[1][2] Given the resources at his disposal as the Gandikota commandant, Erra was in a strong position to influence the affairs of Vijayanagara.
[7] A historian, Y. Sriramamurthy, stated the following about the role played by Erra in assisting Rama Raya: But for the assistance given by Yara [Erra] Timmanayudu, Ramaraya might not have succeeded in destroying Salakaraju Tirumala and enthroning his own nominee Sadasiva Raya.
Indirectly, Yara [Erra] Timmanayudu contributed his [might] in laying the foundations for the meteoric rise of Ramaraya in particular and of the Araviti family in general.
[8] Since in the Vijayanagara Empire, the governors, commandants of forts, and amarnayakas could mint their own coins, Erra Timmanayudu did just that and circulated them in his fiefdom.
[9] He also made improvements to the Chintala Venkataramana Temple, which was built by his father, and added paintings using the large amount of money and jewels that he received from Rama Raya as gifts.