Epic of Katamaraju
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The Katamaraju epic is often referred to as a ballad cycle by Telugu scholars. It is comprised of a number of episodes which are often sung independently. During the annual ceremonies honoring the lives of the deified heroes of the epic, large numbers of people of the Shepherd (Kuruba) caste and kommavaru caste, gather on the banks of the Palar River where the great battle took place and perform a ritual dramatization in connection with the recitation of the epic.
[edit] The Epic
The epic recounts the story of Katamaraju, a Yadava king who fought a battle with Nalla Siddi, the king of Nellore, on the banks of the Palar River in the Thirteenth Century. Katamaraju, due to severe drought conditions, had migrated with his people to the fertile lands of Nellore. There he entered a covenant with the king of Nellore for grazing his cattle and sheep. Due to a misunderstanding, the covenant was broken and resulted in a tremendous battle in which many of the great heroes on both sides lost their lives.
