Vemana - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Kumaragiri Vema Reddy popularly known as Vemana was a 14th century 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...

poet. His poems were written in the popular vernacular of Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

, and are known for their use of simple language and native idioms. His poems discuss the subjects of Yoga

Yoga

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...

, wisdom and morality. He is popularly called Yogi Vemana, in recognition of his success in the path of Yoga.

Early life and background

There is no consensus among scholars about the period in which Vemana lived. C.P. Brown

Charles Philip Brown

C. P. Brown was a Telugu writer and an Englishman by descent. He worked as official in Cuddapah and Rajahmundry during the British rule in India...

, known for his research on Vemana, estimates the year of birth to be the year 1352 based on some of his verses.

Vemana was the third and youngest son of Kumaragiri Vema, then the king of Kondaveedu in 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...

. He was named Vemareddy after his father.

Yoga

Vemana came into contact with Lambika siva yogi in Kondaveedu, who initiated him into the path of Yoga. After this, Vemana travelled across the state, composing poetry and attaining success in yoga.

Poetry and Fame

Vemana composed numerous poems in the vernacular of Telugu

Telugu language

. His poems are four lines in length.
The fourth line is, in majority of the cases, the chorus Viswadabhirama Vinura Vema - he thus conveyed his message with three small lines written in a simple vernacular. He traveled widely across south India, acquiring popularity as a poet and Yogi. People really took to Vemana's poems owing to their simple language and sweet message. So high was the regard for Vemana that a popular Telugu

Telugu language

saying goes 'Vemana's word is the word of the Vedas

Vedas

The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....

'. He is celebrated for his style of Chaatu padyam, a poem with a hidden meaning.

C.P. Brown

Charles Philip Brown

C. P. Brown was a Telugu writer and an Englishman by descent. He worked as official in Cuddapah and Rajahmundry during the British rule in India...

translated most of Vemana's poems into English, during the British occupation of India. A large selection of his poems are a part of the present High School curriculum of Telugu in Andhra Pradesh. In his honor, The Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

government named a University in Kadapa

Kadapa

Kadapa , formerly Cuddapah, is a city in the south-central part of Andhra Pradesh, India . The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate...

the Yogi Vemana University

Yogi Vemana University

Yogi Vemana University is a newly established University in Kadapa district with West Campus at Idupulapaya. Earlier, it was a part of Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. It is named after a great thinker, philosopher, and social reformer Yogi Vemana, the most celebrated Telugu poet and sage of...

in 2006. Vemana was believed to have lived for some time in the Gandikota area of Kadapa.

Death

There is a headstone marking the grave of Yogi Vemana in kataru palli (Kadiri

Kadiri

Kadiri is a Small town, Mandal and a municipality in the southeastern part of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is located in this town, and large numbers of Hindu pilgrims visit the Temple throughout the year. The Thimmamma Marrimanu Kadiri is...

Town), a village in [Kadiri Taluk, Anantapur dt., Andhra Pradesh]. It is believed widely that Vemana died in this village. Being a Yogi, he was buried and not cremated.

Poetic Style

Many lines of Vemana's poems are now colloquial phrases of the Telugu language. They end with the signature line Viswadhaabhi Raama, Vinura Vema, literally Beloved of Vishwadha, listen Vema. There are many interpretations of what the last line signifies.

Vemana's poems were collected and published by C.P.Brown

Charles Philip Brown

C. P. Brown was a Telugu writer and an Englishman by descent. He worked as official in Cuddapah and Rajahmundry during the British rule in India...

in the 19th century. His poems are of many kinds, social, moral, satirical and mystic nature. Most of them are in Ataveladi (dancing lady) meter

Meter (poetry)

In poetry, metre is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. Many traditional verse forms prescribe a specific verse metre, or a certain set of metres alternating in a particular order. The study of metres and forms of versification is known as prosody...

Sample poetry

Uppu Kappurambu nokka polika nundu ........... ఉప్పు కప్పురంబు నొక్క పోలిక నుండు

Chooda chooda ruchulu jaada veru .................. చూడ చూడ రుచుల జాడ వేరు

Purushulandu Punya purushulu veraya ............. ఫురుషులందు ఫుణ్య పురుషులు వేరయ

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema .................. విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

Salt

In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...

and camphor

Camphor

Camphor is a waxy, white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is a terpenoid with the chemical formula C10H16O. It is found in wood of the camphor laurel , a large evergreen tree found in Asia and also of Dryobalanops aromatica, a giant of the Bornean forests...

look similar,

but closer observation shows their taste is different

Among men, virtuous people stand apart

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Gangi govu paalu garitadainanu chaalu...................గంగి గోవు పాలు గరిటడైనను చాలు

Kadivedainanemi kharamu paalu............................కడివెడైననేమి ఖరము పాలు

Bhakti kalugu koodu pattedainanu chaalu................భక్తి కలుగు కూడు పట్టెడైనను చాలు

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema...........................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

A ladleful of a Sacred cow

Sacred cow

Cattle are considered sacred in various world religions, most notably Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism as well as the religions of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. In some regions, especially India, the slaughter of cattle may be prohibited and their meat may be...

's milk is enough

Of what worth is even a potful of donkey's milk

Even a little food given with respect is sumptuous

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Atmasuddhi leni acharamadi ela...................ఆత్మశుద్ధి లేని అచారమది ఏల

Bhandasuddhi leni pakamadi ela...................భాండశుద్ధి లేని పాకమేల

Chittasuddi leni sivpujalelara........................చిత్తశుద్ది లేని శివ పూజలేలర

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

What is the purpose of custom sans inner purity?

What is the purpose of cooking sans cleanliness of vessels?

What is the purpose of worship of Shiva sans purity of mind?

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Alpudeppudu palku adamburamu ganu......................ఆల్పుడెపుడు పల్కు ఆడంబురము గాను

Sajjanundu palku challaganu....................................సజ్జనుండు పల్కు చల్లగాను

Kanchu moginatlu kanakammu mroguna...................కంచు మోగినట్లు కనకమ్ము మ్రోగునా

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema............................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

A mean(low) person always speaks pompously

A good person speaks softly

Does gold

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

reverberate the way brass

Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...

does?

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Anagananaga raga matisayilluchunundu........................ఆనగననగ రాగ మతిశయిల్లుచునుండు

thinaga thinaga vemu tiyyanundu.................................తినగ తినగ వేము తియ్యనుండు

sadhanamuna panulu samakuru dharalona...................సాధనమున పనులు సమకూరు ధరలోన

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema...............................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

As you sing (again and again), the melody (raga) excels

As you eat Neem (again and again) , it becomes sweeter

With practice, things become perfect

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Anuvu gani chota Nadhikulamanaradu...................అనువు గాని చోట అధికులమనరాదు

Kochmayina nadiyu kodava gadu..........................కొంచమైన నదియు కొదవ గాదు

konda addamandu knochami undada...................కొండ అద్దమందు కొంచమై ఉండదా

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema........................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

When it is not our place or time, we cannot win

You have not become small because of this

Don't you know the hill looks small in a mirror

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Apadiana velanarasi bandhula judu................ఆపదన వెలనరసి బంధుల జూడు

bhayamuvela judu bantu tanamu...................భయమువెల జూడు బంటు తనము

Pedavela judu pendlamu gunamu...................పేదవేళ జూడు పెండ్లము గుణము

Viswadhaabhuraama, Vinura Vema................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

In times of distress, observe the attitude of relatives

In times of fear, observe the behaviour of the army

In times of poverty, observe the nature of the wife

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Chippalonabadda chinuku mutyambayye....................చిప్పలోనబడ్డ చినుకు ముత్యంబయ్యె

nitabadda chinuku nita galise....................................నీటబడ్డ చినుకు నీట గలిసె

Brapti galugu chota phalamela tappura......................భక్తి గలుగు చోట ఫలమేల తప్పుర

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema........................... విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

The rain drop that fell in the shell became a pearl

Pearl

A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...

The one that fell in water merged with water,

Where there's devotion, there's bound to be fruit,

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Veshabhashalerigi Kashayavastramul...................వేషభాషలెరిగి ఖాషాయవస్త్రముల్

gattagane mukti galugabodhu...............................గట్టగానె ముక్తి గలుగబోదు

talalu bodulina talapulu bodula.............................తలలు బొదులిన తలపులు బొదులా

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinrua Vema.......................విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

Changing your appearance, language and wearing saffron (renunciate) clothes

Do not lead to mukti (liberation),

Shaving of head (of a renunciate, widow etc) does not shave (unwanted) thoughts

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Cheppulona rayi chevilona joriga...................చెప్పులోన రాయి చెవిలోన జోరీగ

kantilona nalusu kali mullu.............................కంటిలొన నలుసు కాలి ముల్లు

intilona poru intinta gadaya............................ఇంటిలోన పోరు ఇంతింత గాదయ

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema................ విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

A stone in shoe, a fly near ear

Pollen in eye, a thorn in foot

A quarrel in the house, are unbearable(painful)

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Tappulennuvaru Tandopatandambu...................తప్పులెన్నువారు తండోపతండంబు

Lurvi janulakella nundu tappu............................లుర్వి జనులకెల్ల నుండు తప్పు

Tappu lennuvaru tamatappu lerugaru................తప్పు లెన్నువారు తమతప్పు లెరుగరు

Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema................... విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

There are many that find faults (with others)

Every one in the world has faults

The people who count faults do not know their own faults

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Inumu virigeneni irumaaru mummaaru...................ఇనుము విరిగెనేని ఇరుమారు ముమ్మారు

kaachi yatakavachu kramamu gaanu......................కాచి యతకవచ్చు క్రమము గాను

manasu virigeneni mari chercharaadaya.................మనసు విరిగెనేని మరి చేర్చరాదయ

Viswadaabhiraama, Vinura Vema.......................... విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

Iron, if broken, can be joined together, twice or thrice

but heart once broken can never be put together again

Medi pandu chooda melimaiyundu...................మేడి పండు చూడ మేలిమైయుండు

Potta vippi chooda purugulundu......................పొట్ట విప్పి చూడ పురుగులుండు

Pirikivani madibinkamilagura..........................పిరికి వాని మదిని బింకమీలాగురా

Viswadhaabhirama vinura Vema..................... విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

translation

Translation

Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...

Medi, a fruit, looks gorgeous externally,

But when we rip it, we find worms within.

In a similar manner, a coward appears brave outside, but in reality he is not.

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

Eluka tholu thechi yedadi uthikina ..................ఎలుక తోలు తెచ్చి ఏడాది ఉతికినా

Nalupu nalupey gani thelupu kadhu....................నలుపు నలుపే గాని తెలుపు కాదు

Koyya bomma thechi kottina palukuna...............కొయ్య బొమ్మ తెచ్చి కొట్టిన పలుకునా

Viswadhaabhirama vinura Vema....................... విశ్వధాభిరామ, వినుర వేమ

translation

Translation

Even if you take a mouse's hide and wash it for any number of days

Its black color will remain a black and never becomes white

Similarly, even if you beat a wooden doll it will never speak (it is impossible to change the original human nature)

Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

The films

Yogi Vemana
Yogi Vemana
Yogi Vemana is a 1947 Telugu film directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy. The story is based on the life of saint poet Vemana. Chittor V. Nagaiah played the role of Vemana and also composed music and sang many poems and songs in this film exposing his multifaceted talents.-Cast:* Chittor V. Nagaiah ......

is a 1947 Telugu film directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy and starring Chittor V. Nagaiah
Chittor V. Nagaiah
Chitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The...

.
Yogi Vemana
Yogi Vemana
Yogi Vemana is a 1947 Telugu film directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy. The story is based on the life of saint poet Vemana. Chittor V. Nagaiah played the role of Vemana and also composed music and sang many poems and songs in this film exposing his multifaceted talents.-Cast:* Chittor V. Nagaiah ......

is again made as Telugu film in 1988 directed by C. S. Rao
C. S. Rao
Chittajallu Srinivasa Rao better known as C. S. Rao is a South Indian actor, writer and director. He is son of famous film director Chittajallu Pullayya. He has directed about 70 films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Oriya languages...

and starring Vijayachander.

External links

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