It was after the demise of Hoyasala king Vishnuvardhna many Jain kings across Tulunad have established their kingdoms. One such dynasty is Chowta dynasty. Chowtas before shifting their capital to Puttige of Moodabidri was ruling through Ullala as their capital.
Tirumalaraya – I (AD 1160- AD 1179): He was ruling through Ullala. Somanatha temple of Someshwara, Ullala was their chief god. His palace was near Tokkottu. He died in AD.1179.
Chennaraya – I (AD 1179– AD 1219): After the demise of Tirumalaraya his nephew Chennaraya inherited the kingdom. He built a place near ‘Kayara Manja’ of Puttige, he conquered neighbouring regions and shifted his capital from Ullala to Puttige.
Devuraya (AD 1219-AD 1245): Nephew of Chennaraya named Varadappa took over the kingdom of Chowtas after the demise of Chennaraya with a name as Devuraya.
Tirumalaraya – II (AD 1245 – AD 1283): He is the nephew of Devuraya. He was the ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He installed Vrishabha flag as the flag of the kingdom. He built Puttige Somanatheshwara temple, and a Pancha Jumadi shrine near to that temple.
Abbakkadevi – I (AD 1288 – AD1316): She is the niece of Tirumalaraya. She ruled Chowta kingdom till AD 1316.
Bhojaraya – I (AD 1316 – AD1335): He is the son of Abbakkadevi. He had marital alliance with Mulki Savantha kings. Due to some differences, later these two kingdoms turned into enemies.
Padumaladevi – I (AD 1335 – AD 1382): She is the niece of Bhojaraya. She ruled Chowta kingdom for 47 years.
Chennammadevi – I (AD 1382 – AD 1403): She is the daughter of Padumaladevi.
Chennaraya – II (AD 1403 – AD 1470): He is the brother of Chennammadevi. His actual name isAllappasheka. He assisted the Banga king during the war, hence Banga king offered him Manel, Pejavara, Mundkur regions. He developed Chowta kingdom rigorously. He built a fort near Arkula. Tribuvana Tilaka Chaithyalaya( Saara Kamboda basadi) was built during his reign.
Bhojaraya – II (AD 1470 – AD 1510): He is the nephew of Chennaraya ( Son of Chennammadevi). He was very popular and powerful. During his time Vijayanagara kingdom was ruled by Tuluva king Krishnadevaraya. He built a Subraya temple at Kadandale, brought an idol from Vijayanagara and installed it there. He was described as having very handsome personality with very compassionate towards his kingdom.
Tirumalaraya – III (AD 1510 – AD 1544): He is the nephew of Bhojaraya.
Abbakkadevi – II (AD 1544 – AD 1582): She is the nephew of Tirumalaraya. She got married to Laxmapparasa Bangaraja. She was residing in her palace at Ullala, whereas her husband was residing in the palace of Mangalore. After the demise of Laxmapparasa, his nephew Kamaraya inherited the Banga kingdom. There were always a conflict between Abbakka and Kamaraya. Just to take revenge on Abbakka, Kamaraya joined Portuguese and started troubling her. Portuguese had become strong in the west coast of India and started occupying coastal kingdoms. Abbakka fought against them when they started troubling her and defeated them. She died in AD 1582.
Tirumaladevi (AD 1582 – AD 1606): She is the daughter of Queen Abbakkadevi. She got into conflict with Baira Arasa of Karkala, and fought a war against him at Sanuru valley. Bairavaraya Killed Tirumaladevi in this battle and took her head to Karkala. Later her son Chikkaraya did the funeral by combining her body with head.
Chandrashekara Chikkaraya – I (AD 1606 – AD 1628): After the demise and murder of his mother by Karkala kings, Chikkaraya wanted to take his revenge against them. He took the help of Venkatappanayaka of Ikkeri and fought against Karkala Bairarasa in AD 1608. Karkala Bairarasa died in this war and Karkala was captured by Ikkeri king. To commemorate the death of Triumaladevi, Venkatappanayaka gave Sanuru to Chikkaraya.
Chennammadevi – II (AD 1628 – AD 1630): She is the niece of Chikkaraya.
Bhojaraya – III (AD 1630 – AD 1644): He is the son of Chennammadevi. He built a palace in Moodabidri. He did not give offerings to the Ikkeri kings by which Ikkeri king Veerabhadrappa Nayaka arrested him and put in a jail. Later he was released with various conditions. He lost most part of his kingdom to Ikkeri kings. After him Chowta dynasty walked towards extinction.
Chennammadevi – III (AD 1644 – AD 1687): She is the niece of Bhojaraya. She ruled for 43 years.
Chandarashekara Chikkaraya – II (AD 1687- AD 1715): He is the son of Chennammadevi. He ruled for 28 years.
Padumaladevi – II (AD 1715 – AD 1726): She is the sister of Chikkaraya. She ruled for 11 years.
Abbakkadevi – III (AD 1726 – AD 1749): She is the sister of Padumaladevi. She got into verbal conflict with Ikkeri King Somasekara Nayaka. Upon learning the conspiracy against her life she flew to Malabar. Upon learning this Ikkeri king took charge of Chowta kingdom completely. After the death of Somashekara Nayaka, Boodi Basappa Nayak inherited the Ikkeri Kingdom. Abbakka made accord with him to return her kingdom. He agreed, but while returning from Malabar she passed away. He daughter Chennammadevi and grandson Chikkaraya returned to Moodabidri.
Chandrashekara Chikkaraya – III (AD 1749 – AD 1769): during AD 1763, Hyder Ali of Mysore conquered Ikkeri Kingdom. Hyder Ali took the direct control of Chowta Kingdom and appointed his own governor. He started looting the Tulunad by imposing heavy taxes. During AD 1766, Britishers captured the Mangalore fort. British and Mysore war had already started. Chowtas completely lost their kingdom. After losing their kingdom they lived in Moodabidri palace.
Chennaraya – II (AD 1969 – AD 1781): He is the son of Chikkaraya.
Chandrashekara Chikkaraya – IV (AD 1781 – AD 1783): He is the younger brother of Chennaraya.
Chandrashekara Chikkaraya (AD 1783 – AD 1822) : He is the brother of Chandrashekara Chikkaraya – IV. After Hyder Ali took over the Chowta kingdom, they were given a pension for their livelihood. With the accusation of helping Britishers against Tippu, Chandrashekara Chikkaraya lost the major portion of his pension.
Chandrashekara Chennaraya (AD 1822 – AD 1833): he is the grandson of Chandrashekara Chikkaraya.
After the demise of Chennaraya without any offspring to inherit the throne, his wife adopted a boy named Gummana. He took over the throne with the name chikkaraya Chowta till 1867. Later it came under Kunjam Shetty in 1880.
Original in Kannada: Dakshina Kannada Jilleya Prachina Itihasa by M Ganapathy Rao
Translated and synopsized: Mahi Mulki