Srinadha & Reddi Rulers

The Reddi rulers along with the aristocracy and the merchant princes enthusiastically extended their patronage to Sanskrit, the sacred language of Hindu religion and culture. One unique feature of these kings is that almost all were great scholars and distinguished authors themselves. Kumaragiri, Kataya Vema and Pedakomati Vema were the most outstanding among them. Kumaragiri was the author of Vasantarajiyam, a famous treatise on the art of dancing. Komati Vema wrote Sahitya Chintamani, Sangita Chintamani and Sringaradipika. His court poet Vamanabhattabana wrote Vira Narayana Charita in Sanskrit prose. As a result of the royal patronage, Telugu literature made abundant progress during the age of the Reddis. Telugu began to replace Sanskrit at the court. Saiva and Vaishnava works in Telugu appeared profusely. Errapragada, Srinadha and Potana were the most remarkable poets that flourished during this period. Errapragada was the last of the Kavitraya. He completed the Telugu translation of the Mahabharata (third Canto). With his deep erudition and high literary skill, he successfully completed the third book (Aranya Kanda) of the Andhra Mahabharata in a manner worthy of his two great predecessors, Nannaya and Tikkana. Errana's two other independent and complete works are Hari Vamsa and Narasimha Purana. Among these, the Narasimha Purana is an epic with Prabandha treatment. Potana through his Mahabhagavata preached Bhakti cult.



Srinadha : SR1NADHA was by far the most distinguished writer of the Reddi period. 'His life is a saga of the triumphant march of scholarship and poetical genius, a long period of kingly and princely patronage and adoration, which helped him to produce a series of brilliant works '. His master-piece is the 'Naishadha Kgvya.' Though it is a translation of Sriharsha's Sanskrit work, the Telugu version is superior in some respects. Srinadha produced this piece while he was in the service of Pedakomati Vema as officer in charge of Public Learning. His 'Palnadu Viracharitra' deals with the Reddi dynasty and is known as the 'Reddi Bharata'. His other works include 'Panditaradhya Charita', 'Sivaratrimahatmya,' 'Haravilasa', 'Bhimakhanda' and 'Kasikhanda'. His visit of Vijayanagara court, Arunaginnadha's (Gauda Dindima Bhatta) admission of Srinadha's preeminence in scholarship and Devaraya rendering great honour to him—all are well known historical facts. It is aptly remarked that in Srinadha's hands Telugu poetry attained a majesty and dignity unapproached ever since.