Which of the following poet was given the title of ‘Andhra Kavita Pitamah’ by Krishnadev Ray ?

Correct — option (1), Allasani Peddana.

The Sahitya Akademi's Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature, in its survey of Telugu literature, says that among Krishnadevaraya's court-poets Allasani Peddana (1470–1535, in that survey) was the first and foremost, and was endearingly called Andhra Kavita Pitamaha, the grandfather of Andhra poetry, by his king.

Its entry on the Manucharitramu adds that this work, one of the five great Telugu classics known as the pancha kavyas, earned Peddana the title of 'Andhra Kavita Pitamaha'.

The same entry calls Peddana a kind of presiding poet over the famed Ashta Diggajas of Krishnadevaraya's court. The poet who held the title is option (1), Allasani Peddana.

The idea to remember: Andhra Kavita Pitamaha = Allasani Peddana, author of the Manucharitra, at Krishnadevaraya's court.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  Bhattumurti — The encyclopaedia identifies Bhattumurti with Ramaraja Bhushana and calls him an imitator of Surana and Peddana. It says he wrote the Vasucharitra to outshine Peddana's Manucharitra, and the Harischandra-nalopakhyana in the double-meaning (dvyarthi) style.

  Bhattumurti answers a question on the author of the Vasucharitra.

• (3)
  Tenali Ramkrishana — The encyclopaedia names Tenali Ramakrishna as the author of the Panduranga Mahatmya, which it calls a major kavya and one among the best, but it gives the title Andhra Kavita Pitamaha to Peddana.

  Tenali Ramkrishana answers a question on the author of the Panduranga Mahatmya.

• (4)
  Pingli Suranna — The encyclopaedia dates Pingali Surana to 1520–80 and lists him among the poets who shone after Krishnadevaraya's death in 1530.

  It credits him with the Raghava Pandaviya (1545), written entirely in shlesha, and the Kalapurnodaya (1550). Pingli Suranna answers a question on the author of the Kalapurnodaya.

Krishnadevaraya's reign is the age of the Telugu prabandha. The Sahitya Akademi encyclopaedia says his court was called Bhuvanavijaya and was graced by eight poets, the Ashtadiggajas, though critics differ over who the eight were.

The Manucharitra retells the story of Swarochisha Manu, drawn from the Markandeya Purana. The encyclopaedia's entries differ on its date: the Manucharitramu entry reports that it is said to have been composed around 1522, while the Krishnadevaraya entry says its dedication to the king might have taken place during 1516 and 1517.

They also differ on Peddana's birth: the Telugu literature survey gives 1470, the Manucharitramu entry around 1475, at Kokata near Gandikota.

Key facts

• Sahitya Akademi encyclopaedia, Telugu literature survey: Krishnadevaraya called Allasani Peddana Andhra Kavita Pitamaha, the grandfather of Andhra poetry.
• Its entry on the Manucharitramu says that work earned Peddana the title and counts it among Telugu's five great classics, the pancha kavyas.
• Krishnadevaraya ruled from 1509 until his death in 1530; his court was called Bhuvanavijaya, per the encyclopaedia.
• The encyclopaedia credits the Vasucharitra to Bhattumurti (Ramaraja Bhushana) and the Panduranga Mahatmya to Tenali Ramakrishna.
• Pingali Surana (1520–80) wrote the Raghava Pandaviya (1545) and Kalapurnodaya (1550), according to the encyclopaedia.

Common traps

• Mixing similar titles: Peddana was Andhra Kavita Pitamaha, while Annamacharya was called Padakavita Pithamaha, and the king himself Andhra Bhoja.
• Placing every Telugu poet of the prabandha age at Krishnadevaraya's court: the encyclopaedia lists Pingali Surana (1520–80) among poets who shone after the king's death in 1530, with works dated 1545–55.
• Treating the Ashtadiggaja list as settled: the encyclopaedia notes a difference of opinion over who the eight poets were.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Who wrote the Telugu Vasucharitra, composed to outshine Peddana's Manucharitra?

  • (a)Nandi Timmana
  • (b)Bhattumurti
  • (c)Tenali Ramakrishna
  • (d)Pingali Surana
  Answer(2) — The Sahitya Akademi encyclopaedia says Ramaraja Bhushana, or Bhattumurti, wrote the Vasucharitra to outshine the Manucharitra. It credits option (1) with the Parijatapaharana, option (3) with the Panduranga Mahatmya, and option (4) with the Kalapurnodaya.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which title did the Sahitya Akademi encyclopaedia record for Tallapaka Annamacharya?

  • (a)Andhra Kavita Pitamaha
  • (b)Andhra Bhoja
  • (c)Padakavita Pithamaha
  • (d)Kavibandhava
  Answer(3) — The encyclopaedia says Annamacharya was called Padakavita Pithamaha, the grandfather of lyrical ballads. Option (1) was Allasani Peddana's title and option (2) Krishnadevaraya's; option (4) is not a title the encyclopaedia gives Annamacharya.