Allasani Peddana: Difference between revisions
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The theme for his ''Manu Charitra'' is a short story from [[Markandeya Purana]]. It is about second ''Manu'' of fourteen manus (fathers of mankind societies according to [[Hindu]] Siddhanta ), translated into Telugu from Sanskrit by [[Marana]] (1291–1323),<ref>{{cite web |
The theme for his ''Manu Charitra'' is a short story from [[Markandeya Purana]]. It is about second ''Manu'' of fourteen manus (fathers of mankind societies according to [[Hindu]] Siddhanta ), translated into Telugu from Sanskrit by [[Marana]] (1291–1323), |
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<ref>{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/telugu/classical/prabandha/peddana/peddana1.html }}</ref> disciple of [[Tikkana]]. The original story was around 150 poems and Peddana extended into six chapters with 600 poems by adding fiction and descriptions. |
| url = http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/telugu/classical/prabandha/peddana/peddana1.html }}</ref> disciple of [[Tikkana]]. The original story was around 150 poems and Peddana extended into six chapters with 600 poems by adding fiction and descriptions. |
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His work was treated as one of the [[Pancha Kavyas]], the five best works in Telugu. Peddana used a mix of words from Telugu and [[Sanskrit]] and a small number of Kannada words. |
His work was treated as one of the [[Pancha Kavyas]], the five best works in Telugu. Peddana used a mix of words from Telugu and [[Sanskrit]] and a small number of Kannada words. |
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It is famous not only for the beauty of the description but also for the wonderful characterization and dramatization. Because of its fame, it has also been the subject of parody and some negative criticism. Since the story line goes against the established orthodox views of the last thousand years, some eminent scholars, e.g., kASeeBhaTTa brahmayya SAstri dubbed the book as one of low moral standing. Some other eminent scholars of prosady (alankAra SAstram) have been of the view, that the book failed the test of "rasa pOShaNa." This is because of the perceived "rasa Bhangam" in the varUthinee pravara vRttAntam. Even so, the book and the episode of pravara have captivated the imagination of telugu people for several centuries. |
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==Awards and Titles== |
==Awards and Titles== |
Revision as of 09:21, 23 August 2016
Allasani Peddana (15th and 16th centuries CE) was a famous Telugu poet[1] and was ranked as the foremost of the Ashtadiggajalu, the title for the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Biography
Peddana was a native of Somandepalli near Anantapur.[2] He later moved Peddanapadu, a small village located at 5 km from Yerraguntla on Yerraguntla-Vempalli road in Kadapa District, which is an Agraharam given by Krishnadevaraya. Alternative sources say his birthplace as Dornala village near the present day Srisailam.[3] Still there are few remains around the village which strongly indicates about his presence in that area. He was a nandavarika Brahmin.[4] First he was a smartha and then converted to vaishnavam by his guru sathakopa yati.
He wrote the first major Prabandha, a form of fictional poetry in Telugu, and for this reason, he is revered as Andhra Kavita Pitamaha (literally the grand father of Telugu poetry). It is believed that he was also a minister in the king's court and is hence sometimes referred as Peddanaamaatya (Sandhi: Peddana + Amaatya = Peddana, the minister). He dedicated his works to king Krishnadevaraya.
Lores
- The emperor himself lifted and bore the weight of the palanquin in which Peddana was seated.
- He was bestowed with Kanakabhisheka by the king
- He was the only poet who had the privilege of mounting the royal elephants
- On the demise of Sri Krishna Deva Raya the poet Peddana expressed his profound sorrows telling that " Atti Krishna Rayala thoti divikegaleka brathiki yundithi jeevatchavamba naguchu " Meaning I became a living dead by not going to heaven along with Sri Krishna Deva Raya
- It is said that, soon after the Emperor kRShNa rAya’s death, the Gajapati King with a huge army to occupy Vijayanagara kingdom hoping to easily defeat the new successor before he could settle to reign. Peddana composed and sent him a poem with stinging criticism about his timing and comparing his 'pauruSham' (vallour) to that of a common mongrel. The gajapati king felt very ashamed and withdrew!
Works
His famous work was Swaarochisha Manu Sambhavam (also known as Manu Charitra). This work is the development of an episode in Markandeya Puranam relating to the birth of Svarochishamanu, who is one of the fourteen Manus. It deals with the birth of the second of the fourteen manus. these were the archetypal rulers of great eons and patriarchs who were considered to be the original fathers of mankind. His direct rule extended over jambU dveepam, (the landmass of Eurasia). He was appointed by Lord of the Cosmos mahAviShNu. After each of the Manu's reign, get aiKya (merge) with the Lord VishNu. The English word ‘man’ and the Sanskrit words ‘mAnava’ & ‘manuShya’ are closely related to the word ‘manu’ (a descendent of ‘manu’ is man or ‘mAnava’). The present Eon belongs to vaiVasvata (the seventh manu). The manu in this book was called svArOci.
Although the title of the KAvya is about svArOci, the entire kAvya is actually about his grandparents’ and his father svarOci’s exploits. Pravarakhyudu is a pious Brahmin youth who goes to Himalayas for sight seeing. In Himalayas Varudhini, a Gandharva girl falls in love with him, but Pravarakhya rejects her love as he is already married. Knowing this a Gandharva youth who was earlier rejected by Varudhini assumes the form of Pravarakhya and succeeds to win her love. To them is born Svarochi, the father of SvArochishamanu. [5]
Some of Allasani Peddanna's other famous works such as Harikathaasaaramu are untraceable now. *The Great king Krishna Devarayalu ornamented Peddana's leg with a big golden bangle/bracelet called " GANDA PENDERAM " as a mark of excellent poetry
Style
The theme for his Manu Charitra is a short story from Markandeya Purana. It is about second Manu of fourteen manus (fathers of mankind societies according to Hindu Siddhanta ), translated into Telugu from Sanskrit by Marana (1291–1323), [6] disciple of Tikkana. The original story was around 150 poems and Peddana extended into six chapters with 600 poems by adding fiction and descriptions. His work was treated as one of the Pancha Kavyas, the five best works in Telugu. Peddana used a mix of words from Telugu and Sanskrit and a small number of Kannada words.
It is famous not only for the beauty of the description but also for the wonderful characterization and dramatization. Because of its fame, it has also been the subject of parody and some negative criticism. Since the story line goes against the established orthodox views of the last thousand years, some eminent scholars, e.g., kASeeBhaTTa brahmayya SAstri dubbed the book as one of low moral standing. Some other eminent scholars of prosady (alankAra SAstram) have been of the view, that the book failed the test of "rasa pOShaNa." This is because of the perceived "rasa Bhangam" in the varUthinee pravara vRttAntam. Even so, the book and the episode of pravara have captivated the imagination of telugu people for several centuries.
Awards and Titles
- He was honoured with Title Andhra Kavita Pitamaha by Krishnadevaraya.
- His style of poetry was described as 'Allasani Vani Allika Jigi Bigi'
See also
- Srinatha, the first Telugu Prabandha writer.
References
- ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 109. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
- ^ Adluri, Seshu Madhava Rao (1998). "aShTadiggajamulu (Introduction)". mun.ca.
- ^ "Allasani Peddana (Peddi Reddy)". vedapanditulu.net.
- ^ peethika to manucharitra by Vavilla Ramaswamy Printing Press Madras
- ^ P.T, Raju; Rao. A Telugu Literature. India: Onal Book House.
- ^ Adluri, Seshu Madhava Rao (1998). "allasAni peddana". mun.ca.
Notes
- A Great Compilation of Telugu poets / poetesses
- Peddana Allasani
- Peddana style
- K.A. Nilakanta Sastry, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002) ISBN 0-19-560686-8
- Golden age of Telugu Literature
- Literary activity in Vijayanagara Empire