Page:A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas.djvu/101

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the central authority at Arcot, and annex these taluks. Kumara Nayana started at once right gladly, easily defeated the Jaghirdars and extended sway over these taluks with his seat of government at Kurchedu.

The public life of Kumara Nayana at Kurchedu needs some mention. The three places of Pellur, Darsi and Kotcherlakota were well fortified and the strongholds of Pellur and Kurchedu were by far the best. In all these places, large palaces with spacious halls and big gateways were arranged. In Kurchedu itself his capital, a temple was built and idols set up in it, in the likeness of his parents and sisters who died at North Mallur. The daily worship in these temples continues to this day.

Then came the unexpected end of his earthly existence. Before his death he sent for his elder brother and handed over his taluks to him as he had no sons to succeed. Thus these taluks also passed to the Venkatagiri Estate.