सूरिविजयः- Surivijay

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Surivijaya - is a small but rich Sanskrit literary work, which sheds light on a historical event related to Surapuram Sansthan. History is constructed not only by the political incidents, but also by the cultural and spiritual events. Spirituality is the soul of Indian culture, without which Indian history cannot be completed.
The present work is a record of one such important event that took place in Surapuram. The event is surrounded with many interesting characters, which represent Indian heritage with their unique qualities. Such Historical works need preservation, which falsify the claim that Indian History is not properly recorded.
Dr. K. Varalakshmi, Deputy Director, Sanskrit Academy, Shodh Sansthan, has worked hard to edit this work and to write a detailed introduction. She has taken interest in collecting each small information related to the story of the work.
Good editions are appreciated not because of the importance of the work, but because of the value added to the edition. Dr. K. Varalakshmi, though it is her malden effort in editing, put all efforts to bring out value added edition. I appreciate her efforts.
I am thankful to the chairman Prof. T. Tirupati Rao and other members of the Managing Committee for their support. I am also thankful to Prof. Radhavallabh Tripati Ji, Vice-Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi, Ministry for Human Resources Development and other authorities for their unflinching support. I thank the Sanskrit Academy staff for their co-operation.

Surivijaya a Sanskrit prose composed in 20th century narrates the story of Kiriti Venkatacarya, a great scholar and royal preceptor, Parankusa Ramanuja, a religious preceptor, the queen Haripriya, an ardent devotee of Lord Venugopala and the king Devendra Venkatapathi Bhoopala.
1.1. Author: The author mentions his name, his father's name, place, residence and the relation he had with the great personalities of his time, in the work, in the very opening lines of the work and in the colophon, given at the end of the work.
The author introduces himself in the opening lines of the work as the devotee of Sri Parankusa Ramanuja Yati and his name as Srinivasa also known as Perumal Gundacharya. The colophon given at the end of the work reveals that author was the son of pious couple Vadhula Venkatarya and Sitamba. He was the descendant of Nrisimharya, the first priest appointed to offer worship at Monastry, constructed at the place where Sri Parankusa Ramanuja attained Samadhi alive.
1.2. Year: The opening lines of the work indicate that the work was composed in 'Anandanama' year, in Sravana month on SuklaNavami. With the help of "An Indian Ephemeris" (A.D.1800 To A.D. 2000) the date, month & year in Christian era is calculated as 20th August 1961 A.D. which is Sunday. This work might have been composed in the year 1961 A.D.
1.3. Place: "Surivijaya" a historical prose work narrates the life sketches of nobles, residents of Surapura Samsthanam. Surapura Samsthanam was one of the smaller principalities of Andhra Pradesh state. It belonged to Nizam Kingdom. Surapura Samsthanam is situated in between two rivers the Krishna and the Bhima.
It was known as Sorapuram, Solapur and Surapuram. At present, the historical place has become a part of Bijapur District, Karnataka. The chiefs of Surapuram belonged to Kosal vamsa. Kosalanatha was one of the ancestors of the Surapuram. Hence their family is regarded as Kosalavamsa. Dr.V. Raghavan, based on 'a Telugu Khaifiyat" "Surapura Rajula vamsavall", wrote the history of Surapura Samsthan. This Telugu Khaifiyat mentions that Surapuram Chiefs are the descendants of Guha, a devotee of Lord Sri Rama. Their main occupation was hunting. In regional language these are called "Bedara". They migrated from Ratnagiri of Mysore, and southern part of Maharashtra. The chiefs are regarded as Naiks.
2. Historical and political data of Surivijaya: Surivijaya refers to some historical names and incidents and hence deserves to be mentioned as a historical work in the true sense. This work furnishes a fund of information regarding history, geography, religion, Sanskrit literates and such other topics of 18th century of Deccan region. The author introduces in his work, some historical personages governing different smaller principalities like Raghava Pami Naik (1752-1773 A.D) and Devendra Venkatapathi Bhupala (1773-1802 A.D.), Baji Rao Peshwa II of Poona and Somabhupala II (1762-1793).
2.1. History of Surapura Sansthan Veerabommi Nalk was the ancestor of this Sansthan. He held the position of the Saradesimukhi and was admired by the contemporary rulers. Surapuram chiefs rendered their services to Golconda and Bijapur Padusa and also a desai of Mudugalla was defeated by Kallappa Chinna Hanuma Naik; Thence forth Baharl is added to the family name a mark of victory. They even revolted against Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. The Surapuram chiefs were sub ordinate kings of Maharashtra rulers. When Peetambara Pedanaik Bhoopala came to the rule, the Sansthan began to pay tax to Nizam Sulthanate. Pami Naik, the son of Peethambara pedanaik, in 1713 A.D. at the foot hills of Hasnapur established Surapuram and made it capital city.
Pami Naik (1) who ruled Surapura Samsthanam in between 1678-1688 A.D. making Sahapuram as capital, found an idol of Lord Gopala Krishna. He wished to be initiated into Vaishnavism. Sankhavaram Srinivasacharyulu a Vaishnava monk from Anegondi (a place) initiated Paminaik into vishnavism. Pami Naik (II) who ascended the throne in 1752 A.D., was also desirous of initiation into Vaishanvism. He invited two Vaishnavaite brothers Annayarya and Chinnayya alias Srinivasarya. These two brothers, hailed from Auku Sima near Gutti, located at the southern bank of Tungabhadra, settled at Surapuram between 1760 and 1766 A.D., is the conclusion of Dr.V. Raghavan.
Pami Naik died in 1773 A.D. Venkatappa or VenkataNaik, son of Pami Naik (II) and Timmamba, became the chief of Surapuram. He was the 22nd ruler among the Surapuram chiefs. Venkata Naik ruled this smaller principality for 28 years and died in 1803 A.D. The literary works of Immanadi Annayarya, Immanadi Srinivasarya and Mummadi Venkatacarya, eulogise VenkataNaik, the son of Pami Naik. Hence it is ascertained that Venkata Naik, the son of Pami Naik and the one, eulogized by Annayarya and Srinivasarya is one and the same.
2.2. Venkatappa Naik - An able administrator: Venkatappa Naik, one of the main characters in Surivijaya, was known for his administrative abilities. Hence Balawanth Bahiri, Rohbhajang. Mujaharddula, Babaram Mulk Bahadoor etc., titles were conferred upon Venkatappa Naik by Nizam Ali Khan. Under his able administration Surapuram attained fame. He expanded Surapura Samsthan by including Devagirl, belonged to his maternal uncle.