Allasani Peddana (Telugu: అల్లసాని పెద్దన) (15th and 16th centuries CE) was a famous Telugu poet and was ranked as the foremost of the Astadiggajalu the title for the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.
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Biography
Peddana was a native of Chandragiri near Tirupathi.[1] 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 birth place as Dornala village near the present day Bellari. [2] Still there are few remains around the village which strongly indicates about his presence in that area. He was a Vaishnavite.
He wrote the first major Prabandha, a form of fictional poetry in Telugu, and for this reason, he is revered as Andhra Kavithaa Pithaamahudu (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 (Etymology: 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.
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. Pravarakyudu is a pious Brahmin youth who goes to Himalayas for Tapasya. In Himalayas Varudhini, a Gandarava girl falls in love with him, but Pravarakyudu rejects her love. Knowing this a Gandarava youth who was earlier rejected by Varudhini assumes the form of Pravarakyudu and succeeds to win her love. To them is born Svarochisha, the father of Svarochishamanu. [3]
Some of his other famous works such as Harikathaasaaramu are untraceable now.
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 mythology), translated into Telugu from Sanskrit by Marana (1291-1323)[4], 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 and Urdu words.
Awards and Titles
- He was honoured with Title Andhra Kavita Pitamaha by Krishnadevaraya.
See also
- Srinatha, the first telugu Prabandha writer.
References
- ^ Adluri, Seshu Madhava Rao (1998). "aShTadiggajamulu (Introduction)". mun.ca. http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/telugu/classical/prabandha/peddana/peddana.html.
- ^ "Allasani Peddana". vedapanditulu.net. http://www.vedapanditulu.net/allasanipeddana.php.
- ^ P.T, Raju; Rao. A Telugu Literature. India: Onal Book House.
- ^ Adluri, Seshu Madhava Rao (1998). "allasAni peddana". mun.ca. http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/telugu/classical/prabandha/peddana/peddana1.html.
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
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