Astadiggajas
Encyclopedia
Astadiggajas is the collective title given to the eight Telugu poets in the court
of the emperor
Sri Krishna Deva Raya who ruled the Vijayanagara Empire
from 1509 until his death in 1529. During his reign, Telugu
literature and culture reached its zenith. In his court, eight poets were regarded as the eight pillars of his literary assembly. The age of Astadiggajsa is called Prabandha Age (1540 AD to 1600). All of the Astadiggajalu had composed at least one Prabandha Kavyamu and it was Astadiggajalu who gave Prabhanda its present form. Most of the Astadiggajas are from southern part of present day Andhra Pradesh
state (Rayalaseema, Nellore
) and Astadiggajas, Allasani Peddana
, Dhurjati
, Nandi Thimmana
, Madayyagari Mallana
and Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
are from the Rayalaseema region. Tenali Ramakrishnudu hailed from the Guntur district
of Andhra Pradesh
.
belief that eight elephants hold the earth
in eight directions which are namely Airaavata, Pundareeka, Vaamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta, Sarwabhouma, Suprateeka, whose wives are Abhra, Kapila, Pingala, Anupama, Taamraparni, Subhradanti, Angana, Anjanaavati. The court of poets were also called Bhuvana Vijayam (Conquest of the World).
, Nandi Thimmana
, Madayyagari Mallana
, Dhurjati
, Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu, Pingali Surana
, Ramarajabhushanudu
, and Tenali Ramakrishnudu
. The most famous being Allasani Peddana honoured with the title Andhrakavitapitamaha (grand-father of Telugu poetry) and Tenali Ramakrishna
, Krishnadevaraya's court jester who authored several acclaimed works.
and some accounts mention Pingali Surana
and Tenali Ramakrishna
also as members of the later emperors. From the stone inscriptions of that time, it has been inferred that the village
of Thippalur in the present-day Cuddapah district has been gifted to the Astadiggajas by the emperor.
wrote Parijataapaharanam and dedicated it to the emperor as well. Madayyagari Mallana
wrote Rajasekhara Charitramu. Dhurjati wrote Kalahasti Mahatyamu. Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
wrote Ramaabhyudayamu. Pingali Surana wrote Raghavapandaveeyamu, a dual work that describes both Ramayana
and Mahabharata
. Ramarajabhushanudu wrote Kavyalankarasangrahamu, Vasucharitramu and Harischandranalopakhyanamu. Tenali Ramakrishna
wrote Udbhataradhya Charitramu, Panduranga Mahatmyamu and “Ghatikachala Mahatmyamu.”
and Potana translated the Sanskrit
books and epics without changing the stories from original. Astadiggajas usually took small, some times obscure, stories from Puranas and used them as plots for writing major Kāvya
s. A Prabhandam can be of three types, viz., Prakhyatam, Utpadyam, Misramam (famous story, purely fictional story, mixed story). Astadiggajas have written in all the three genres during the Prabhanda Yugam.
There are also at least two dual meaning works during this time. Ramabhyudayam by Pingali Surana simultaneously runs the stories of Rama
and Pandavas. Harischandranalopakhyanamu by Bhattumurthy also simultaneously tells the stories of the emperors Harischandra and Nala
.
Noble court
The court of a monarch, or at some periods an important nobleman, is a term for the extended household and all those who regularly attended on the ruler or central figure...
of the emperor
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
Sri Krishna Deva Raya who ruled the Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
from 1509 until his death in 1529. During his reign, Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
literature and culture reached its zenith. In his court, eight poets were regarded as the eight pillars of his literary assembly. The age of Astadiggajsa is called Prabandha Age (1540 AD to 1600). All of the Astadiggajalu had composed at least one Prabandha Kavyamu and it was Astadiggajalu who gave Prabhanda its present form. Most of the Astadiggajas are from southern part of present day Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
state (Rayalaseema, Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
) and Astadiggajas, Allasani Peddana
Allasani Peddana
Allasani Peddana was a famous Telugu poet and was ranked as the foremost of the Astadiggajalu the title for the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.-Biography:...
, Dhurjati
Dhurjati
Dhurjati was a Telugu poet in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya and was one of the astadiggajalu there.-Biography:...
, Nandi Thimmana
Nandi Thimmana
Nandi Thimmana was a Telugu poet and one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Biography:...
, Madayyagari Mallana
Madayyagari Mallana
Mallana was a Telugu poet and one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Biography:...
and Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu was a famous Telugu poet and was one among the Astadiggajas, which was the title of the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.-Biography:...
are from the Rayalaseema region. Tenali Ramakrishnudu hailed from the Guntur district
Guntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.
Etymology
The title Ashtadiggajas (Ashta + dik + gaja) means elephants in eight directions. It refers to the old HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
belief that eight elephants hold the earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
in eight directions which are namely Airaavata, Pundareeka, Vaamana, Kumuda, Anjana, Pushpadanta, Sarwabhouma, Suprateeka, whose wives are Abhra, Kapila, Pingala, Anupama, Taamraparni, Subhradanti, Angana, Anjanaavati. The court of poets were also called Bhuvana Vijayam (Conquest of the World).
Members
These poets were Allasani PeddanaAllasani Peddana
Allasani Peddana was a famous Telugu poet and was ranked as the foremost of the Astadiggajalu the title for the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.-Biography:...
, Nandi Thimmana
Nandi Thimmana
Nandi Thimmana was a Telugu poet and one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Biography:...
, Madayyagari Mallana
Madayyagari Mallana
Mallana was a Telugu poet and one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Biography:...
, Dhurjati
Dhurjati
Dhurjati was a Telugu poet in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya and was one of the astadiggajalu there.-Biography:...
, Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu, Pingali Surana
Pingali Surana
Pingali Surana was a Telugu poet and was one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Early life:...
, Ramarajabhushanudu
Ramarajabhushanudu
Ramarajabhushanudu was a Telugu poet and a notable musician was one of the Astadiggajas .-Biography:...
, and Tenali Ramakrishnudu
Tenali Ramakrishna
Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna , popularly known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was a court-poet of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas who belonged to the court of Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagar....
. The most famous being Allasani Peddana honoured with the title Andhrakavitapitamaha (grand-father of Telugu poetry) and Tenali Ramakrishna
Tenali Ramakrishna
Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna , popularly known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was a court-poet of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas who belonged to the court of Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagar....
, Krishnadevaraya's court jester who authored several acclaimed works.
Differences in research
Though the above listed eight poets are widely regarded as the Astadiggajas, there are some differences of opinion as to who exactly constituted the Astadiggajas and if the composition of this body changed over time. Some literary works mention the name of Bhattu-Murthi in place of RamarajabhushanuduRamarajabhushanudu
Ramarajabhushanudu was a Telugu poet and a notable musician was one of the Astadiggajas .-Biography:...
and some accounts mention Pingali Surana
Pingali Surana
Pingali Surana was a Telugu poet and was one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Early life:...
and Tenali Ramakrishna
Tenali Ramakrishna
Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna , popularly known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was a court-poet of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas who belonged to the court of Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagar....
also as members of the later emperors. From the stone inscriptions of that time, it has been inferred that the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Thippalur in the present-day Cuddapah district has been gifted to the Astadiggajas by the emperor.
Works
Allasani Peddana wrote Manucharitramu and dedicated to the Emperor Krishna Deva Raya. Nandi ThimmanaNandi Thimmana
Nandi Thimmana was a Telugu poet and one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Biography:...
wrote Parijataapaharanam and dedicated it to the emperor as well. Madayyagari Mallana
Madayyagari Mallana
Mallana was a Telugu poet and one of the Astadiggajas in the court of the king Krishnadevaraya.-Biography:...
wrote Rajasekhara Charitramu. Dhurjati wrote Kalahasti Mahatyamu. Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu
Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu was a famous Telugu poet and was one among the Astadiggajas, which was the title of the group of eight poets in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.-Biography:...
wrote Ramaabhyudayamu. Pingali Surana wrote Raghavapandaveeyamu, a dual work that describes both Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. Ramarajabhushanudu wrote Kavyalankarasangrahamu, Vasucharitramu and Harischandranalopakhyanamu. Tenali Ramakrishna
Tenali Ramakrishna
Garlapati Tenali Ramakrishna , popularly known as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was a court-poet of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. He was one of the Ashtadiggajas who belonged to the court of Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagar....
wrote Udbhataradhya Charitramu, Panduranga Mahatmyamu and “Ghatikachala Mahatmyamu.”
Literary Style
Telugu literature reached its peak during their period. A new style called Prabhanda with added fiction and few omissions from the original stories was followed during this period. Poets in earlier century like TikkanaTikkana
Tikkana was born into a family of Shaivite family during the Golden Age of the Kakatiya dynasty. He was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets " that translated Mahabharatamu into Telugu over a period of centuries. Nannaya Bhattaraka was the first, though he translated only two and a half...
and Potana translated the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
books and epics without changing the stories from original. Astadiggajas usually took small, some times obscure, stories from Puranas and used them as plots for writing major Kāvya
Kavya
Kavya refers to the Sanskrit literary style used by Indian court poets flourishing from the first half of the seventh century AD. This literary style is characterised by abundant usage of figures of speech, metaphors, similes, and hyperbole to create its emotional effects...
s. A Prabhandam can be of three types, viz., Prakhyatam, Utpadyam, Misramam (famous story, purely fictional story, mixed story). Astadiggajas have written in all the three genres during the Prabhanda Yugam.
There are also at least two dual meaning works during this time. Ramabhyudayam by Pingali Surana simultaneously runs the stories of Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
and Pandavas. Harischandranalopakhyanamu by Bhattumurthy also simultaneously tells the stories of the emperors Harischandra and Nala
Nala
Nala , a character in Hindu mythology, is the king of Nishadha Kingdom, son of Virasena. Nala is known for his skill with horses and culinary expertise. He marries princess Damayanti, of Vidarbha Kingdom, and their story is told in the Mahabharata. His main weakness is gambling...
.
See also
- NavaratnasNavaratnasNavaratnas Nauratan was a term applied to a group of nine extraordinary people in a emperor's court in India...
, the label given to the court of the emperors VikramadityaChandragupta IIChandragupta II the Great, very often referred to as Vikramaditya or Chandragupta Vikramaditya in Sanskrit; was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire in northern India. His rule spanned c...
and Akbar.