Christianity in Andhra and Rayalaseema Regions

CHAPTER — IV CHRISTIANITY IN ANDHRA AND RAYALASEEMA REGIONS

The present chapter deals with the growth and development of Christianity in Andhra Pradesh which is inhabited by the Telugu.* Speaking people of India, Since this is an historico-social study it is felt necessary to trace in brief the political history of the Telugus till the formation of Andhra Pradesh State. The Telugus lived in Deccan** of the Indian peninsula lying to the South of the Narmada River.1 The Deccan is usually understood to designate the South excluding Tamilnadu and Kerala.2 The Andhras or the Telugus lived at the mouth of the river Godavari and perhaps further to the North. The Andhras developed one of the greatest kingdoms in the Deccan which extended from the Western * The original meaning of the word'Telugu’ is not quite certain. Some Puranic writers derive it from ‘tre-linga’ as indicating the country between the three Shiva Lingams of Draksharama, Srisailam and Kaleshwaram. ** Deccan is the vernacular pronounciation of the Sanskrit word ‘Dakshina’ namely Southern.