Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (Template:Fl.). His parents were Kasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a court poet of the then-Raja of Challapalli, Yarlagadda Ankineedu Prasad I (r. 1792-1819) of the Challapalli Samasthanam and possibly of his father as well.[1] Purushottama Kavi is recognized for composing literary works in Telugu consisting of one hundred poetic stanzas, known as satakams.[2]
Works
Kasula Purushottama Kavi is known for composing the Andhra Nayaka Satakam on Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnu, apparently when the temple was occupied by raiding Muslim soldiers.[3] The prominent Andhra Maha Vishnu Temple, to whose presiding deity Purushottama Kavi dedicated his satakam to, is where Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadevaraya had a dream compelling him to write the Telugu text Amuktamalyada.[1] From this satakam's refrain ('killer of false believers'), there is an indication that there was religious conflict in this period.[1] The taunting tone and upbraiding of the deity is a consistent theme of this satakam.[1] Purushottama Kavi uses three epithets to describe Andhra Mahavishnu in this satakam: 'God of many miracles,' 'darling of women,' and 'Lord of Andhra in Srikakulam.'[1] The twelfth poetic stanza (translated) of this satakam reads as follows:[4] Template:Blockquote After hearing a recital of Purushottama Kavi's satakam, the Challapalli zamindar, his patron, is said to have been moved by it and renovated the Srikakulam Andhra Vishnu Temple and restored worship there.[5] Kasula Purushottama Kavi also composed Hamsaladeevi Gopala Satakam, Manasa Bodha Satakam, Bhakta Kalpadruma Satakam, and Venugopala Satakam.[6] Around the central Circar Districts, his Manasa Bodha has also been quite popular.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Classical Telugu Poetry{{#if:Shulman|, Shulman}. Univ of California Press(2020-05-12). ISBN 978-0-520-97665-8
- ↑ History and Culture of the Andhras{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rau Vijnana Sarvaswa Sakha, Telugu University(1995). ISBN 978-81-86073-07-0
- ↑ The Body as Temple: Erotica from Telugu (2nd Century B.C. to 21st Century A.D.){{#if:Śrīnivās|, Śrīnivās}. Drusya Kala Deepika(2007)
- ↑ Classical Telugu Poetry{{#if:Shulman|, Shulman}. Univ of California Press(2020-05-12). ISBN 978-0-520-97665-8
- ↑ History of Telugu Literature{{#if:Sitapati|, Sitapati}. Sahitya Akademi(1968)
- ↑ A Thousand Laurels--Dr. Sadiq Naqvi: Studies on Medieval India with Special Reference to Deccan{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Felicitation Committee, Department of History & Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Osmania University(2005)
- ↑ Andhra nAyaka Satakamu. engr.mun.ca.