He was the brother of Venkata II's favourite Queen Obayamma who was bequeathed the Pulicat region and belonged to the Gobburi family of Nayaks under the Vijayanagar Empire.
The murder of the royal family created shock and horror throughout the kingdom, fomenting hatred of Jagga Raya and his group.
Both the Armies met at the Toppur, at an open field on the northern banks of River Cauvery, between Tiruchirapalli and Grand Anicut in late 1616.
Yachama Nayakadu, the Nayak of Kalahasti and Raghunatha Nayaka, the generals of the imperial camp led their forces with great discipline.
Jagga Raya was slain by Yachama, and his army was broken in the ranks which subsequently took flight by early 1617.