Cavelly Venkata Ramaswamie

“ Venkatachari was court pundit to Pralayakaveri, one of the Rajah's tributary to the throne of Vijayanagur; from this prince he obtained grants of land, he made ample commentaries on various difficult texts, and among them Sunklapa Surya Doya. Venkatachari obtained the name of Venkatadhweri, from the many sacrifices he performed: he was well versed in history, philosophy, and logic, and like his father Raghunadichet, he amused himself in the composition of elegant Sanscrit poetry, he was the author of Viswaguna Dursana, a work highly celebrated throughout the Southern Peninsula. ”

“ Eleswara Upadhy had another daughter, in whom he was more unfortunate, for it appears, that through some treachery she bad been married to a person of an inferior cast, by whom she had issue. When the poet discovered the real rank of his son-in-law, he revealed the whole circumstance to his daughter, who through shame put an end to her own life, and that of her children, by setting fire to the house in which they dwelt, and perishing altogether in the flames. ”

“ At an early age he studied the Vedas, and when arrived at maturity engaged himself as officiating priest to people of the first class; by this employment, however, be gained a very scanty subsistence, and his poverty made him despised. He consequently felt disgusted, and giving up his vocation, entered as a student, the college at Vaki, which is esteemed a very holy place by the Hindus, as it is situated at the source of the river Krishna. At this place he studied all the fine arts and sciences, especially poetry. ”

“ Lakshmana kept company with the public dancers, and accurately observed their various postures and motions, as described in the work called Bharata, but finding himself despised by respectable people, on account of his associating with common singers and dancers, he determined to relinquish their society, as such was derogatory to his character, and avail himself of his knowledge in poetry to compose some work deserving the regard of the learned. ”

“ The mother of Bhima, had made vows to propitiate the deity, that her son might become a wise and enlightened man, and it is said, that be acquired perfect knowledge of languages with very little application, and his father the God Siva, had pronounced a blessing, that whatever he expressed by word of mouth, should come to pass. ”

“ This poet was a native of a town named Mungunda which is situated in the Telugu country, he was the son of Ramachandra Upadhya, a bramin of the Veginad tribe—and was contemporary with Akbar Sha—Jaganath did not learn a word of the Sanscrit language till he was past twelve years of age, when he went to the house of his brother-in-law and studied poetry: by indefatigable exertions, he acquired a competent knowledge of the learned languages, and became a poet of no small talent. ”

“ Potiah was the son of Singiah, and had three brothers, whose names are Singiah, Komaraswami, aod Anamiah. He studied the Telugu language in his infancy, and as at the age of eighteen, he was a perfect master of the dialect; he learnt Sanscrit and read through several poems, such as Magha, Bohoja, Champu,and many others. In due time, he obtained a complete knowledge of Sanscrit, and in the year of Salivahana, 1388, he composed a voluminous work, which he entitled "Prasunga Ratna Vali" which being interpreted means,"a necklace of the gems of discourse." ”

“ Stung to the quick at the reproach and mockery of a woman, Paddi Bhat hastened out of the house, and made the best of his way to a man in the neighbourhood, who was esteemed as a prophet, and to whom the poet's elder brother, by name Mallinath ministered: he took up bis abode with this holy man for some time, and it so happened, that one day Mallinath went home, and left his brother with the prophet before mentioned, who it is said, was taken suddenly ill, and found the pains of death coming on him. ”

“ Satakara made some remarks when Sundareswar appeared to him as an aged bramin, and supported Dhamaja, but Satakara continuing the dispute, Iswar manifested himself and displayed his third eye, the poet was at first so struck with fear, that he started from his seat, but becoming more bold put certain polemic questions to Iswar, who grew enraged, and uttered an imprecation, that the poet should be overcome in disputation by a person of mean extraction. ”

“ As the poets of his time were greatly patronized by the Sovereigns of various provinces, Bhattu Murti chiefly confined his labours to versification in the vernacular tongue, and the harmony of his numbers were so much admired that he obtained a great many scholars, whom he made proficients in prosody. ”

“ This Poet also established a private College, where five hundred pupils were instructed in all the branches of scientific and elegant literature, especially the Sanscrit language and it is said, that, even the female members of this Poet's family, spoke that dialect as fluently as their vernacular tongue, from constantly hearing discourses in it; for Eleswara would allow no other but the learned language to be spoken even in colloquial conversation, having a sovereign contempt for every other, conceiving the same to be prohibited by the Hindu law. ”

“ Varada Charya studied Sanscrit poetry from his very infancy, and as he was possessed of a quick genius and retentive memory, the works of all the best poets were very familiar to him—His imagination and invention were so fertile, that he could compose a hundred verses in one hour, and a single day was sufficient time for him to complete a regular poem. ”

“ All the wonders performed by Bhima Kavi, however are in the mouths of all the women and children in most of the Telinga provinces, for his name is very popular, and all the wonders he performed as handed down by tradition, universally credited as real facts. Bhima Kavi died, lamented by all classes as few could exceed him in justice and charity. ”

“ Was a bramin astronomer, who lived in A S. 1050, he possessed a vigorous intellect, and his judgment has been much admired both by his contemporaries and by posterity. Although his knowledge of the Sanscrit language was not profound, yet few men had such deep insight into all the branches of physics and natural philosophy as Varaha-Mihira. ”

“ The heir and successor of Krishna Deva, Rama Roynloo shewed great kindness to our poet, who enjoyed great reputation. His works are disseminated in every province where the Telugu language is spoken and understood, and few poets have existed who gained more popularity during his life time and was esteemed by posterity than Allasani Peddana. ”

“ Andhra Kalidas travelled through various countries and translated the Sankara Vejaya into Telugu—this work is still in existence and very extensively circulated in the Telugu country.—As there was a poet of the name of Kalidas at the Court of Bhoja Raja, this poet added the word Andhra to his name and called himself Andhra Kalidas, as a distinctive appellation. ”

“ Harihara having been much obligated to Vidyaranya, and admiring his talents and worth chose him as his prime minister, and intrusted all the affairs of state to him. His leasure hours Vidyaranya devoted to the instruction of several students. By the good management of this minister Harihara enjoyed great prosperity, and had his dominious extended on all sides. Vidyaranya, after some time, made a tour round several holy places, and at last returned to Pampa, with several individuals, whom he had confuted in controversy, and who become converts to his opinions. ”

“ When he was grown up, he had not the means of defraying the expences of a wedding, and being desirous to marry, forthwith proceeded to a kinsman and implored him to get him married. By the exertions of this relation, and some other bramins, who revered the memory of his forefathers Samanat Bhatt, was recommended to the notice of a great man, who compassionated his case, furnished the means of paying the charges of the nuptials, and got him espoused to a damsel of respectability. ”

“ During the early part of his life Venkatapati was in the military service, but his turn of mind induced him to resign the profession of arms, and devote his whole time to literature. He studied grammar under the first grammarian of the age.—The abilities of Venkatapati Raja brought him the notice of the King, who invited him to his court, and retained him as one of his poets. Soon after this Venkata composed an epic poem, which be entitled Chandragada Charitra, in which all the actions of Chandragada King of the Neshidha country is described, this work Venkatapati dedicated to Kristna Roya. ”

“ Nashi became at length reconciled to life, and was resolved to devote the remainder of her years to philosophy and study: she had heard from her father, that by swallowing a large quantity of Jotishpati oil, a person will either obtain a quick genius, or die in the space of five hours ”

“ Sankarachari enjoyed all the rights of a husband with, the queen, widow of the late king: after a time however, she began to suspect that this was not her real husband, but that some adept in the art had animated her husband's corpse: she consequently gave directions that every dead body in her dominion should be immediately bornt, and her ministers and guards forthwith proceeded to put her orders into execution. ”

“ Potiah dedicated this laborious work to the God Iswar, after this, the poet established a school, where the Sanscrit and vernacular dialects were taught to numerous students. His leisure hours this poet devoted to reading and the composition of didactic pieces, which being circulated among the literati of the Telugu country, were very highly extolled for their harmony and moral tendency. Potiah derived but little increase of fortune from his works, although they were much esteemed at the Courts of different Kings and Princes. ”

“ The villains set upon Appayadekshit, but just at that moment, it is said, that a valiant hero suddenly appeared, and driving off the assassins, rescued Appayadekshit, from the danger he was in of losing his life, This circumstance having come to the knowledge of the Rajah Venkatapati, he made the poet valuable presents for his steady faith in the God Siva. ”

“ According to tradition, Pundit Roya and his wife sought a voluntary death in the river ganges. After his death, his disciples published his works in poetry, and an account of his town which they call, Pundit Roya Sataka.—It must he observed, that the foregoing account of this poet is taken from traditionary accounts handed down by his disciples and does not deserve implicit credit.— The marriage of this poet with the daughter of the Emperior of Delhi is a mere fiction or the circumstance would have been authenticated in some books of History. ”

“ Appayadekshit was the author of eighty-four books, on Theology, Rhetoric and Philosophy, among his works, the "Kuvalayanandam, (the deliglit of the Lotus) and the Prabodhachandrodaya," (Rising Moon of Genius) are very much admired, and continue to be universally read by the learned, but the others are unfortunately lost. ”

“ Appayadikshit in course of time, visited the kings of Trechinopoli, Tanjore, and Madura, who severally by their presents and favors, gave the poet very great encouragement on account of his talents and virtues, so, that being a strict observer and zealous advocate for all the forms of rituals he performed through the bounty of his patrons, numerous sacrifices on the banks of the Kaveri. ”

“ Was a king of Vidyanagar or Anagondi, and father to the princess just mentioned, he was enstalled to the throne at the death of his father Nrisimha Roya, and became renowned, both for his conquests and encouragement of literature. He was instructed in the art of Govenment by Appagi or Timmarasu, who was tutor to him during his minority. He was likewise a great conqueror, and invaded the Telugu and other countries, which he subdued by his armies. This monarch was very partial to Telugu poetry. ”

“ This poet was a religious man and dwelt in Alandi, the ancient Alakapuri, a town situated on the banks of the river Indrani, he had two brothers, one named Sophanadeo, and the other Changadeo, and a sister named Mooktaboye, they were natives of Berhampore on the banks of the Tapi river. Gnanoba entered a religious order at the age of twelve years, and after completing his education, he composed a book on philosophy entitled Graneswari in the Maharata language. ”

“ He adopted the title of his ancestors, and applied very diligently to the study of the sciences. There was not at that time any profound scholar in his native country, from whom he could obtain instruction, so after reading several poems, by which he acquired a knowledge of the Sanscrit langnage, he proceeded to Benares and studied philosophy. Bhatogi Dikshat was possessed of an ancommon fine genius, and composed an elaborate treatise on grammar, which he called "Sedhanta Kowmudi," consisting of about twelve thousand verses. ”

“ Yallaya was a native of the town of Vijayanagram, and lived in the year of Saiivahana 1390, while Virupaksha Roya was king of Anagondi, this individual was an adept in Astrology and Astronomy, to which Sciences he regularly applied from his very infancy. ”