Hatti family

Hatti was the former name of the village which is now called Nayakanahatti. The traditional history of this place traces the origin of the chiefs of this place to one Kotte Malla Nayaka, who was the owner of numerous flocks and herds of superior cattle, living in the forests of Karamale and Kommamale to the east of the Srishaila mountains and who, compelled by famine, moved southwards ;and ultimately settled, with 1200 head of cattle, in the neighbourhood of Hatti. He obtained permission from Vijayanagara to clear some of the forests, set up villages and bring the region under cultivation. Finally he is said to have got from the king all the country round Kondarpidurga, with the title of Paleyagar.

One of his descendants, in the third generation, separated from the main line with his cattle and founded Hatti as a residence for himself. At a later lime, Budi Malla Nayaka of this family rendered important service to Vijayaniigara, and, by victory over a jatti or wrestler, obtained the name Bhima ; he built a tank which came to be known as Bhimanakere. Afterwards, Malla Nayaka, at the request of Bomma Nayaka of Rayadurga, gave him 2,000 red and 1,000 white cattle and obtained in exchange the hill of Molakalmuru, which he fortified. But in the time of his son, it was seized by Bharamappa Nayaka of Chitradurga, who confined the Paleyagar to his original estate of Hatti. This too was shortly taken by Hire Madakeri Nayaka and annexed to Chitradurga, of which it remained a part till captured by Haidar Ali.

Hatti chiefs are referred to in two or three inscriptions in this district, dated between 1620 and 1025. In two of these, Hatti Mallappa Nayaka's son Kasturi Mallappa Nayaka is mentioned. This Mallappa Nayaka is supposed to be the Malla Nayaka mentioned above, who obtained Molakalmnru, and Kasturi Mallappa Nayaka's mother Lakshmamma Nagati is supposed to have belonged to the Chitradurga family, as her son adopted the prefix Kasturi.(157)

Courtesy : Gazetteer of India, Chitradurga District, 1967.