Timmarusu

Saluva Timmarusu or simply Timmarasu was Prime minister of Krishna Deva Raya. He had also served as prime minister under Viranarasimha Raya. He belonged to a Telugu Niyogi Brahmin family. Timmarasa was responsible for the coronation of Krishnadevaraya. Records of Portuguese traveller Fernao Nuniz suggest that Vira Narasimha, while on his death bed ordered Timmarasa to blind his half brother Krishnadevaraya to ensure that his own minor son of eight years would become king of the empire. Timmarasa instead presented the king with a pair of she-goat eyes in order to satisfy the wish of the dying king. This way Timmarasa ensured that Krishnadevaraya became the successor. However, K. A. N. Sastri believes that there is nothing to suggest anything but a friendly relationship between the two half-brothers.

In 1524, Krishnadevaraya crowned his minor son Yuvaraja. A few months later the prince took ill and died of poisoning. Accusing Timmarusu for this crime, Krishnadevaraya had the entire family of the ministers blinded. It is said the King later released Timmarusu, on knowing that the conspiracy to kill his own son was hatched by Gajapathis of Orissa. The Gajapathis did not want their princess Jaganmohini to wed Krishadevaraya, as they believed he was not of pure blue blood. The Gajapathis belong to great Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty) clan of Orissa. But had to agree to this marriage, owing to Krishnadevaraya's victory over Gajapathis. Krishanadevaraya's parents, Narasa Nayaka a chieftain from Dakshina Kannada and Nagaladevi a chieftain's daughter from Uttara Kannada, were not from the royal family of Vijayanagara (Sangama Dynasty). The king deplored and repented with Timmarusu, later on. On being released, Timmarusu spent the rest of his life in Tirupathi. He refused to take any support from his former King. He died a death in poverty.

In film

Mahamantri Timmarusu (Telugu: మహామంత్రి తిమ్మరుసు) is a 1962 Telugu historical drama directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Gummadi Venkateswara Rao played the key role of Prime Minister Timmarusu. The film won a silver medal at the National Film Awards in 1962. Mahamantri Timmarasu had two Nephews,They got married with timmarasu two daughters after that Timmarasu has given some portion of Land to his nephews 1)(Bollapally),Vinukonda Taluka,Guntur Dist 2)Boppudi Chilakuraripet(Mandal),Guntur Dist

References

• K. A. Nilakanta Sastry, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002)
• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, Concise history of Karnataka, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)