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Telugu literature is the body of works written in the
Telugu language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language fami ...
. It consists of poems,
short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...
, novels, plays, and song lyrics, among others. There is some indication that Telugu literature dates at least to the middle of the first millennium, the first extant works are from the 11th century when the
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
was first translated to Telugu from Sanskrit by
Nannaya Nannaya ''Bhattaraka'' (sometimes spelled Nannayya or Nannaiah; ca. 11th century) was a Telugu poet and the author of the first '' Andhra Mahabharatam'', a Telugu retelling of the Sanskrit-language ''Mahabharata''. This work, which is rendere ...
. The language experienced a golden age under the patronage of the
Vijayanagara Vijayanagara () was the capital city of the historic Vijayanagara Empire. Located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, it spread over a large area and included the modern era Group of Monuments at Hampi site in Vijayanagara district, Bell ...
king-poet
Krishnadevaraya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 – 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, also known as the Karnata Empire, reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the g ...
.


Historiography

There are various sources available for information on early Telugu writers. Among these are the prologues to their poems, which followed the Sanskrit model by customarily giving a brief description of the writer, a history of the king to whom the book is dedicated, and a chronological list of the books he published. In addition, historical information is available from inscriptions that can be correlated with the poems; there are several grammars, treatises, and anthologies that provide illustrative stanzas; and there is also information available from the lives of the poets and the traditions that they followed.


Subject matter

Early Telugu literature is predominantly religious in subject matter. Poets and scholars drew most of their material from, and spent most of their time translating epics, such as the ''
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
'', the ''
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'', the '' Bhagavata'' and the '' Purāṇas'', all of which are considered to be storehouses of Indian culture. From the sixteenth century onwards, rarely known episodes from the '' Purāṇas'' would form the basis for the tradition of Telugu-language '' kavya''. Literary works are drawn from episodes of the ''Purāṇas'' under the name ''Akhyana'' or ''Khanda'' became popular along with depictions of the fortune of a single hero under the title of Charitra, Vijaya, Vilasa and Abhyudaya. Such titles are examples of what would become the most common subject matter of poetry. In the eighteenth-century, marriages of heroes under the title Parinaya, Kalyana and Vivāha became popular. Religious literature consisted of biographies of the founders of religion, their teachings, , as well as commentaries, . Traditional Hindu knowledge systems such as
Vedic astrology Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is one ...
, the (on law), grammar, ballets, moral
aphorisms An aphorism (from Ancient Greek, Greek ἀφορισμός: ''aphorismos'', denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, laconic, or memorable expression of a general truth or principle. Aphorisms are often hand ...
, and (devotional psalms) to deities within the Hindu pantheon are characteristics of more popular works of Telugu literature.


Forms

The various forms of literature found in Telugu are: * Prabandham: Stories in verse form with a tight metrical structure. These have three subtypes or sub-forms: ** Prakhyātam: Famous story. ** Utpadyam: Purely fictional story. ** Misramam: Mixed story. *
Champu Champu or Chapu-Kavya ( Devanagari: चम्पू-काव्य) is a genre of literary composition in Indian literature. The word 'Champu' means a combination of poetry and prose. A ''champu-kavya'' consists of a mixture of prose (Gadya ...
: Mixture of prose and poetry. *
Kāvya Kāvya (Devanagari: काव्य, IAST: ''kāvyá'') refers to the Sanskrit literary style used by Indian court poets flourishing between c.200 BCE and 1200 CE. This literary style, which includes both poetry and prose, is characterised by a ...
m: Poem which usually begins with a short prayer called a Prarthana, containing initial auspicious letter "Sri" which invokes the blessings of the God. The occasion and circumstances under which the work is undertaken is next stated. The subtypes of Kāvyam are: ** Padya kāvyam: Metrical poetry. ** Gadya kāvyam: Prose poetry. ** Khanda kāvyam: Short poems * Kavita:
Poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...
* Śatakam (anthology): Satakam is a literary piece of art. The name derives from Śata, which means a hundred in Sanskrit. Satakam comprises a hundred poems. Hence, a Satakam is a volume (book) of hundred poems. Satakams are usually devotional, philosophical or convey morals. * DaŚaka (anthology): Dasakam or Dashakam comprises ten poems. * Avadhānam: These involve the partial
improvisation Improvisation is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of impr ...
of poems using specific themes, metres, forms, or words.Amaresh Datta, ''The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature'', v. 1
"Avadhanam"
(Sahitya Akademi, 2006; )
*
Novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...
: ( te, Navala, italic=y) are written fictional
prose Prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows the natural flow of speech, uses a language's ordinary grammatical structures, or follows the conventions of formal academic writing. It differs from most traditional poetry, where the f ...
narrative A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travel literature, travelogue, etc.) or fictional (fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller (ge ...
s, normally longer than a short story. * Katha: A style of religious storytelling. * Nātakam: Drama. *
Naneelu Naneelu is a form of Telugu literature which contains 4 lines and a minimum of 20 letters, not exceeding 25. This form was introduced by Sahitya Akademi Award winner Professor N. Gopi. Naneelu was introduced in the year 2002 by Dr N Gopi throu ...
: Epigrams.
Ashtadiggajas Ashtadiggajas is the collective title given to the eight Telugu scholars and poets in the court of Emperor Krishnadevaraya who ruled the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 until his death in 1529. During his reign, Telugu literature and culture re ...
have written in all three of the ''Prabandham'' genres during the ''Prabandha yugam''. Telugu literature uses a unique expression in verse called
Champu Champu or Chapu-Kavya ( Devanagari: चम्पू-काव्य) is a genre of literary composition in Indian literature. The word 'Champu' means a combination of poetry and prose. A ''champu-kavya'' consists of a mixture of prose (Gadya ...
, which mixes
prose Prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows the natural flow of speech, uses a language's ordinary grammatical structures, or follows the conventions of formal academic writing. It differs from most traditional poetry, where the f ...
and poetry. Although it is the dominant literary form, there are exceptions: for example,
Tikkana Tikkana (or Tikkana Somayaji) (1205–1288) was a 13th century Telugu poet. Born into a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family during the golden age of the Kakatiya dynasty, he was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets (Kavi Trayam)" that tra ...
composed ''
Uttara Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
'' entirely in verse As Champu Kavyas and Prabandhas were beyond the comprehension of masses, new devices for the dissemination of knowledge among the people were developed in the form of the Dvipada and Sataka styles. means 'two feet'—a
couplet A couplet is a pair of successive lines of metre in poetry. A couplet usually consists of two successive lines that rhyme and have the same metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (or closed) couplet, each of the ...
— and means 'hundred'—signifying a
cento The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), also known as the Baghdad Pact and subsequently known as the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), was a military alliance of the Cold War. It was formed in 24 February 1955 by Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Tur ...
of verses). Popular include: the , and . There are some which are divided into ten groups of ten verses called which is adopted from
Prakrit The Prakrits (; sa, prākṛta; psu, 𑀧𑀸𑀉𑀤, ; pka, ) are a group of vernacular Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were used in the Indian subcontinent from around the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE. The term Prakrit is usu ...
.
Avadhanam Avadhānaṃ is a literary performance popular from the very ancient days in India. Avadhānaṃ originated as a Sanskrit literary process and is revived in modern times by poets in Telugu primarily. It involves the partial improvisation of poems ...
is a literary performance popular from the very ancient days in Sanskrit and more so in Telugu and Kannada languages. It requires a good memory and tests a person's capability of performing multiple tasks simultaneously. All the tasks are memory intensive and demand an in-depth knowledge of literature, and prosody. The number of Prucchakas can be eight (for ) or 100 () or even 1,000 (for ). A person who has successfully performed is called , one completing is a , and after performing is called .


Dwipada

A is a couplet with a specific rhyme scheme. A stanza contains two short lines, each with less than fifteen characters. Longer poems, composed of many ''dwipada'', can be composed with a "highly musical" effect. Much of the extant corpus in this form was written using the common language of the time. The form's musicality and accessibility made the form a natural fit for spreading religious messages.
Palkuriki Somanatha Palkuriki Somanatha was one of the most noted Telugu language writers of the 12th or 13th century. He was also an accomplished writer in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages and penned several classics in those languages. He was a Lingayat a follo ...
(or 'Palkurki') the first to write in this form in the 12th or 13th century. His works ''Basava Puranam'' and ''Panditaradhya Charitra'' were "immensely singable" devotional works to
Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
as Basaveshwara. Influenced by Shaivaite poets' use of dwipada, a
Vaishnavite Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
poet wrote the ''Ranganadha Ramayana'', a version of the
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
that became incredibly popular for its singability, vernacular diction, and stories not found in Valmiki's version. The form reached its apex with ''Palnati Vira Charitra,'' popularly ascribed to the 14th century poet Srinatha. By the end of the Prabandha era, the three most important Sanskrit poems had been translated into Telugu in ''dwipada:'' the
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
by Thimmaya, the
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
by Ranganadha, and the
Bhagavatam The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
by Tekumalla Ranga Sai. The form declined after the ''dwipada'' works of the early 17th century king-poet
Raghunatha Nayak Raghunatha Nayak was the most powerful king of the Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty. He was the third ruler of Thanjavur, southern India, from the Nayak dynasty. He ruled from 1600 to 1634 and is noted for the attainments of Thanjavur in literature, art, ...
of
Tanjore Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...
. ''Dwipada's'' accessibility has sometimes meant it was not a prestigious form of Telugu poetry. In the 19th century, scholar Charles Philip Brown noted "the learned despise couplets because the poems thus written are in a flowing easy style which uneducated persons read with enjoyment." Only a few writers today use it out of lingering respect its history.


Padam

''Padams'' are lyric poems usually meant to be sung, with an opening line or lines called a ''pallavi'', followed by three ''caranam'' verses, each of which is followed by the ''pallavi'' refrain. The ''padam'' is thus "a highly integrated, internally resonant syntactic and thematic unit."
Annamacharya Tallapaka Annamacharya (Telugu : తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) ( IAST: taḷḷapāka annamācārya; 22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a 15th-century Hindu saint and the ea ...
, the most famous composer of Telugu ''padams'', is said to have composed a ''padam'' a day for the god of the
Tirupati Tirupati () is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirupati district. The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple and other historic temples and is refe ...
temple,
Venkateshwara Venkateswara, also known by various other names, is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara is the presiding deity of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, located in Tirupati, Sri Balaji District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Etymology Venkatesw ...
. His poems, of which 13,000 survive on copper plates stored in the temple vaults, deal with the "infinite varieties and nuances of the god’s love life" and "his sense of himself as an agonized, turbulent human being in relation to the god he worships".


Chatu

''Chatus'' (meaning "charming utterance") are remembered poems passed on by recitation. In premodern South India, literate people recited to each other as a social pastime. Most of these poems have memorable stories that go along with them that explain and contextualize them. They have passed through a lively oral tradition for hundreds of years, and been anthologized since the 19th century by scholars like
Veturi Prabhakara Sastri Veturi Prabhakara Sastri (7 February 1888 – 29 August 1950) was a Sanskrit and Telugu scholar, editor, translator and historian. He was born in the town of Pedakallepalli in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. He was known for decipheri ...
. Many ''chatus'' are attributed to Srinatha,
Tenali Rama Tenali Ramakrishna (born Garlapati Ramakrishna; also known as Tenali Rama) was an Indian poet, scholar, thinker and a special advisor in the court of the Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya, who ruled from C.E. 1509 to 1529. He was a Telugu poet ...
lingadu, and other famous poets. These attributions, most of which are unverifiable, serve to make both mythologize these poets and judge their relative merit. Once made legends, they're free to interact anachronistically in ''chatus''. Poets from different eras meet, exchange poems, and critique each other. In sum, ''chatus,'' "moving from gnomic advice to metalinguistic criticism, through the domains of desire, social commentary, the articulation of cultural values, and critical taste, these interlocking stanzas embody an entire education, an expressive vision of life and poetry."


Shatakamu

A ''shatakamu'' literally means "an anthology of a hundred poems", but the number is usually somewhat higher, often an auspicious number like 108. The anthology is meant to be taken together. A list of notable such anthologies: * Vemana Satakam * Sumathi Satakam * Sri Kalahastiswara Satakam * Dasarathi Satakam * Bhaskara Satakam * Kumara Satakam * Narasimha Satakam *
Sarveswara Satakam Sarveswara Satakam (Telugu language, Telugu: సర్వేశ్వర శతకము) is Shaiva Bhakti Satakam, a collection of Telugu poems written by Yathavakkula Annamayya. He dedicated it to Lord Mallikarjuna of Srisailam. It was written ...
* Kumara Satakam * Kumari Satakam *
Andhra Nayaka Satakam Andhra Vishnu, better known as Srikakula Mahavishnu statue, was set up in Andhra in a pre-existing older temple. The previous deistic form worshiped in the temple is unknown. Āndhra Vishnu temple The deity of the temple is known as ''Andhr ...
* Sri Kishna Satakam * Bharthruhari Neethi Satakam * Bharthruhari Vyragya Satakam * Bharthruhari Srungara Satakam * Daksharama Bhimeswara Sathakam


Poetics

The or is considered the highest form of verse. The essentials of such a composition according to the Telugu poetic theory are: * Śaili (style): The words chosen are neither soft nor very musical but ('dignified'); ('sweetness'); ('grace and delicacy'); ('fragrance'); and symphony. Vulgar language () is avoided. * (mould): Refers to the embodiment of ideas in language, and the nature and texture of the language employed. There are three types of : ** (wine or grape): is a crystal clear style where everything is seen through a transparent medium. Mostly
Nannayya Nannaya ''Bhattaraka'' (sometimes spelled Nannayya or Nannaiah; ca. 11th century) was a Telugu poet and the author of the first '' Andhra Mahabharatam'', a Telugu retelling of the Sanskrit-language ''Mahabharata''. This work, which is rendered ...
and Karunasri use this mould. ** (plantain): is a complex because the soft skin has to peeled to reach the core of the subject. Mostly Tikkana Somayaji uses this mould. ** (coconut): is the most difficult mould to employ because one has to break the rind to understand the idea. of
Krishnadevaraya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 – 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, also known as the Karnata Empire, reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the g ...
is cast in this . * (aesthetic flavor): is the heart and soul of Telugu poetry. A
sutra ''Sutra'' ( sa, सूत्र, translit=sūtra, translit-std=IAST, translation=string, thread)Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aph ...
m, or aphorism, , explains that the soul of a sentence is the . There are nine, known as the . A perfect kavyam uses all nine of these, namely: ** (love) ** (comic) ** (sympathy) ** (horror) ** (fear) ** (disgust) ** (heroic) ** (wonder) ** (peace) * (ornamentation). There are:


History


Early writers


The Pre-Nannayya Period (before 1020 AD)

In the earliest period, Telugu literature existed in the form of inscriptions, precisely from 575 AD on-wards. The 6th- or 7th-century
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
text ''
Janashrayi-Chhandovichiti ''Janashrayi-Chhandovichiti'' (IAST: ''Jānāśrayī Chandoviciti'', also known as ''Janāśraya-chandas'') is a 6th or 7th century Sanskrit-language work on prosody. The text was considered a lost work, until its fragments were discovered in the 2 ...
'' (or ''Janāśraya-chandas'') deals with the
metres The metre (British spelling) or meter (American spelling; see spelling differences) (from the French unit , from the Greek noun , "measure"), symbol m, is the primary unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), though its prefi ...
used in Telugu, including some metres that are not found in
Sanskrit prosody Sanskrit prosody or Chandas refers to one of the six Vedangas, or limbs of Vedic studies.James Lochtefeld (2002), "Chandas" in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1: A-M, Rosen Publishing, , page 140 It is the study of poetic metr ...
. This indicates that Telugu poetry existed during or around the 6th century.


Malliya Rechana

Malliya Rechana Malliya Rechana was a Telugu language poet and writer, who lived around 940 CE, in present-day Vemulawada, Telangana region of India. He has written the first Telugu prosody ('' chandassu'') book called Kavijanasrayam. The most antique referen ...
(940 CE) composed the first Telugu poetic prosody book Kavijanasrayam (pre-Nannayya chandassu) around 940 AD. This was a popular one and referred by many poets. There seems to be even an earlier prosody book by Rechana's guru Vaadindra Chudamani which is not available. Veturi Prabhakara Sastry in 1900s mentioned the existence of ''Pre-Nannayya Chandassu'' in Raja Raja Narendra Pattabhisheka Sanchika. Accurate dating of this piece of literature happened after the 1980s discoveries in Karimnagar.


The Age of the Purāṇas (1020–1400 CE)

This is the period of
Kavi Trayam Kavitrayam (Telugu: కవిత్రయం) is a Telugu expression for trinity of poets. Kavitrayam popularly refers to the poets who translated the great epic Mahabharata into Telugu. The group/trinity consists of Nannayya, Tikkana and Yerrapr ...
or Trinity of Poets.
Nannayya Nannaya ''Bhattaraka'' (sometimes spelled Nannayya or Nannaiah; ca. 11th century) was a Telugu poet and the author of the first '' Andhra Mahabharatam'', a Telugu retelling of the Sanskrit-language ''Mahabharata''. This work, which is rendered ...
,
Tikkana Tikkana (or Tikkana Somayaji) (1205–1288) was a 13th century Telugu poet. Born into a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family during the golden age of the Kakatiya dynasty, he was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets (Kavi Trayam)" that tra ...
and
Yerrapragada Yarrapragada or Erranna was a Telugu poet in the court of King Prolaya Vema Reddy (1325–1353). The surname of Erranna was Yerrapragada or Yerrana, which are epithets of the fair-skinned Lord Skanda in the Telugu language, but became a ...
(or Errana) are known as the Kavi Trayam.


Nannaya Bhattarakudu, the Adi Kavi

The '' Andhra mahabharatam'' of
Nannayya Nannaya ''Bhattaraka'' (sometimes spelled Nannayya or Nannaiah; ca. 11th century) was a Telugu poet and the author of the first '' Andhra Mahabharatam'', a Telugu retelling of the Sanskrit-language ''Mahabharata''. This work, which is rendered ...
Bhattarakudu ( te, నన్నయ; 1022–1063 CE)), is generally regarded as the first Telugu literary composition (). Although there is evidence of Telugu literature before Nannaya, he is given the epithet ('the first poet'). Nannaya was the first to establish a formal grammar of written Telugu. This grammar followed the patterns which existed in grammatical treatises like
Aṣṭādhyāyī The (Devanagari अष्टाध्यायी) is a grammar that describes a form of an early Indo-Aryan language: Sanskrit. Authored by Sanskrit philologist and scholar Pāṇini and dated to around 500 BCE, it describes the language as cu ...
and
Pāṇini , era = ;;6th–5th century BCE , region = Indian philosophy , main_interests = Grammar, linguistics , notable_works = ' (Sanskrit#Classical Sanskrit, Classical Sanskrit) , influenced= , notable_ideas=Descript ...
(Vālmīkivyākaranam). However, unlike the Pāṇini, Nannayya divided his work into five chapters, covering samjnā,
sandhi Sandhi ( sa, सन्धि ' , "joining") is a cover term for a wide variety of sound changes that occur at morpheme or word boundaries. Examples include fusion of sounds across word boundaries and the alteration of one sound depending on near ...
, ajanta,
halanta Virama ( ्) is a Sanskrit phonological concept to suppress the inherent vowel that otherwise occurs with every consonant letter, commonly used as a generic term for a codepoint in Unicode, representing either # halanta, hasanta or explicit virā ...
and kriya. Nannaya completed the first two chapters and a part of the third chapter of the ''
Mahābhārata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'' epic, which is rendered in the
Champu Champu or Chapu-Kavya ( Devanagari: चम्पू-काव्य) is a genre of literary composition in Indian literature. The word 'Champu' means a combination of poetry and prose. A ''champu-kavya'' consists of a mixture of prose (Gadya ...
style.


Tikkana Somayaji

Nannaya's ''Andhra Mahabharatam'' was almost completed by Tikkana Somayaji ( te, తిక్కన సోమయాజి; 1205–1288 CE) who wrote chapters 4 to 18.


Errapragada

Errapragada ( te, ఎర్రాప్రగడ) or
Yerrapragada Yarrapragada or Erranna was a Telugu poet in the court of King Prolaya Vema Reddy (1325–1353). The surname of Erranna was Yerrapragada or Yerrana, which are epithets of the fair-skinned Lord Skanda in the Telugu language, but became a ...
) who lived in the 14th century, finished the epic by completing the third chapter. He mimics Nannaya's style in the beginning, slowly changes tempo and finishes the chapter in the writing style of Tikkana. These three writers – Nannaya, Tikkana and Yerrapragada – are known as the ("three great poets") of Telugu. Other translations such as the , by the disciple of
Tikkana Somayaji Tikkana (or Tikkana Somayaji) (1205–1288) was a 13th century Telugu poet. Born into a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family during the golden age of the Kakatiya dynasty, he was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets (Kavi Trayam)" that tra ...
, Marana; the , by
Ketana Mula-ghatika Ketana (c. 1220-1260) was a Telugu language poet and writer from southern India. He was a disciple of the poet Tikkana, and wrote multiple works under Tikkana's sponsorship. Works Ketana wrote the following works: * ''Dasha-kuma ...
; and
Yerrapragada Yarrapragada or Erranna was a Telugu poet in the court of King Prolaya Vema Reddy (1325–1353). The surname of Erranna was Yerrapragada or Yerrana, which are epithets of the fair-skinned Lord Skanda in the Telugu language, but became a ...
's followed. Many scientific works, like by
Pavuluri Mallana Pavuluri Mallana was an Indian mathematician of the 11th or early 12th century CE from present day Andhra Pradesh. Some historians consider him to be a contemporary of the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra (1022–1063 CE), while others plac ...
and by Eluganti Peddana, were written in the 12th century.


Baddena Bhupala

''Sumati Shatakam'', which is a ''neeti'' ("moral"), is one of the most famous Telugu Shatakams. Shatakam is composed of more than a 100 ''padyalu'' (poems). According to many literary critics ''Sumati Shatakam'' was composed by Baddena Bhupaludu ( te, బద్దెన భూపాల; 1220–1280 CE). He was also known as Bhadra Bhupala. He was a
Chola The Chola dynasty was a Tamils, Tamil thalassocratic Tamil Dynasties, empire of southern India and one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated ...
prince and a vassal under the
Kakatiya The Kakatiya dynasty (IAST: Kākatīya) was an Indian dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of eastern Karnataka and southern Odisha between 12th and 14th centuries. Th ...
empress
Rani Rudrama Devi Rudrama Devi, also Maharani Rudramma Devi, was a queen of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau from 1263 to 1289 (or 1295) until her death. She was among the women to rule as monarchs in India and promoted a male image in order to do s ...
, and a pupil of Tikkana. If we assume that the ''Sumati Shatakam'' was indeed written by Baddena, it would rank as one of the earliest Shatakams in Telugu along with the ''Vrushadhipa Satakam'' of
Palkuriki Somanatha Palkuriki Somanatha was one of the most noted Telugu language writers of the 12th or 13th century. He was also an accomplished writer in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages and penned several classics in those languages. He was a Lingayat a follo ...
and the ''Sarveswara Satakam'' of Yathavakkula Annamayya. The ''Sumatee Shatakam'' is also one of the earliest Telugu works to be translated into a European language, as C. P. Brown rendered it in English in the 1840s.


The Prabandha Period (1400–1600 CE)


Srinatha

Srinatha ( te, శ్రీనాథుడు) (1365–1441) popularised the ''Prabandha'' style of composition. He was a minister in the court of Pedakomati Vemareddy of Kondaveedu and wrote ''Salivahana Saptasati'', ''Shivaratri Mahatyam'', ''Harivilasa'', ''Bhimakanda'', ''Kashi khandam'', ''Shringara Naishadham'', ''Palanati Veera charitra'', '' Dhananjaya Vijayam'', ''Sringara Dipika''. These works were concerned with history and mythology. Srinatha's ''Srungara Naishadhamu'' is a well-known example of the form. Srinatha was widely regarded as the ''Kavi Sarvabhowma'' ("the emperor among poets").


Vemana

Kumaragiri Vema Reddy ( te, వేమన), popularly known as Yogi Vemana, was a 14th-century Telugu poet. His poems were written in the popular vernacular of Telugu, and are known for their use of simple language and native idioms. His poems discuss the subjects of
Yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
, wisdom and morality. There is no consensus among scholars about the period in which Vemana lived. C.P. Brown, known for his research on Vemana, estimates the year of birth to be the year 1352 based on some of his verses. His poems are four lines in length. The fourth line is, in the majority of the cases, the chorus ''Vishwadhabhirama Vinura Vema'' – he thus conveyed his message with three small lines written in a simple vernacular. He traveled widely across south India, acquiring popularity as a poet and Yogi. So high was the regard for Vemana that a popular Telugu saying goes 'Vemana's word is the word of the
Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...
'. He is celebrated for his style of ''Chaatu padyam'', a poem with a hidden meaning. Many lines of Vemana's poems are now colloquial phrases of the Telugu language. They end with the signature line ''Vishwadhaabhi Raama, Vinura Vema'', literally ''Beloved of Vishwadha, listen Vema''. There are many interpretations of what the last line signifies.


Bammera Potanaamatya

Bammera Potana Bammera Pothana (Telugu: బమ్మెర పోతన) (1450–1510) was a Telugu Shaiva poet best known for his translation of the Srimad Bhaagavatam from Sanskrit to Telugu. He was a Telugu and Sanskrit Scholar. His work, Srimad Bhagavata ...
amatya ( te, బమ్మెర పోతన) (1450–1510) is best known for his translation of the ''
Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
'' from Sanskrit to Telugu. His work, ''Andhra Maha Bhagavatamu''. He was born into a Brahmin family and was considered to be a ''Sahaja Kavi'' ("natural poet") who needed no teacher. He wrote ''Bhogini Dandakam'' a poem praising king Singa Bhoopala's consort danseuse, Bhogini, while young. This is the earliest available Telugu ''Dandaka'' (a rhapsody which uses the same gana or foot throughout). His second work was ''Virabhadra Vijayamu'' which describes the adventures of
Virabhadra Virabhadra (), also rendered Veerabhadra, Veerabathira, and Veerabathiran, is a fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva. He is created by the wrath of Shiva, when the deity hurls a lock of his matted hair upon the ground, upon hearing of the self- ...
, son of
Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
. As a young man, he was a devotee of Shiva and also
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
and was more interested in salvation, from which came the inspiration to translate the ''Bhagavata Purāṇas''.


Annamacharya

Tallapaka
Annamacharya Tallapaka Annamacharya (Telugu : తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) ( IAST: taḷḷapāka annamācārya; 22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a 15th-century Hindu saint and the ea ...
(or Annamayya) ( te, శ్రీ తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) (9 May 1408 – 23 February 1503) is known as the ''Pada-kavita Pitaamaha'' of the Telugu language. He was born to a Vaidiki Brahmin family and his works are considered to have dominated and influenced the structure of
Carnatic music Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...
compositions. Annamacharya is said to have composed as many as 32,000 sankeertanas (songs) on Bhagwaan Govinda Venkateswara, of which only about 12,000 are available today. His keertana compositions are based on the
Vishishtadvaita Vishishtadvaita (IAST '; sa, विशिष्टाद्वैत) is one of the most popular schools of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. Vedanta literally means the in depth meaning ''of the Vedas.'' ''Vishisht Advaita'' (literall ...
school of thought. Annamayya was educated in this system of
Ramanuja Ramanuja (Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmanuja; 1017 CE – 1137 CE; ; ), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents o ...
by Sri Satagopa Yateendra of the Ahobila matham.


Tallapaka Tirumalamma

Tallapaka Tirumalamma Tallapaka Tirumalamma or Timmakka ( te, తాళ్ళపాక తిరుమలమ్మ) (15th century) was a Telugu poet who wrote ''Subhadra Kalyanam'' in Telugu. She was wife of singer-poet Annamacharya and was popularly known as Timmak ...
( te, తాళ్ళపాక తిరుమలమ్మ) (Annamacharya's wife) wrote ''Subhadra Kalyanam'', and is considered the first female poet in Telugu literature. Her main work, ''Subhadra Kalyanam'', which consists of 1170 poems, is about the marriage of
Arjuna Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...
and
Subhadra Subhadra ( sa, सुभद्रा, Subhadrā) is a Hindu goddess mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures like the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''Bhagavata Purana''. She is described as the favourite child of Vasudeva and the younger sister of de ...
, who are characters that appear in the ''Mahabharata''. She presented the Telugu nativity and culture in the story taken from Sanskrit epic.


Allasani Peddana

Allasani Peddana Allasani Peddana (15th and 16th centuries CE) was a famous Telugu poet 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. ...
( te, అల్లసాని పెద్దన) (15th and 16th centuries) was ranked as the foremost of the '' Ashtadiggajalu'' the title for the group of eight poets in the court of
Krishnadevaraya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 – 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, also known as the Karnata Empire, reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the g ...
, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. Peddana was a native of Somandepalli near Anantapur. Allasani Peddana wrote the first major ''Prabandha'' and for this reason he is revered as ''Andhra Kavita Pitamaha'' ("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'' (''Peddana'' + ''Amaatya'' = Peddana, the minister). He wrote ''Swaarochisha Manu Sambhavam'' (also known as ''Manu Charitra''), which is a development of an episode in the
Markandeya Bhargava Markandeya ( sa, मार्कण्‍डेय ) is an ancient rishi (sage) born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi (Bhargava Brahmins Community). The Markandeya Purana especially, comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage cal ...
Purāṇas relating to the birth of Svarochishamanu, who is one of the fourteen Manus. Pravarakhya is a pious Brahmin youth who goes to the
Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
for
Tapasya Tapas (Sanskrit: तपस्) is a variety of austere spiritual meditation practices in Indian religions. In Jainism, it means asceticism (austerities, body mortification); in Buddhism, it denotes spiritual practices including meditation and se ...
. In the Himalayas Varudhini, a
Gandharva A gandharva () is a member of a class of celestial beings in Dharmic religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, whose males are divine performers such as musicians and singers, and the females are divine dancers. In Hinduism, they are ...
girl, falls in love with him, but Pravarakyudu rejects her love. 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 Svarochisha, the father of Svarochishamanu. The theme for his ''Manu Charitra'' is a short story from
Markandeya Purana The ''Markandeya Purana'' ( sa, मार्कण्डेय पुराण; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Hindu History, who is the central c ...
. 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), 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 following are the Telugu Pancha Kaavyas, the five great books of Telugu literature. * Amuktamaalyada - Krishnadevaraya, 16th-century king-poet and patron of Telugu literature. *Manu Charitra or Swaarochisha Manu Sambhavam - Allasani Peddana ...
'', the five best works in Telugu. Some of his other famous works such as ''Harikathaasaaramu'' are untraceable now.


Dhurjati

Dhurjati Dhurjati (or ధూర్ఝటి) (c. 15th and 16th centuries, CE) was a Telugu poet in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya and was one of the '' astadiggajalu'' (Translated "Eight Mighty Elephants ") there. Biography He was born to Singam ...
or Dhoorjati ( te, ధూర్జటి) (15th and 16th centuries) was a poet in the court of Krishnadevaraya and was one of the ' Ashtadiggajalu'. He was born to Singamma and Narayana in Sri Kalahasti and was the grandson of Jakkayya. His works include '' Sri Kalahasteeshwara Mahatyam'' (The grace or miracles of Lord Shiva) and '' Sri Kalahasteeshwara Shatakam'' (100+ poems in the praise of Lord Shiva). Dhurjati took themes from Purāṇas and added local stories and myths in his work. Unlike contemporaries such as Peddana and Mallana, who chose the stories of kings, he chose devotion as his theme. Krishnadevaraya praised Dhurjati, saying ''"Stuti mati yaina Andhrakavi Dhurjati palkulakelagalgeno yetulita madhuri mahima...."'' (How is Dhurjati's poetry so immeasurably beautiful). He was known as ''Pedda Dhurjati'' ("Elder Dhurjati") as there were four other people from the same family line who went by the name of Dhurjati during the same period and after him. His grandson Venkataraya Dhurjati, wrote ("Marriage of Indumati"), a story from Kalidasa's Raghuvamsam.


Krishnadevaraya

Krishnadevaraya ( te, శ్రీ కృష్ణదేవరాయ) was an emperor of Vijayanagara Kingdom. Literary activities flourished during the rule of the Vijayanagara dynasty, and the period of Krishnadevaraya's rule in the sixteenth century is considered to be the golden age of Telugu literature. Krishnadevaraya, a poet himself, introduced the ''Prabandha'' to Telugu literature. ''Amukta Malyada''. Krishna Deva Raya wrote the book ''
Amuktamalyada Āmuktamālyada ( te, ఆముక్తమాల్యద) is a Telugu epic poem composed by Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara Emperor in the early 16th century. Amuktamalyada translates to "One who offered the garland after wearing it himsel ...
'' in Telugu, describing the pangs of separation suffered by Andal (an incarnation of the goddess
Mahalakshmi Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with '' Maya'' ("Illusion"). Al ...
. He describes Andal's physical beauty in thirty verses; using descriptions of the spring and the monsoon as metaphors. As elsewhere in Indian poetry, the sensual pleasure of union extends beyond the physical level and becomes a path to, and a metaphor for, spirituality and ultimate union with the divine. His court had the ''Ashtadiggajas'' ("eight elephants"), who were considered to be the greatest of poets of that time. Some critics dismiss the following period, dominated by ''prabandhas'', as a decadent age. Of the dozens of works of the eighteenth- to mid-nineteenth century, Kankanti Paparaju's ''Uttara Ramayana'' in ''campu'' style, and the play ''Vishnumayavilasa'' stand out. Other genres bloomed at the same time.
Yakshagana Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...
s, indigenous dramas of song and prose, were also produced.


Tenali Ramakrishna

Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna ( te, గార్లపాటి తెనాలి రామకృష్ణ), popularly known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was another sixteenth-century court poet of the Vijayanagara empire and also one of the ''Ashtadiggajas''. His family had originally hailed from
Tenali Tenali is a city in Guntur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the headquarters of Tenali mandal and Tenali revenue division. The city is renowned for art, culture, drama and hence, it is called ''Andhra ...
in
Guntur district Guntur district is one of the twenty six districts in the Coastal Andhra region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The administrative seat of the district is located at Guntur, the largest city of the district in terms of area and with a po ...
, he was born in a Telugu
Niyogi Niyogi Brahmin is a Telugu Brahmin subcaste native to the Indian States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but are spread throughout South India and Maharashtra. The traditional occupations of the Niyogi Brahmins are settled cultivation and p ...
Brahmin family. His famous work ''Panduranga Mahatyamu'' is one among the
Pancha Kavyas The following are the Telugu Pancha Kaavyas, the five great books of Telugu literature. * Amuktamaalyada - Krishnadevaraya, 16th-century king-poet and patron of Telugu literature. *Manu Charitra or Swaarochisha Manu Sambhavam - Allasani Peddana ...
. He dedicated that to Viruri Vedadri. This book is about the Pundarika Kshetram on the banks of river Bhaimi and its legend. He also composed ''Udbhataradhya Charitram'' on the story of Udbhata, a monk, as well as ''Ghatikachala Mahatyam'' about
Ghatikachala Gatikachala is a hill near Sholingur in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage center and the site of an ancient temple dedicated to the God Narasimha. Lord Narasimha is the fourth incarnation (avatar) of the God Vishn ...
m, a place of worship for God
Narasimha Narasimha ( sa, नरसिंह, lit=man-lion, ), sometimes rendered Narasingha, is the fourth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is regarded to have incarnated in the form of a part-lion, part-man being to slay Hiranyakashipu, to end rel ...
near
Vellore Vellore (English: ), also spelt as Velur (), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Palar River in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu and is separa ...
. He followed the Prabandha style. He took the theme for ''Panduranga Mahatyam'' from the
Skanda Purana The ''Skanda Purana'' (IAST: Skanda Purāṇa) is the largest ''Puranas#Mahapuranas, Mukyapurana'', a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text contains over 81,000 verses, and is of Kaumaram, Kaumara literature, titled after Kartikeya ...
and enhanced it with many stories about the devotees of God
Vitthala Vithoba, also known as Vi(t)thal(a) and Panduranga, is a Hindu deity predominantly worshipped in the Indian state of Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is generally considered as a manifestation of the god Vishnu, or his avatar Krishna. Vithoba is o ...
(Panduranga). He is noted for brilliance and wit and for mocking other poets and great personalities. He created a celebrated character called ''Nigama Sarma akka'' (sister of Nigama Sarma) and a story about her without giving her a name. He also had written many ''Chatuvu'' (extempore poems).


The post-Prabandha Period (1600-1850)


Kasula Purushottama Kavi

Kasula Purushottama Kavi Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). 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 o ...
was a
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...
poet who lived during the late 18th century (). He hailed from the
Diviseema Diviseema is a small and deltaic island in Krishna District of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It comprises three Mandals - Avanigadda, Koduru and Nagayalanka. Etymology The word Diviseema translates as the ''abode of the divine''. Div ...
area of
Krishna District Krishna district is district in the coastal Andhra Region in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, with Machilipatnam as its administrative headquarters. It is the coastal district of Andhra Pradesh. Machilipatnam is the most populated city in the di ...
,
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...
and 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. Purushottama Kavi is recognized for composing literary works in Telugu consisting of one hundred poetic stanzas, known as
satakam Sathakam is a Telugu literary piece of art. The name derives from ''Sata'', which means a ''hundred'' in Sanskrit. Sathakam usually comprises a hundred poems (give or take). Hence, a Sathakam is a volume (book) of hundred poems.It is one of the mo ...
s. Kasula Purushottama Kavi is known for composing the ''
Andhra Nayaka Satakam Andhra Vishnu, better known as Srikakula Mahavishnu statue, was set up in Andhra in a pre-existing older temple. The previous deistic form worshiped in the temple is unknown. Āndhra Vishnu temple The deity of the temple is known as ''Andhr ...
'' on Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnu Kasula Purushottama Kavi also composed ''Hamsaladeevi Gopala Satakam'', ''Manasa Bodha Satakam'', ''Bhakta Kalpadruma Satakam'', and ''Venugopala Satakam''.


Mulugu Papayaradhya

Mulugu Papayaradhya Mulugu Papayaradhya, also known as Mulugu Papayya and Sangameswara Sastry, (1778–1852) was a Telugu and Sanskrit scholar, preceptor, translator, and writer, known for his translation of the Devi Bhagavatam from Sanskrit into Telugu and for being ...
, also known as Mulugu Papayya or Sangameswara Sastry, (1778 – 1852) was a
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...
and
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
scholar, preceptor, translator, and writer, known for his translation of the Devi Bhagavatam from Sanskrit into Telugu and for being the preceptor and court poet of the Raja of Amavarati,
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu () was a hereditary zamindar of Chintapalli, later Amaravathi, in the Guntur district of India, under the Nizam of Hyderabad and the British East India Company. He had under his control 552 villages and towns loc ...
. Mulugu Papayaradhya was born to Viranaradhya and Akkamba. He is known to have written more than a hundred works in Telugu and Sanskrit. He was titled as Abhinava Kalidasa. He was a Veera Shaivite ''acharya'' (preceptor). Mulugu Papayaradhya is regarded as the first poet to translate the
Devi-Bhagavata Purana The Devi Bhagavata Purana ( sa, देवी भागवतपुराणम्, '), also known as the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Purana or simply ''Devi Bhagavatam'', is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas of Hindui ...
into Telugu. From the more than hundred works he wrote, ''Kalyanacampu'', ''Ekadasivratacampu'', ''Aryasati'', ''Sivastotra'', and ''Vedantasarasangraha'' are among the more prominent works. Papayaradhya also wrote the ''Ahalya Sankrandana Vilasamu''.


Kshetrayya

Kshetrayya Kshetrayya ( Telugu:క్షేత్రయ్య) (–1680) was a prolific Telugu poet. He lived in the area of Andhra Pradesh in South India. He composed a number of ''padams'' and ''keertanas'', the prevalent formats of his time. He is c ...
or Kshetragna ( te, క్షేత్రయ్య) () was a prolific poet and composer of Carnatic music. He lived in the area of
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...
. He composed a number of ''padams'' and ''keertanas'', the prevalent formats of his time. He is credited with more than 4000 compositions, although only a handful have survived. He composed his songs on his favourite deity Krishna (Gopala) in Telugu. He perfected the ''padam'' format that is still being used today. His ''padams'' are sung in dance (
Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam () is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of S ...
and
Kuchipudi Kuchipudi () ( Telugu: ) is one of the eight major Indian classical dances. It originates from a village named Kuchipudi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sa ...
) and music recitals. A unique feature of his padams is the practice of singing the '' anupallavi'' first then the ''
pallavi A pallavi has multiple connotations in carnatic music. It is the first part of any formal composition (Krithi) which has three segments - Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam (which can be one or more). Pallavi is usually also an abbreviation of R ...
'' (second verse followed by first verse). Most of the padams are of the theme of longing for the coming of the lord Krishna. He wrote with
Sringara Sringara ( sa, शृङ्गार, ) is one of the nine rasas, usually translated as erotic love, romantic love, or as attraction or beauty. ''Rasa'' means "flavour", and the theory of rasa is the primary concept behind classical Indian arts inc ...
as a main theme in expressing ''madhurabhakti'' (devotion to the supreme). Sringara is a motif where the mundane sexual relationship between a Nayaki (woman) and a Nayaka (man) is used as a metaphor, denoting the yearning of jeeva (usually depicted as the Nayaki) to unite with the divine (usually depicted as the man). In most of his compositions, Kshetrayya has used the '' mudra'' (signature) "Muvva Gopala" as a reference to himself, which is also a name for Lord Krishna in Kshetrayya's village Muvva, now called as
Movva Movva is the name of a well-known village in the Krishna district of the Indian state known as Andhra Pradesh. It is located in 'Movva mandal of Machilipatnam revenue division'. It is one of the villages in the mandal to be a part of Andhra P ...
. Kshetrayya's work has played a major role in influencing poetry, dance, music of the South Indian tradition. Kshetrayya was intimately connected with the devadasi women of the temples of south India, who were the subject of many of his compositions. The devadasis were traditionally in possession of the musical/poetic interpretations of his work for a long period of time till the devadasi system was abolished and the compositions became more accepted in the musical community as valuable works of art. The musical community also owes a lot to
Veena Dhanammal Veenai Dhanammal ( ta, வீணை தனம்மாள்) (1867–1938) was a highly accomplished Carnatic musician, and the torchbearer of the school of Carnatic music that goes by her name. She was both a vocalist and a performer on the S ...
and T. Brinda, who popularised Kshetrayya's songs with their beautiful musical interpretation. Kshetrayya's padyams now form an integral part of the dance and musical traditions of South India, where his songs are rendered purely as musical works or as accompaniments to dance.


Kaluve Veera Raju

A prose translation by Kaluve Veera Raju which appeared hundred years later (ca 1700) had good success. He was the army chief under Chikka Deva Raya (1672-1704) of the Mysore Kingdom.


Kancherla Gopanna

Kancherla Gopanna Kancharla Gopanna ( te, కంచర్ల గోపన్న) ( – 1688), popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu ( te, భద్రాచల రామదాసు), was a 17th-century devotee of the Hindu god Rama, a sain ...
( te, కంచెర్ల గోపన్న; ), popularly known as Bhadradri Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu ( te, భద్రాచల రామదాసు), was a 17th-century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. He is one among the famous vaggeyakaras (same person being the writer and composer of a song) in the Telugu language. His devotional lyrics to Rama are famous in South Indian classical music as ''Ramadaasu Keertanalu''. Even the doyen of South Indian classical music Saint Thyagaraja learned and later improved the style now considered standard kriti form of music composition. He also has written Dasarathi Shatakamu a collection of nearly 100 poems dedicated to the son of Dasaratha (Lord
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
).


Venkamamba

Tarikonda Venkamamba ( te, తారికొండ వెంకమాంబ; alternate spelling: Vengamamba, born 1730) was a poet and staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara in the 18th century. She wrote numerous poems and songs.


Tyagaraja

Tyagaraja Thyagaraja (Telugu: త్యాగరాజ) (4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya and in full as Kakarla Thyagabrahmam, was a composer and vocalist of Carnatic music, a form of Indian classical music. Tyagaraja and his ...
or Tyagabrahmam ( te, కాకర్ల త్యాగబ్రహ్మం) (1767–1847) of
Tanjore Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...
composed devotional songs in Telugu, which form a big part of the repertoire of Carnatic music. In addition to nearly 600 compositions (kritis), Tyagaraja composed two musical plays in Telugu, the '' Prahalada Bhakti Vijayam'' and the '' Nauka Charitam''. ''Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam'' is in five acts with 45 ''
kriti Kriti may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kriti (music), a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music * ''Kriti'' (film), a 2016 Hindi-language short film * Kriti TV, Greek TV station People with the name * Kriti Bharti, Indi ...
s'' set in 28
raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...
s and 138 verses, in different metres in Telugu. ''Nauka Charitam'' is a shorter play in one act with 21 ''kritis'' set in 13 ''ragas'' and 43 verses. The latter is the most popular of Tyagaraja's operas, and is a creation of the composer's own imagination and has no basis in the ''Bhagavata Purāṇa''. Often overlooked is the fact that Tyagaraja's works are some of the best and most beautiful literary expressions in
Telugu language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language fami ...
. Valmiki composed the
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
, the story of Rama, with 24,000 verses and also composed 24,000 kritis in praise of the lord.


Paravastu Chinnayasuri

Paravastu Chinnayasuri Paravastu Chinnayasuri (1806/7–1861/2) (Telugu: పరవస్తు చిన్నయ సూరి) was a Telugu writer who played a prominent role in the elevation of prose to importance in Telugu literature. He was the first Telugu Pandit ...
( te, పరవస్తు చిన్నయ సూరి) (1807–1861) wrote ''Baala Vyaakaranamu'' in a new style after doing extensive research on ''Andhra Grammar'' which is his greatest gift to Telugu people. Other notable works of Chinnayasuri include ''Neeti Chandrika'', ''Sootandhra Vyaakaranamu'', ''Andhra Dhatumoola'' and ''Neeti Sangrahamu''. Chinnayasuri translated Mitra Labham and Mitra Bhedam from the Sanskrit Panchatantra as ''Neeti Chandrika''.
Kandukuri Veeresalingam Kandukuri Veeresalingam (16 April 1848 27 May 1919) was a social reformer and writer from the Madras Presidency, British India. He is considered as the father of the Telugu Renaissance movement. He was one of the early social reformers who en ...
and
Kokkonda Venkata Ratnam Pantulu Kokkonda Venkata Ratnam Pantulu (1842–1915) was a well-known Telugu and Sanskrit writer in the nineteenth century. As a respect word ''pantulu'' meaning scholar was added. He was known as ''Andhra Johnson'' and is remembered as the multifacet ...
followed his style of prose writing and wrote ''Vigrahamu'' and ''Sandhi'' in a different pattern.


Modern Period

The period of Modern Telugu Poetry began with
Gurajada Apparao Gurajada Venkata Apparao (21 September 1862 – 30 November 1915) was an Indian playwright, dramatist, poet, and writer known for his works in Telugu theatre. Rao wrote the play ''Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is considered as the greatest play i ...
, who changed the face of Telugu poetry with his ''Muthayala Saralu'', and was perfected by later writers in the Romanticism era including Rayaprolu and
Devulapalli Krishna Sastri Devulapalli Krishnasastri (1 November 1897 – 24 February 1980) was a Telugu poet, playwright and translator known for his works in Telugu literature and Telugu cinema. He is known as ''Andhra Shelley''. In 1976, Krishnasastri was honoured with ...
. Gurajada's attempt to reform Telugu poetry by shedding old rules and styles reached a zenith with Sri Sri. SriSri's famous work "Maha Prastanam" is an instant hit with every corners of society. Many writers followed his style and continue to enrich the literature.


Contemporary poets


Kandukuri Veeresalingam

Kandukuri Veeresalingam Kandukuri Veeresalingam (16 April 1848 27 May 1919) was a social reformer and writer from the Madras Presidency, British India. He is considered as the father of the Telugu Renaissance movement. He was one of the early social reformers who en ...
( te, కందుకూరి వీరేశలింగం; also known as Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu: ; 16 April 1848 – 27 May 1919) was a social reformer of Andhra Pradesh. He was born in an orthodox Andhra Brahmin family. He is widely considered as the man who first brought about a renaissance in
Telugu people Telugu people ( te, తెలుగువారు, Teluguvāru), or Telugus, or Telugu vaaru, are the largest of the four major Dravidian ethnolinguistic groups in terms of population. Telugus are native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh ...
and Telugu literature. He was influenced by the ideals of
Brahmo Samaj Brahmo Samaj ( bn, ব্রহ্ম সমাজ, Brahmô Sômaj, ) is the societal component of Brahmoism, which began as a monotheistic reformist movement of the Hindu religion that appeared during the Bengal Renaissance. It was one of t ...
particularly those of
Keshab Chandra Sen Keshub Chandra Sen ( bn, কেশবচন্দ্র সেন; also spelled Keshab Chunder Sen; 19 November 1838 – 8 January 1884) was a Hindu philosopher and social reformer who attempted to incorporate Christian theology within ...
. Veereshalingam Panthulu is popularly called ''Gadya Tikkana''. He wrote about 100 books between 1869 and 1919 and introduced the essay, biography, autobiography and the novel into Telugu literature. His ''Satyavati Charitam'' was the first
social novel The social novel, also known as the social problem (or social protest) novel, is a "work of fiction in which a prevailing social problem, such as gender, race, or class prejudice, is dramatized through its effect on the characters of a novel". Mor ...
in Telugu. He wrote ''Rajashekhara Charitamu'' inspired by Oliver Goldsmith's ''The Vicar of Wakefied''. To him literature was an instrument to fight social evils.


Acharya Rayaprolu Subba Rao

Rayaprolu Subba Rao Rayaprolu Subbarao (1892–1984) was among the pioneers of modern Telugu literature. He is known as Abhinava Nannaya. He was recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers for his poetic work ''Misra Manjari'' in 1965. He was inspired ...
(1892–1984) was among the pioneers of modern Telugu literature. He is known as Abhinava Nannaya. He was recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers for his poetic work Misra Manjari in 1965. He was inspired by the Western literary movement and brought romanticism into Telugu literature by breaking away from the traditional translations of Sanskrit literature.Subbarayudu. He introduced the concept of into Telugu literature. One patriotic verse by Subba Rao, "" (also known as ""), is a perennial favourite, being regularly sung and recited. It was particularly popular for public events in the pre-Independence Andhra region. The verse has been adapted many times into song for use in Telugu films.


Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna

Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (6 July 1930 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer, composer, and character actor. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in ...
( te, మంగళంపల్లి బాలమురళీకృష్ణ) (born 6 July 1930) is a Carnatic vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and a playback singer. He is also acclaimed as a poet, composer and respected for his knowledge of Carnatic Music. Balamuralikrishna was born in Sankaraguptam,
East Godavari District East Godavari is a district in the Coastal Andhra region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Its district headquarters is at Rajahmundry. As of census 2011, it became the most populous district of the state with a population of 5,151,549. In the Madras Pre ...
, Andhra Pradesh state. Dr Balamuralikrishna has composed over 400 compositions in various languages like Telugu and Sanskrit. His compositions range from Devotional to Varnams, Kirtis, Javalis, and Thillans. His greatest achievement is the compositions in all the fundamental 72 melakarta ragas.


Aatreya

Aacharya Aatreya ( te, ఆచార్య ఆత్రేయ) or ''Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu'' (7 May 1921 – 13 September 1989) was a playwright, lyrics and story writer of the Telugu film industry. He was born as Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu on 7 May 1921 in the Mangalampadu village of
Sullurpeta Sullurupeta is a town in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a municipality and the headquarters of Sullurpeta mandal and Sullurupeta revenue division. It serves as a gateway to Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) at Sriharikota. ...
Mandalam in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. His pen name is based on their family Gotra. Known for his poetry on the human soul and heart, he was given the title 'Manasu Kavi'(Poet of Heart), which can be rewritten as 'Mana Su Kavi'(Our Good Poet). His poetry is philosophical and intellectually satisfying.


Tripuraneni Ramaswamy

Tripuranēni Rāmasvāmi (15 January 1887 – 16 January 1943) was a lawyer, famous poet, playwright and reformer active among the Telugu-speaking people. Popularly known as Kaviraju, he is considered the first poet to introduce rationalism and humanism into Telugu poetry and literature. Ramaswamy chose literary writing as the vehicle for expressing his rationalist thoughts. His famous work 'Sutaparanam' in four cantos was a fierce attack on the ancient Purāṇas, he has attained the state of excellence in poetic and literary criticism. His poetic work "Kuppuswamy Satakam" reveals the theme of social revolution and talks about social evils, blind faith, and indignity to man. He was against Congress and its fight against independence. In his other works such as "Sambhukavadha", "Suthashrama geetaalu', 'Dhoorta maanava', 'Khooni', 'Bhagavadgita', 'Rana Pratap' and 'Kondaveeti patanam', he made a rational analysis of dogmas prescribed by ancient classics and the injustice these dogmas did to people belonging to the lower social orders. Moreover, he attacked discriminatory practices and fought against the idea of untouchability. Sambhuka Vadha created a lot of controversies. Sambhuka was a character who did tapas to go heaven with the live body before death. That was considered as adharma and was killed by Lord Rama. This story was interpreted that Brahmins do not like doing tapas by non-Brahmins, which is why Sabhuka was killed.


Modern platforms

Growing Internet use in India led to the birth of online platforms that bring Telugu writers closer to more readers
Kadachepta
Pratilipi Pratilipi is an Indian online self-publishing and audiobook portal. It features content in twelve languages: Hindi, Urdu, English, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Punjabi and Odia. History ''Pratilipi'' is a ...

SuKatha
(SuKatha is a Hindi story reading platform along with Telugu) an
Kahaniya
are prominent among the new platforms.


Awards

* Sahitya Akademi Award for Telugu – The award given by India's national academy of letters for writing in Telugu. * Ismail Award – Established in 2005, the award is given every year for a poet's debut book. * CP Brown Award – Given every year to translators or others have worked to promote the Telugu language.


Political movements

The Paryavaran Kavitodyamam movement started in 2008. It states its aims as being to bring awareness and concern among not only the elite class but also the masses through creative forms of literature. The Jagruthi Kiran Foundation initiated it under the leadership of Narayanam Narasimha Murthy, popularly known as . The movement has literary activities including Harita Kata. Various poets and writers on environment have produced literature for the movement, with over 500 writers participating in the Jagruthi Kiran Foundation. Magazines such as ''Malle Teega'' and ''Kadhakeli'' are associated with the Jagruthi Kiran Foundation.


Popular authors and works

* Arudra (ఆరుద్ర) – ''Samagraandhra Saahityamu'' (సమగ్రాంధ్ర సాహిత్యము) (The Complete Telugu Literature) * Adavi Baapiraju – ''Gona Gannareddy, Naarayanarao, Tuphaanu (The storm), Amshumati'' *
Addepalli Ramamohana Rao Addepalli Ramamohana Rao was a noted Telugu poet and literary critic from India. Early life He was born in Chintalaguntapalem village in Machilipatnam of Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal ...
– ''Poga choorina Aakasam'' * Ajanta – Penumarti Viswanatha Sastry (born 1922) *
Allasani Peddana Allasani Peddana (15th and 16th centuries CE) was a famous Telugu poet 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. ...
– ''Manu Charitra'' (The History of Swarochisha Manu) *
Acharya Aatreya Acharya Aatreya (born Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu ) (7 May 1921 – 13 September 1989) was an Indian poet, lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He received the state Nandi Award fo ...
– ''NGO'', ''Kappalu'' * Avasarala Ramakrishna Rao (1931–2011) – ''Sampengalu-Sannajajulu'' *
Atukuri Molla Atukuri Molla (1440–1530) was a Telugu poet who authored the Telugu-language Ramayana. Identified by her caste, she was popularly known as Kummara (potter) Molla. Mollamamba or Molla was the daughter of Kesana Setti who was a potter by prof ...
– ''Molla Ramayanam'' *
Bammera Potana Bammera Pothana (Telugu: బమ్మెర పోతన) (1450–1510) was a Telugu Shaiva poet best known for his translation of the Srimad Bhaagavatam from Sanskrit to Telugu. He was a Telugu and Sanskrit Scholar. His work, Srimad Bhagavata ...
– ''
Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
'' * Buchchibabu – ''
Chivaraku Migiledi ''Chivaraku Migiledi'' () is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language romance film, written and directed by Gutha Ramineedu. The film was a remake of the Bengali film ''Deep Jwele Jaai''. The Bengali film ''Deep Jwele Jaai'' was a huge critical and comm ...
'' (What is Left at the End) *
Balivada Kanta Rao Balivada Kanta Rao (3 July 1927 – 6 May 2000) was a noted Telugu novelist and playwright. He was born in Madapam village in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh, he worked in various capacities as civilian officer in the Indian Navy. He ...
(1927–2000) – ''Balivada Kanta Rao Kathalu'' (Winner of the Kendriya
Sahitya Academy Award The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the ...
Awarded in 1998 by the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
) * Bondalapati Sivaramakrishna – ''Sampoorna Sarat Sahityam'' ( Published by Desi Kavita Mandali ) *
Boyi Bhimanna Dr. Boyi Bhimanna (19 September 1911 – 16 December 2005), transliterated alternatively as Bheemanna or Bheemana, was a Telugu poet. Early life Bhimanna was born in a poor Dalit family in Mamidikuduru village, East Godavari District of A ...
– ''Gudiselu Kaalipotunnaayi'' *
C. Narayanareddy Cingireddi Narayana Reddy (29 July 1931 – 12 June 2017), popularly known as CiNaRe, was an Indian Telugu-language poet and writer. Reddy had produced over eighty literary works including poems, prose-plays, lyrical plays, translations, a ...
– ''Vishwambhara'' ( Won the
Jnanpith Award The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian w ...
for this novel in the year 1988 ) * Cha So (1915–1993) * Chalam – ''Chitraangi, Maidhaanam, Saavitri, Janaki, Ameena, Brahmaneekam, Musings'' * Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham – ''Gayopaakhyaanam'', ''Prahasanamulu'' *
Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu . Daasarathi krishnamacharya, popularly known as Daasarathi, also spelled as Daasharathi (22 July 1925 – 5 November 1987) () was a Telugu poet and writer. Daasarathi holds the titles ''Abhyudhaya kavi'' and ''Kalaprapurna''. He was also the ...
– ''Timiramuto samaramu'' (Fighting against the darkness) *
Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak (1 August 1921 – 1 July 1966) was an Indian poet, novelist and short story writer. Early life Tilak was born on 1 August 1921 in the village of Mandapaka in the Tanuku Taluk district. He completed his Inte ...
– ''Tilak Kathalu'', ''Amrutam Kurisina Raatri'' *
Dhurjati Dhurjati (or ధూర్ఝటి) (c. 15th and 16th centuries, CE) was a Telugu poet in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya and was one of the '' astadiggajalu'' (Translated "Eight Mighty Elephants ") there. Biography He was born to Singam ...
– ''Srikaalahasteesvara Satakam'' * Duvvoori Ramireddy – ''Paanasaala'', ''Krusheevaludu'' *
Devulapalli Krishnasastri Devulapalli Krishnasastri (1 November 1897 – 24 February 1980) was a Telugu poet, playwright and translator known for his works in Telugu literature and Telugu cinema. He is known as ''Andhra Shelley''. In 1976, Krishnasastri was honoured wit ...
– ''Krishna pakshamu'' (The Brightening Fortnight) *
Garikapati Narasimha Rao Garikipati Narasimha Rao is an Indian Telugu Avadhani (literary performer) from Andhra Pradesh, India. Avadhanis are respected for their abilities to spin out verses conforming to Telugu grammar on literally any subject that audience may throw ...
– ''Saagara Ghosha'' (Boisterousness of Ocean) *
Gona Budda Reddy Gona Budda Reddy, also known as Ranganatha (13th century CE), was a poet and ruler living in southern India. Written work His '' Ranganatha Ramayanam'' was a pioneering work in the Telugu language on the theme of the ''Ramayana'' epic. Most s ...
- ''
Ranganatha Ramayanam ''Sri Ranganatha Ramayanamu'' (శ్రీ రంగనాథ రామాయణము) is one of the most famous adaptions of the Valmiki ''Ramayana'' in Telugu, a Dravidian language spoken by the people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu ...
'' *
Gurajada Apparao Gurajada Venkata Apparao (21 September 1862 – 30 November 1915) was an Indian playwright, dramatist, poet, and writer known for his works in Telugu theatre. Rao wrote the play ''Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is considered as the greatest play i ...
– ''Kanyaasulkamu'' * Gurram Jashuva – ''Gabbilamu'' (The Bat), ''Firadausi'' * Kaloji- ''Naa Godava'', ''Idee Naa Godava'' (Autobiography) *
Kandukuri Veeresalingam Kandukuri Veeresalingam (16 April 1848 27 May 1919) was a social reformer and writer from the Madras Presidency, British India. He is considered as the father of the Telugu Renaissance movement. He was one of the early social reformers who en ...
– ''Andhrakavula Charitra'' (The History of Andhra Poets), ''Raajasekhara Charitra'' (The History of
Rajasekhara Rajasekhara may refer to: * Rama Rajasekhara/Cheraman Perumal "Nayanar" (''fl.'' 9th century), theologian, devotional poet and ruler from south India * Rajashekhara (Sanskrit poet) Rajashekhara (; ) was a Sanskrit poet, dramatist and critic. H ...
), *
Kanety Krishna Menon Kanety Krishna Menon (1942 - 2012) was a Telugu writer with about 80 short stories and 6 novels to his credit. Many of his stories have been translated to different languages in India. Career K. K. Menon was employed with Accountant General's ...
– ''KRATUVU'' *
Jandhyala Papayya Sastry Jandhyala Subrahmanya Sastry (14 January 1951 – 19 June 2001), known mononymously by his surname Jandhyala, was an Indian film director, screenwriter, playwright, and actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He is popula ...
– ''UdayaSri'', ''VijayaSri'', ''KarunaSri'', ''Amarkhyam'', ''Telugubala'' *
Kasula Purushottama Kavi Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). 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 o ...
– ''Andhranayaka Satakamu'' *
Kavitrayam Kavitrayam ( Telugu: కవిత్రయం) is a Telugu expression for trinity of poets. Kavitrayam popularly refers to the poets who translated the great epic Mahabharata into Telugu. The group/trinity consists of Nannayya, Tikkana and Yerra ...
(Nannayya, Tikkana, Yerrapragada) – ''Andhra Mahaabhaaratamu'' (The Great Mahabharata in Telugu) *
Kethu Viswanathareddy Kethu Viswanatha Reddy, also known as Ketu Visvanathareddi, is a short story writer, novelist and essayist who won Sahitya Akademi Award in Telugu, 1996 for his short story Kethu Viswanatha Reddy Kathalu. Career Kethu Viswanatha Reddy (born ...
– ''Kethu Viswanathareddy Kathalu'' * KNY Patanjali – ''Gopatrudu,Khaki Vanam, Veera Bobbili'' * Ko Ku – ''Chaduvu'' *
Kondaveeti Venkatakavi Kondaveeti Venkatakavi is an Indian poet, scholar, and film writer from Andhra Pradesh. He is well known for writing dialogues in the movie Daana Veera Soora Karna. Childhood Venkata Kavi was born as Venkatayya to ''Narayana'' and ''Seshamma'' ...
– ''Nehru Charitra'' *
Madhurantakam Rajaram Madhurantakam Rajaram ( Telugu: మధురాంతకం రాజారాం) (5 October 1930 – 1 April 1999) was an Indian author who is considered one of the foremost of modern Telugu short story writers. He is the winner of Sahitya Akad ...
– '' Halikulu Kushalama'' *
Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy (born 13 November 1949 in Vijayawada) is a Telugu writer known for writing thriller plots. Writings Murthy wrote many novels and short stories. The film ''Jyothi Lakshmi'' (2015) is based on one of his novels, ...
– ''Written 153 novels, over 3000 Short Stories and 8 Travelogues covering 33 countries '' *
Mokkapati Narasimha Sastry Mokkapati Narasimha Sastry (1892–1973) was an Indian novelist who wrote in the Telugu language. He is best known for the 1924 comedy novel, ''Barrister Parvateesam ''Barrister Parvateesam'' () is a Telugu language humorous novel written b ...
– '' Barrister Parvateesam'' * Muddupalani – ''
Radhika Santvanamu Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...
'' *
Mullapudi Venkata Ramana Mullapudi Venkata Ramana (28 June 1931 – 24 February 2011) was an Indian writer known for his work in Telugu language. Noted for his humorous and metaphorical style of writing, Mullapudi received Raghupathi Venkaiah Award from the Government ...
– ''Budugu, Girisam malli puttadu'' * Muppala Ranganayakamma – ''Raamayana vishavŕksham, Krishnaveni,
sweet home Sweet Home or Sweethome may refer to: Places in the United States * Sweet Home, Arkansas * Sweet Home Central School District in Amherst and Tonawanda, New York ** Sweet Home High School (Amherst, New York), a New York State public high school * ...
, Janaki Vimukti, Ammaki Adivaram Leda'' * Nandoori Subbarao – ''Yenki paatalu'' * Nanne Choadudu – ''Kumaara Sambhavamu'' * Nayani Krishnakumari – ''Telugu geya vanjmayamu'', ''Agniputri'', Kashmira deepakalika *
Nannayya Nannaya ''Bhattaraka'' (sometimes spelled Nannayya or Nannaiah; ca. 11th century) was a Telugu poet and the author of the first '' Andhra Mahabharatam'', a Telugu retelling of the Sanskrit-language ''Mahabharata''. This work, which is rendered ...
Andhra Mahabharatam *
Palkuriki Somanatha Palkuriki Somanatha was one of the most noted Telugu language writers of the 12th or 13th century. He was also an accomplished writer in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages and penned several classics in those languages. He was a Lingayat a follo ...
-- Basava purana * Palakuriki Somanatha *
Panchagnula Adinarayana Sastry Panchagnula Adinarayana Sastry (1890–1951) was a Scholar of Sanskrit and Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the T ...
– Arya Bharathi Granthamala. *
Panuganti Lakshminarasimha Rao Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimharaavu (Telugu - పానుగంటి లక్ష్మీ నరసింహా రావు) (11 February 1865 – 1 January 1940) was one of the popular modern Telugu writers. He was born at Seetanagaram, Raj ...
, Panuganti Lakshminarasimham – ''Narmada purukitsiyamu'' (1902), ''Sarangadhara'' (1904), ''Vijaya raghavamu'' (1909), ''Raathi sthambhamu'' (1930), ''Ramaraju'' (1948) *
Papineni Sivasankar Dr. Papineni Sivasankar (born 1953), a doyen of Modern Literature in Telugu language, Telugu, recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, 2016 is an Indian poet, short story writer, and critic. He has published 52 books including five poetry collection ...
– ''Stabdhata-Chalanam'' (1984), ''Oka Saaramsam Kosam'' (1990), ''Aku Pacchani Lokamlo'' (1998), ''Oka Khadgam-Oka Pushpam'' (2004), ''Rajani Gandha'' (2013), ''Mattigunde'' (1992), ''Sagam Terichina Talupu'' (2008), ''Sahityam-Moulika bhavanalu'' (1996), ''Nisamta'' (2008), ''Thallee Ninnu Dalanchi'' (2012), ''Dravadhuikata'' (2015), ''Maha Swapnikudu'' (2016) * Paravasthu Chinnayasuri – ''Baalavyaakaranamu, Neeti chandrika'' *
Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma Sangita Kalanidhi Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sharma () (23 January 1893 – 11 March 1979) was a noted composer of Carnatic music, singer as well as a writer. He was a noted scholar in several languages like Telugu, Samkrit, Kannada & Prakrit, and ...
- ''Meerabai'' (1913), ''Taradevi'' (1911) (both Khanda Kavya's), ''Natakopanyasamulu'', ''Vemana'' (1928–29), ''Saraswatalokamu'' (1954) (critical review articles), ''Shalivahana Gathasaptashati Saramu'' (translation of the Prakrit work into Telugu) (1932), ''Chayapa Senaniya'', ''Nrita Ratnavali'' (Translation into Telugu, 1969), ''Arya'' (Translation of Sundara Pandya's Sanskrit work in Telugu, 1970). *
Ravuri Bharadwaja Rāvūri Bharadvāja (1927 – 18 October 2013) was a Jnanpith award winning Telugu novelist, short-story writer, poet and critic. He wrote 37 collections of short stories, seventeen novels, four play-lets, and five radio plays. He also contri ...
– ''Paakudu Raallu'' [received the
Jnanpith Award The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian w ...
2012 *
Rayaprolu Subba Rao Rayaprolu Subbarao (1892–1984) was among the pioneers of modern Telugu literature. He is known as Abhinava Nannaya. He was recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award to Telugu Writers for his poetic work ''Misra Manjari'' in 1965. He was inspired ...
''Abhinava Nannaya'' received the Saahitya Academy Award in 1965 * Satyam Sankaramanchi, Sankaramanchi Satyam – ''Amaravati Kathalu'' (The Stories from Amaravati) * Krishnadevaraya, Sri Krishna Deva Raya – ''
Amuktamalyada Āmuktamālyada ( te, ఆముక్తమాల్యద) is a Telugu epic poem composed by Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara Emperor in the early 16th century. Amuktamalyada translates to "One who offered the garland after wearing it himsel ...
'' * Sri Sri – '' Maha Prasthanam'' *
Sri K Sabha Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanese ...
– ''Vishwarupa Sandarsanam, Vedabhumi, Mogili, Patala Ganga'' * Srinatha – ''Haravilaasamu, Kaasikhandamu, Bhimakhandamu, Palnaati veeracharitra, Sŕngaara naishadhamu'' * Suravaram Pratapareddy – ''Aandhrula Saanghika Charitra'' *
Tallapaka Annamacharya Tallapaka Annamacharya (Telugu : తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) (IAST: taḷḷapāka annamācārya; 22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a 15th-century Hindu saint and the ear ...
(1424?-1503) – ''Annamacharya kirtanas'' * Tapi dharma Rao 'Vidhi Vilasam', 'Devala paina bootu bommalu, Pelli- Dani Puttupurvottaralu, and film script Rojulu marayi * Tallapaka Timmakka – ''Subhadrakalyanam'' *
Tarigonda Venkamamba Tarigonda Vengamamba (alternate spelling: Venkamamba; 20 April 1730 – 21 August 1817), also known as Matrusri Tarigonda Vengamamba, was a poet and staunch devotee of God Venkateswara in the 18th century. She wrote numerous poems and songs. ...
– ''Venkatachala Mahatmyamu, Vasista Ramamyanamu, Rajayogasaramu, Bhagavatamu, Krishnamanjari'' *
Tenali Ramakrishna Tenali Ramakrishna (born Garlapati Ramakrishna; also known as Tenali Rama) was an Indian poet, scholar, thinker and a special advisor in the court of the Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya, who ruled from C.E. 1509 to 1529. He was a Telugu poet ...
– ''Paanduranga maahaatmyamu'' *
Tenneti Hemalata Tenneti Hemalata, (15 November 1935 – 1997), better known as Lata, is a Telugu writer from Andhra Pradesh, India. She was a prolific and influential writer who wrote about various situations through the perspective of an educated niyogi Brahm ...
– ''Raktapankhamu, Mohanavamsi, Omar Khayyam'' *
Tikkana Tikkana (or Tikkana Somayaji) (1205–1288) was a 13th century Telugu poet. Born into a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family during the golden age of the Kakatiya dynasty, he was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets (Kavi Trayam)" that tra ...
– ''Nirvachanottara Raamayanamu'' - *
Tirupati Venkata Kavulu Tirupati Venkata Kavulu ( Poets Tirupati & Venkata) refers to the Telugu poet duo Divakarla Tirupati Sastry (1872–1919) and Chellapilla Venkata Sastry (1870–1950). These twin poets are acclaimed as the harbingers of modern poetry in Telugu ...
– ''Paandavodyoga vijayamulu, Devi bhaagavatamu'' *
Tirumalamba Tirumalamba, a poet of the Vijayanagara Empire, wrote "Varadambika Parinayam", the story of marriage of King Achyuta Deva Raya, in Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan ...
– ''Varadambika parinayamu'' * Thiruvarangam Sudhakar – ''Sudhakara kavitha jyotsna'' * Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Choudhury – ''Sutapuranamu'', ''Karempudi kathanamu'', ''Kurukshetra sangramamu'', ''Kuppuswamy satakamu'', ''Sambhukavadha'', ''Sutashrama geetalu'', ''Dhoorta manava'', ''Khooni'', ''Bhagavadgita'', ''Rana Pratap'', ''Kondaveeti patanam'' *
Tripuraneni Maharadhi Tripuraneni Maharadhi (20 April 1930 – 23 December 2011) was an Indian Telugu film, screenplay, dialogue and script writer. He is remembered for his political forays, as well as for the film '' Alluri Seetharama Raju''. He was the de facto d ...
– ''Samagraha Praanam'' * Ushasri – ''Sundarakanda'' *
Viswanatha Satyanarayana Viswanatha Satyanarayana (10 September 1885 – 18 October 1976) was a 20th-century Telugu writer. His works included poetry, novels, dramatic play, short stories and speeches, covering a wide range of subjects such as analysis of his ...
– '' Cheliyalikatta, Kalpavrukshamu, Kinnerasaani Paatalu, Srimadraamaayana kalpavŕkshamu Swargaaniki Nichchenalu,
Veyipadagalu Veyi Padagalu (pronunciation: veɪjɪ pədəgɑlʊ, English: "A Thousand Hoods") is an epic Telugu novel written by Viswanatha Satyanarayana. It is a critically acclaimed work of 20th century Telugu literature and has been called "a novel of To ...
,
Ekaveera Ekaveera ( Telugu: ఏకవీర) is an Indian novel written by Kavi Samrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana in Telugu language. It was penned between 1929–31 and was published in Bharathi magazine in 1935. Originally written in Telugu, it has sin ...
,
naa ramudu NAA or Naa may refer to: People * Naa Ashorkor (born 1988), Ghanaian actress and radio/ TV broadcaster * Naa Govindasamy (1946–1999), Singaporean Tamil-language writer and computer font developer * Naa Someswara, Indian science writer and T ...
,
nepala rajavamsa kathalu Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
'' ( In
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...
he is the first writer to receive
Jnanpith Award The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian w ...
for the novel Ramayana Kalpavrukshamu (A resourceful tree:Ramayana) in the year 1970 ) *
Vegunta Mohan Prasad Vegunta Mohan Prasad, (5 January 1942 – 3 August 2011) was a Telugu poet, critic, translator and writer. He was known by his pen name 'Mo'. Personal life and career Mohan Prasad was born in Lam, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. He completed sc ...
– ''Chiti Chinta'', ''Rahastantri'', ''Punarapi'', ''Saandhya Basha'' * Vemana – ''Vemana Satakam'' * Vempalli Gangadhar – ''Molakala Punnami'' * Yenugu Lakshmana Kavi – ''Bhartruhari Subhashitamulu'' *
Yerrapragada Yarrapragada or Erranna was a Telugu poet in the court of King Prolaya Vema Reddy (1325–1353). The surname of Erranna was Yerrapragada or Yerrana, which are epithets of the fair-skinned Lord Skanda in the Telugu language, but became a ...
– ''Harivansamu, Nrusimhapuranamu, half of the Aranya Parva of Maha Bharata''


See also

* Bhakti movement * Chatuva * Telugu development * Telugu poetry * List of Indian poets#Telugu, List of Telugu poets from India


References


Citations


Bibliography

* * * * {{cite book, last1=Subbarayudu , first1=G. K. , last2=Subbarayudu , first2=C. , editor1-last=Natarajan , editor1-first=Nalini , editor2-last=Nelson , editor2-first=Emmanuel Sampath , chapter=Twentieth-Century Telugu Literature (Chapter 11), title=Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India , date=1996 , publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group , isbn=978-0-313-28778-7 , pages= 306–328 , language=en


External links


Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh Archives (Telugu)


Telugu-language literature Telugu language Indian literature Indian literature by language