Nandana Nama year famine or Dokkala famine. Due to these famines between 1830 and 1840, lakhs of people lost their lives.

The Kammas who converted to Christianity in the 17th and 18th centuries, even though they had the status of princes, faced many inequalities, insults, and hardships in the society of that time. It is mentioned that even fellow Hindu Kammas did not properly accept the Christian Kammas until a few decades ago. Despite enduring many difficulties and losses, the credit for maintaining their religious faith and establishing the fame of the Kamma caste among the largest number of Christian Catholics in the world today goes to these Gandikota Kammas.

Sri Pudota Ankineedu, Gangineedu, and Dasayyalu, three brothers from Vaddenidivaripalem, migrated to Parasa Talluru in Guntur district. One of these brothers was named Dasayya. The present 'Dasaraya' dynasty became famous from his descendants. Eight sons belonging to the Dasaraya dynasty migrated from places like Ravipadu, Turkapalem, Kanaparru, and Patareddypalem in Guntur district to the Telangana and Nellore regions. Gonagidda and Dasarayale are the progenitors of these dynasties.

Many religious leaders and bishops emerged from the Kamma Catholic dynasties:

• Thomas Potakamuri: When Guntur was separated as a special diocese from the Archdiocese of Madras in 1940, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Guntur and soon promoted to be the first Archbishop of Bangalore.
• Sri Koonishetty Garu: Appointed as the first Archbishop of Bangalore.
• Bishop Pudota Balaswamy Garu: Bishop of Nellore.
• Bishop Mallavarapu Prakash Garu: Archbishop of Visakhapatnam.
• Father Pudota Innayya Garu: Dr. of Canon Law and Monsignor.

The Christian Catholic migrations that started from the Gandikota region in Rayalaseema have now expanded across both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states, and further to Karnataka and other countries. Today, the foundation of the ancient Christian villages spread throughout Tamil Nadu and Andhra is the Rayalaseema region, specifically the Gandikota region.

Ravipadu, Palem, Kanaparti, Turkapalem, Parasatalluru, 75 Talluru, Attuluru, Tallacheruvu, Patareddypalem, Garlapadu, Peddakurapadu, Vipparla, Lingapuram, Balusupadu, Dharanikota, Amaravati, Peddaparimi, Oleru, Enikapadu, Kambampadu, Pasara, Abbasirajupalle, Katrapadu, Tenali, Bussapuram, Jalalpuram, Mutluru, Brahmanakoduru, Lingampatla, Siripuram, Phirangipuram, Tatikonda, Anguluru (Krishna district), Autupalli, Vijayawada, Kuchipudi, Pamarru, Bandar and other villages.

Matampalli, Bhimaram, Anachipuram, Munugodu, Bhimanapalli, Chinnapuri, Velamakanna, Kammawaripalem, Vanchanagiri, Shayampeta, Timmarayanipahad, Jojipeta, Rajapalle, Anantaram, Narsampeta, Nekkonda, Teegarajupalli, Sarapaka, Reddipalli, Bhadrachalam, Jaggaram, Manchiryala, Donabanda, Jadijamalappuram, Neelam camp, Bodhan, Dharmaram, Nayinipalem, Nemiligudem, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Khammam, Warangal, Kazipet, Fatimanagar, Keertinagar, and others.

Kilacheri, Pannuru, Vadgaram, Tacchuru, Mosaluru, Kannuru, Nammiyandal, Kicheru, Peddavalarapuram, Santhamangalam, Molachuru, Pinjavakam, Illaputandalam, Vanjamadungal, Nimili, Kuruvam, Danji, Chinnavalluru, Gunduperamandur, Chellampatteda, and other villages.