Durjaya (Sanskrit for "difficult to conquer" or "invincible")[1] was a legendary chieftain of ancient Andhra. The identity of Durjaya remains unknown.[2] Several ruling dynasties of medieval Andhra and Telangana, such as the Kakatiyas, Velanati Chodas, Malyalas, Viryalas, Haihayas, Konakandravadis, Ivani Kandravadis, Kondapadumatis, Natavadis, Parichchedis, Kotas, and Chagis, claimed descent from him.[3][4][2] In the opinion of Bhavaraju Venkata Krishna Rao, he probably flourished in the 3rd century CE.[5] Durjaya clan claimed to have come from Karikala Chola ancestry.[6][7]
Several other medieval ruling families in Andhra such as the chiefs of Kota, Chagi, Velanati, Haihaya, Kondapadumati, and Kakatiya also trace their descent from Durjaya. The identity of Durjaya remains unknown, though the inscriptions of the Velamas and the chiefs of these dynasties unequivocally state that they belong to the fourth caste.
It is interesting to note that the feudatory chiefs such as the Velanati Chodas, Haihayas, Kondapadumatis, Natavadis, Chagis etc., who emerged as political power during the medieval periods claim the lineage from Durjaya.
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