Durjaya (Andhra chieftain)

Durjaya (Sanskrit for "difficult to conquer" or "invincible")^[1] was a legendary chieftain of ancient Andhra.^[2] The identity of Durjaya remains unknown.^[3] 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.^[4][5][3] In the opinion of Bhavaraju Venkata Krishna Rao, he probably flourished in the 3rd century CE.^[6] According to Pakhal and Garavapadu inscriptions of Ganapati Deva, the famous Early Chola king Karikala Chola of the solar race was one of the predecessors of Durjaya.^[2]