History of Koti Chennaya

Koti Chennayya

History:

The story of the Koti Chennayya is the that they were the twin brothers born to Deyi Baidati who saved the life perumal ballal of padumale  though she was nearing labor. The king brought up these twins, as deyi dies during child-birth. Sayana Baida the maternal uncle takes the cusody of the kids and gives them all the education and training that fine-tunes them into young men. But everyone considers them all a threat and tries to eliminate them. Finally they take shelter at Layyanoor kingdom. In a battle between panda kingdom and Iayyanoor, Permal Ballal of Paumale trickily kills Koti. Chennaya ends his life, as he could not stand the grief of separation. But before his end Koti takes promise from all the kings they are Devanna Ballala of Iayyanoor, Temra ballal of Panja and Permal Ballal of Padumale that they shall live in peace. 

Koti and Chennayya are legendary twin heroes characterized in Tulu epic by same name, which is considered one of the two truly long epics of the  Tulu speaking people. The story of these heroes may be taken to roughly five hundred years back, when reference to Ballalads were made in the Tulu Padana. Koti Baidya  and Chennayya Baidya were born on Deye Baidethi of Billava family of historical Tulunadu in the state of Karnataka. Owing to the brothers heroic deeds, they are worshiped and remembered as protectors. They died while fighting with the enemies near Yenmoor. Memorials called Garadi has been built in the name of Koti and Chennayya all over Tulunadu. Once in a year festival called Nema is celebrated in these Garadis and village people assemble here praying for the well-being of all. The valiant twins are also known as Karnika purushas.

(Source: Wikipedia)