Bijjala : The Fore founder of the Linage 

Bijjala/Bijjaladeva was minor kalachuri clan chief. This clan was also called as Haihayas, were ancient people. These people were ruling in Eastern Malwa and the neighboring region around 8th century AD. Several branches of this family had settled in different parts of Northern India. The most famous king of this clan was Kokalla - I, who was an imperial power below modern day Madhya Pradesh. He had defeated all major kings in that era around 10th century AD. Bijjala was a federatory chief of the Kalachuri clan. He defeated Jayasimha in 1156 AD and other federatory chiefs who had revolted. He fought successfully with the Cholas, Gangas of Kalinga, the clan Inkyas and the other branch of Kalachuris of Tripuri. It is also said for a very short period he conquered Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Nepala, Turushka and Simhala. By 1157 AD Bijjala assumed imperial titles and a era may be said to have started as Kalachuri revolution now ran its course and Bijjala setup his rule in Chalukya capital Kalyani. Kalyani now is know as Basava kalyan on Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh border . The nearest town is Bidar.

Bijjala was patronising Jainism, Kolanpaka –80 KM from Hyderabad, (AP) INDIA, was said to be the alternate capital of the Bijjula. This was a very rich city covering an area of fifty Square Kilometers and a nerve center of Jainism, which had imperial patronage of the King/Emperor Bijjaladeva.It is said that Bijjaladva was known to the Jains as King Kousikadu.  Bijjula’s Prime Minister Basavaraja, a Brahmin and a great devotee of Lord Shiva, the founder of Lingayat sect was patronising Veera Sivaism. Bijjala married Akkamahadevi, the beautiful daughter of Basavaraja and over a period of time, Basavaraja became very powerful and used most of the State's finances to promote and propagate Veera Sivaism, when patronage of Jainism was at it’s peak. There seems to be a confusion about the version of Jain temples and Libraries were destroyed in the battle with Veera Shivam followers which led to the destruction of the magnificent city..... Kolampaku.

Queen Akkamahadevi was the principal Queen of Bijjaladeva. She is the daughter of Veera Shivam devotee and founder Basavaraja. Akkamadevi daughter of ordinary Brahmin devotee of Veera Shivam residing in a village near Mysore. The Jain king Kousigadu/Bijjala saw her and was impressed with her devotion, beauty and intelligence and decided to make her his Queen. He send in his Minister to propose to her parents , knowing very well her parents reluctance to marry their daughter to the King ,who is patronising Jainism. Akkamahadevi knew that King Bijjala  had already decided to marry her forcibly, if her parents reject the proposal had then convinced her parents and went to Kalyani, the imperial capital Of Bijjala along with her parents in a convoy sent by the King Bijjala for the marriage. It is believed that in some course of time she made king agree to propagate Verra Shivam and in that process her father Basavaraja, who was already a very influential  power in the palace became the all powerful Prime Minister. It is believed that the Quuen Akkamahadevi was a very pious lady and spend most of her time in Daiva Puja chanting Mallikarjuna in Anubhava Mandapam in Kalyani City. Later in her life Queen Akkamahadevi is said to have meditated in a cave near Srisailum, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple and got emerged into Srisailum Mallikarjuna Swamy. Even today Akkamahadevi writings were popular as Shiva Saranams in Karnataka State. There is a statue of her in Srisailum, which receives pujas of the devotees.

During the reign of Bijjala, his Prime Minister Basavaraja tried to spread and strengthen the base of siviate sect among the masses with state exchequer, which also had the Emperor’s blessing because of it’s Reformist Movement (Zeal for reforms like no caste system, all devotee are alike, special solicitude for the emancipation of women from the thralldom of rigid customs, etc) and was instrumental in popularising Siva worship and built temples from Orissa (cuttack) to Alampur in Andhra Pradesh. The famous Alampur temples were rebuilt during this reign and was the man who installed one crore-shiva lingams (Coti Lingalu) in Alampur (AP). This led to a prolonged and fierce battle between followers of Jainism and Siviates, which soon spread to all the regions of Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Prime Minster’s followers i.e. the Siviates were victorious after massacring the followers of Jainism and destroying great number of Jain temples, Libraries and Jain Manuscripts. It is said that Bijjala was so disappointed by these events and had retired to the forest, in favour of his son Someswara, who came to the throne in 1168 AD.