She took birth in the household of a man called Siddappa Shetty, who was a native merchant in the region of Kundapur, Karnataka.
During her reign of 25 years, she repelled the advance of the Mughal Army led by Aurangzeb from her military base in the kingdom of Keladi located in Sagara, Karnataka, India.
However, the Ikkeri kingdom, under the regency of Queen Chennamma who ruled on behalf of her adopted minor son Basava Raja, mounted a formidable defense.
The Ikkeri forces successfully defeated the Mysore army at Vasudhare[3] and reclaimed the territories of Kadur, Banavara, Hassan, and Belur, thereby bolstering their defenses against further incursions by Chikkadeva Raja.
[citation needed] She is considered as the epitome of the Kannada women's valor along with Belwadi Mallamma, Rani Abbakka, Onake Obavva and Kittur Chennamma.