Tenali Ramakrishna
From BharatWiki
Tenali Ramakrishna, popularly known as Tenali Rama and also as Vikata Kavi ( VI KA TA KA VI ), was a Telugu, a court-poet and court Jester, in the Sixteenth century. He was part of Ashtadiggajas patroned by Sri Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. He is also referred incorrectly as "Tenali Raman" in media.
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Biography
His family had originally hailed from Tumuluru near Tenali in Guntur District. He was also known as Tenali Ramalinga, a Shaivite name. It is believed that he later converted to Vaishnavism.
Some scholars dispute whether that he was a contemporary of Krishnadeva Raya. Tenali Ramakrishna's most famous work, Panduranga Mahatyam, is dedicated to Krishnadeva Raya's grandson, and so it is believed that he was only a boy poet during Krishnadevaraya. He was known for wit and prodigious poetry written in the Telugu language.
His works
Scholars treat his famous work Panduranga Mahatyam as the one among the Pancha Kavyas, the five great books of Telugu Literature. He also composed Udbhataradhya Charitram on the story of Udbhata, a monk, as well as Ghatikachala Mahatyam about Ghatikachalam, a place of worship for God Narasimha near Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Style
He followed the Prabhanda style. He took the theme for Panduranga Mahatyam from the Skanda Purana and enhanced it with many stories about the devotees of God Vittala.
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 around her without giving her a name. He also had written many Chatuvu(extempore poems).
Awards and Titles
- He was called a vi.ka.ta.ka.vi (a palindrome in Telugu script) means clown-jester-poet.
