Murari Rao occupied Tiruchirappalli at the head of a strong Maratha army after defeating and imprisoning the Carnatic general Chanda Sahib.

[1] Murari Rao was a disciple and an ardent devotee of Satyabodha Tirtha Swami of Uttaradi Matha.

[2] Murari Rao Ghorpade was the founder of the Ghati Subramanya Temple and the Makalidurga Fort.

Aligning himself with the Nawab of Savanur and the Keladi ruler, the Harapanahalli Chief faced the Nayak of Chitradurga, who was supported by the Maratha commander Siddhoji Ghorpade of Gutti.

In 1749, his successor, Kasturi Rangappa Nayak II, enlisted the aid of Murari Rao of Gutti, successfully lifting the siege of Mayakonda and restoring Chitradurga's control over the fort.