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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OP
BEINO
MEMOIRS OF THE I^IFES
OF SEVERAL
BOTH ANCIEXT AND MODERN^
WHO BATE FLOURISHED
DIFFERENT PROVINCES
or TKB
INDIAN PENINSULA,
COMPILED trom Authentic documents.
BY
CAVELtT VENKATA RAMASWAMIE.
ianslator akd pundit iir i
ND ANTIQDARIAN DEFARTHsM
CALCUTTA :— X82ft
:!m,l,i.:db,G00gIe
bvGoogIc
To The Right Hon'ble-
hoxd William C. Beutiack,
a. C. B. & G. C. H.
Governor Generalj &q. fitc. Hg/
My Lgrd^
In, dedicating the following pages to your
3Lordship^ I. am actuated by seutiments^ that
I have not the power tft express, jfor, having
my Lord> been a witness to those Public and
Private virtues, which included in. their ex
tensive range, the encouragement of Hindu
liiterature, during your Lordships Govern-
m«nt of'Madtras ; T, ais well' as- the rest of
my countrymen, am impressed. with grateful
feelings, that will endure as long as the term
of my life. The materials to compile the
Biographical Sketches,, now committed to.
your Lordship's protection and patronage^
were collected; during my arduous oflicial
duties in different Provinces, under my lata
lamented master Colonel Colin Mackenzie*
Smreyor General of India, whose literary
]^oxa in the Indian field, were first encoii-
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
taged under your Lordship's enlightened
Government; andldeemit, my Lord, the
happiest circumstanoe ofmylife,thatbyheing
allowed to dedicate my humble "Work to
your Lordship, I have an opportunity of
publicly subscribing myself^ with the utmost
deference and respect
My Lori>,
Vour Lord8hip*^s
Most obedient humble Servant*
CAVEU.T VENKATA RAMA8WAMJB.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIf
Contentfft
ff»nk»achar7, «...
Elejffaia UpadI ja, ..
Adbid niiatt, ....
Siiikaol, ....
BhRiUgi Dikshal, ....
Nagogi BiiKti ....
SemaoBt Bliatt. ....
SakaljR Mala
AkshoblVf a OuJubat, ..
TallaTa, ....
Cajapati-FtaUpa )
Rudra. .... >
Xhira Swam!
Salivabana, ....
BUasLara Achaii, . . . .
Varahamibira, ....
Gaaika oaoda^ ....
Kadamba, ....
PuriKbeltaina
KaljanaMala, ....
Varadacbarja, ....
Vidjaranya or )
Madhavabhatt, .. }
Vidyaaat, ,,,,
V«danlachaii, • . . .
tiaksmenarta^a Napa,.,
Venkalacbari, •• :■
Appajadiksbit, ....
Aj»dilcshit, .. .
RamaDUJaehari, . . . .
SarnadhaTa, ....
Tatachari, ....
Poliah, ....
Paddiblial, ....
Iiakshmana fc«Ti, ....
Keladi Basavappa Naik
Vragappadadanatnb, ,.
Jajcanaib Fandi', ....
Naouayn Bhait, .,.,
Teminajia Satli, ....
TikkaDft Somayagi, ..
Bbadu Maoti, ....
TiiUBMiat •>.<
3 Snfano. .,
. **
17 Tinnala Ramalinga.
. 9»
35 Ayala B1>R9kata, .,
. 10»
27 AppaKavi.
.. 101
S9 Allasani Pcdd^na, ..
30 Adharvananhiirja, ..
. 106
3« Anrthra. Kalidas, ..
.. 107
34 Abliaonkau,
.. 108
3* Annajadiri,
. . —
— GovindakaTJ,
ng Ramabbadra,
." 109
Vtukala Pali Raja,
— Bala Svaawati, ..
'.'. HO
37 Cliatkara,
.. lU
— Bada BanalabhaU, ..
33 Uanrten^,
;". 113
39 BappanaKuri, ..
.. 113
— BasavaKavi,
.. 114
40 BhTravaKavi.
.. 114
— Bhima Kavi,
.. 114
— GuDgadhara
.. IIT
An Ghanfaya Kavi,
.. 118
^ Jasannaib,
.. 119
46 Lakslmiana Kavi, .
50 LingaKavJ,
v. 120
63 Lakshmana Kavi 11.
j 181
B6 seooQd
59 LinjaRaja,
.. 123
63 Loka Bbaadbava, .
64 Lingaya.
.." 123
66 M^nchaimHatya, ..
.. —
67 Mollj,
68 Madhava Roya
.. 124
72 Maltasa,
75 MuttdD Ruigft Clio
77 kaiiadb.
J 125
— MalUya,
.. 126
78 Pataraja,
.. 127
82 Srioath,
.. 129
83 ChiuaVirana,
.. 130
84 Chakrappa.
.. 134
85 MahBDaopI,
.. 136
91 Krislua Sajuln, .
*.. —
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
Ti CONTENTS.
Asnslrar, .
... 138
Oranolia, '.
.. =5
.. 138
Naroadeo,
. 146
Kapllar,
,. 140
. UZ
TerBvalavor,
Tukkoba,
... i48
AdhikaDan, .
'.'.'. 141
Manapparto,
.. 149
Uppaga,
... 142
... — '
Wurega,
Vallj.
SridhaiaSwami, ,
\\\
Choka Mela.
.. 1B9
Saiakara,
6ora Cumbar.
Guana Samhandar, ,
'.'.'. 144
Tor Subbanrow,
.. 151
Appar,
,.,
llciaanda pant, •
... 168
Sundarar,
Damagi punt.
Manikyanaaar,
.'.'.* 145
Cavellj Veokata Boriah, 15«
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
PREFACE.
According to Aristotle all pbeti^ consists
in imitation, and if we allow the remarks of
Hermogenes to be true, that whatever is de*
Mghtful to the senses produces the beautifal,
We could not pitch on a spot of the world
inore abundant in ttatut-al objects to excite
J)oetic effusions, than the Peninsula of India^
where the fece of nature is furnished with
features that strike the imagination with
scenes, the most sublime, imposing, sind de*
lightful, so as to raise all human powers of
fancy to an elevation that exalts them to the
very sublime, and beautiful : there have con-
sequently been several very eminent bards,
who have flourished at different periods ia
India. According to Hindu accounts, the an-
cient legislator Manu, Bhugu, and other
sages have ordained " Sapta Anga" or seven
appendages requisite in the courts of all le-
gal Monarchs ; namely, Doctors, Poets, Pi»
d=,GoogIe
nil
negyrists. Singers, Jesters, Moralists, and
Historians ; the first, to investigate the laws,
the second, to write the genealogy, martial
deeds and other acticms, and qualities of
Sovereigns, to promulgate the same to differ-
ent quarters of the world; the third, to
chant and laud; the fourth to amuse the
king hy their jokes, and filth, to utter
wise maxims and saws ; sixth, to furnish
precedents ; and seventh, to record transac-
tions, and expound the histories of celebrated
dynasties. The above seven officers will
cause a Sovereign to rule his country with
jxKtice and renown.
The Hindus affirm, that poetry is innate
end not to be acquired, and according to
their astrologers, mankind obtain this art by
ft fortunate influence of the planets Jupiter
and Venus.
The ancient kings of the north of India
were very great patrons of poetry, althongh
in that remote age poems were constructed
U,:,,l,;.d:,G00gIC
with much lesa care and art than succeeding
years ; but the numerous poets that latterly
crowded the couirts of various mouarchs, haye
oansed these . uffusioos to be less esteetued>
notwithstanding their merits, by patrons
who expected panegyrics as a matter of
course. Many centuries ago tlie princes of the
lunar race^ such as Purura and others; fol-
lowed this maxim, and were imitated by their
successors who kept up their dignity and
&mej tiS the original solar and lunar races
became extinct in the person of Nanda,
whose downfall is exhibited in a dramatic
work called Mudra-Rakshasa*, or seal and
signet of Rakshasa, a minister of Chandra
Giq)ta ; the effusions of poets may from this
date be said to be dedicated to mercenary
purposes and not to those exalted themes
that distingished them in days more ancient.
According to records Vekramaditya, who
* Sea its Trauslation by Dr. Wilson,
Jm,l,z.:d;,G00gIe
was the lord of an sera, employed at Ms court
nine poets, who were styled " Nava Ratna'*^
or nine gems. This monarch likewise found-
ed colleges for students, and encouraged
literary men in order to perpetuate his fame.
Although many poems must have been writ-
ten to illustrate his actions, yet few have been
handed down to posterity, except the Vek-
rama Charitra ; but a number of g^rants that
have been discovered by antiquarians, tes-
tify the king's liberality to bards, who were
no doubt celebrated for their talents at one
time, although their works are now lost
Bhoja Raja, sovereign of Dharapore, had
for his chief poet the noted Kalidas, to-
gether with other excellent bards, who wrote
Works that are still made use of in schools
and colleges. This monarch was a great pa-
tron ofliterature, and many learned men Sock-
ed to his court from different provinces,
attracted by his patronage and munificence.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
au
It Itas been asserted tiiat Bhoja Baja used
to pay one lac of money for every syllable of
a verse that was written on him, and this
T^erse is cited aa a proof:
"liaksham Laksham Punor Laksham
Janudagdha Kaviswar.
Pay one lac, another lack, and one lac
more to Janudagdha the poet "
The sum of one lac for every syllable is
such an instance of liberality, as can no
tvhere be found recorded in history, and is
too extravagant to deserve credit ; but the
learned haye explained the matter by assert-
ing that the lacs that were given by Bhoja
Raja, to the poets, were lacs of shells^ as a
considerable partof the revenue of his king-
dom was paid in she/Is. It is also averred
that any one on beholding the countenanco
of the above-named monarch, immediately
obtained the gift of poetry; the true meaning
of which probably is, that the king was so
great an encourager of learning that hispa-
db,GoogIe
xil
tronage brought to light the merits of various
authors^ who would otherwise have remain-
ed neglected.
The three most celebrated poets at Bho-
ja's court were Kalidas, Dandi, and Bhava
Bhuti^ and there existed great rivalry be-
tween them; (it is said, that one day the
goddess Saraswati, to whom Kalidas had
several times performed sacrifices, became
manifest in the form of a beautiful young
woman, and paraded the high street, play-
jng with a ball before the three poets, who
were sitting together. Dandi said, "this ball
appears of three distinct hues ; when struck
by. her rosy band it appears red, when pa-
rallel with her eyes it is blue and brown,
when struck down to the ground." Bhava
Bhuti said "she beats it so because it resem-
bles her breast, the the blue lily in her ears
falls at her feet, dreading a like fate, as it
resembles her eyes." Kalidas said, "that be-
i.Google
ing aware of the intention of the ball to kisa
her lips, she frequently beats it down."
The goddess at this moment vanished
from their presence, and created a shop at
another end of the street, where she sat
down in the shape of a betel leaf seller ; the
three above named poets went to the shop ;
the goddess gave some lime to Bhava Bhuti,
an areca nut to Dandi, and betel leaf to Ka-
lidas ; when Dandi asked of her the reason of
this partiality, the goddess replied, that the
merits of the poets were not equals she then
took them to the back part of the shop and
shewed them three heaps, which were em-
blems of their merits. Kalidas's was the
largest, Dandi's was the second, and Bhava
Bhuti's the smallest ; it is said, that after thin
event the three poets became firm friendj
without entertaining any rivalry or envy to-
wards each other. The successors of Bliu-
ja Raja were warlike princes, and patroniz-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
ed Tarious kinds of poetry according to their
taste.
The arts and sciences were introduced
mto Dekkan from the north of India at a
very early period, and Sanscrit poetry, con-
sequently flourished in various provinces,
and in course of time, poetry in the vernacu-
lar tongues was cultivated, in different dis*
tricts of the Telugu and Kamata countrieSji
imd subsequently in Dravida, Haharatta, Gu-
zerat, and other provinces, the numerous
poems in this dialect gave occasion to a
Sanscrit, verse which says, " the poero^s in tho
langu^e of the gods, are like the wild cows
(very rare,) and only to be found in forests
and mountains, while those in the vernacular
dialects are like hogs to he found at every
door." Several works in the learned Ian-
ugagehave been brought to lightby the labors
of learned Europeans, such as Sir William
Jones, Mr. Colebroke, Drs. Taylor and Wil-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
XV
son. Before the birth of Sankarachari there
were many works published by the hetero.
doxical sects of Jainas, Bhaudas, Charrakas
and others. Except the Amera Cosha, and
other dictionaries, their works are not held
in estimation by the Hindus, as the Jainas
are the avowed devisers of the Vedes. AL
though the Sanscrit is a dead language, it
was made use of by various poets at the
Court of Kings, and to write down publio
records, and in deeds of gift, or grants of
htnd to bramins. In the Telugu province
Trinetra Palava caused the Sanscrit lan-
Ugage to flourish, when, he had established the
bramins in his extensive dominions, and this
example was afterwards followed by the
{uinces of the Kakati race, whose metropolis
was Onmgole, they recorded grants and
o4:her deeds of gifts in the Sanscrit language.
Gauapati Deva Roya and his son Pratapa
Rudra^made veiy numerous grants, in which
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
XVI
their genealogy is frequently introduced.
Harihara Roya, who was the founder of
the city of Vedyanagar, and its first sovereign
cleared ail the dense woods about the banks
of the TungaBhadra, and Kristna rivers, de-
vided the land into districts, and built viliar
ges, towns, and colleges for students, and
other public institutions ; in all public re-
cords and instruments, the above named
sovereign never used the vernacular tongue
in the various deeds of gifts he made, which
were inscribed on stone and copper in the
Deva Nagre character.
Under the Mysore princes tiie Sanscrit
language was well cultivated, and several
excellent poems were written under the,
successive sovereigns of that dynasty.
The Andhra or Telugu language is adia-
lect of the Sanscrit, and is very ancient, for
a grammar of it was written by Brihaspati.
Kanva, who lived in the reign of Dushyanti^
D,„i,i=dbv(soogIe
Ving of Pl-atisthana puru or Prayaga like-
wise compiled a copious grammar of thi«
language^ which is said to bare been taugbt
by Skaada, son of Seva, according to Sanba-
dri Khonda, a patt of the Skanda Purai*
Raja Rjynarendra son of Vishu Vardbn,
was a prime patron of the Telugu language.
About the A. S. 2(*28, a bramin named An-
naparya alias Nannya Bbat wrote a Teluga
.grammar^ and he was encouraged by tfas
'above named monarch to translate the Bha<
-rat into Telugu : ^bree books were written
by him, and fifteen completed by Tekkana
Somayagi a bramin of Pature. Since thia
4ime the Telugu language was particularly
"Cultivated, and numerous dratfias and epic
poems were written by noted poets, Krish-
na Deva Roya was also a great patron of
this dialeet, be retained at his court eight
celebrated bards, whom he collectively styled
Asia diggajas, which being interpretated,
means the ei^t elephants, alluding to the
eight elephants, which according to Hindu
xviii
•Biytliolc^y support the ear&. The namsa
'of five of these poets were Allasanl Pedda-
•na, Mukku Temmann, Tennala Ramalinga»
Dhurjati Pingala-Sur£uxa, Bhattu-Murti»
Ayala Kaja and Rama Bhadra. These poets
^ere the authors of numerous works of all
-descriptions of poetry, from lyric odes to
-epic poems. The fiHih mentioned individual
-ivas an inhabitant of the village called Bhat-
itxk PaQa : he became tutor to several inferior
Jmrds, who afterwards dispersed themselves
ito attend the courts of petty paligara and of
iioera of districts, such as Kalyanadul-ga Ro-
ijaditrg, Qutti> Gurarm Konda, KandanoIe»
.&c. and became panegyrists, they were less
esteemed for their poetic powers, than the
great masters who proceded them, but they
,were styled Bhatta-Rajas, and their origin
is fully laid down in a paper, communicated
by the late Colonel Mackenzie, and published
■JQ the Assiatic Annual Register for the year
J804.
The Nayogi bramins, who held ofiicial ap-
pointmeutsj as ministers, ambassadors, and
YtHage accountants liberally patronized poets
and many indiridauls of talents -were maia-
tained by tbem.
Although, the BXaratta language was spolo-
en many £^es ago and. i& a dialect of tho
Sanscrit, it was never brought to- a standard
till the time of Gnaneswan N&madeo, and
SopanadeOj who compiled dictionaries and
Vocabularies of tbat^ tongue, but still no
granunar was in existence until a long time,
afterwards a bramin named. Anuntadeva
Bhatt undertook the task* and composed a
philological treatise, which is frequently re-
, ferred to ; the work is entitled Sarva Sastr»'
Upayogi,andpossesses. considerable merit.
The Maratta princes and chiefs were princu
paUy of a warlike character, and no great
encouragers^ of l&arniagj or poetiy, there
were consequently very few poets produced
in that country, and their talents were prin-
cipally confined, to the praises of deities and
fiimilar subjects.
The materials to compile the present bio*
graphical sketches w«re collected by me,
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
while I followed man ofin:i&l capacity flirongh
different . provinces of the Peninsula, my
late lamented master CoL Colin Mackenzie;
surveyor General of India ; tte unliappy de-
mise of that meritorious officer Ifas for eyf^
destroyed the .prospect which I had been led
-sanguinely to hqpe would-be realized^ but I
•cannot retrace in my memory the various
■scenes wp passed through, during our ardu-
ous labours, without feeling those sensations,
which it is impossible for me to express an(l
which will never pass away from my mind.
The meaner in which I have executed the
task I bad undertaken, I lean an enlightened
pubhc to judge, well knowing they willnot ex-
pect well-turned periods, or elegance of dic-
tion from the pen ofa native. Some typOgra-
jibical errors Will be found in the woilc, which
my harrassed state of mind has prevented me
correcting, and I implore the indulgence of
the Public towards a native^who has endea*
vored to merit approbation.
THE AUTHOR.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
OF
DEKKAH POETS.
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
bvGoogle
OP
DEKKAN POETS.
SANKARACHARI.
J[ HE followiDg Account of the Life, and Acti-
ons of this great Legislator, is priocipally taken
frum a book written in the Sancrit dialect called
'' Saokara Vejaya" or the Tour of Sankarachari.
All the wonderful, and supernatural perfor-
mances related in the work abovenamed, areas
implicitly beleived by orthodos Hindus, as are
the miracles of Mose?, and of Christ, mentioned ki
the Old and New Testaments, by the generality of
Chiistians — It would therefore he presumptuous,
and perhaps impious in me to modify, or alter
oue particle of tbe materials from which I com-
pile this biography, of a prophet, and aage, who
flourished in an age, so remote, as to claim anti-
quity prior to the Cliristian Era. 1 have given
.dbvGoogle
the records as I received them, and find them,
acknowledged by Ae mogt learaed men who
have written on Hindu Theology, and leave it to
the candor of the English reader, to whom this
work is ptlnci^ally addressed, to use their own
judgment in giving credit to the miraculous ad-
ventures of the Hindu sage in question.
Sa'nkahachabi, — A celebrated Hindu poet,
lawgiver, and prophet, was born, accbrdiog to
some authors, at Sfingiri Meru,'a village iii the
subdivision called Hunganad, he was the'sbn of
a Nambur Bramin.
There is great discordance of opinion amongst
Hindu writers respecting the' time of his birth.
The Kiidali Bramins, who' profess to follow, and
teach his system- of religion, declare his appear-
ance to have been about two thousand years
ago. In a Manuscript history of the Kings of
IConga T)hs, in the valuable collection of the late
Colonel Mackenzie, he is said to be con-
temporary with Trivikramad^va Chakravatri,
Sovereign of Kiindinipurain the Dekkan, and
to have been born at Sringeri, a place now in-
d=,GoogIe
Haded in the Mysore Territory, and sitoated oii
the skirtff of the Western Ghauts, -where lie
founded a College that still exists, and assumes
pontifical authority over all the SmartvaBraminS
in the Peninsula. Other accounts have placed
him in a far later age, and some are -even uhwil-*
ling to give him a "higher antiquity than 6ne
thousand years from the present date.
As from traditions and authentic records how-
ever, we are informed that Govendayeti Guru, or
Bpiritual guide of Sankarachari, was the father
of Vikrama,— we are pretty sm-e that he must
have beeQContemporary with the Monarch above
named : these same records also assert Santa-
jachari to have been borii in thfe 95th year of
Vik, Sak. in the cycle year Viliunby, in the
Kerela Des, on the banks of the river Chami,'
and that he was of the family of the Porachor-
loo Bramius.
Sankarachari was invested with the sacerdo-
tal thread at eight years of age by his father,-
and applied himself diligently to the study of
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
6
the Tedes, and made great progress in philbao*
phy and divinity ; while his precocity of inttil-
lect astonished bis countrymen, and was far be-^
yood any stndent of the time. When he was
twelve years old his father died, but Sankara^
chari still continned cultivating the ScienoeSf
and every branch of learning ; and his mind
took such a retigioas tnrn, that even at this ear-i
ly age he wished to forego the world and become
a Synassy. - The supplications and cofflmands of
his parent prevented him putting his design
into execution, but she could not prevail od him
to marry, notwithstanding she used all her endea-
vours to bring about that event, for Sankarachari
was resolved to continue single, that he might
give bis whole attention to religion, study, and
devotional exercises.
One day, when he was returning witt his mo-
ther, from a visit to a relation in a distant village,
thef 'came to a river, which they had forded on
their journey thither, but which was now consider'-
ably swelled by the rains that bad fallen, a very
common case in that country — They stood at
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
the banks for some time, till the torrent had in a
great measure subsided, when they attempted to
Cross i(, but found theniselves neck-deep in water
in avery short time — at this juncture Sankarachari
ealled aloud to his mother, and said, that unless
she gave Him permisson to become a Synassi,
they must both inevitably perish, but that if she
would consent, he would by his prayers save both
their lives. The perilous situation in which they
were placed, induced the mother of Sankarachari
to give her approbation to her sons request, and
it is said, the prophet in consequence swam over
the river, witbhiamotheronhis back. When they
gained the dry groundj he prostrated himself be-
fore his mother, whom he aiterwardscircumambu-
■ lated according to prescribed rules, and then pro-
ceeded to Karnata, where he remained until he
completed his knowledge in various sciences.
After some time, Sankarachari went to KanchI,
"where he confuted numerous priests of the Budha
religion, who wer* put to death in oil-mills, by
Himasitala Maharajah their king, as had been
agreed to by the parties previous to the contro-
db,GoogIe
9
yersy. Ttiese transafctioos are recorded; byinscrip^
tioQs engraved instone, in the temple of SmasaneS'^
. wftr at Seva Kancbi, and at Tenicovalure, on the
opposite aide of the Vegatati riv©r,*not far from the.
1»efore-iBe&tioned place. He aflerwardis cousecratf.
«dan imageof the Goddess K&makshi on a'copper
pedestal, tod ehgraved mysterious sylkbles in thfr
diBcrent arches and rooais, according to the rules,
laid' down in the Adharvna " Vede, and composect
eoght Sanscrit verses in praise of the goddess,,
ichieh are entitled " Kamakshi Astaka." He also
established a lin ff urn at Kaachi, and dedicated it;
to Yalta Am res war, since which ttme, the place ia-,
called Siva Kanchi — Sankarachari went thence
to Ternpati, where hewaa again engaged iii reli-
gious controversy, and overcame the most learned
pundits in disputation, and erected ii crystal
lingum, as the image of Venkateswar. and deno-
minated it Chundra-maleswar, or the crescent
crownedGod: thetemple was, in a conspicuous
position ona,hUl, where thedoctrine of there being
no distiBCtion , between Seva and Veshnu> wa^
d=,GoogIe
taught He directed bis disciples, to ooUeetoovfai*
bations, from every pilgrim ^at was preaeat, at
tiie processioD oftHeelfariot^oreM-ofVeDkateB-
war, and that food should be supplied to indigettt
visitors and votaries. The above-mwitioae4 Saga.
oomposed twent^seVeA TfirsesiDfacmorof Chaa-
dramaleswM- and Vei^ateswar and entitled thtn
^Naluihatraniahi*' aodhe left directioBi.-T-d)attfa«
Unffttm should be wozshipped oiw aioi^ wittt
Belva leaves,
' From this |dace Sankarachtri proceedod t»,
Benares, by the route of tfa« Vindfaya HiUvJUt
order that he might be acquainted wjtfa Dk Iflam*.
ougof the peofde of theportk. He tfcero h^iud-
watch oi the reputation of MawdftHfl Mi9rft> an au-
thor of several worics on logic, and had agr^ de-
sire to visit and form an intimacy nith him— ok.
this design he set out for bis boase, but nhea ai*
rived Hiere, his entrance was .obstructed by eight:
parrots, that were endued with human speech and
iotciligence — Wbile struck with afttouishmentj;
and waiting ijt suspence at the door of MaadauaCsr
house, he observed a cocoanut tree not &r froa
bin, and bong informed that some people in the
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
aesivd thfi a4 of piuQitiiigthefrMitpf the cocqan^jt
tcfie40'ibe:»H5r§pPVflr of ipc4fttfitioq> ^thoiit
bei^. oblige to^litnb the ti'^e—Sankarachari ii^
ciQiBequejice leads .4 jo.ani^y to Valatot^i^pur^ ii^
Cashmere, nih^e h^ mw a toddy^man extracting
jaiee'fh)Di a palm tree by Bi^ripl^ strikiug ttie steia
vitbhia hand. After 6<^u)1im6;^fliiUtara p^snac]*
«31i1mio instmct him qi the muntra, pcpmy^s;
by which he effected this miraculous pei/onDaucQ/
ttjd4t lb saidj, that Sankaiac^ari in time initiaied
iSie toddy-iqan in a very wood^ifiil and profitable
art, i^ich was ttte tmnsmutatioii of metala tnta
^AAyhf merely pouring ob it the jtdce of a cert^
plahf; nhtle pronounciiig certain iqysteridUB 'and
nu^^ical sj^ables.— It is saidy titat the toddy-maii
on beobmibgaa adept'in the turt laat-meotioi)^,
lost itts fonner one, but by ipcaas of ttiie d^W axt he
acquir«:d ma'au&etnred a gieat qaantity of gold,
e^^ruckeoitts; bearing the impresnonofhisomi
figure'.-A short time aflter this, &uikarachari retam-
(^ to the house of MQtklanaMisra,be&re-mett-'
tioiied> situated at Gk>da, on the bank of theNar-
jaada river ; when there he cKinbe^ tlw^ocoaaHt
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
if
tree tKat has already teen noticeiii and liy thi
meahs of its brantih^s jutnpedinto it safbtiii m tKe
honae, where he found llf^claiia Misra> harahgne^
ingalargemultitad'e. Who were seated'to bear bis
doctiihes, aiicl lisitemag id his disootrt-ses with a^
iDiratioi). SaakdrachariVas sooir ehgt^a^n corfi
troversj- with the ihaster of the house oh some ab-
sfrase poitat in philosophy; and comptetfiiy vao^
qiiisbed him in every argument' thiat Was contest*'
feit "the wife of Maiidana Misra perceiving
ibat her husb^id was batied and overcome, im!*
ihediatety stepped forward alid' clianenged San-
Kafacbari to dfspute on toe inysterioua scfenco of
Sexuahiiitercoarse. tt should be observed that
the art of tove among Hindiia is iiultiratej
by the learned as a science the ibost iiitricate and
Sublime; that can engage the niikd of mail, and
jcnany Shdsters have been written on t^kis sobject-by
sages of antiquity, whose texta have been exphtin-
ed by Diimerous commentators— Sankaraichari had
no knowledge of this science, as he was abachetor,
and bad never been' e'ngaged in a love affair
with any female, since Lis bittb — he therefore,
declined the coiitest for the present with the wift
C3
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
of MandenaMiara, agreeiag^ coma to her lathe
course of six niontha, and ^nteqd iritti her on any
point she wished to prc^toee.
Sankarachari after this made ajouraey to a
tatyf vbose kiDg of the name of Araaraga, was juat
dead, and the body placed on a pile of sandal-
vooc^ in order to be burnt Saakarachn, It is
^id, beang in posseaaion of an art, hy whjch hQ
Coold transmigrato his aoul into other bodies,
was detertniaed to avail himself of the oppor.
tanitj that now offered, and giving special direc.
tions to hia own disciples, who- were oollected
Toand him, and whom he entrusted with the
a^oiet to take special care of his own corpse, he
by proiiooDeing tome cabalistic and mysterious
^yUatdes caused his own soul to auimate the dead
hftf^y of the king ; be tiien sprung up, and quitting
the pilc^ proceeded to his palace, where all the
.coortiera and attendants of the late king were in
admiration, at the supposed resuscitation of their
master.
Sankarachari enjoyed all the rights of a bus.
baiwl with, the c^ueen, widow of the late king :
aAer a time however, she began to suspect th^
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
13
tliis was not her real husband, l>nt that some
adept in tbe art had animated b^ husband's
corpse: she consequently gave directions that
every dead body in her dominion should be
immediately bomt^ and her ministers and guards
forthwith proceeded to pat her orders into exe-
ontion. — The disciples iy£ Sankarachari were not
able to conceal the corpse of their master, from the
scmtiny of the queen's servants, and the body
was immediately placed on a pile of feggots to
be burnt The pupils of Sankarachari on this
immediately run to the palace exclaiming aloud
these words, "thou art the true spirit" — Sankara-
chari suspecting the case, immediately re-animat-
ed his own body, which was on the pil6 that had
already been set fire to : finding that now the
6ames were reaching him, he repeated eight
verses in honor of Lakshmi — Kanisimha, or
Vishnu, by virtue of which the fire became im-
potent, and he was enabled to quit the pile un-
hurt in the least degree. He then quitted the
place with all possible expedition, and went ac-
companied by his disciples to the house of Man-
dana Misra, whose wife immediately entered in-
D,q,l,i.:dbvG00gIe
14
lo controversy with him, on tlie subject whicfe
he had previoosiy declined, or rather procasti-
nated. Experience, however, had' by this time
well qualified Sankara to give a ready answer
to all her questions, and he, without hesitation^
pointed out all the topical positions, according
to their revolutions, of passion, and lust The
wife of Mandaua was defeated and abashed, and!
made obeisance to her conqueror and master^
Sankarachari. whose slaves she and her husbanJ
became, in consequence of her defeat, as had
been before stipulated. The Hindu sage ge-
nerously gave them their liberty, and' shortly af-
terwards proceeded to Cashmere, where he met
with the toddy-man before mentioned, who waa
anxious to recover the art he had lost to Sanka-
rachari, and made obeisance to him. Sankara^
charia however paid no heed to him, but went
strait to Valabhipore, where he prayed to the
goddess to come and reside in that part of the
peninsula in which he was born. It is said, tlat
the goddess assented to his request, and inti-
mated to him, that in whatever spot she became
manifest to him, she would rest jSankarachari
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
15
■was mach gratified at the condescension of tEw
goddess, and immediately proceeded towards-
Bedaore, which is a province iii the Camatic.
Wlien he arrived at the hermitage of tiie Rteshi,
called Sringi, on the banks of the river, Tnngai
Bhadra, the goddess Sarada became mani-
fest,, and intimated to him, that she intended" to
reside fliere, and commanded him tobnilda tem-
ple in her honor, which Sankarachari' according-
ly did ; he also raised several edifices in varioos
divisions, where worship was paid to the above-
named deity. After this, he made a tour round
the Indian peninsula, and erected fanes in honor
of the goddess in numerous places, giving them'
distinct denominations. He returned to Srin-
geri and composed a poetical work to celebrate
the incomparable charms and accomplishments
of the wife of king Amaraga. He also com-
piled a commentary on tlie theological works of
Vyasa and intitled it " Sarera — BLashya," m
ivliich was recorded his extermination of the
beretical sects of Jainas, Bowdhas, Charwakas
Kafabkas, Sec. his eminence in philosophy ob-
lained for him the title of " Shanmato-dharaka'"
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
«r coDjfiniier of true tenets. Saukarachari made
mother tonr to the northern countries, and eata-
blished the God Pasupateswar in the Nepaid
Conntrj> thence he went to Kamarupa, in Amud,
where he planted an image of the goddess Ka-
naksbl^and leaving this place, proceeded to Rivit*
laya, a moontaia in which place he erected aiut- .
^iniR,and called it Revalayeswar; afler this he went
to Badaruikedar, on the declivity of what is called,
the Snowy Mountain: in this place he completed
his dieological works, and delivering them to his
disciples, directed that they should he published.
The last accounts we have of this Hindu legisla-
ture, inform us, that he went to the country of Va-
Tans, or Greeks,and that he never returned. As no
authentic narration of his death has been given,ma-
ny pious Hindus believe that he is still in exist-
ence. His pupils Padmapadachari and Hastamalk-
achari returned to Sringeri, where they published
the works of their master, still e&tant : these pious -
men spent the remainder of their lives in abstract,
devotions, and died at the above-named place.
Their descendants have exercised supreme juris-
diction in ecclesiastical matters till this very day-
D,q,l,i.:db,.G00gIC
If
ttBSWARA UPADHVA^
^LBSWASA Upamta floorished ib the seventh
fcfentury of die Saltvakana rcrd, aiid was a na^
tWe of the town of iSleswai-, irfiich is situated to
tt« *eistwwd of Srisaile. JFVom his InfaQcy he '
made divioity his particular study, and in a short
time, attttiaed to sQch high degree o^Jifoficiency
{m learning, that he be'came the preceptor of nd-
meroiu pupils, and if^ styled by way of emineuce-,
EUswara tlpadhya. This surname, however,
which conferred ft dignity on his native village^
has tiirbwn the veil of oblivion over his re>.|
iwme> which hds been lost to prosterily, who
oftly ire6ogniz6 hiol by the titld before-mentioned.
- This philoioplief and }M)^t made taiany com-
MehUries 8h tlie bsxt of Gobtama, called " Smri-
tiDuriMina** or the "Mirror of Memory," and af-
ter he had completed his fortieth year, he visited
Bajas of different provinces, and at their several
caartg, confuted every other sett that taught
doctrines , contrary to orthodoxy. This poet
wrote a geographical treatise, and in the topo-
gfapby of the Telugu country, divided it into
l>
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
18
handreds tttuts, or such .as Vigenad, ValEuia4
&e. the records of tbesfe divisions ai% preserved in
the archives of Kondavede, and in the proviaces
west of the KristQa river, such as Orungole, Ve-
mdavada, Heswar — they are written in the pro-
vincial dialect, and are still in the possession of
village accountants and other authorities.
Although the Telugu country has undergooff '
several- revolutions, and been under different
dynasties^ yet the sub-divisions made by Eles-
wora Upadhya, with tbeir various appellationfl,
have been retained. The lands whidi were
granted, by different kings and nobles, as a re-
ward for the labors and valuable works of oui
poet;, he made over to Bramins whose descend,
ants have preserved tbeir title deeds to this
very day.
. Eleswara Upadhya taught Sanscrit versifica- ,
tion and . prosody to the Princesses of Raghu-
pati Peta, Narayana^Ga^, and other places, on
whjich account he was much respected by those .
distinguished Personages, and received rich re-
wards from -them. This Poet also established a
private College, where five hundred pupils were
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
19
instructed in all the branches of scientific and
elegant literature, especially the Sanscrit Ian*
guage;and it is said, that, even the female mem-
bers of this Poet's family, spoke that dialect as
fluently as their vernacular tongne, from
constant^- hearing discourses in it ; for
Eleswara wodM allow no other but thelearued
ktngaage to be spoken eren in colloquiaf con-
versation, having a sovereign contempt for every
other, conceiving the same to be prohibited hj-
the I]iudn law.
It is said, that when Eteswara Upadhya foun^
some of his scholars duH' m leamnig their
lessons, fbr want of a retentive memory, he searclK
cd in ancient books, and discovered in a very old
volume, that treated on the occult' sciences, a
recipe to remedythis evil^ which was oil extractetf,
fVom the red seeds of the Joiispati plant, and
mixed with other ingredients and"then used
in culinary purposes. — When the scholat-s of
Eleswara made trial* of this excelhnt medicine,
which was eaten with their daily fiaod; it is
reported that their heads becEune clear, so that
E2
j:,GoogIe
they fea^dily performed every twk set- them, and
piad« great progres* in tlie^ leanmig.
£leswara took very great pains in instructing
his pupils, and tiie &meof his ancomouB meri^
spread around through different provinces, and
at last reached the ean of Khan Khan> aa^ pf t^
generals in the army of the renovn^ EatgfCtor
AkhjfT, and %greatSancntscholar,^ho was very
desirous to see this celebrated p^ilqsopher tin^ .
^et, and on that account made a long journey,
to Upadhaya, accompanied by a imqp,eroHSi;etinue..
When this Chief came to the presence of Eleswa*
ra^ be made prostration, but the other in ahaught
ty tone exclaimed — " Mlech^Kshaya-Astu,'*
(let BarbajiiWis be destroyed)^ The General
unhesitatingly fepUed, '^ Ast°-:P^uchami-Tat
purusha," (may meii b? slain by Ihem) Eteswara
Upadhya then rejoined, " Mlecha-mCTiti Sese
ha^" (let Barbarians destroy each other). Kbaq
iOian could make no r^ply ta (his retwt, but
repeat^ this short sentence, l^ahasrapat, o^
God of 1^ thousand beads, thousand eyes,
aod thousand rays) The poet -on this said " Cbala*
^ ^hkita Ohiuna Tava Syne phar^ti" — wfaicl\
Drained bvGoogIc
31
vwda bear the folioifing several interpretation:'*
."when yonr army marches, the god of a thousand
h^ads (namely, Sesh^ the serpent, that supports
;Earth) trembles, tiie god of a thoueand eyes ,
-(Indra) is moved, and the god of a thousand rays
(Surya or the Sun) is dispersed. The Moslem
;generalKhan Khan was highly delighted with
this compliment, and conferred on the poet
Eleswara many valuable presents, and the title
■of "EleswaratlpadhyaSeromani" orthe principal
gem of the sages of Eleswara, and then returned
. to the Emperor's Court.
After this Eleswara Cpadhya employed his
pen in writing a dramatical work, entitled
" Geresa Natuka," which celebrates in beautifiil
versification, the nuptials of the god of Sresaile.
. This poet had no male issue, , but only
daughters, one of whom named Nachi, became
unfortunately a widow, when she had just arrived
at the age of puberty, and she resolved to put
an end to her life, being inconsolable at his loss,
and of the consequent deprivation of all hopes of
having children, and enjoying domestic hap-
piness j but her father dissuaded her from her
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
purpose^ remiadin^ her that suicide ■met %
beiuous crime in the eyes of the Almighty. Nashi^
became at length reconciled to life, and was re-
solved to devote the remainder of her years tO'
philosophy and study : she had heard from her
father, that by swallowing a large quantity of
Jotishpati oil, a person will either obtain a quick
genius, or die in the space of five hoars ; she had
the fortitude to make the trial, and took a strong-
dose of the before-mentioned oil. In a short
time, however, she felt a buring pain through
her whole frame so acutely, that she could not
bear it, and in a state almost frantic, jumped
down a well, that was at the back of their house,
and remained immersed in water for two hours^
in the mean time the poet missing his daughter,
whom he loved excessively, left off teaching his
disciples, and went in search of her to the back
ofthe house, and calling out her name Nachi,
the damsel answered him from the bot<
torn of the well, and apprized her father of what
she had done. He (li:ected her to remain for
five hours in the well, and tlien to come out, whic"
she did, and found herself entirely rid of her
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
DnroiD^f paiDS. It is said, that by the virtue of
t^s ei), the daughter of Eleswara attained to suck
'Wonderful capacity, that she shortly became a
proficient in all the arts and sciences, and able
to discourse on the most abstruse point in natu-
ral philosophy. She likewise became a poetess, -
and wrote an.- epic poem, which she entitled Na.
chi Naitaktt, in which she recorded in elegant
Shaascrit yerse, all the events of her own life
fi-om her birlii till her widowhood. She af.
terwards obtained theconsentqf her father to go-
on a pilgnmage to all the holy places in the pe-
ninsula, and it is said, that in the course of her
tour, she overcame in controversy many learned
pundits at varioas places, confuting every one,,
who came in opposition to her. After receiving
rewards form U»e kings of Delhi and , of Joya-
poie, she returned home, much admired for her
talents and ready wit.
EleswEtra Upadby had another daughter, in:
whom be was more unfortunate, for it appears, that
through some treachery she bad been married to
a person of an inferior cast, by whom she bad.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
94
When the poet diacovered the real rank of tts
son-in-law, he revealed the whole circumstance
to his daughter, who through shame put an end
to hei own life, and that of her children, by set.
ting fire to the house in which they dwelt, and
perishing altogether in the flames.
Eleswara, near the close of his life wrotb
a code of laws, entitled '" Eleswara Vijaya,"
in wliich the distinctiona of all the tribes
an.d relationships was minutely examined. This
work has been quoted by various anthors,
but. TiotwithstauiUng its celebrity, the original is
unfortnnately lost, as now not a single copy can
be found, although much search has been made
for it This poet died as much respected for his
unimpeachable character, as the number of his
pupils, and his prodigious learning.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
ANAM BHATT.
This poet was a braiuin, and bran, according
to tradition, in the village called Garikapad»
Which was formerty in the dominions of Nizam
Ally Khan, but is now under the ooutrol of the
Raja ofChintapilli. He flourished in the fifteenth
Century of Salivahana, during the reign of the
Chalukya Kings. For twelve successive years
he, studied logic^ in the scboots of Kundinipura,
or Kondavede, during which time he made
great progress in his learning, and in time wrote
a commentary) or a treatise on logic, called
* Tarka Sangraha: — the exposition in question
fjonsistrd of about two thousand verses, which
were sent round for examination, and perusal to
atl the celebrated logicians in the Tulngu coun-
try. This work obtained universal approbation,
and after it had been carefully revised, he era-
ployed various copyists to transcribe it, for the
purpose of being distributed to different quarters.
Anam Bhatt established a school for logic in
his native town, where bis scholars went through
a regular course of instruction, and were made
j:,GoogIe
ae
proficients in th6 sdence above-Darned, Ids own
conmientaries was the book principally used in
this academy. When he was fifty-five years of
age, Anam Bbatt, together with several of faia
disciples visited the mountain of Srisaile, where
a celebrated idol of Seva was established; on his
return be employed his time entirety in his stu'-,
dies, except a few hours m the morning and
evening, which he aUoted to devotion and religi-
ons exercises/
TUs poet did not visit the Court of any kind,
nor seek rewards from any men of note, beii^-
content to maintain himself and femily on his
patrimony, which was ample and quite adequate
to all bis wants. He lived happy> and contend-
«dj ttnd had ouny children, who all survived liim.
3ia,i,i=dbvGoogIe
SITIKANT.
This poet was a Smartvabramin, abd iababi-
tant of Gandikota, which is the chief town of a
distriet of the same name, which hasbeeo ceded
to the British Goveroineiit by Nizam Ally Khan
-^Sitikant flourished in the fifteenth century
of the SalirahaDa sera, and. was born '•a the towa
first mentioned.
He tost his father daring his infaacy, and be«
ing without friends, was consequently very di<i'
tressed, and so neglected, that ho contracted idle
habits, and was without any education whateverj
nntii he was nearly grown up ; he at last reflect-
ed that he should be despised for his ignorance-,
and made a journey to Benares of Kasi, where
after passing through the rudiments of the Sao-
crlt language, he studied logic very sedulously
and' after a corsiderable time wrote a treatise on
that science; the work was named " Turka
Bbasha Tikka" by him, but his. disciples and
other people called it « Siti Kanthjyara," as it
was written by Siti Kanta> the book contains six
tUovjsand verses, and in it every branch of logic
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
is separately treated of. H« bad many disciples,
to whose instruction he conflned the whole of
his time, as he never entered in the matdmonial
state. He died at Benares on the bants of tbe-
river Ganges. After his death, his works wera
mach sought after by the pandits of Hindoos*-
tan, as the 9tyle of them was plaia and perspi-
CQons, and the versification very soft aad har-
monious.
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
39
BHATTOGI DIKSHAT.
The above was a bramin, and native of the
K^haratta country ; be was tlie officiating^ minis-
ter of a temple, which office descended to him in
hereditary succession. He adopted the title of
his ancestors, and applied very diligently to the
study of the sciences. There was not at that time
amy profound scholar in his native country, from
whom he could obtain instruction, so after read'
ing several poems, by which he acquired a know-
ledge of the Sanscrit langnage, he proceeded to
Benares and studied philosophy. Bbatogi Dik-
shat was possessed of an ancommon fine genius,
and composed an elaborate treatise on grammar,
which he called " Sedhanta Kowmudi," consist-
ing of abont twelve thousand verses. This work
was very much approved of by the learned pun-
dits of Benares, by whose advice it was publish-
ed and disseminated throughout Hindustan, and
became much in vogue ; at the latter part of his
life, this poet gave up his time to philosophy
and contemplation, and died at Kasi, in the fifty-,
sixth year of his age.
d=,GoogIe
30
NAGOGI BHATT.
This poet was also a Maharatta bramia, and
boro io the fifteenth century of Salivahana. At
an early age he studied the Vedas, and when
arrived at maturity engaged himself aa officiating
priest to people of the first class; by this em-
ploymentj however, be gained a very scanty sub-
sistence, and his poverty made bim despised- H'e
consequently felt disgusted, and giving up his
vocation, entered as a student, the coll^;« at Va-
ki, which is esteemed a very holy place by the
Hindus, aa it is situated at the source of the river
Krishna. At this place he studied all the fine
arts and sciences, especially poetry. When be
was forty-five years of age, he visited Benares,
where he principalty confined bis attention to-
Grammar and diligently perused the book writ-
ten by his countryman Bhattogt Dekshat, and
made an ample commentary on it: he wrote
also a work which he called Manorama, which
was an exposition on the text before-named, it
contained about seven hundred verses, and was
much used by the Students at JHythaH.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
si
After he ^miB fiftjr-five years old, he studied
the Mimtra Sastra, or fonnula of various prayers
to Gods and Goddesses, and about this time he
wrote a commentaTy on the Sapta Sapti, or Chundi
Pat, which is a chapter of the Marcandaya
Purana. He died at Benares in the sixty-second
year of his age, and it is supposed that severe
disappointments in a great measure hastened his
dissolution. The foregoing account of Nagogi
Bhatt is taken from traditional records, preserved
in the college of Nadya.
d=,GoogIe
SOMANAT BHAtT. *
Was a Teliaga bramia, and inhabitant ofTeha.
ha Lanka, in the districts of Rajamahendiy. Th6
pundits of that place say, that he was born there
in the twelfth centarj of Salivahaaa, and was
long^ in indigent circumstances, having iuherlted
from hjy ancestors only a small portion of land^
which had been given them by a former nder of
that country.
When he was grown up, he had not the
means of defraying the expences of a wedding,
and being desirous to marry, forthwith proceeded
to a kinsman and implored him to get him married.
By the exertions of this relation, and some other
bramins, who revered the memory ofhis forefathers
Saraanat Bhatt, was recommended to the notice
of a great man, who compassionated his cas^
furnished the means of paying the charges of the
nuptials, and got him ' espoused to a damsel of
respectability. W hen the ceremony was conclud-
ed, the bridegroom went according to custom,
and prostrated himself before his mother-in-law,
but she being a mercenary woman, despised our
poet, and averted her face when he approached*
DiqiiiicdbvGoogIc
83
Stdng with indignation, and sorrow Samanat
Bhatt proceeded to Benares, where he diligently
fbrthe space of twenty yeara studied Philosophy,
Theology, and the liberal arts. When he was
a perfect master in all these branches of sciences,
he returned to his native couotry, and on his way
visited, severally, the Rajahs of Tekale, M&n-
dassa, and Chikati ; and exhibited his learning
and talents before them : from each of tbeso
Princes he obtained magnificent presents, a Pa-
lankeen, ^id large sums of money. He purchased
gold bangles ornamented with flowers in fret
work and presented them to his mother<in-law, '
and the araricioos woman became so delighted
with the wealth, and learning of oar Poet, that she
heaped blessings on him incessantly. After this
Samanat established a school of philosophy, and
enjoyed a considerable degree of reputation. Ho
wrote a second commentary on the Memansa
philosophy, and this work is entitled, " Somana-
thyam.*' This treatise is much used by students,
and procured for our Poet a considerable degree
of reputation. Somanatbad several children and
P.
db,GoogIe
died at the age of sixty in his natire town. His
descendants are still- living — The work written
by this Poet is in much esteem with the natives
of the Delckan.
SAKALYA MALA.
"Hiis Sanscrit Poet was a native of Virnpak-
sam near-Anagondi, be floarished in the tfair*
teenth century of SalivabaDa^ and was employed
ai the Court of Hanchara Roya, as an expoun-
der of Law texts. — He composed a work called
" Gajendra-Vejaya" which is a detail of a victory
obtained by an Elephant through the interpositi-
on of the God Vishnu — The book is written
partly in prose and partly in verse — Sakalya.
Mala enjoyed a considerable degree of reputa-
tion ; but as his attention was principally confined
to his official duties —very little is known of the
events of bis life, except that he died in his na-
tive country.
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
AKSHOBHYA DEKSHUT.
Was a Mardhava bramia and inhabitant of
Sravaoore. He studied philosopbj from a very-
early age, and ia said to have beea a pro&ctent
in the Kamatic, and Maharata languages. The
whole of his time was occupied in literary pur-
suits. He wrote severd works on tlie tenets of
the Mardhava sect, but his couipositioas are very
acftrce aod hard to be now procured. He was
an able controvertist, and def'^nded his own
system of Theology, with considerable talent.
He is reported to have died in Lis native village
Sravanore^
YALLAYA.
YaUaya was a native of the town of Vijayatu
agram, and lived in the year of Saiivahaua.
1390, while Vinxpaksha Roya- v.a=i king oi Ana-
gonoi, this i idividual was au a.^pt i^ j ::<:rology
and Astvoac-^y, lo v.hicu Sciences i.3 i,3galar:y
applied from iiia very Iiiia..-.yv Ra c-tute seve-
ral treatises Oil Aairono.jy, ai-.i aiv.6iig them a
coiamcii'..-!iy on ttie solar sjat^m called Surya,
F I
"D,„i,i=dbvGopgIe
96
Sedhanta. Tbia woric is in great repute throii|;Ii-
ont the Indian Peninsula, and from it alt cal-
culations are made in framing Almanacks. Yal-
laya did not cultivate any other branch of the
Sciences except Astrology and Astronomy. He
died at Vijayanagrom,
GAJAPATI PRATAPA RUDHA
Was a celebrated sovereign of the Kalinga
Country, who reigned in the fourteenth century
of Salivahana, be introduced a thorough refOT-
u\atioa io the administration of justice through-
out his dominions, and established a. regular
code of laws, which tev,i yf^ entitled '* Saras-
vati^Yilas." This Royal Author likewise conv-
posed a treatise on sexu^d intercourse.
KSHIRA SWAML
This poet was a bramin and flourished during .
the reign of Pratapa Rudra. He wrote a Sans-
crit Dictionary which he entitled " Kshira Swa-
mi Nig^uinti,'' consisting of about two thousand
verses in addition to which he wrote a commenta-
ry on the ** Anura cosha." Kahira Swami ia
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
ay
aaid to have Attained to a good old age vttKout
being afflicted with any siekuess owing princi<
pally to Ills regular and temperate mode of life.
SAUVAHANA.
Wa9 the lordof an sera stiU m nse thrdngh*
ought the Dekkan. He wrote a work entitled',
Salivabana Sapta Sati, on Rhetoric^ which like
the **Durga Snpta Supti," consists of exactly
seven hundred verse».
BHAS-KARACHABI.
Was a bramin astronomer and inhabitant of
Beder, a town in the Nizam's dominions. He
studied arithmetic, astronomy and astrology^
from his infancy, with such diligence and profit,
that he was at last enabled to compose treatises
OD those sciences. His work on arithmetic was
called " Bija Ganita.'* He had no male issue,
but only a daughter named Lilavati, who was
herself childless. Bhaskara, in consequence
was resolved to perpetnate bis daughter's name,
by dedicating to her a book, which is one of
the seven sorts of offsprings, mentioned in Hindu
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
texts, his work on arithmetic, he inscribed to his
daughter in A. S. 1036, imd the book was called
Litavatu After this be composed a treatise of
astrology, which was published in A. S. 1050,
and entitled Sidhanta-Siromani, and shortly
afterwards Bbas-Karachari died at Beder in the
sixty-fifth year of his age.
VARAHA-MIIHRA,
"Was a bramin astronomer, who linsd in A S.
1050, he possessed a vigorous intellect, and his
judgment has been much admired both by his
contemporaries and by posterity. Although his
knowledge of the Sanscrit language was not pro-
fojand, yet few men had such deep insight into alt
the branches of physics and natural philosophy as:
Varaha-Mihira.
He wrote an elaborate work which h©
called " Varaha Mehira Sanhita," in which was
compriseda dissertation on the solar system, and
the phenomenaof nature— he likewise compiled a
treatise on astrology and entitled it Bhrihat ja-
taka."
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
39
GANIEA NANDA,
Was an arithmateciaD who 6oQrisbed at the com*
meDcement of the fourteenth ceota ry of the s re Of
Salivahana. During his in&Dcyfae was well in-
structed ia the Sanscrit tongue, and in his youth
composed an astrological work entitled " Ganita
Ananda : it was at first, circulated amongst his im,
mediate friends and relation, but in course of
time it was transcribed and dissimioated among
the learned.
KADAMBA.
' This illustrious individual was the prime-minis
ter to Gazapati Pretapa Rudra, he was a native cf
Kolinga and was A man of great power and influ-
ence. He was an excellent Astronomer and
shewed a predeliction for that Science from his
very infancy. He composed a work which he
called " Jotisha Amava," or the Ocean of As-
foonomy and in the preface to that book it is
related that he was bom in the year 1^84 of the
Salevafaa nra. — This work is in mach repute and
very useful to Hindu Almanack compilers.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
40
PURUSHOTTAMA
This was a sovereign oftheKaHoga country
fvhose capital was Katack. He was by cast an
Orissa KhaUi^ and studied Sanscrit from bis in-
^ncj. Being desisrous of compiling some work
for th e use of private Sanscrit scbools, he at the
request of several celebrated Pundits; wrote a
Dectionary iotitled "Purushottama Neghantu,"
which was published in the eleventh century of
Salivabana and tfais> king died shortly afterwards.
KALYANA MALA.
This was a bramin and native of the Ealinga
country, he flourished during the reign of Anan-
ga Bhima, king of Kalinga, who built the tem-
ple of Jagunath in the year 1119 of the Sili-
vabahan sera, which ia proved by inscription, be
composed a work on sexual intercourse, and
called it Ananga Ranga, after bis royal master.
VARADA CHARYA,
Was a dramatic poet of the Vystnava sect and .
an inhabitant of Kanchi, he lived about the time-
of Krishna Roya Maharajah King of Vydyamu
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
e&r or ADagondi, and was descended from a pure
tribe of learned Vystnavas, and related to Tata-
cfeari, chief guru of the Panagonda kings. Varada
Cliarya studied Sanscrit poetry from his very in-
fancy, and as he was possessed of a quick genius
and retentive memory, the works of all the best
poets were very familiar to him — His imaginati-
on and invention were so fertile, that he could
compose a hundred verses in one hour, and a
single day was sufficient time for him to.complete
a regular poem. He wrote a poem called " Va-
santa Teleka," descriptive of the great festival
of Ranganath and the procession of his car.
In this work the author has given great proofs of
his powers of invention and talent at florid dic-
tion, and introduced in it some very sublime sen-
timents and reflections, blended with descriptions
of the numerous concourse of people, of different
nations and tribes, their complexions ; the fashions,
of their dresses ; appearance and languages ; the
dalliance and quarrels of lovers; the tricks of
juglers ; antics of buffoons, and postures of dan-
cers ; the fights of rams and cocks ; dramatic ex.
G
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
43
tibitionsj triumphal arches and decorations; Ubi
processTon of the chariot; the acclematioDs of the
multitude j the beauty of the women ; the strew-
ing and scatteriag of flowers, and various other
subjects. This elegBnt poem was dedicated to
the God Ranganath, and a copy of it circula-
ted to every Vishnu temple ill the Peninsula.
It was so much admired that several Rajahs made
the autlior very valuable presents, which made
him rich ard independent the remainder of his
life, towards the close of which, Varada Charya
andeviatingly employed his poetic powers in
works in praise of the God Vishnu. — This re-
iiowned bard died at Kanchi in the fifty-fourth
year of his age.
VIDYARANVA, or MADHVABHATT.
Was a native of a village called Pampa, which
is situated on the bank of the Tunga Bhadra
river, he was born in the I3th century of Sili-
^-ahana, and flourished during the reigns of Ha-
rihara-Roya and Bukaroya, Kings of Vedyana-
gar. Madhvabhatt was in very distressed cir-
cumstancesfrom his birth, till he was forty years
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
43
of age ; he had a niimeroiis progeny, for whose
support he was oecessitated even to bi'g alms.
"While in thjs condition, it is said, that a stranger
who was a prophet, and who had come to wor"
ship the God Verapaksheswer, one day visited
faim, and taught him certain formula of prayer'
through which, wealth and honors could bQ
attained. Madhavabhatt being duly initiated'
devoted his whole attention for a considerable
time to the abstracted devotion of the image of a
goddess, and it is said, that the divinity being gra-,
tified with his prayers, became manifest in a human
form, resembling his wife, and conferred on him the
gift of wisdom, and pre-eminent knowledge, and
changed his name to Vidyaranya, which.being in-
tegrated means a forest of knowledge. This poet
wrote a very elaboi"ate and luminous, commentary
on the Vedes, and entitled it Vedabliashaya. Hb
assumed the habit of a Sanyasi and renounced all
secular concerns, and his time was entirely taken
np by intense devotion. It is said, that he had
another interview with the Goddess, who revealed
various event-, and discovered to him some hidden
G 8
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
44
treasure, which Vidyamya bestowed oa a stepherd
of the name of Haribara, who aflerwards became
founder of Vidyanagar, and sovereign of the city'
When he was about sixty years of age, he com-
posed fifteen kinds of theological works, and called
them Paachadasi, which be taught to numerous
scholars, hci also wrote a commentary on the text
of Parasara, and called it " Parasara Madhaviam."
This work was compiled for the use of Bokaroya.
For that monarch, Vidyaranya, also wrote a work
entitled Vidyaranya KJalagnana, which was n
prophecy of the revolutions of the kingdom^ q,nd the
deeds of the various sovereigns which ruled over
it, till the subjugation of the country, by the Ma-r,
^omedans.
Harihara having been much obligated ta
Vidyaranya, a,nd admiring histalentsand worthy
chosehiu] as his prime<minister, and intrusted all the
a,flfairs of state to him. His leasure hours Vidya-
ranya devoted to the instruction of several stu-
dents. By the good management of this minister^
Harihara enjoyed great prosperity, and had his
dominions extended on all sides. Vidyaranya.,
after some time, made a tour round several holy
db,GoogIc
45
places, and at last returned to Parapa, with seve-
ral individu^d9, whom he had confuted incontro-
versy, and who become converts to his opinioug.
' When he found himself incapable, through
age of composing any other works, he took
great pains in correcting, and revising the lite-
rary productions, he had already published,
and after having a great number of copies tran-
scribed, he had some buried in the bowels of the
earth in different places, some secreted in exca^
vations of rocks, and the remainder, distributed m
mutts or colleges and holy places, reservirig a
few copies for the use of his scholars. The tea
last years of his life, he entirely devoted to devo-
tions and religious contemplations on the divini-
ty ; he died at Pampa, at the age of ninety.
Some of this author's worlds were dug out of a
pit, by the emissaries employed by the late Col;
Mackenzie, to collect literary materials in ths
ceded districts, in the year I8I1. The characters
in which these works werewritton, are mixed and
obsolete, and but few individuals can now be fjund
able to read them : the late Col. Mackenzie, how-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
48
ever, by employing the most learned natives, ha«
been able to get the greater part of these ma.
nuscripts translated.
VIDAYANAT.
This poet was a bramin, and a native of Eka-
aelanagur, or Orongole ; he flourished in the
13th century of Salivahana, during the reign of
Pratapa Rudra. Vidyanat, from his infancy, stu-
died the Yedes, bqt a short time after he was
invested with the sacerdotal thread, he unfortu-
nately had a lawsuit with his cousin, by which
he lost his small patrimony, and fell into very
great distress. At the age of sixteen he began
to read the Ramayana and other Sanscrit poems^
in which are comprised the actions of ancient
kings and heroes, and afterwards diligently ap.
piied to the study of the Sciences. When he
was forty years of age, he composed some ver^
ses on cosmogony, which were very sublime and
harmonious, and mucli admired by his contempo-
raries : by this publication he raised a small sum
of money for his maintenance. Vidaynat had a
daughter, and as he could not realize suflScient
U.,:,,l,;.d:,G00gIC
47
money by his lesser compositions, to defray the
expenses of her wedding, he felt very unhappy,
and knew not what to do, he however recol-
lected an observation made by an ancient poet^
that a person should not court the favor of the
lower orders of Society, but should seek tl>e
patronage of kings and exalted personages, for
the proverb says, "that a poet, a damsel, and a
creeping plant, cannot thrive without a protector."
Vidayanat accordingly wrote an epic poem, and
called it Pratapha Rudreyam, in celebration of
the heroic actions of the King Prataparudra,.
this elaborate poem is one of the most finished
pieces of florid composition in the Sanscrit lan-
guage. It abounds with metaphors, similes, and
tropes of all kinds, with fine descriptions of the
victories of the monarch over foreign potentates,
interspersed with various episodes, in which love
scenes are beautifully protrayed. While this
work was composing, one day this poet was sit-
ting at court, near the minister of the king.
The poet Sivia enterered the royal presence,
awl being a native of Eleswara agrahara, which
,Coo;ilc
48
were suffering under some grievances, he repeat*
ed (he following Sanscrit verse : —
Navalakgka Vkitnardharadhe hadht
The chief of nine lacks of bow-holdcri
Pridktoim Sasati Vera Rudra Bhupe
I'hc heroic Rudra ruling trhite the earth
Abhavat Parama Agrahara Peda
Excessive burdens ojipreBsed the Agrahara (towna of
br«min)
It is said, tiiat tbe king Vera Rudra immedi-
ately ordered the lands of the bramins to be
restored to them free of rents. At this moment,
Vjdyaoat added the following verse :—
Kucha Kiiinbheehu Kurunga Lockat
'f he vaied breasta^f the aatclope eyed diimBela.
Which eutirely converted the meaning of the
former verses, for the word agrahara has a dou-
ble signification, viz. lands of bramins, or
conspicuous necklaces, the poetry composed by
the aggrieved hramin, was a reproach to tbe king,
but with the a'tditionmade by Vidyanat, it be-
came a great compliment, as will be seen when
the verses are taken together, and keeping in
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
49
uind the double meaning ofthe word *' Agraha-
ra."
NaTalakiha DhRnurdhftradhfl nadha
Predhwim Sasali Ver& Kadra Bhape
Abliavat Pwama Agrohara Fida
Kucba Kumbhfltbu Karaoga lochatianaia
The chief of aioe lacks ofboir-liotderi
Tbe heroic Rudra while ruling the earth
EjLCMsiva burdeaa of necklticei oppressed
The TBied bieasts ofthe Ante loped -eyed daiaiels-
Pratapa Rudra was much pleased with the
quick genius ofthe poet, and jnade him mt^ni-
ficent presents, much to the gratification and
admiration of the whole court. The king encou-
raged Vidayanat to proceed on with the epic
poem, and promised him a suitable reward when
it should be finished. While oar poet waa
writing this book, Pratapa Rudra was taken
prisoner by the Emperor of Dehli, with whom he
was at war. The king was in captivity three
years, after which he returned to his kingdom,
and being disgusted with the world, he resigned
all secular affairs, and made over his dominions to
his brother Anainadeo, to whom he recommend-
.Google
TO
ed the poet Vidayanat. Pratapa Radra being
much pleased with the productioD of the above-
named poet, delivered to him his ring, with
authority to draw what mooey he pleased, fix»m
the bankers of Orongole, by which means
Vidaynat obt^ned sufficient, for the expences of
his daughter's marriage) and his own comfort and
livelihood. The King Anamadeo directed seve-
ra! copies of this author's epic poem to be tran-
scribed and distributed through different pro-
vinces, and held in very high estimation, Vi-
dayanat, whom he made principal of a college^
which he founded and endowed, and which could
boast of numerous students, who were maintain*
ed on the foundation. This poet died in the
fifty-fifth year of his age, during the reign of
Anamadeo.
VEDANTACHARI.
Tliiswas abraminofthe Vystnava Sect, and tt
native of Kanchi. He lived about the time of Vi-
dyaronga. After he had been invested with the
Sacerdotal thread, he diligently perused poetical
works, especially those in which the actions of
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
51
the kings of the solar and lunar races are re-
corded. He likewise studied grammar and lo^
gic. Whenthispeetatfaanedto theage offorty,
he visited the courts of the Karnatic, audDravida
princes, where, it is said, he confuted various pun-
dits in religious controversy. He gave out that
be was bora of the spiriit ofVenkata fewar; for
the purpose of reforming- the ercors that had
erejJt into the- Vistpava religion, for the litesper-.
fbnued by the Tangul brahmins, weje entirely
e<H-mpted by the interference of the satanees, or
fourth class. He established a. pure system of "
rituals, and wrote precepts to be observed by
kings, andpeopleof all classes, which were much.
approved offer their justice and liberality. Ve-,
dantachari after ^ia, resigned all secular con-,
cerus, and' retired to a hut, at some distance fronir
Kanchi, where he subsisted on alms, given by se*
ven bramins, which was quite sufficient for hint
Qnd bis: wife, and a disciple, who constantly resid-
ed with them. Vedantaohari's mode of life fre-_
qnently excited the compassion of individuals^
who admired bis talents, and as he had made it %
B3
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
rale never to receive money from any one, b«t
only such articles of food, as were necessary for
his daily subsistence ; they often secreted pieces
of gold or silver coin among the rice they g^ve
him. Whenever Vedantachari discovered the
mon-y, he used unvariably to throw it away, as
did his wife, if the poet had failed to discover the
stratagem exercised towards him by the charita<
ble, for she was a virtuous woman, and obeyed
her husband's commands in every respect. Ve-
daa!acliari hi this state of seclusion, composed a
theological work, and called it Vedanta Bhashya ;
be also wrote a drama, called Sankalpa Surya--
doya, which is much admired, and used by all the
indents, in the colleges in the south of India:
This poet, it is said, wrote one hundred and three
books, on various subjects, most of which are en-
tirely lost. The latter years of Vedantachari
•were employed in religious contemplation, and
becoming infirm through age, be resolved to as,
-sume the habit of a Synassi, and renounce the
world, he obtained his wife's consent, s^d put
this resolution into eseculion : having first deb-
vered her to her aged father aud brother. Vi,
j:,GoogIe
53
dantacliari died in the seventieth year of his age,
at Kanchi, and his disciple Varadachari, minister-
ed to him tilt the hour of his death. This faith-
ful and affectionate pupil wrote a book, entitled
Vedantavijaya, in which all the good qualities
ofhis preceptor were set down ; in it is stated,
amongst various other praiseworthy traits, that
Vedaotachai-i never courted the favors of princes,
nor rec.ived any presents from them, but that he
subsisted in early life by the produce of his owq
labors, and latterly on eleemosynary aid. la
this boot were also set down the various texta
respecting religious rites, that were expounded
by the above-named guru.
LAKSHMENARRAYA NAPPA
Was a native of Magodi, and son of Venta-
tappa, he was. by cast a Neyogi bramin, and
dwelt in the Karnata country for a considerable
time 3 he flourished in the 18th century, and
was contemporary with the Mysore prince, Nan-
daraj^ Wadyar, at whose court he had an
official situation. This poet made himself mas-
ter of the Kariiata language, i^nd afterwards^
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
64
studied Sanscrit in the school of Magodi. Ho
was possessed of a fine geaias, and as he had
perused nearly all the best poems extant, he
composed some very nice hymns and songs on
different Gods. These effusions were generally
admired, and coming to the notice of Nandarar
jab, that prince sent for the poet, and after pre-
senting him with robes, jewels, and other valu-
able presents, appointed him . to the post of
Sastri of the Court. At the command of this
king, Lakshananarraya Nappa composed an epio
poem, entitled Nanda Rajab Yaso, Bhusbana,
which being interpreted, means the omamenta
fame of Nanda Raja, this was a very elaborate-
work, for every verse of it bears a double signi,
fication, one way alluding to the king's domestic
concerns, and in another sense to that monarch's
public transactions. This work consists of five
cantos, the whole of which was completed ia
the course of one year, and dedicated to his
Sovereign. For this performance Lakshmenar-
raya received from the king the grant of a tract
(rf land in the district of Magodi, besides the
"salary he regularly enjoyed. After this, he de.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
S5
Voted his leisure houra to write dramas, -on sub-
jects selected from the Mahabarat. When he
was thirty years of age, he proceeded to the an-
nual festival of Nanjunda, and wrote n poem on
it, which he called Nagunda Natat, in which a
very fine description is given of the procession
of the God in his car, and all the ceremonies of
the feast, from the beginning to the end. It is
said, thatLakshmenarraya finished this poem in
five days. He wrote other poems, severally
called " Uttara Gograhana Nataka," which is a
relation of the seizure of the cattle of Verat
Raya, by Duryodhan's army. " Saradasombha^
ram" respecting the birth of that prince.
" Rhamba Nataka," the dance of celestial
nymphs in the Court of Indra, this work con-
sisted of one hundred verses. "IravataVe-
jaya," the victories of the Elephant of Indra,
and many other works. This poet acquired
large sums of money by his compositions, part
of which he applied in digging a large square
tank, with flights of stone steps to it, and had
cocoanut trees planted round it. Lakshananar-
laya had a fioe library of books, principally in
db,GoogIe
se
the Sanscrit dialect, and a few in the Canada
language. He had many scholars, whom he in-
structed in the rules of prosody and the students
of Kalyanadrug, Royadrug, Gutti, Ratnagiri,
Madyagiri, and Nanganagod hearing the fame
of his abilities, came under his tuition, and it is
said, that in a short time they became proficient
from the able lessons he gave them, and were
soon enabled to compose books themselves. The
poet in question wrote on various subjects till
the last hour of his life, and his works are nu«
merously dispersed in the southern and western
quarter of the peninsula. Lakshmenaraya died
in the sixty first year of his age, at Magodi, and
bequeathed his library to Ms son Surappa.
VENKATACHARI.
This poet was a Vistnava braniin, and native
of Arasanifaia-Agrahara, which is situated be-
tween the rivers Baha and Payaswini, in the pro-
vince of Tundira Mandalam, otherwise called
Kaochi'Mandalam : this bard was of illustrious
descent, for his father Raghunaddichet was a
priest of high rank and reputation, and author of
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
B7
of several religious works in gr^ai estimaUoa
among his Countrymen. Venkatacfaari was court
puadit to Pralayakavet-i, one of the Rajah's tribu-
tary to the throne of Vijayanagur ; from thi»
jtrince he obtained grants of land, be made am-
ple commentaries on various difficult texts, and
among them Sunklapa Surya Doya. Venkatechari
obtained the name of Venkatadbweri, from the
many sacrifices he performed : he was well versed
in history, philosophy, and logic, and like his
father Raghtinadicbet, he amused himself in the
composition of elegant Sanscrit poetry, he was
the author of Viswaguna Dursana, a work high*
ly celebrated throughout the Southern Penin-
sola. It is composed partly in prose and partly
in verse, and much ingenuity ia shewn in the
management of the polemic arguments contained
in tbe dialogues of two Gundbarvas, one of
■vvhoia is a panegyrist, and the other a calum-
niator on every subject, this gives our poet an
opportunity to display his knowledge in Indian
theology, history, geography, and logic. The
poetry is rich and sublime, aad the language of
j:,GoogIe
68
the proise copious and elegantly combined, form,
kig-on tlie whole, a deliglitfiil mental treat ti tlie
natives of the s^uth, wlio peruse the n'ork for
tlstrurtioQ and amusement.
There are but fevr copies of the Viaw-agnna
Darsfina, to be met with in the north o( India
at present, biit the merits of the work will un-
doubtedly speedily cause it to be multiplied, the
Encouragement moreover now given by the libe-
ral public to Oriental liierature, and theatl\an-
Ug:es resulting from the printing establishments,
lately introduced in this country, uill, no doubt,
shortly tause this excellent wotk to be brotight
iato genei al notice, to the edification of the native
population. Some of the descendants cf Ven.
katacbari are stiiMiving, but none ofthem have
inherited the genius and laleuts of their fore-
fathers, whose works have added ranch to the
beauty of the Sanscrit language, and will, In
aji probability, be as perpetual as that dialect.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
APPAYADiKSHIT
Was a Dravida braniin, anHan inbabUant of
Adepolain agrahara, which is situated forty miles
South East of Kauchi. He was the son of Na-
raiti Dfkshit, aad flbarished ia the sixteenth
century of' Salivabana. It was the commoaopi*
nionofhis cooteiiiporaries, that he was bora
from the-spirit of Siva, fjr the leaFoiag- he ex-
tibite I ia Divinity and Theology, they thouglit
too surpassing' tibe^ alloted to mere humaaity.
At the a^a of t*velve years, be had- peiiectly
sludied the Vedes, and was besides a master of
several abslruse Sciences. Appayadiksfait was par*
ticulariy devoted' to the worship of Siva, and ob«
tai'nedt!ie name of Siva Bliakta, ordiscipbiofSiv^
He raanisd three wives, by whcwn he had el^^ ea '
Sot)». D&tbre hQ was striolcen in years, he ob-
tained, the fivorof Viak^a Pati UoyajDO, King
of Cliandragiri, f jf he confijtedall that monarch',s
puadits, ia.openc:)urt, ontopicsof religijn, . and
on various paints in philosophy, especially in
shewiug tlie perfect parity between the God4
aiva. sal Yishu^. Tbg above said Kinj mtid*
13
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60
hitn a grant of a tract of land, retit-free, forbia
own maintenance, and <hat ofbis pupils, wbom he
instructedin pbilosopbjand the sciences. Appay-
adiksbit was tbe autbor of the following works,
for tbe use of those who follow the faith of Siva ;
1. Siwarchana Cfaundrilca, Moon of tbe adora-
ble Siva, in thirty Chapters.
■ 3. Siva, TatwaViveka, Knowledge of the sect
of Siva in twenty Chapters.
3. Siva mani Depika, Splendor of the
Ban-gem of Siva.
4- Attnarpan, a work in one hundred stanza*
on the Siva faith.
- The first three of tbe works, above mentioned*
Appaydekshit wrote after having performed n«-
merous sacrifices. It is said, that just before be
composed hia last work Atmarpan, he partook-
inwardly of the seeds of a plant, called Dhaftur,
which is reported to have the extraordinary qua-
lity of clearingthe intellect, and fitting the mind for
religious contemplation, by the use of this medi-
cine, it is given out, that AppayadeVshit became
inspired and dictated extemporarily to four ama-
nuenses, the poem in question, which is very
bvGoogIc
61
IDucli admired througboat the Dekkaa and the
Soutlieru provinces. Appayadil(sl)it in comae
of time, visited the kings of Trechinopoli, Tan-
jare, and Madura, who aeveraHy by their pre-
senti and favors, gave the poet very great en-
couragement on aconut of his talents and virtueSj
BO, that being a strict observer and zealous advo-
cate for all tlie forms of rituals he performed
through the bounty of his patrons, nnmerons sa-
crifices on tlie banks of the Kaveri. Wherever
he went, he chaunted forth the praises of Siva,
and made proselytes to that faith from the Vish-
nu religion. Tatachari, who had been vanqnish.
ed and baffled by Appayadekshit, at the Coort
of Venkatapati, in a religious dispute, cherished
(I mortal hatred against his opponent, and was
determined to destroy him by any means; to
effect this purpose, he engaged a gang of ruffians,
to way lay and" murder our poet, as he was
passing through a forest. The villains set upon
Appayadekshit, but just at that moment, it is
jsaid, that a valiant hero suddenly appeared, and
driving off the assassins, rescued Appayadekshit,
from the dangler he was in of losing his life, fbis
DiqiiiicdbvGoogIc
62
cireamstance having come to tlie kmwled^^e of
the R^ijih Venksibpati, he ma:L>the poet valu-
able presents f .r his steady faith iu the God
Siva. A;ipayaJekiIiit at t!ie a^e of sixty years,
wa3 prepa:iug ta go to Benares, but . whea
the learne.I b"amins of ChiJaaibaram was ap. -
prizej oftiiii resolatiju, they entreated him to
come to that place, as accordiag even to hia
c:>nfession, ChiJambaiaai was a more sanctified
place than Kasi, and the reservoir of Siva Gunga,
iiure h)ly tliaa the river Ganges. In coiifjr-
luity t> tha wishes of these b.a:nia3, Appay-
al^ksliit was iii.IuceJ t^ alter his resolution,
and he f irthwitli proceeded to Chidunbaram,
where he re:naiaed engaged in religijus exer-
cises for tlie spice qf thirty years. At hia
death, lie wa-t in possession of five crystal
H/i^ums, two of which he presented to the bra-
inins, a:id one to his nephew, to be established
at Madura, another ha gwe to his relations, and
the 6uh he himself estabbalisd at Chidjmbaram,
shortly after, which he departed his life. Ap-
pHya'lekshit was the author of eighty .four booksi
QU Theologj'^ Rhetoric aad iTiilosophy, among hi*
•D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
63
works, tlie *' Kavolayanandam, ((be dtliglit of
the Lotus) and tUe Prabodhacliandiodiiia,"
(Rising Moonof Genius) are verj'mucliadnilied,
and cimtioue to be universally read by llie
learned, but the others are unfoitunately lost.
AYADIKSHIT.
This poet was the nephew of Appayadiksliit,
he possessed a general knowledge of Ilie
sciences, and his skill in poetry was consider
able. He was raised on account of his talents
to the dignity of prime minister to Terumal^
naik Rajah of ftladura, the affairs of whose
kingdom he managed so, as to cause it to pros.
per. After tlie death of his father, Ayadikslrit
wrote a work, which he called Nelakantha
VejayaiD, to commemorate the victories in reli-
gious controversies df bis father in various pro-
vinces. In this poem an e^kcelknt descripdnn is
given of the different countries. This work is
in the dramatic style. .
.dbvGoogle
RAMANUJACHAUl.
\Vas born in the I Itb century of SalivaTiariSj
daring the reign of Batta Vaidlianaj king oC
Dora Samudra, he was born at SiiParubutune,
a place situated twenty-four miles, Vvest of
Madras, oft the road to Kanchi or Conjiverain.
At eiglit years of age, he was invested with tha
sacerdotal thread, and began to read the Vedes ~
and study the sciences. He made a toiir of through'
different countries, and visited Melakota, when
he prevailed on the bramins by his exhortations
and example to attend to the worship of tlie
deity. Thence be proceeded to Dora Sainudia,'
through Tonnure, and he gained the good will'
of the sovereign of the country, by exercising'
an evil spirit, and casting it out of his daughter,
for this act he was magnificently rewarded by
flie king, whom he converted to the Vystnava
religion. Atler this, the poet visited different'
boly pUces in the Peninsula, instraciing at all
times the Vystnava bramins in a pure form of"
rituals. He took Yamunachari as his disciple,
and made a tour through Terupati, Jagarnath,
- Kasi, and Joyapore, and established firmly the
■ DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
Vystnava religion in those places and fonQded
«everal mutts. The king of Joypore, was very
much pleased with his discourses on tne VystnavA
religion, and excited by zeal, destroyed several
Jaioas in oil mills. He established a Vystnava
mutt in this place, and aflterwards at Badart
Narayana, where he paid his homage to that
deity, and finally returned to the Peninsula,
where he composed a commentary, entitled Sri
Ramanija Bhashya, on the Sustra of Vyasa,
comprising one hundred expositions of the phllo-
Bophy of Vyasa, he composed also several other
works such as Chandamarute respecting the Vya.
nava Sect, and a commentary on the Bhagavat
Gita, after this, he displayed extraordinary skill
in framing a pure code of rituals for the Vyst-
navas. At. the age of fifty he entirely renounced
all secnlar concerns, and became a Synassi, de^
voting the whole of his time to the contemplation
of the divinity, and reading books of philosophy
and theology. Raraanujachari died at Sripuit
mutture, his native town. Many individuals
of the Vystnava faith believed him to have
K
D,„i,i=dbvGo6gIe
been an incaroatiou of Sesba the SeF{>ent, oft
which Vishnu recltoes, and fheyraised a metellic
ima^e as a representation bf 'Ram«iajac^ari,
and deaomioated him one of the tweWechie^
AJwers.
SARNADHAHA.
This was ii'celd!>rated Historiaa'andPoet, hb
flourished inthe «leTeDti) century «f the Sktliva-
baoa sera, dufing'the rmga of Anunga BUma.
He was the son of Damora, and his graiidfa-
thdr's taame wes'Rhagavadeo, -Who was the-cbi^
pundit at the court of Rajah Humrera,- this poet
composed a work, called Humvera Vijaya, in
which ihe^nealogy and aotioas of the kings of
Hamvera are noted down, he also wrote a vo-
lume on misCetianeous subjects, and 'named it
Sarnadhara Padhati. Saraadba lired toa good
old i:.ge,but no authenticaccounts of the time oe
manner of his d^ath has been banded down to
posterity. .
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
TATACHART:
■ Tatudiari was apoet of the Vystnava seet, lie
was a native of Kanchi, and so celebrated on
account of his Tirtnes and telenits, that (accord^
ing to teidkion) he was believed' to have been
bora fifom the spirit of the god, Viahnu: h«
. fioarished in the sixteenth oentuiy of Salirahana,
«nd obtained the surname of Eanyadanum, on
aceonntof the numerooa marriage ceremonies
which was performed" at the expense of his be-
nevolence. Tatachari wrote a work on.philoso-
|thy> which be namedSatveka, Brahma Vidya Vi-
las, or knowledge of the mild -influence of the su-
preme being. This poet ww boosehold priest
to the Chaodrigire, Rajahs, and^nsed to visit
them by tpavelUng post fsoin. Kancbi : wiiile he>
was absent fcooLhome, bis chaste and aflectiou-.
ftte wife w-as kt Ibe h»bit3.of standing at the gate-
oX their dwelJiugj waiting the :arrival.Qf ber hns-^
band.' Qq^ uofortijnate day, whfsnshe. was at^
her usuiaL. station* some: wicked unteelia^
wretches asaerabjei^ round ber, and invented a-
t^e^ tbatb^rbu^baodbad q^et v^it^ ^oiqq acci«,
K8
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dent, and whb tilted ; the aBTectionate woman od
tearing this false iatelligence, fell down in a
ewooD, and expired. At the usual hopr, Tata-
chari arrived, and beholding the &te of hts wife,
immediately died of grie^so this amiable coa>
pie in oae daj met an antimety fate. Tatachari
was much regretted by all classes of the inhabU
touts, for, exclusive of his pre<emineat erudition,
be was a most affable aud benevolent individual
bestowing large sums of money on the indigentt
ei^^i&Uy for naarriage ceremonies
POTIAR
This poet was a bramin, and a native of
'Eakambari, which is an Agrahar, situated oft
the banks of tibe Godaveri, and which was grant-
ed to certain bramhis, by Mukanti ; the place
was in the district of Rajamahendri, in the
Telugq coontry. Potiah was the son of Singiah,
and had three brothers, whose names are
Singiah, Komaraswami, aod Anamiah. Ho
studied the Telugu language in his infancy, and
as at the age of eighteen, he was a perfect
master of the dialect j he learnt Sanscrit and
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
. read througli several poems, such as Mag'hE^
Bohoja, CbaiDpu, aDd many others. Indue time,
he obtaioed a' complete knowledge of Sans-
cnt, and in the year of Salivahaoa, 1388,
be composed a volominous work, which he
entitled " Prasuoga Ratna Vali/' which be*
ing interpreted means," a necklace of the gems-
of discourse." The subjects were taken from
different ancient texts, which he embodied and
treated after his own manner. This work •com«
prised eighty three books, which were placed
in the following order. 1. On Elocution. 2.
Praise of different Gods. 3. On the ten Incar-
nation. 4. On tlie holy city Kasi. 5. Dialogue
between Uma and Maheswar. 6. Domestic
Matters. 7. On the four Ages. 8. On the
Vipras or hermits. ■ 9. On language. 10.
On Prosody. II. On Friendship. i2. On for-
tune. 13. On the Well disposed. 14. On the
wicked. 15. On people of evil propensities.
16. On useful animals, 17. On Ethics. 18.
On rejected phrases. 19. Rules for moral
conduct. 20.OnLovc. 21.0n Mendicity. 22.
Oh Envy. 33. On Luxury. 34. On the
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
differeot modes of genuflexion and prostralioi^
35. On the means of aeqaiitng riches. 36. How«
to obtaio good sons. 27. Descripticm of an ig-
noraat and profligate son. 38. On wealth. 39;
On indigence. 30. On alms, deeds^. 31. Oq
Justice. 32. On Gratitude. S3. On the choice-
of places. 34. On the chc^ce of time and pen
sons. 35. On the treatment of guests and hos-
pitality 36. Description af inspire! mriiaiaca-
37. On future regards and punishments. 3S'
Oa Infidelity. 39. On Covetousness. 40. On.
morality. 41. On twenty diffetent prime qualii
ties. 43. On resignation from Secular afiairsv
43. On resaming donations. 41. On the three
praise-worthy actions of a kingi 45. On History-
and other texts. 46. On Eighteen books of th«
Mahabarnt 47. On the fifty-six Dasums. 48;
On the Seventy two influences. 49. On the.
Sixty-fouF Sciences. 50. On the five attriboteft
of Sovereigns. 61. On the duties of a King's
prime-minister. 53. Ont^e usea of theareca
nut. 54. Oa Vegetables. 65. On troth. 56^
On the qualities and propensities, of females. 67^
On Chastify. 5& Oa the coucrenjatioQ gf
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
71
Widows. 59. On Benevolence. 60. On Hy«
pocrisy. 61. On Salutations at the courts of
monarclis. 62. On Manuel Labor. 63. On
the anatomy of the female body. 64. On the
Limbs of women and their ornaments. 65. On
the breasts of females. 66. On the Passions of
Women. 67. On Sexual intercourse, 68. On
the performance of ablution after menses. 69.
On Adultery. 70. On Polite conversation. 71.
On Oasts. 73. Description of the Morning
and Evening. 73. Description of the rising
Moon. 74. On the defects of the Moon. 75.
On the valor and fame of different celebrated
Kings. 76. On Polished versification. 77.
Description of the Six Seasons. 78. On verses
of Occult Signification. 79. On verses of plain
and evident interpretation. 80 Description of
the Sixteen degrees of the light of the moon.
81. On the Classifications of the iemale Sex.
82. On the duties of a Writer.
Potiah dedicated this laborious work to the
God Iswar, after this, the poet established a
school, where the Sanscrit and vemacular dia*
lects were taught to numerous students. His
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
M
leisare hours thiA poet devoted to reading aitd
the cotnpositioB of didactic pieces, which being
circulated' among the literati of the Telugn
country, were very highly extolled for their
harmony and moral tendency. Potiah derived
but little increase of fortune from his works,
althoogh they were much esteemed at the Courts
of different Kings and Princes. He died at the
ege of sixty-five, leaving behind him several
children to perpetuate his name.
PADDI BHAT.
This poet was by cast a bramin, of the Konf-
charla. family, and native of a village called
Paritna, in the Ellore district, he flourished in
ttie thirteenth century of Salivahana, during tho
Hefgn of Sarvagna Sing^ama Naidu. This
poet's life famishes a striking example to shew,
that the powers of the mind may lie dorinant for
many years, until by some fortuitous concur-
rence of circumstances their energies are brought
into action, for in the earlier part of his Hfe,
Paddi Bhat was so dull at his Tearning, that la
was-unfversafly ^bought to be a mere Uocithead,
D,„i,i=dbvGoo<ilc
and his memory was so bad, that he forp^ot in tlift
evenings every syllable of what be had learnt in
the morning. This state of stnpidity in our poet
continued, till he was thirty years of age, at
which time (it is related of him that) he was OBft
day sitting in bis bouse, pouring over a Sanscrit
book, and could not con bis lesson for the life
of bini, notwithstanding all his endeavours; bis
sister-in-law, who was close to him pounding
rice, burst out into a loud laugh at his A^in la*
bour, and looking archly at bira, exclaimed in
the Sanscrit dialect " Musalah Kesalayate," my
pestle will bud," by which she implied, that tlte'
pestle she held in her band, would blossom be*
fore her brother-in-law wo\ild be able to learn San-
crit. Stung to the quick at the reproach and.
mockery of a woman, Paddi Bbat hastened out
of the house, and made the best of bis way to
a man in tbe neighbourhood, who was esteemed
as a prophet, and to whom the poet^s elder bro-
ther, by name MalUnath ministered : be took ap
bis abode with this holy man for some time, and
it so happened^ that one day MalltnaQi went
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D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
74
borne, and left his brother with the prophet be-
feremeDtioned, who it is said, was taken snddeii-
Ij ill, and found the pains of death comiug on
Irim. He anxiouslj called ont for Mallinatb,
who being absent, his brother Paddi Bhat ao-
siwered the sage, and came to his presence.
The prophet vomited into fats bands, and it is
said, that Paddi Bhat by eating this vomit, be-
came immediately inspired with a prophetic spi-
rit, and possessed of scientific knowledge of
every kind. Mallinath returned, and fiodiog bis
master dead, and that his brother had received
from the deceased sage, the gift of prophecy and
Imowledge, was quite inconsolable and uttered inv-
precations on his brother, because he bad fore-
stalled him, and obtained a pronnse from him,
that he would not compose any original work in
bis owB name, but that he might write as many
commentaries as he pleased. After this, Paddi
Bhat wrote several commentaries, and five poems,
entitled " Pancha Kavya, and Nishidham " a
poetical history of Nala, and numerous com-
Bftents on several difficult texts. He then mad»
& tour to several holy places, and went to the
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe.
75
Coart of Sarvagna Siogamaned, where he exv
hibited his poetical powers, andnas dismissed
from the Court of that monarch after receiving
valuable presents. — Paddi Bhat constantly era-
ployed his pen in tnakiug commentaries on diSi-
cult works, but as no mention is laade in any of
his books o£ the number ofexpositions be wrote>
BO judgment can'now be formed of the extent of
them: those that have survived the destruction of
time, are much esteemed by the Irarned. This
poet died in. the sixty-second year o/his age*
His elder brother Mallinath composed a work
entitled Mallinatheya, which consisted of one
thousand verses that bear a double interpre-
tation, and was much admired in' all the Telugu
provinces, the death of this, poet took place dur*
tng the life time of his brother.
LAKSHMANA KAVI.
This poet was a Smarta Bramio of the Va-
ranasi tribe, and a native of Bandar Sircar, he was
the son of Veukatesa Kavi and lived in the fif,
teeuth ceutury of Salivahana. In early life ha
hi
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
76
stndi^ the Teltigu and Sanscrit lau^dge, «ii'd
spent iifleen years in the penisal of ancient
books, written on various subjects, especially
beautiful poetic compositiooa. Laksfamanakept
company with the public dancers, and accurately
observed their various postures and motions, aa
described in the work called Miavata, but find-
ing himself despised by respectable' people," on
arcouDt of his associating with common singers
and dancers, he determined to relinquish their
society, as such was derogatory to his character,
and avail himself of his knowledge in poetry tq
compose some work deserving the regard of the
leaiaed. By the advice of several pundits he
resolved to complete the Bhoja Champu, comi
monly called Champu Ramayana, only five books
of which had been written during the life tim© ■
of Bhoja Rajai in consequence of the death of
Kalidas ; and no one since bad been able to finish
the Poem. Lakshmana undertook to com-
plete the task, and produced the sixth book of
that celebrated work, called Yuda Kanda, con-
sisting of about two thousand verses. This effort
procured for our poet great renown, and obtained
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
77
ferliim 'the title of Bhoja Ghampu Laksliiua;ia
— Sarud Raja conferred on him marks, of dis-
tinction and presents, and his book was studied
in different Colleges. Lakshmana died at Ma-
sulipatam, when fifty five years of age.
.. KELA.DI BASAVAPPA NAICK,
Was a ruler of Keladi in the Bednore country,
he lived in the sixteenth century of the Sali-
yahana aera. There is a work in existence called
Seva Tatva Ratna Kara, or the ocean of pre-
eminence of Seva, of which he is the ostensible
author, but it is well known that the work was
composed by the pundits of his Court— it treats
on several Arls and Sciences, and seems to have
Veen executed with much labor,
URAGAPPA DANDANATH.
This Sanscrit poet was a Military Officer of
high rank, it is said a Commander of the For-
ces of Harihara Roya, founder of Vedyanagar
and its first Sovereign, he was born at Anagon-
di, and flourished in the twelfth century of Sa-
Uvahaoa. Uragappa Dandanath was well versed
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
78
JD the Sanscrit Grammar, and contposed^a Dioi
tioDaiy which he naiued Nanardha Ratnamala. —
This book was used in different Colleges in the
peninsula.
JAGANATH PUNDIT.
This poet was a native of a towo named Mun-
ganda which is situated in the Telugo country,
he was the son of Ramachandra Upadhya, a bra-
min ofthe Veginad tribe — and was contempo-
rary with Akbar Slia— Jaganath did not learn
a word of the Sanscrit language till he was past
twelve years of age, when he went to the house
of his brother-in-law and studied poetry : by
indefatigable exertions, he acquired a competent
knowledge ofthe learned languages, and became
a poet of no small talent. He visited the Court
of the Karnatic Rajah, but not meeting with the
countenance that he expected, or thathis abilities
merited, he wrote some verses expftssive ofthe.
neglect he suGTered, that the same might excite
attention towards his endeavours, but notwith-
standing this stratagem, his labors continued
unheeded, and he in disgust forthwith proceeded
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
79
to the Coart of a Maharatta Sovereign, but as
he was clad io mean attire, no notice was takeri
of him even there, until raising his voice, he re-
peatedthe followiag lines : —
The Kokil Bingmg 'midita flock ofcrowi.
His melody in tuneful trarblings Bhows,
And nhila Ihepow'r.or barmony display*.
The verdant groves re-echo forth bislBja;
Ihe Foreitera enchanted by bis song-,
lodigaant drive away (he sable tbroog,-
That no vile croaker of the kawing raae.
Should near the vocal strauger hold a place.
These lines Jaganatli Pundit intended as a
satire on the inferior talents of the poets at the
court of the Maharatta Icing — and though the
censure conveyed in this extempotaneous effusion
was sufficiently galling, yet the sovereign con-
ferred large presents and suitable apparel on our
poet. Jaganath Pundit after this proceeded
to Jayapore, where be staid many years : in this
place he vanquished several pundits in public
disputations on various subjects, and he establish,
ed a School wherein he instructed numerous
pupils in the Puranas. While residing at
Jayapore, he anderstood that the Emperor oi"
db.Googk"' .
80
Dellii entertained many pundits at his cotirfj
and as Jaganath among his other acquire-
ments, possessed a perfec* and critical knowledge
of the Persian language, he was determined to
pay tliis monarch a visit, he proceeded to Delhi,
nnd on his arrival there, composed some excel-
lent verses in Persiati and Sanscrit, in which he
described the beauty of the King's steeds, as
W>ey paraded in front of the gate of the palace.
When Jaganath came to the royal presence he
repeated some verses both in Persian and San-
scrit, in which he censured the worldly pursuits
both of the Hindus and of Yavanas. It is said,
that at the court of the Emperor, Jaganath con-
fiitedall the pundits who were opposed io hira,
and the fame of his talents spread abroad. He
was of a very comely person, and it is reported,
that the daughter of the Emperor, who admired
his talents, and had frequently seen him through
the Venetians of her apartments, became violent-
ly enamoured of hira. The strength of her love
was so great, that she at last revealed her passion
to her Mother, and requested her to marry her
to Jaganath. The name of this illustrious lady
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
8/
was Lavaiigi, she had just arrived at the age
of puberty and wa^ a very beautiful and accom-
plished princess.
Jaganatb pundit was also smitten with the
oharms of the Emperor's daughter, and wrot*
verses in praise of her beauty. Although the
princess' mother was very averse ta the inatch>
yet finding, that her daughter's existence de-
pended on the fulfilment of that event, she on a
favourable opportunity disclosed the whole af-
fair to the Emperor her husband, this mona'ch.
was much grieved at learning this intelligence,
but at last, gave his consent and the couple
were married with alt due forms> Pundit, Roya
had no issue by the princess and he proceeded
to Benares where the bramins excommunicated
him, but he gave a pair of metal images to the
Vystoavas of the Yadana Mountain wljo esta-
blished them on a high-place, and called them
Chella Pella Roya. According to tradition.
Pundit Roya and his wife sought a voluntary
death in the river gauges. After his death, his
disciples published his works in poetry, aod
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
■fcti ^ccooTit of his town "Which they call, Pundit
Roya Sataka. — It must he observed, that the
foregoing account of this poet 19 taken from
traditionary accounts handed down by his disci-
ples and does not deserve implicit credit. — The
marriage of this poet with the daughter of the
TEraperior of Delhi is a mere fiction or the cir-
-cnmstance would have been authenticated ia.
'Some books of History.
nannaya bhatt.
This poet flourished in a very remote period>
■and was contemporary with Rajah Rajnarindra,
king of the Rajamahendry j from his very infan-
cy his mind was turned towards religious duties,
■and he made very rapid progress in his studies
of the sciences, he was very learned in the
Vedes, and performed numerous sacrifices. He
Wrote a grammar of the Telngu language, and ■
entitled it Andhra Sabda Chintamani and Laksh-
anasara, in thecomposition of this work profound^
learning and extensive reading is evinced, and
J^annaya Bhatt was well qualified to compile a
work on philology, as he had carefully studied
DiqiiiicdbvGoogIc
sat
Ibe tre^ttises written by Brihaspati and Yyasa*.
This poet also translated two volumes of the.
Mahabharat iato Telugu, in conjunction with.
Karainbhat, a bramin of the Indra sect, but
■while employed in translatiog the third volume,-
Naonaya unfortunately died> and as no other
poet would undertake tp complete the tra«slati-,
on, a disciple.- of Nannaya Bahtt ■ named Bala-,
saraswati who was a fellow^ student with Saran-
gadhara the son of Raja R!ijnaraindr.a, com-,
pleted the work' af^er intense labor and appli- .
cation. Nanny aBhatt it is said,, mtjt with a
primature death, and although he was a cele- .
brated poet, and his works held in very great
estimation throughout the peninsula, yet authen- .
tic traditions furnish, but very scanty materials ^
to compile his biography.
TIMJUyiA, SATTI.
This poet was the son of Chimmania.Sattiv
and grandson to Etikala Gurvappa and was
a native of Rajamahendry, he composed a
work called Kanakapurana, it. was. written m-
„„z=dbvGoogi
84
the Telugn langoage, and the subject of it waa
tiie rape committed on a virgin of the Vysia cast
by the prince Vishnu Vardhana In the poem a
pathetic discriptioQ is given of the lamentations
ofthe unfortunate damsel, who had her chastity
corrupted and who being inconsolable at the
loss of her virginity immolated herself on a
flaming pile — it is said, that one hundred fatoi-
Hes who were related to this maiden sacrificed
themselves with her. This tragical eveat hap-
pend at Penugonda nearRajamahendry. After
the death of the above-mamed Virgin a temple
was erected in honor of her, where an idol was
established called Kanakaparaiwarames, which
is still in existence, and people of the Bannian
cast pay adoration and homage to it,
TEKKANA SOMA VAGI.
This was a famous Historian and Poet, and a
native of a village, called Petture in the Nellore
district, he flourished in the twelfth century of
Salivahana. When he was very young, he
studied Sanscrit and Telugu under Kavi Rak-
phasa^ and in a short time made very rapid pro-
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
83
gress in those languages. At Ibe desire of Ma-
nia Sidhaiajee, he undertook to translate tiio
Mahabarut into Telugu, and completed fifteen
volumes in a comparatively short space of
time, he was possessed of a quick genius and a
ready talent at versification, in addition to a
critic&l knowledge of the Sanscrit language.
For this performance, he obtained the grant of
an extensive tract of land from the king, the
greater part of the produce of which he expend.
ed in sacrilices, these religious acts procured fo^
him the appellation of Tekkana Somayogi— this-
poet died universally lamented.
BHATTU MURTf.
This poet was born in a village called Bhattit •
Palla in the district of Pulmendala, in the ceded
distrii^f s he was adistinguished orator,and possess.
ed a critical knowledge of the Sanscrit and Tehiga
dialects. As the poetsofhis time weregreattypa*
tronized by the Sovereigns of various provinces,
Bhattu JIurti chiefly confined his labours to
versification in the vernacular tongue, ai>d the
Jiarmony of his numbers were so. much admired
db,GoogIe
that he obtained a great many scholars, -whoi%
^e made proHcients in prosody. He, ia courao:
of time proceeded to the Court of Eristaa
Roya, who admiring; his talents retained him as.
one of his eight celebrated barda ; during the
Ufe-timo of this monarcb, he composed an epio
poem, entitled Narasa Bhupalayam, or the his-
tory of Narasa Bhupal, which was a work of
great labor, and much, admired by his contem-
poraries, and by posterity. After the death of-
Kristna Royaloo, he wrote another epic poem,
(ailed VasQO Charitra, the subject of which is
the loves and nuptials of king Vasoo, and the
beantiful nymph Girikernica, the work was de-
dicated to king Terumala and the invocation of
the poem conunences in the followipg manner :— 1_
" The earth-born Seta viewed witb grace rephtq
Her beauteous form refleoted neat her feet
By brillknt gema. that each with rarioul shads
And plaitiopow'r a graceful maid portray'd
Bbe, Bftma'e cansort aod betrothed wife
Conceiv'd a new creation sprung to life
Touch'd bj the dust of her lord's potent foot
7iH hs lemoy'd the godden' auxioas dQubl;
D,„i,i=dbvGoogk-
When in the naptiat rites, and bo'l; banj
He graap'd lier jeweb in bia beaT'nlj band
May Seta'a tnubaad bleisingi e'er bestow
On Teramala RoyaB royal brow
M''ith moon-like faee from nhicli each science glcaiiK
With rub; lip* replete with Sacoh'rine stream a
Tromnhichthe boon of latent wiihea flows
And which rich fruits effsctnally bestows
With nectar-vitsed 1>reasts as pure as trulli
Abundant sourca of wealth and blooming youth
With arms lilte tendrils that ia shadowy bow'rs
Isdeck'd in beauty of unfading flon'rs
Bti was produced when Rama efforts tried
In Janaka's lacteous ocean wide
He Heri'a self while fierotly bending low,
Bentthe tough string to Itwar's mountuiu bow.
May that bright goddess cboicent blessings biiog
To Temmala Roya peerless king.
The ISister arts that yield haimonioui ssand
]i music and in Poeay are fonnct
The dulcet conponent cf tunas and verw
Each with her charms th' enraptur'd soul immers*
And whirl'd in circUng eddies ronud and clear
Like Sarasati's fragrant breasts appear
May he who can ifit lawful love the testa
Grasp with his palau those loscious budding breast*
d=,GoogIe
And in love'i deiport roark them as bis oir&
B; BO ig^Doble puncture plainly shona
May that Divinity hi* pon'ri teleot
And Terumaia migbiy king protect.
The alphabet that like a roaary seems
By her lute's melody soon raeltia streams
And all around reflect lair Vaiji's face
As Gad SiipTeme perrading time and spaco
May she the gift of EltHjoeBce confer
On Terumala king nithout compeer
Arria nhen nitb Jealous rage possessed
To ber great consort this reproach addressed
Well'. Weill TbouTaithles-to ray marriage bed
Mandakini, tbou keepest on thy head.
WhiUt 1 alasl am dnindl'd half avrny
ihe God prostrating then tegaii to pray
T* appease her ire by humbly bending low
But Giinga naxing nrath did clamarous grow
Tills Sumbhu tied hia hair, this pretext i»g«
The Goddcsn silenced and restiaiued her sago
May that great Being in a bounteous shon'r
On Terumala all bis mercies pour
On eitlier side w itK fragrant braded hair.
Like dusky clouds that flnat in ambient air
With ornamental symbols on each sida
Of fDll'blonu ahiiuDg in their beauties prido
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
With (lamiDg eyei tkat dart their iplen dors clear,
And giake-riog pendants that adorn each ear.
With necklaces whose light illumea each land.
And graceful Camalas in either hand.
With robes of direra hues and powder rara
Of Rutti's lord, adrugbejond compare
Thus deck'd the mountain born half of her lord
Does in each essence to her mate accord.
May she bestow on Ternmala R07,
Victorious battle and triumphant joy.
While he with mighty tnsks resistless itroolc.
The moantain huge Ragatasara shook
Then graceful Gowri with aaeonscions start,
Embrac'd 8ri Kuntha to her throbbing heart)
While Gunga gashing o'er great Biva's brow
In falling stteama is daah'd on earth beloW ;
The moontain-bom is pleased with feata nov don*
By her own elephantine faced son.
To that prescient Ood, whose nam« I taka
With holy awe obeisance I make
The following lines are taken from the second
book of the same poem, and are supposed to be
spoken by Manjuvani, when she was deputed by
her mistress Grikanika to Vasoo Rajah.
d=,GoogIe
90
Oh ruler of the world, they preaeitce bright
Fills each eipftitding heart nith trae deligU
And joy ; u when propitious fortane poori
-Vaneoauted trcunres down ing^dea thaw'ra
*-Or when the moon In plenitnde arraj'cl
Shoots h«r bright spleaclari through the midniglit bIh
-Friend of Ihe world ! Oh pow'rful deity !
The efiiilgeoce of thy penetrating eye
^iipeli the darknets and the gloom prdfound
Whose mblemantlecoTeri us around
Tfay gTMefiil prescDoe this anspiciout d«j
Oh kingefkitigs, exiles each, care away !
■Wflh every keea desire and wish poisessed
Fili'd to sUietj weitand oonfened,
Oh ittv'reign of At earth ! thy heav'nty tread
Appronching doth with potent bleasingB sL ed ■
Ob mortals immortality and grace,
And makes oor wisdom match th' ethereal no*
Pre-eminent in good thy »irtuB ponra
Like fruitful ttutum its prolific stores :
Whilst we our homage p»y we gain these thrifU
The mral goddess sheds her choicest gifta
fouberant to me and to my friends ; with joy
In plenty we our happy hours employ.
Who can the gratefur voice sufficient rais*
KeCciTe the boon and give eternal praise?
bvGoogle
St
The foregoing poem of the Vasoo Charitra>
was much admired by the contemporaries of
Bhatta niurti, and became a model for aftec
]ioeta> who composed Id the Telugu Janguage — •
Bhatta -Mortis was highly rewarded byTerumala,.
Boya. for thia and other works that he composed ;
at the command of that mouarchf.so thiat he pass?
edhis days in peace and happiness until his
death, which happened at \a$ residence in the
nxtietb year of his agfr,-.
TtMMANA.
This poet was by cast a Niyogi bramin of the
Mukka tribe and a native of a village called
Grannavarum, he flourished daring the reign of
Krishna Roya^.lcing of Vijayanagar. He com-
posed a work called *' Parijata paharana," ia .
which it is given out that Krishna Roya had pro- -
cured the parlijata flower from the garden of '
Indra for his consorjt Satya Bhama,' the poem^
consists of three books written in a florid style,
and- the images and similes are very bold and
liking.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
93
SURANA.
This was also a Niyogi bramio of the Pea*
g^Ia family, he flourished during the reign o£
Krishna Royaloo, sovereign of Vejayanagar;
He was well versed in Telugu grammar, and a
perfect master of that language. In course of
time he proceeded to the Court of Krishna Deva*-
who retained Lim iq his service — Surana com*.
posed a work which he entitled Raghava-Pait-
dayao), which is an abrid'gement of the Ramayana.
and the Mahabarat, the whole being comprised:
in six hooks — he ended his days at bis usual;
residence.
TENNALA RAMALINGA.
This yfas a celebrated poet at the Court of"
Krishna Royuloo, kjngof Vejayanagar,being one
of his eight celebrated poets, he was born in the.
village of Tinnala in A. S. 1384, and was of the.
fanuly of IswarPragada, his horoscope exhibits.
. him as born under a very propitious star: in his
infancy he studied the Telugu dialect, and by
the association of the Bhatarajas, or bards of
Bhatta Palla he became a perfect master of th&t
Dm,l,i.:db,G00gIC
9a
fenguage, ancTa professor of rhetoric j lie likewise
possessed a tolerable knowledge' of Sanscrit.-^
Having heard" much of the patronage afforded
by Krishna Royaloo, Ramlinga went to Anagondi
in hopes of receiving the countenance- of the
ling. As he had no friends to forward his
views, our poet was obliged to ingratiate him-
self into the good graces of Ihe iafeiior ser-
vants of the house-hold : he composed some
verses on one of the female attendants of the
queen named Bommedalli, which was a great
panegyric on her, and at the same time he la-
vished abuses on any one who should mak©
unfavorable comments on his versification.
The merit of Ramlinga at length reached
the ears ofthe king, who appointed him one
of his Court poets. Tennala Ramlinga com-
posed a poem called Pandaranga-Mahatina
-^Ramlinga was of a humorous character,
and loved to play jokes on people, in or-
der to raise a laugh against them — the gura
* of Tatachari was a very religious man, and
was in the habits of visiting a cow-steill every
W.orning as soon as he waked^ and walked thei;«
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
94
blicd-folded in order to view the dung of the
cow as the first object, thinking as many hindus
.do that to look on the ordure of a cow the first
thing in the morning, wa^ a very meritorious..
act^the guru consequenUy used to. grope his
Way every morning to the stall ajbove named,.
with his eyois ehiit and laying hold of the cow*^
.tail used to wait til] she evacuated, when he
opened his eyes to behold the dwig — Ono:
morning Ramlinga played the Allowing wag-
gish trick, he got up early and removing tfae-
cow from the stall, stood in its place, stark,
naked. — The guru as customary presently canie
ftnd instead of the cow's tail laid his hand on
the naked Ramlinga, when the. guru opened.
his eyes he was transported with fury, and run-
ning to 'the king, laid his complaint again;;!
Ramlinga. — The king being wrotl^ ordered that
the poet should be forthwith beheaded, and the
executioners carried him to a plain md buried-
him in the earth as far as the neck, leaving only
his head above ground, agreeably to the sen-
tence passed on him ; they left him in this codt
dition, intending to return in the course of ajk
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
iour and decapitate him. — It so happened, that
B hump-backed washerman was passing that
"way, and asked Ramlinga how he came to bo
BO situated, "my good friend," replied the poet,
" I was born a hnnch-back like yourself and
having long soflered the derision and scorn of
ill-mannered individuals, I applied to a sage
who had great knowledge of the occult sciences,
and begged ofliim to relieve nie from my mis-
fortune, he informed me that if I should be bu-
ried up to my neck in this identical spot, that
I should be entirely cured of my deformity, in
pursuance of his direction, I got' some of my
friends to bury me here, and I really believe
that I am cured already, I will thank you to re-
move the earth and see whether it be so or not."
The washerman did as the poet requested, and
was quite astonished to find Ramlinga a strait
well made man, for he was a credulous fellow,
and believed that the poet had been a hunch-back,
and cured by being buried in that spot — " As
one good action deserves another" said the wash-
erman to the poet, *' I will thank you to bury me
in this place, that I may be cured of my a:fflic-
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
9«
lion in the same way as you." Rainlinga wifK
a very grave face .buried the poor washerman
np to the neck, and ^after an hour's time went to
the kiDg, and toW him that by the personal
interposition of a God he had been restored to
life ; the executioners in the mean time had be-
faeaded the washerman, and were making their
report to the king, that they bad killed the poet
according to the royal commands — The whole
Court were consequently astonidied to see Bara-
Knga, and as the king really believed that the
poet had been killed and restored to life, by
some God; he promised to forgive himthefirst
bundred crimes that he should commit in future.
Ana Vema Reddi had in his possession two
beautiful horses of the finest mettle, they were
of the Candahar breed, their entire bodies were
of a sable color, except the ears which was grey.
Krishna Deva had great desire to obtain one of
these steeds, and sent an embassy to Ana Vema
Reddi, to ask him for one of them, but the latter
monarch replied, that if the former woald send
a poet, who could excel any that he had at his
Court, he would give birathe horses— when this
D,„i,i=dbvGoogk-
'answer came, aW tl^e poets under the* patront^
of the Krishna Deva refused to go except
Ramalinga, who forthwith proceeded to the Court
of Ana Veraa Reddi : when there, be completed
every task set him, and in turn wrote a part of a
stanza, and desired the poets of the Court of Ana
Vema Reddi, to complete it. Ramlinga then
took his departure^ and in the couFse of six
months retarned, but the pundit and poets had
not been able to finish the stanzas, he therefore,
wrote the concluding verses which so pleased
Ana Vema Reddi, that that king embraced him
and gave him one of the excellent Candahar
horses before-mentioned, and dismissed him with
inany presents. When Ramalinga returned to the
Court of Krishna Deva, he was received with
great marks of attention, and enjoyed the king's
favor in a very high degree ; but being of a very
humorous and eccentric turn, he once more for-
feited the good opinion of his royal master by
playing on him the following trick:— He told
Krishna Deva, that he had procured for Lim a ve-
ry beautiful damsel, and asked him when he would
O
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
•wisb to visit her — the ting being rather of aliix-
urious and lascivious disposition, appointed aa
«arly day. Rainlinga then decorated a bed fit to
receive the i-oyal visitor, bnt instead of a beauti-
ful woman, piaced in it a long stoae pillar, which
lie covered over with a rich brocade quilt: 'at
the hour fixed on,'the king-came, his lust having
been very much excited by the descriplion given
'by Raiulinga of the feinale, who was to receive
him -in her arms, when the king lifted up the bed
clothes, he was very mfich astonished to find a
etone, where he expected to find a charming vir*
gin, and his anger being raised to an ungoverna-
ble pitch, he ordered the executioner immediately
to behead Ramlinga, the poet bowever concealed
himself, and when the king's wmth was abated,
he was taken once more into fevor. Some time
after tlii^, the daughter of the* king had com.
posed a poem called " Mariclii Pameaj'a," or
the nuptials of Marithi — and proposed to read
the same to Krishna Deva, before the whole
Court ; but as she was aware of the satirical
character of Ramlinga, she stipulated with her
fdtheij that he should no* be allowed to be jire-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
sent The king consequently forbade Ramlinga-
to comt into Court: on the day however,
that the princess publicly read her poem —
Bamlinga disguised himself as a female attendant^
and concealing his face, stood close to the king's
daughter — who begaji reading with an audible
voice— the poem was really very well written,
and contained nioral reflections and beautifut
descriptions of the scenery and dresses of fe-
males and various^other. subjects, among which
was the description of a pregnant woman; just
at this moment Ramlinga made some waggish
remark and gesture, which set the whole Court
m a roar of laughter, and so abashed and con-
founded the princess, that she could read no
more, and abruptly left ber fother. — Krishna
Deva was very vexed., at this conduct of the
poet and sentenced him on pain of death imme--
diately to leave- his dominions — Ramlinga ac<
Qorfingly went to tlie Court of tlie king of Ka-.
Hnga and 'excited him- to wage war with Krishna:
Roya ; several battles were fought by the ariincs
9£ the two sovereigns, but the latter gtineu the,
02. ,
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
100
Tictoty, and took possession of his enemy^a
territories — when the war was over, Krishnai
Roya forgave Ramlingahis treacherous conduct,
and received him again into favor, which, he ea-
joyed till the day of his death.
AYALA BHASKARA,
Was a native of the Teliuga country, ah(i
lived in the fourleenth century of Salivahana^
In his infancy, he learnt the rudiments of the
Telugu language, and as. he grew op, studied)
grammar aod versification: when arrived at inaa.
hood, he was deteruiined to give his comitrymeoi
some worli, that should be useful, as well as
amusing, and consequently translated the Rettai
Matara into Telugu verse, the work consists of
two books, and comprises a variety of subjects^
such as the cycles and periods, the revoluti-
ons of the seasons, rain, wind, thunder, ligbtniag
and the other phenomena of nature ; the climates
and various productions of the earth, popula-
tion, inuadations, and droughts, and various other
subjects. According to tradition, this poet lived
to a good old age, biif bo authentic account of
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
tbe manner of his death lias been handed dowa
to posterity.
APPAKAVf.
This was a Telugu poet, and a native of the
TelugucDuntiy. He wrote a work on prosody,
called " Appakavi Chandesu," or " Andrs
Prayaoga Ratnakara," which was reckoned an
excellent treatise on the prosody of the Telugo
dialect, after this he wrote another work, edied
"BridnaSambhavam," which is the account of the
birth and parentage of Brinda, the chaste wife of
a giant: thesectofMadhava worship this goddess
by planting a sprig of the T alasi shrub in a
clod of mould. The stoiy is taken from the
Bhagvat, and is in great repute among the Hin-
dus of that province — the manner of the death
of this poet is unknown, nor have the names of
any other of his works been preserved.
ALLASAM PEDDANA.
This poetVas bom about the year 1430 of
Salivahana, and 0onrished during the reigns of
Nrisimha Roya and Krishna Deva: a village
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104
9eShd D^ranala, wltichis situated iathe dHstricfc
calle:! DapaJ, iii the ceded'provinces, claiiiis the-
honor of being his birth place. Allasani Peddaa%
in his iafancy studied the Sanscrit and Telugu
languages, in. due time, obtained a critical know-,
ledge of those tongues, and was able to coair
pose rersesiQ either of theai: bisabUities procur*-
td him the situation of Court poet to Nrisiraha
Roya, on wliicu monarch be wrote several pane-
gyrics. After the death of the above-named-
King, his son and successor Krishna Aoya,:;
patronized our poqt, and appointed him. aa onoi
of his "Asta Diggajas," or eight celebratett
Court pundits, in allusion to the eight elephanta.
whi ;h support tiie earth, according to the my-
thology of the Hindus.
Allasani Peddana was a votary of Rania> ao(t
his poems in the Telugu language are much
esteemed for their harmony. He composed aa
elaborate work, entitled " Swarachisha Manu.
Charitrn," in four bjoks. llie following are tha
contents of the poem in question : — A. religious
bi'amin, by name Pravarakhya, andaa inhabitant
ofMayapurefet an ardent desire to visit Uteauot^
j:,GoogIe
^it of the Himalajra mountain, and as It was itt-
^ossible to proceed there by Itumaa means, hd
"was anxious by some supernatural process to
efiect his wish, he in consequence stopt every
Rscetic and traveller, that he saw journeying
thither, that he might obtaia from them the se-
tret, by wbich they Were able to surmount all
difficulties, and attain the top of the mountain — •
he was in the habits of inviting these people to
fais house^ and courteously to entertain them in
hopes to obtain from them the secret One day^
a devotee came to his dwelling, and as his man*
ner was more than usually complaisant, the
bramin strenuously beseeched him to furnish
him with the means of proceeding to the top of
the Himalaya mountain, the devotee yielded to
his request, and furnished him with the juice of
a plant, wbich he rubbed on his feet, and desired
him to fly away, repeating the name of the
goddess. Pravarakhya at once flew away to the
top of Himalaya mountain, without thinking to
ask, bow he should return again to his dwelling:
when the juice on his feet was dried up, Prava*
rakhyalost the power of flying, imd wandered'
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
W4
ttbout tliei^eligbtful gardens 6d the iop ot i\i6
mountain, while be was thus strolling about, the
soaod of soft music saluted his ears^ ^d pro-
ceeding towards it, be saw a beautiful female
Gundharva, he went up to her and besought her
to direct him ia the right road. As the bramiB
was of a very comely person, and the female
Gundharva had never before beheld a man, she
£^lt in love with him, but was resolved to behave
with reserve, so that he might not discover her
real i^cntiments — she therefore reprimanded him
for entering her bower without permission, and
iold him to find out the road as well as he could
himself. Pravarakliya discouraged at the harsh
ione, in which the female Gundharva spoke, made
a precipitate retreat and making his way to a
neighbouring grove, performed intense devotions
to the god of fire, who, it is said, appeared to him
■oder the semblance of a bramin and conveyed
him to hisowQ dwelling house, in the mean time
the female Gundharva was inconsolable at his
loss, and had no idea that her behaviour to the
bramin would have ended in this manner, she
expressed ber <grief by the most extravagant
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105
"bctioBS by dashing her head on the ground and
lulling on the floor, and various other deeds
that shewed the poignancy of her afBtction. A
male Gundharva disguised himself like the bra-
tnio and coming to the female Gundharva pass-
ed hiiaseJf off for P'ravarathya and enjoyed
ber : she discovered the trick when too late, but
was determined to be revenged. The fenialo
Cundharva became pregnant, and was in due
time delivered, and the child waxed great aod
became Swarachisha-mana the sovereign of
Jambudweep. In tlie introduction to this work
the poet takes an opportunity of expatiating
on the valour of Krishna Uoya, and describing
bis victories over his enemies, especially the
Mahomedaas.
Allasani Peddaoa composed another work
called Ramastava Rajeyam, consistipg princi-
pally of the praises of Rama. In the fitly.fifth
year of his age, he wrote a philosophical work
entitled Adwaita Sedhantam, this work was
written in the Telogu language. When Allasa-
ni Peddaua was sixty years old be experieiiced
d=,Google
^ severe misfortane ia the lots of hk ttt)y4
FatroD Krishna Dera Maha Rajah — the poet
wrote a very pathetic elegy OQ the occQsion, and
lamented tlje loss of the Ung hk straios the
Qiore touching as they tvere really felt The
sorrow that AUasani Peddaaa expressed was
UDfeigned on his part as the tnoni&cence of his
Jloyal Master, on many occasioBS created in oar
poet sentiments -of the most fervent gratitude.
Allasani did not long outlive his Royal Patronj^
for he xjied a few months after ICrishna DeTa,t
at his otrn resideiice at Poranala. "nte beif
^nd successor of Krishna Deva, Rama Roynloo
^ewed great kindness to our poet, vho enjoyw
ed great reputation. His vorlcs are iJisseQiinated
in every province where the Telugu language i^
spoken and uttdersjtood, and few poet^ have eiF.
isted who gained tnore populaiity during his life
time and was esteemed by posterity than Al^
sani Peddana.
ADttARVANACHARYA.
This Was a very ancient poet, he was trarh
ia ^rec thousand and od4 years of the Kaleyug— •
D,q,i,i.:db,.GoogIe
ie waa A perfect master of tbe Sanacrit aiiij
Telngq langufig^ii and composed ait abridgement
of the Bharata history : no complete copy of
the work caa now be procured, but several de-
fftched parts of it are qtioted by several authora^
SBcient and modem.
ANDHRA KAUDAS.
A Teluga poet and an inhabitant of a tract tit
of couDtiy bordering.on the Krishna rirer. Front
lu's in&JQcy he studied- Telogu and Sanscrit and
in doe time becaraQ a poet of conaiderabte mnrii.
Ao^ra Kalidas fravelledtJirough various coun-
fa-Ie» and translated the Sankara Vt^aya into
1*61 Qga — this work ia Miti ia existence and very
extranv^ t^olftted in tiie tel^u conntry.-^
As there was a poit of the name of Kalidas at-
tiie Court of Bhoja Biya, tliis poet added the
word Andbrft to hi$ name and called hiraselT
Audhra Kalidas, ^ a distinctive appellatioo.
ABBANA KAVI,
Vfa» Ixim ia the f ^'"g'^ country, liis reading
. . . 1? »
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
los
was veryextensive, for he had perused the wwfesi
of a great many authors who had written, in, thft
Sanscrit of vernacular language, he became hinoii
selfapoetof talents far beyond mediocrity, hft
translated into Teiugu the story of Pururavaot
of the Purans which treats of the birth of Pani-
ravaChatravatri, sovereign of ladia of the lunar
race, and ofhis reign arid marriage, thesesubjecta
are comprised in tliree chapters.
ANNAYACHARI.
This poet was born in the Telugn country, he
was well versed in all the histories contained in
the Purans:- he composed a work in two- boo\s
ealted *' Pit^naha Charitra," the subject of
which is t(&en>from the Purans ^oid contains tha
hbtory of Brahma the creator.
GOVINDA KAVI.
Was a native of the southern provinces, htj
flourished during the time of the Tanjore Teiuga
Rajas, he was educated in the school established
by those soTereigns. He was thoroughly ac-
quainted with Telngu Grammar. Ue composed
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
109
aworlt entttleJIndumati Parniayara or the matv
liage of ladumati, the daughter of a Sourastra
Kio^, this poem is comprised in one book. He
wrote several descriptions of diirtrent temples of
Dravidades, and died at Madbyarjuma.
RAMABHADRA.
This poet was a native of the Ceded districts
and flourished in the reigo of Kristna Royaloo,
King of Anagoondi, he was renowned for his
learning and composed a poem on the adven-
tures of the incarnate God Rnma, in three books
called Raroabhudaym, tlie whole poem is much
admired, but the part in which Rama laments the
loss of his wife Seta, is particularly affecting and
written with very great judgment and pathos,
Bamabhadra dedicated this work to Sreram.
VENKATAPATI RAJA.
Was by cast a Kshatreya and a native of
Anagondi. He was a perfect master of tb6
Telugu dialect, and had read the productions
of all the best poets who had written in that
language. V^&kalapati in ashorttime became a
db,GoogIe
|K>et of cousiderable merit himself, and his vei'-
siiicfutioD was reniarkublefor its natural flow and
Eaiooifaoess. He particularly excelled in descrip*
ti JDS his talent at which has been eqaalled^but by
few Telu^a poets. OuriDg the' early part of hid.
life Venkatapati was in the military service, but
bis turn of mind iaduced him to resign the professi*
on of arms, and devote his whole time to litera-
ture. He studied grammar under the first gram-
marian of tiieage. — The abilities of VenkatapatJ^
Baja brought him the notice of the King, vha
invited bim to his court, and retained him as one*
f>f his poets. Soon afler this Venkata compos-
ed an epic poem, which be entitled Chandraga*
da Charitra, in which all the actions of Chan-:
EJragndaKiQg of the Nesbidha country is describ*
ed, jhis work Venkatapati dedicated to Kristo^
Roy a.
BALA SARASWATt.
This poeti was a branjim, and born in Raja-
maheadri, the capital of the Andhra Province.
lie was tutor to Nannya Bha^, and a school-fel-
low of Sarangadhara, sma. of Raja Nftrea^
•Ira. He was tought philosophy by a celebnUeil
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
m
professor after whose death Bala Saraswati He.
gan to exhibit his geaias. He made a coiQ'^
aentaiy on the book on grammar, called " An-,
dhra Sabd% C%eatamam which was composed by
Nannaya. Bhatt aod this exposition was known to
the learned by the appellation of Bala Saraswati.
This poet wrote several other ^orks, but th^y
|l4ve not been preeerred.
BHASEARA.
A Telaga poet and resident by Kondavede
he translated the Ramayan into Telugu and de-
dicated it to Sahinioiara the superintendent of
the royal stud of Ana Vema Reddi, for this he
received some reward but not of very great va-
lue, Bhaskar^ flourished in the thirteenth centu-
ty of the Salivahana era, and died in his nativ^
^oui(ti;y.
BADA BANALA BHATT.
Was a native of Kondavede, he. reoeiv^ an
t^eeltent ^ucatros, and became a poet heforo.
(e was w^l grown up, and composed severali
WQSiDdhmeoas pieces.— It n said that one day a%
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
fce went: to a tank to -peribno the tisual aWufioOS.
«nd daily -religious riteg, 4is gold ring dropj>ed
from his finger into the water, he became vexed
■aad uttered aalaiprecation that the water sliouM
beflriedupentirely.and it is reported that in th»
coarse of four hddrs the tank became perfectly
'dry, and Bada Bauala Bhatt picking up his ring
returned home.
The writings of the above poet became very-
popular and was distributed in various quarters
which procured for him the support aud counte-
naace of a great many petly sovereigns and rul-
ers who esteemed him for his talents. He died
at his own residence. •
BANDENA.
A celebrated poet and inhabitant of the.
Ceded districts, he was much respected by some
powerful Palygars, by whose-orders he translat-
ed the "Raja Niti" tr morality of Kings from
Sanscrit into Telugu— the treatise comprises
various subjects among which are : Fortifica-,
tion, the way to defend a town, oa the mode of
government, codes of lawa, examination of coun-
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113
titlors, coUeclion of revenue and on mililary
stores, the whole is contained in three hooks. This
book was referred to by the petty Paltpars on
all necessary occasions to guide them in the ad-
miiiistratioii of aSUirs. Bandena obtained soma
considerable grants of land for his literary labours
and lived a peaceable and easy life till the day
of iiii death, which took place at his n^ve town.
BAPPANA KAVL
This poet was an inhabitant of the Telaga
country, and flourished during the time of Koa-
davede Reddiwar, he was well versed in Telugn
grammar, and a perfect master of that language,
he composed a work which he denominated
"Andrhaprayoga RatnaKara," ocean of Telugu
phrases and inscribed it to his father, this book
was made use of in all t!ie schools in Telaga
country. Bappana Kavi h-td an accademy of
his own, and numerous pupils were instructed
by him, which occupation rmployed his time till
the day of hia last sicknes and death.
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BHYRAVA KAVI.
* This poet was contemporary with the foregOi.
iog, and was like hira a great grammarian of the
TelugTi di^ct : he wrote a work on prosody, -en-
titled Kavi Gajan Kusa Chandasu, whi(ih by
degrees came in good repute ; BhyravaKavi did
not seek any public employment, hvA spent his
time ill' retirement, and died^nuch respected Xor
•.his excellent private character
lEASAVA KAVI.
" TTiis "poet -was a disciple of Sri Rama, aind
tras an inhabitant dT the country, near tiba
Kristna Rivfer ; by coinstantly reading the Ra-
mayana "he imbibed a taste for poetry. He
translated the Ramrtyana from Sanscrit, in'to
Teluga which work was held in high estimation.
BHIMA KAVI.
The account that has been handed dCwn by
traditionary records of this poet, assign to him
virtues that 'elevate him io a rank, equal to a
demi-god : he was born at Lemula Vada, in the
province of Veligandi"""'*, his mother was a
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
wiabw, and Bhiaia Kavi • is said- to liave beea
produced by tbe operation, ot the spirit of Siva*.
His. mother bavmg made several, vows. The
mother of Bhima, bad-raade- vows to propitiate
the deity, that her son niig'ht become a wise and
enlightened man, and it is said, that be acquired:
perfect knowledge of languages with very little
application, aad his father- the God. Siva, Lad
pronounced a blessing, that whatever he ex,
pressed by word of mouth, should come to pass.
By the> works, hi lefit behind him, it appears, that
Bhiina Kavi had travelled into different foreign
countries,, s^uch as Karnata, Maharatta, &c. h^
visited the king of Sajanagar, (named Rayakaling-
agangu).* town in the province of Kajiuga, buta.s
that monarch treated him with great disrespect^
and received him in- a haughty and scornful
manner, BhimaKavi pronounced acr.rse, where-
by the aforesaid king- lost all his wealth, and
suffered, very severe misfortunes.; the king, qf
Sajaniigar,. however- shortly repented of the
treatment lie had shewn to. Bhima Kavi, and
^pptoaching him. humbly besought his fyrgive-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
lis
ness. The poet pardoaed him and biUisscd liiloi
ia the following verse: —
Thy coantleai tro|>pa marsWI'd in bn^ftit WJtaff^
ShM make each hostile iqa&dcoD fl; unay,
And flash'dniLh ipoila sliall victor; procUimki
And o'er ettch region spread tti j glorious nanA:
While fertile Sajanagar'a Rplendid throne^
Shall void of danger e'er remain th; iiwn.
By this blessing of the pcet, the king Rr>y4
Kalinga Gungu repossessed the throne, and coa«.
quered all his eaemies.
Bhima Kavi wrote a treatise on prosody, ea^
titled " Bhimana Chandasu," and a work na as-
trology, named Bhimana Jotisha, comprising a.
number of subjects, especially the twenty-seven
lunar mansions and rules, by which nativities
may be cast : besides the above Bhima Kavi pub-
lished a collection of poetical effusions on vari-
ous subjects, many of which are lost, but few
are still in existence, and in the possession oi
the bards and panegyrists in the Telugu coun-
try, a few more are to be found in the librariea
of some men of note- All the wonders performed
by Bhima Kavi, however are in the months of
all the women and children in most of the Telith
:»„i,i=dbvGoOgIe
ga provinces, for his name is very popular, an:$
all the wonders he performed as handed doivn
by tradition, universally credited as real fact^.
Bhinaa Kavi died, lamented by all classes as few
«Ottld exceed him in justice and charity.
GUNGA DHARA.
This individual was a nati\'e of the Orissft
.country, but Tvrote poems in the Telugn lau<
gua^. He came to the Telugu country at a
very early age, and was educated at a respec;ni.
ble private school, he was a great trave'ler, and
aa he had heard much of the patronage of Bal-
iana Roya, he paid his court to Uiat moiiirch,
who countenanced him, and by his liberality,
madehimto be. ineasy circumstances: his poems
were many, but th>iy chiefly relate to the Liogst-
Tunt sect^ as his ro}'al master had become a
convert to the Siva faith. Gnoga Dhara died
BQUch l^nented, for he was of a strict m>ji-al cha-
racter, and much esteemed both by the king and
|>eopI©.
j:,GoogIe
Its
GHANTAYA KAVT.
Tis name was giveii to this poet, after a- do-
mi gorldes^, by his parents. He' was born iti
the Telugu country. Whe» he had finished hia
education, he selected a story from the Kasi1can^
da> entitled "Surabhandeswara," and translated
itinto Telugnrtbe fblfowing is the subject of the
poem. The God Isvrar becomes enamoured' of'
a beautiful toddy-woman during the absence of
her husband, ajid' she admits- him intc tiie
house. — Tte husband returns, while they were
reclining on the bed, and finding the door
shut, beats against it violently, ^e god
finding no way that he couM escape undis-
covered in a human shape, entered a toddy
jar, and became a lingum, the wife then opene^l
the door, and the husband entering looked into
the toddy pot, and saw the Hngmn, he thenknew,
ihatbis wife had been cohabiting with the God
Iswar, and far from being displeased at this cir>-
cumstance he was vexed, that she had not
admitted him before that he might have seen the
god. The toddy man placed the abovenaraed
iinguBt in a consecrated spot and deaominated it
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119
Ektra Bhandeswar. The whole story is com*
prised io five books. Ghaataya Kavidid not com.
pose any original work, but confined bis talents
to making translations from the Sanscrit, but the
harmony of his verses was much admired by
poets as welt as people in general. This bard
enjoyed the protection of several Rajahs, until
liis deatti which took place at his usual residence.
JAGANNATH.
Was a native of the northern provinces, and
Tras descended from a pure tribe: at an early
age, he studied Telugu grammar, and in course
of time, composed a work on the conduct of so-
vereigns, which treatise procured for him the
patronage of the Telugu Rajahs. His reading
in Sanscrit works was very extensive, and he
translated from that l^iguage into the vernacu-
lar, the ** Raja Niti — or the duties of monarchs
a poem in four books.
LAKSHMANA KAVI.
This poet was a native of tbe Telugu country,
after he left school, he read over many Telugu
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
Hi
%"oots on grammar, and by practice lleC&itte ■»&-
^qtiainted with all tbe Teluga nouns. He coatw
piled a compendioas vocabalary in four book^
called Andhra-nama Sangraha, "(Tbicb was a
treatise on the diflerent pronunciations of the
Telugj tingue; this is a Wort of great utility,
as it gives the meanings of various Telugrt
words, beiji^ a complete digest of syaooimeSi
When this treatise was finished, he composed
another woik, called "SubliashitaRatnakara," or
flie ocean of polite phrases, which is intended as
a sequel to the former work> The princes of
Telugu highly encouraged Lakshmana Kavi, and'
by their liberality, he was enabled to live io com-
parative affluence; he ended his days in his m*
tive country.
LINGA KAVI.
A Telugu poet and historian. "V(TiiIe study-
ing at school, he read over many histories of an--
cient kings, particularly the sixteen monarchs of
the solar race, he made a Telugu version of the
history of Sananda, from the Purans, in which
was included that sovereigns birth, marriage, the
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121
^ee(3s of forresters, tbe oonduci of Icings, the
'encrease of wild beasts, tbe sports of the field,
pleasures of pastime in elegant gardens, the king's
return to bis capital, bis administration, and va-
rious other sul^ects : tbe whole is written in three
cbapters. This poet was much respected by
inen of note ia his native country, and obtained
rich rewards from them, be died at bis own re^
sidence.
lAKSHMANA KAVI THE SECOND.
A Telugu grammarian and poet, and resideut
of Kondavede ; during his infancy be obtained
en excellent education, and composed a Telugu
grammar, called Prabandha Rajeyam — this was
the chief work composed by this poet, and was
reckoned a very useful treatise, and it obtained
jbr the author the appellation of Lakshamana
Kavi, or the grammatical poet, which cognomen
after ages have adopted. This poet earned his
subsistence merely by tbe labours of his pe% and
died much respected.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
ITNGA RAJA.
A gramniarian and poet of the Telagn cottfta
try, he was educated ia bis JDfnUcy in the Teluga
languages, and soon became ti 'proficient ; he held
acme post in ^he royal house-hold at Andhra, and
obtained the surname of R^'a, on account of the
respect paid to him by t*rioces. Me was a con-
stant worsliippei- of the God Nrisimha of Malya-
dri, and during Vis leisure hours composed ft
Telugu grammar, and dedicated it to the above-
named deity ; Uiis work in aftet ages has been de-
nominated Malyadri-Nrisinota-Chandasu: LiBga
Rajab, according to authentic acconnta died itt
thepritbe of life.
lOKABANDHAVA.
A native of tlie Telugu country, his name
Whicb means a friend of the world, he obtained,
because hebad simplified the history of Haris-
cbundra, so lias to make it intelligible to com-
tnon capacities : he lived to a good old age, bat
did not compose any other work.
DiqiiiicdbvGoogIc
WNGAYA.
This poet was an inhabitant of the Telugi»
eouatry. He was during his iofancy well eda-
9ated in the 8an3crii and Telugu languages.
}Ie translated from Sanscrit into Telugu a trea*
tise pa the science of palmistry, a work, which
became yery popular with the learned, and witt
Xarious princesi
MANjCHANA MATAYA-
Was a poetand historian of the Telugu conn.,
'try, he was well educated, and' composed man/'
historical works, the most celebrated of which i^
the history ckfKeyuraBahu, a king of the Sow-
rastru country, and his warlike deeds and actions.
lifancUaiia Matya was raised, to the dignity of'
privy conncillor at the court of the Prince ojf
Kondavide of the Reddiwiu* family, aod composed
the above work during his leisure hours..
MOLLL
This poetess was the daughter of a potter, and
ftourished during tb& reign of Krishna Detra.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
124
Maharayaloo. Her parents bad her well educat-
ed, and Iier genius expanded with Iier age. She
had so fertile an invention, that according ta
tradition she composed the story of Ramayana,
while her hair was drying after bathing: thia
work was widely disseminated after publication,
and much admired by the learned, and used ai,
public schools and other seminaries.
MADHAVAROYA.
This poet was by cast a Velamawar, he wa»
B native of Adoni, and minister to the Prince of
that capital, he was a very learned man, and
such hours as he could spare from his public
avocations, he devoted to reading and the com*
position of Telugu verse, he wrote a work call-
ed Cbandrika Parinaya.
MALLANA.
Was the Son of Bommana Pataraja. Ho
was in his Infancy educated by his father, who
taught him grammar and other brauches of learn-
ing. While yet a yonth, he composed the Ruk-
mangada Charitra an epk poem in four books^
db,GoogIe
125
to commemorate the marriage of king Rulmaa*
gada with the princess- Sandhyavali. — Accordinf
to tradition, this poet composed several other
works, but none of them are now in existence^
MUDDU RUNGA CHOKANADH.
This poet was by cast a Gentoo, he was bom
at Trichanapuly, and of iliustrious descent, for
his father was Vijaya^Ranga Chakanadh, a petty
sovereign of the Tanjore country, under the
dominion of the Vijayanagar government. —
Muddu Runga Chakanadh retained at his court
various learned men, and poets, to whom he
gave very great encouragement, as well as to
singers and musicians ; he was a votary of the
Sriramgam diety, and made a translation of the le-
gendary account of Ranganadh, which comprises
various subjects- aa follows : — Treatise oo
Tarious- articles, account of excavations of dif-
ferent weights andmeasures on gold mines, on
the precious metals — on mathematics and men-
suration. — All these subjects are related in a
plain and perspicuous manner, so as to come
vrithiu the comprehension of the commonest
.dbvGoogle
1«
mderataadiag—'ftiid this work has much condu-v
ced to the Q(ti6cation of succeeding: generation)
(L3 it forms o»e of their principal class books, Thia.
author died while ia charge oTthe administratiF>
oa ofpublic affairs^.
MALLAYA.
Was an tnhalHtant of Koodavede, and tbe so«
of Madayor, he was abramia of the LingAdhare- '
sect, most of the bramins were converted to th*
Lingavant sect, b.y Bissala Roya, king of Kala*.
yani : these bramins wear a stone Ungum. round
ibeir necks, and make oblations to it» and wor*
ship it afler performing ablutions. Malaya k«
ceived a good education in his inf^ajjcy, and
while yet in his youth, wrote the Raja SekharEl
Charitra, or a poetical liistory of Raja Sekhara^
■p, king of former ages. When this work waa
finished, the poet dedicated it to Nandala Appaya,
son in law to Saluva Tirama, a king who lived.
1u the fifteenth century of Salivahana, after tha
reign of Kristna Deva Mabaroyaloo, king of
Anagondi. Malaya received rich rewards B'on
this patron in lands and other presents.
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l»OTARAnT.
T'his poet was of the Bommana family, awi
flourished ia the thirteenth century of Salivaha-
Ba. During his infancy, he composed a great
many liymns and anthems in honor of the god
6ri Ram, and it is said, that he was inspired by
tiiat deity to translate the Bhagavat into Telugu
and commanded to dedicate the work to him,
Wad the god promised to aid him in the under-
taking. Thus encouraged by the divinity, Pota-
Tfiju translated twelve volumes of the Bhagavat^
It is said, that when he was employed on the
tenth Tolume, entitled Dasamamaskanda he had
<!ommenced the description of the beautiful
Tirgin Rukmini, and came to the following,
words which he wrote down : — " Pandr Bala.
Kamre," which bears a double interpretation
in one sense, meaning that the virgin Rukmini
had attained twelve years of age, and in ano-
Iher signification implying, that she was bum-
ed— having written these words, it is said,
the poet went to a neighbouring pool to
bathe, and his infant daughter, who was crawl-
ing on the floor, immediately fell into a fire*
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
"J38
learfb. The God Srimm on this iDstantaDeotU-
}y ijesceuded, ftnd snatching up the paper, corn*
pleted the verse, which the poet had left unfiiushed
by addtng these words, *' Nelata Kevanatnbeu
Miadi Uude/' or the virgin attained to full ma-
turity — and it is said, that immediately the
child came out of the fire-hearth, without beiu^
scorched or bamt in the least degree — when Pa-
taraj returned home, he heard what bad happen*
ed, and seeing the stanza that he had left uafi-
nished, quite completed, he praised Sri Ram,
through whose interposition this miracle had
been effected. Although Potaraj was in dis-
tressed circumstances, and wanting even the ne-
cessariesof life, be never debasedbimself by any
mercenary dedications of his effusions to any
mortal, and despised his brother-in-law Sriuatby
because he paid his court to the Prince of the
Rediwar family by whom he was retained. This
poet lived to a good old age, butno authentic
accounts of his death has reached posterity.
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139
SRINATH.
X ))ratQiii, Lyric poet and historiao^ and bro^
ther-in-Iaw to tbe individujd, whose biography,
forms the preceding article. He possessed a
quick genius, aad was instructed by Potaraj>
Srinath composed a history called " Marutft-
rat Charitru," the substance of which is taken
from the Kastkhanda. This poet was employed
by Ana Vema Reddi, king of Konda-vede, as
bis chief court poet, and he was highly esteemed
by that monarch. This poet had a very florid
diction, especially in the description of females.
He travelled through various countries to exa-
mine the qualities, virtues, vices, and pro-
pensities of women. When he was on his
tour, he came near tiie town of Nellore about
sun-set, and seeing a young boy driving soma
cows, he asked him how far it was to the town ;
" look at the sun, at me, and th« cows," said tho
boy, and you wiD guess without my telling you.
By this Siinath perctived that the town was
close by, for the boy meant him to understand,
that as it was sun-set, the cows returning home.
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130
BncI be bat a yooBg child tiie town could not^
iu- opr. 'V^ilst he was traveUJo^ on, a womaft
«eke(l our poet what his name was, he replied
£riiiatb> which word signifies, the lord or hus-
band oifwoiiiankiud. '* Who then is j^onr mo-
.ther's jiusband?" asked the woniea. It is said,
.4Iiat -Srinath was so abashed, tbat he would not
"enter the town of Nellore, but proceeded tp ■
«ome other coHutiy. Srinath during fais hfe de-
jdicated a great many works to kings and men of
jnqte, which drew down the reproaches of hi^
brother-in-law, who accused him of servility, and
Aordidoess in same vtry severe satires, that he
^nned ibr the purpose ; this circumstance caus-
led a coohiess between the t,wQ poetsj which end-
ed at last in enmity and hatred. Srinath enjoyed
a cousideiable deal of reputation, and died in the
£%■ fifth year of his agej his brother-in-law
outlived him some years.
CHINA yiRANA.
This poet was of' the Pellala-mari family and
a native qf Tennala, he lived near the time of
Ana Vema Reddi the sovereign of Kondavede.
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^ bad ten eMer brother namtid Pada Virasa^ whor
bjrdiiigeot applicfttioD to* his studies soon be-<
came a poet of Fespectable talents y while Chinat
Virana od the other hand' spent lria> time io idICK
nessand dissipation, and for atloog time exhibit*
ed no si^ns of j^nius; Both the; brothers, wera
ia the habits of attemiii^ the> court of tha reigo^
mg' prince, wiio held Pftda Viraaa. ia high, esti?
mation, on account of bismiscetlaneoua produe-
tions in verse. This kii^ commanded the' last
mentioned poet, to compose at 'work oaasi^
Ject, never yet hwidled by any bard- of the coun-
try ; Pada Virana without considering on tha
. dffficnltie^ ha ^oold have to e&couater agreed
to do aa in a very short period. When, he rer
tiu'ned home, lie mentioned this aS^ir to his mfe^
aad desired' ber to apprize his, brother of the cij>
ownstance, as he v^is absent from tbfl Ixonse JM^
at this mcMient. Whent China ViranA relHrned
to his dwelling, his sister-in-IaTC agreeably to her
busbands di-reotions^ acc^aiftted bint with the
lierdicamait in. which bis brother was placed.
Ohina Vti^oa desired her i|ot be uosasy that he
db,GoogIe
ESC
■ CHAKRAPAff.
Tbis |>oet wEta a brauHa of the- Patfa (km3y;f.
and a native of Tettu, near Mannar Polure- in
the Nellore district ; he- was in indfgent: citcank
stancs and a strict worshipper of Siriram> by th«
fevor of which god (according tO' tradition^ h«
^ acquired a quick genius, and not hy hia own
exertions. Chakrapah flourished about one hun*
dred and fifty years ago, and was contemporarji
with Bangarn Yachama Nadii zemindar of Kalac ,
Kasti. When thii) poet was sixteen years of ag^
he began to compose verses ; he was very apt ant)
ready in rhyming, and used often to verstfy whafc
was spoken to bim in colloqual discourse. "Fbtt
fhme of tliis poefs talents reached the ears of
YachamaNadu, who became very anxious to se«
him on that aiconnt, and sent for him', bat ihei
poetdeotiaed going as his family, would want
the necessarise of life should he be abs^it. Tha
Wife of Cbaltrapa was far advanced in pregnatw
cy, and as he expected her to lie in, and oovH
not procure a milch buffalo, and other necessa-
ries, for the occasion he proceeded to Kalahastt
in order to rmse funds ; while on his journey he
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136
tihance^ to meet Yocliatna NaHu, who was i*.;
turuing ia a palankeen from a hunting excursion.
3ie put several questions to the poet, which he
answered in beautiful verse> which so pleased
ihe aforesaid R^ah, that he invited bim to hi?
court, aed desired him to write one hundred
-jBtan7.as, Id praise to the God Sriram, Chaltrapa
executed this task with great credit to liimsel^
and so much to the satisfaction of Vachama Nadu,
fhat he offered the poet ajoy reward that be
should desire. Chakrapa asked for eighty seers
of oholam grain ; but the Kajab was more
jnunificent than be promised to be^ for he pre.
{lented the poet with a tract of Und that^ielded
y^rly the quantity of produce he named, besides
conferring on him very valuable presents, and
furnishing him with a guard for bis safe conduct
home to his native village. Chakrapa did not
write any work on any useful jsubject, all hi*
effusions being confined to poems in pi-aise of
the God Sriram ; this poet never flattered any
individual of note to forward aay mercenary
views : he died when he was sixty years of age,
in by no means affluent circumstancei.
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MOHANA.NGI.
This poetess was a princess, aod tlie daaglitet
of Kristna Rojaloo, slie received aa excdlent
education in her infancy, and was well versed in
rhetoric and poetry, while in the bloom of youth
she married Ramoroyaloo ; after which she still
Continued her studies, and employed much oif
her time iii reading, celebrated Telegu works,
composed by the poets at her fathers court : by.
constant application she attained to considerable
proficiency in the art of versification, and wrote
a poem entitled Mariclii Parinaya, the subject
of which is taken from the IVIahabarat. In this
poem a very elegant discription is given of the
iWtarichi damsels. The work consists of five
books. This princess had no issue, and became
unfortunately a widow, in the prime of life, and
(according to tradition) was immolated on the
funeral pile of her husband.
KRISTNA ROYULTJ.
Was a king of Vidyanagar or Anagondi, and
father to the princess just mentioned, he was en-
stalled to the throne at the death of his father
db,GoogIe
Nrisimlia Koya, and became renowned, both for
liiatooquestsand encouragement of literature. He
vas instructed in the art of GovenmeDt by Ap?
J>agior Timmarasa, who was tutor to Mm dor*
img hie -minority. H« was likewise a great con-
iqueror, and invaded the Telugu and oilier coun-
tries, which he subdued by his armies. This
taonarch was very partial to Telingu poetry,
Allasani Pedctana dedicated to this sovereign,
his poem named Swarochisha Manu Charitra:
on this work Kristaa- Royal u made a commea-
iary, which he called Amukta Mala, or necklace
of pearls : in this eflTusioD was comprised rules
on public admiaistratioQ of affairs, aad the dutiei
of a sovereign. After this the king ttaastated
the Rasa Manjari, a treatise on amatory subjects ;
the Maclalasa Cbaritra, a history of a celebrat-
ed king : the Sakala Katha Sara Sangraham,
an abridgement of several popular tales. This
prince was a great encourager of learning, and
« munificent patron ; he died in the fortieth year
ttf his age, in the year of Salivahuua 1446.
db,GoogIe
AGASTYAR.
This was a celebrated Tamul poet. The
learned Hindus in the Sooth of India are in doubt
■whether he is to be identified with the celebrat-
ed Agastya Mahamimi, or is some other persom
sprung from the Sudra cast. He wrote a Tamol
grammar, the first on that language that was
ever written, and called k Agastya. — Vyakam-
natn, which consists of five modes of Yalakanum,
vrz. Yalutta, Ghollu, Parulu, Appn, and Atap-
kani, he also composed several other works. On
Hindu mythology, philosophy, medicine, alcbemyv
and on religious rites, and formula of prayers.
The remote age in which Agastyar lived has
caused the materials to compile his biography to
be very scanty, «nless we give more heed, than
due to the legendery accounts handed down res-
pecting him.
AVAYAR.
This poetess was the daughter of a bramin nam-
ed Bhagavan, by a woman named Adi, of a low
tribe ; according to some legends she and her
brother and sisters^ (naoiply, three males and four
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139
j&males), were the issues, of Brahma and' Seras-
wati, when they were making a tour through
different countries, and left by those deites at
the doors of various individuals^ who brought
them up, and in whose tribes or cast they were
admitted. Avayar excelled all her brothers and
sisters in leami'ng, although she was brought up
by a Panakar (or servile cast) songster. She
was contemporary with Kamban the author of the
Tamul Romayana, and she employed her elegant
pen on various subjects, such as astronomy,
medicme, and geography ; her works of the latter
description are rbuch admired. The followiug is
a fragment of one of them :^
" Tt« whole expiaae of thii iV<^^'*P>'e'><I'iig,eartb,.
'* Afajr be oompareil to alu-ga tract of land ;
"ThttdiTarsaosntriet^iittlia world, oachmark'd-
" B; its ona bouadarie*, resemble fields.
" Great Too-dei-val-a nadu is a peering
" Sugar-cane ia.oae ortheie fair field*^
" FtB chraf towns arftthe crude juice of this cane^'
" Fair Kancbipnnnii if a lucioua caka
T a
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140
" Of noreGned ngar, got hj batliiig ;:
" While a cooerctioD of refined Rtigar,
" Doei preteat Ut' iaieriora of bright Eaochi,
" Wbcreibo Great God, who tiMnnti the boll, reiidea.*
Avayar remained a virgiB all her life and died"^
much admired for hei talents in poetry, and arts
and sciences.
KAPIT.AR.
This was one erf' the brothers of the hefore-
Mtentioned poetess. Teruvallor is mentioned as
his birth place, which was in the Chola comitry^
he was brought up by a bramtn, and was edu-
cated in the TantuI lai^uage, which be very soon
became master of. He composed a work, called
Aghavar, which is a relation in verse of all the
events of his own life, and that of his brothers
and sisters, mentioniag the places of their births
and so forth.
TERITVALLUVOR.
This poet was another brother of Avayar,
being like them exposed as soon as bom, but
brought up by the pariars of Mailapur. When
U.r,,l,;.-M:,C00<iIC
ke arrived to 6ie age of maturity, he proceeded^
Madura during the reign of Vamdasektara, aad
•vercatne forty nine learned professors, at the
court of that king ia disputation. He was ad-
mitted to th6 Tamul college, notwithstanding his
tow birth. He composed a work entitled Teru-
valluvar Koral, which consists of a series of
stanzas of a didactic character, on the different
grsides and eofidititma of human life ; this work
13 in great repute alt over the South of India^
and is reckoned one of the best composition^
extant in the high Tamil, and a translation of it
into English w as made, by the late Mr. F.Eliis*
This poet was called Teruvallnvor, a^ be waa
reared up by Valluvar.
ADHIKANAN.
This was also another brother of Avayar, he
was so fortunate as to be brought up by a prince,
and was consequently admitted into the kingly
tribe, he wrote numerous poems on various sub-
jects.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
UPPAGA.
This poetess and the two followiog^ were sis-^
ters to Avayar. She was born at Utakadu m th«
Arcot district, and was broaght pp by a waahep-
woman. She wrote a work ob moitdity entitled
NUiPatat
MUREGA. .
Was born at Kaveripatam, ia the C%(^acoiia.>
try, she was reared up by a toddy-womaa, and!
wrote a few poems on miscellaneous sul^ects. ^
VALLY-
Was boru on the hill country, and was adopt*'
ed, [ and brought up by people of the Karawap
tribe. She wrote numeroas poems.
SATKARA.
The only ag;ounts handed down of this poet
rests oolegendarytraditions and a docum^t, ao
cordiag to which he was the chief poet of forty-
eight iu the congregation of Sanghatar; hewa^
aresidentof Madura, and took his place among
a concourse of poets, on a seat which had been
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
14S
gmnted by tlie God Sundareswar in ftft reign ot
Cfeampakamar^ called also yaiiisacbudamaiu-pan>-
dayan. One day ChampakaiDar asked all the
poets, whetber the perfume on his wife's hair was
(he effect of art ot its own natural smell. The
king suspended to a pillar one thousand mads
wrapped in a cloth, and promised to give the
money to whomsoever shonld answer the ques-
tion. An indigent biamin named Dhamaga ad-
dressed a mental prayer to Sundareswar, and
was inspii-ed by the deity, to declare that the
odour of the queen's hair was natural, and received
the money as a rew£u-d. Satakara made some
remarks when Sundareswar appeared to bim aa
an aged bramin, and sapported Dhalmaja, bu^
Satakara continuing the dispute, Iswar manifested
himself and displayed his third eye, the poet was
at first so struck with fear, that he started from
his seat, but becoming more bold put certain
polemic questions to Iswar, who grew enraged^
and uttered an imprecation, that the poet
should be overcom e in dispntation by a person of
mean extraction. After this Yada Kadar Was
conversing with Satakar for a long time, the out.
D,„i,i=dbvG'oogIe
tu
ea^ ^oet Teravalluvor laid his T>oot called tlift
Koral, on the bench which immediately vanislKd
<JRANA SAMMANiDHAit.
This was a Tamul bramin poet, he was bort
at Chiyali near Chidambaram, and well educated
daring his infancy : he was a very prudent per^
son, and composed a wort called Tevaran, which
mentions the different controversies be had with
Ae Jains, and the tenets of that heretical sect
No authentic account of the death of this poet
^us'been handed down.
APPAR
This was a Jain Poet, who had a religious dii-
putation with Guanasaroandhar by whom it is
said he was vaoquished, and consequently be.
came a convert to the Hindu faith. He eowpos*
«;d several poems, in the Tamul language, whicii
sre now not in existence.
SANDARAR.
Abramii»,poetofTeruiiarNeUore, who wa^
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educated at Chidambaram, and composeiia posij
called Tevaram.
MANl KYAVASAR.
' A bramiu, Tamul poet of the Dravida country
and a native of Chidambaram. After leaving
school lie became very religions, and composed
many poems OL the deity of Cbilambaram. Ho
collected all his effusions together in one volumo
and called it Cliida:ubaram Cora, he was mack
respected and esteemed by bis disciples, and by all
classes of inhabitants, aad died ia a good old age.
GNANOBA.
This poet was a reli tjious man and dwelt In
Alandi, the ancient Alakapuri, a tawn situated
on the bants of the river Indrani, he had two
brothers, one named Sophanadeo, and the other
Changadeo, and a sister named Mooktaboye, they
were natives of Berhampore on the batilca of th#
Tapi river. Gnanoba entered a religious order
at the age of twelve years, and after com-
pleting his education, be compOfied a book on
V
ft
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
14A
f>liilosopIiy entitldd Graneswari m 4be Maharata
language. Bis younger brother Changadeo^o-
ceeded to visit him, and sent bim word to ad- .
vance from ^andito meet him^butGnaaoba told
the other to come himself, he did so, and saw hia
brother setting on a wall, and according to tra-
dition he walked away with it. After the meet-
ing of tiie two brothers Ghangadeo caused a
male buffalo to chant the vede. After a few days
fChangadeo returned to his country. Gnaooba
spent his whole life in contemplations on the di.
vility, and died in the sixteenthyear of his age
at Alaudi. A temple has been raised to his me-
mory, and a festival is yearly celebrated in honor
•f bim in Uie month of Ju)y.
NAMADEO.
Hiis poet was a tailor, he was bom in a village
called Gopalpore, which is situated near Pandra-
pore, and was contemporary with Shahogiy. In
the eigth year of his age Namadeo became a
disciple of Kristna, and gave iDdications that he
would become a great sage and philosopher : he
abstained from rice, and milk was the only nou-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
T4T
rishmeat he toot. R is given oat that Be peiS-
ibnned several mirades^ and constantly spent his
time in tiie praises of the god of Pandrapore*
He composed one hundred verses in the Mahar-
rata Ifugaage, consisting of applauses of the
<leity. Namadeo died ia the fortieth, year of bi»
BAMADOS SWAMf;
Was born in a village called Parali near S&*
iwm, he was a disciple of Gnanoba, and lived in
the reign of Shahagi Rajah, he held some occu-
pation under the Maharata goTemmeut, but he
subsequently resigned' it on account of some re-
ligions scruples^ and spent his time in reading
books, ia which the miracles of the god Ganesa,
is set dowDt by which he learned the merits of
^e faith oC Namadeo, and in order to mock him.
aerved separate dishes for him, when Namadeo
came to the residence Ramadoss, he only found
a single leaf distinct from the line of.bramins, and
told the latter to spread two leaves more as he
expected his parents from heaven. Hie other paid
Y 2.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
148
DO heed to >hat be said, but «heii Namade*
pressed him very niach^ RaniAdos placed two more
leavea, when the parents of NaDmdeoiniGDediate"
\y appeared in the f Jrm of Vlshna, *ml s«t dowflk
to the repast, to the surprise of Ramndoa, who
eoald not produce his parents when challenged
by the other to do so ; be was abashed and sui^
the praises of Namadeo, who together with hi»
immortal parents departed : Ramadoes died in the
eightieth year of bis age.
TUKKOBA.
A Maharata, poet of Pandrapore, he wa» well
Tersed in the Maharata liangnage, and it k said*
ihat at his twentieth year the God Vital appear-
ed to hiro in a dream, and bestowed on him the
gift of poetry. He eomjwsed on« thousaad Ma.
harata veises, in praise of the Deity which he
called Abhanga ; and twenty years of bis )if«
were spent in altering praises to the Pandrapore
God. It is said, that in the fortieth year of his.
age, he was translated to heaven.
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
14»
MQNAPARTO.
A Maharata, Wabmip and Inhabitant of Satet
iBh, he lived 200 years ago, and in bis iufancy
was educated in the Maharata language. Ho
afterwwda elitered the service of the Satara
Rajah as a writer to the Royal Cavalry, anddon-
tinued in this occapation (ill his fortieth year,
y^hen he became a disciple of the God Vital, and
«CFiiip08ed one hundred Araya verfcs, in the Ma-
harata language, eontainiog the praise of Vish*
SB. He died in the fiftieth year of his age, at
Pandrapore.
YAKANADH SWAML
A Maharata brahmiitj and inhabitant of Paitan
on the bank of the Godavery river. This poet
Bved about the time of Shahogi Rajah ; in his in-
feney he learned the Maharata language, and
jaade many verses id honor of the Divinity. la
the sixteenth year of his age, he died at Satarahi
SRIDHARA SWAMI.
Was also a Maharata bramin, and an inha*
bttant of Caradades near Colapore, he was con-
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
I5ft
tAmporary with the foregoing- poet Sridharfti
Swami becanw a Sanyaa m his fortieth year,
and resigned aM secuiar concerns. He compos*
ed a commentary on thfrBhagavat Gitu in verse*
He expired in the fiftieth year of his age, at
Foitao.
GHOKA MEIA.
This poet was a Maharatta oatcasi^ and an ixt^
habitant of the Pandrnpore country. He waa
contemporary with Sivaji, and became a votary
of the Pandrapore God. He composed many
abhangas, containing the praise of the Grod, and
died at Pandrapore.
GORA. CUMBHAR.
This poet was an inhabitant of Samantvadi, a.
village in the district of Tulajapore, and vms a
common gardener by professsioo. It is said, that
1^ intense devotion to the goddess, he obtained
the gift of wisdom, and became a votary of the
Pandrapore god. He composed msfiy M»harat>
ta verses, elacidating and praising the miracles
of the diety He died at the early age of G£~
,C.oo<i}i:
151
teen tliat Paodrapore, having acquired the c)i(U
Faeter of a very religious man.
TOR SUBHANROW.
Was a Maharata bramia^ and an inhabitant
of Aranif which ia situated eighty seven miles'
west of Madras, he flourished during the time of
Suttulla KhawB, Nawaub of Arcot, and was era-
ployed at the court of Aran! Raja. Subhanrow
received a good education in his infancy, and led
a religious life. When twenty fire years of age
he made use of the Jotishpatl oil, to acquire a
quick genius, and it gave him a voracious appe-
tite. He obtained two villages from his emptoy-
era, by the produce of which he satisfied the
cravings of his hunger. He was sent as a vakeel
Tanisha to Hyderabad, and by his good manage-
ment effected the object of his mission; he, more-
over, by exhibiting proofs of valor to the sove-
reign, obtained valuable presents, with which he
returned home. It is said, he was a votary of
Hanuman, and composed one hundred verses on
the marriage of Rama and Sita ; he lived to a
good old age, and died at Arani. The above
Lr,,l,;.d:,G00gIe
biography Is eompeled from docmnents m tlie
{)ossessioa of the Masumdars of the Araai Rajab.
HEM AND A PANT.
Tliis poet was a Maharata bramin, and an ia-
babitant of Dowlatbad according to tradition^
He was employed in the service of Rama Rajahj
as a dewan for some time, and afterwards on ac-
count of some accident be went to Lanka, an<l
received some kind of rare grain, for curing th*
lung of that place, from the effects of the evil
eye. This poet introduced tbe mode character
into the Maharata coantry, he died in the sixti-
eth year of his age, at his own residence.
DAMAGI PANT.
This poet was a native of Mangalavada, a vil-
lage in the district of Pandarapura: he flourished
in the fifteenth century of Salivahana, and' was
contemporary with the celebrated Sevaji. Da-
magi had finished his education when ho was
sixteen years old, at which time he obtained some
employment at the court of Hyderabad. When
he was thirty years of age, he was appointed as
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
1S8
*6be(tftr of the Sffangalavada Pargimnab/ and
■continued in this sitoation till he was fifty : dui*-
ing his administration, he lavished a great deal
of government prdpefty m benevolent purposes.
Which intelKgeoce coAing to the Nawaub's ears,
he dfisjjaftched a ccMHpiahy of tfoopers to bring
DsBnagi Pant to his presence. When the poet
T^ JK^kied Hydembad, it is 8nd, thattb« god Vi&obat
ID a hi6n«li shape came to the Nawanb and pat(i
hitn-tiiewholestiin d^ScientfOn acooant-(^ Daman
gfs liberality, and to(^ a T«^pt for the scim^
Andanoitler for ihere-app<^ntmentof thepoef t&
^ post he held, l^e god placed these documeottf
m a book which DamE^i coA^antly read. Tha
^et saw tiieso papers, aiid iiaraediately returned
to Pandrapore, and wrote to his master ten-
dering in hia resigfiifttion ^ the Nawaab was pleaS"
«d to accept of it, and appointed DaiK^s ion to
Succeed him. I)amagi after tMa composed a Sa^
sona, or poem, containing IDO verses^ in which
dll the circumistances mentioned above, was fullf
detailed. He spent about ten years in reUgioiM
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
i>f5o«r in b letter to £ir Alexander JobBstonpt
nakts,.lMiiorabb! meoHoa of tfae subject of
,this bio^rapliy, as trill be seen from: tfaa
foUowii^ extracts of the Jettef in qoestioiii
■" The eoaneetiojB them formed witU fto© p^raoBt
B na^ve, and a bramin (the Ituikeuted V. G. Bot
riab, then aliooct a ;outh of the quicker geinutt
end diaposittOD, fosseamMg tbateoatitiatwy turik
jof inilld. that soon reconciled sdl sects aad al}
tribes, to tiw eovrse of enquiry fo^vred in hit>
.surveys) was tJie first stept (^ my introdttctiw
into the portal of Indian knowledge ideffoid oT
«nj knowledge ctf the tai^tiE^s myself,' I owe-
to d»e happy, g^nso^tbls iixlvvtdual the encou-
ngeMent, and the m^ans. of obtaining what { ha4
«Bo \ong sought. On the recketion of jSerin^a^
|>ataiB, not one of our people eoutd trvislate froia
,the Catiarese alone ; at present we ha«e traoslatii
oits oiadei not only from the mod^n efaaractcvs,,
!bnt the noce obscar«, I had almost said obacdete
eharacters (^ the Sassanums (or ioscnptions^ ia
.tCanarese and Tamal; besides what have^beeft
made from the Sanscr^ of which in my first
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
years ui India, I could «oarcei^ obtain bdj in&K
mation. From t^e-Mcnneat the talfvits of the
JUmeoted BotiUiJi v«re Applied, a new aveaue ti>
HiudoD Jmowledge was opeDarl ; and though f
vasdeprivedofhiga at linearly ago, his exata*
pie aad iastrtKlioiis were sn happily folloved
up hy bb bpetiu^ea and disciples, ^at an iesbw
Hiahneat wss gradually foraied, by which tba
whole of our provinces ntig;ht be aoalized, on tba
oethod tlids fortukoady began, and sucoessftilly
followed." BcK-iah >vras depnted by bis master
ie ooHect MfonnattxNi lue&l for (be oifioe, and
the sft^acity and ditigeoce, he displayed to col-
lect naterials, and in making researches obtain*
rd the unqualiSed approbatioB of bis en^W»yer,
«ad the result of his laboors was'siicb as materfr*
ally to promote tim interest of (be Hoiu>Fabte
Cdinpjuiy- The serrice was very arduous foe
Bofiab had io traverse dreary woods, and lofty
mountains about Scisale, While on this survey,
Colond Maebenzie was appointed 'Eagia.ntr t«
the expedition against Manilla, and Boriah was
nbiiged to retam to bis borne ; while on the way
fcom Hjakrabad to Madras, he kcftt a «oicect
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIe
joamat, tncl wrote 8<»nc poens in Sanserit an^
Telugu, be likewise cottected a great many lite*,
rary materids to elucidate Um history of Indian
While at Ellore, be disph^edbis skill in mecha»
itism, and knowledge in the arts and sciences',
and obtained the adtniratitmiof bis toiintsfolk%
'who highly esteemed him on acoonnt of his sweet
tenper and HDiiopeacbable' character. When,
his employer retmned to the Penins^ai from tha
expedition, Boriah accompanied him- to the sota
vey, they bad been formerly empk>yed up<Hr.
In the year 1798 Boriah accompanied his ma»
ter in the can^Miign against Tippo Sultan, toad
kept a poetical jonmal of the route, till he reachi,
ed Gadewa, a petty zemindiwry in the >Szam'a
dominions. It happened once tJiat Ins «npIoyk
er's official papers w«-epldndered by marauders
of that aemiadaFry, and Boriah was depatedta
recover it ; in endeavonring to do this, be was coii>
fined in prison, and denied food by the zemindar^
and very harshly treated at first, but owing to his
conciliatory behaviour, and ^ome affecting poe-
try that he composed, he was able to soften t&«
obdurate heart of that chieftain, so Ait he not
D,„i,i=dbvGoogIc
ISO
»nly regained his master's property, but received
besides some presents on his own account ; after
this he Joined Colonel Mackenzie, whom be ac-
companied to Seringapatam ; he was present at
the storming and capture of that fortress, and de-
scribed all the incidents attending it in animated
versification : the planting of the British colours
on the ramparts, was excellently described. Bo>
riah was well rewarded by his master for this
performance. Colonel Mackenzie was shortly
after the fall of Tippo Sultan, appointed as su-
perintendent of tiie Mysore survey ; and Boriah
attended his master to Chittledroog, by the routs
of Bangalore, Nijagall, and Sira. He was emi-
nently useful in making arrangements to procure
useful information connected with the service, so
as to promote considerably the interest of the
Hon'ble Company, and procure for his employer
an extensive body of literary materials to elu-
cidate the history of the southern Peninsula.
When the Maharata duef Doondea was captur-
ed at Harihar, by the detachment under Sir Ar-
thur Wellesly in 1800. Boriah wrote a poem
OB ihsA occasion; alter thisi the poet compoised
DiqiiiicdbvGoogle
1^
% piece of a hondred sfazas oij a prophet, trliicfi
^)rought that holy man's nailie into increased ce-
lebrity. Aa-jther work Was also Writtea by Bo-
tiah, intitled " Sreranga tSiya Charittf," contain-
ing the genealogy of the Srirafl,:^patam sovereign^
from the foundation of tJmattore, giving a de-
«cripHon of the ancient ruins of the former city,
where the Yadava princes rided, and became poW"
*!rful. When the army brole up from before Se-
tingitpatam, he marched about with detachments
tiiro'jdiflferent parts of the ceded districts and
Mysore dominions, and was highly noticed hy
C^ueral Campbell, Colonel Munro, and other
officers of distinction, as well as by the Mysore
dewan. By the directions of bis master, Boriait
Acquired perfect knowledge of mathematics, geo-
ineti-y, astronomy, geography, and other sciences,
both according to the European and Hindu me^
thods, and his memory was so tenacious, that
he soon acquired a proficiency in diffisrent liative
languages. He could draw very neatly, and con-
structed maps that were excessiv'ely admired by
bis master.
' He discovered various ancient coins, and mad^
11. , .Google .
161
fac-similes of ioscriptions in different obsolete
characters. When he decyphered the Hala Ka-
nada characters, inscribed on a Tablet found at
Dodare, which is now deposited in the museum
of the Asiaiic Society, his master was highly gra-
tified, and put his name on it.
Colonel Mackenzie having been ordered by the
government of Fort St. George, to return to Ma-
dras on public business. Boriah accompanied
him in 1801, aod was employed two years at that
presidency, in translating books, and valuable
manuscripts and documents ; in the twenty sixth
year of his age, Boriah was unfortunately attack-
ed by apoplexy, which terminated in his pre-
mature death in 1803. His master ordered a-
monument to be erected to his memory, with a
suitable tnscriptioa on the sea-shore, which is
still standing. At the age of twelve years he faad
married the younger sister of Venl^atachellntn,
zemindar of Kasemicota district, and left issue an
only daughter ; and died universally regretted,
on account of his public and private virtues.
jb,GoogIe
b,GoogIe
163
The Jofispati Plant, is called Swarnalafa,
in Scaoiscrit Dictionaries, and flourishes in the
monsoon, its fruit is red, and of a small size,
grows in bunches, and when ripe bursts, and
rather better to the taste; this shrub never
blossoms, but during the rainy seasoHj and may
be found in maay parts of the Peninsula, and
thrives excellently in the Mysore country. There
is a treatise called Jotiskpati Kalpa, in which
is given the method to extract the oil from the
seeds, which is either to lay them on the blade
of a sword and expose them to the rays of the
sun in the months of April and May ; or by the
action of heat in a retort; this oil ig said to be
fit for culinary purposes, and to possess the ex-
cellent quality of clearing the head and brighten,
ing the genius. At the courts and colleges of
Mysore, Tanjore, Kanchi, Benares, Stc. a great
many pundits make use of this oil, to remove
dullness from their pupils.
db,GoogIe
164
ERRATA.
Page 20 Itn* SI Before the word Sbftsrapat i«Hert 111*
vordi Sabasra Slr8ha--Purasli4 SabM-
rakha.
S3 — 2 For Nashi nad Nacbt.
39—9 ForVakir. Vahi.
— tasl liae For Mytlali r. MylbiH.
32—2 For Tehaua r. Thana.
. 34 — 6 For Virapakaam r. Virnpakaham.
— - 36 — 20 For Neghanti r. Neshant.
— — 55 ^ 14 Fur priDce r. Roddess.
__ 67 — 7 For among them r. wrote.
64 — 9 For Melakola r. Melokota.
- ' 66 — 10 For Damora r. DainadBra>
76 — 7 Bharata r, Btiarata.
.^.^ 84 14 For K^DnkapBriwaroiDei r. Eanaka-Pa-
. Ibid.— 19 For Peture r. Palnre.
86 — 14 For Gerckernicar. Gerekanioa.
lOl — 11 For Brinda r. Bridna
101 — 20 For about the yew 1430 r. in (h« 16th
«eiilnrj.
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I
r
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