Yerrapragada
Encyclopedia
Errana was a great Telugu
poet in the court of Prolaya Vemareddy (1325–1353), the founder of Reddy dynasty
(1325–1424) of Kondaveedu, who ruled Guntur
, Prakasam, Nellore
, and Kurnool
districts of the state of Andhra Pradesh
. Errana was also known as Yellapregada or Errapregada. He was honored with the title Prabandha Parameshwara (the supreme lord of Prabandha) and Shambudasusu.
village in Pakanadu and lived in Chadalawada. He belonged to Srivatsa gotram and Apastambha sutram of the Brahmin caste. His father was Surana and mother was Pothama. His grandfather was Errapothana whose name was given to him and his grandmother was Perama. His great-grandparents were Bolana and Polama and his great-great-grandfather was Bhimana. His family religion was Aradhya Shaivism. His teacher was Srisankaraswamy, an orthodox Shaiva. Although Errana was a devotee of Lord Shiva and his family was Shaiva family, he worshipped Lord Vishnu also.
Mahabharatamu was translated into Telugu
over a period of several centuries (11th to 14th centuries AD). Errana was one of the kavitrayam
(the trinity of poets) who translated Mahabharatamu. The other two poets were Nannaya and Tikkana
. Nannaya translated two and a half parvamulu (books) of Mahabharatamu (Mahabharat). Tikkana translated the remaining books starting from the 4th, leaving the half finished third book, Aranya Parvamu (the Book of Forest), for Errana. Tikkana
did not touch this part because it was considered to be inauspicious to translate this book, which was left half-finished by Nannaya. Errana started the remaining half of the Aranya Parvamu with the style of Nannaya and ended it with the style of Tikkana as a bridge between the parts translated by Nannaya and Tikkana. Just like Nannaya and Tikkana, he used half Sanskrit
and half Telugu
in his Telugu translation of Sanskrit Mahabharatamu. He translated Harivamsamu and Ramayanamu from Sanskrit and dedicated to king Prolaya Vemareddy. Nrisimhapuranamu was his own independent work. Errana got his inspiration for Nrisimhapuranam from his grandfather Errapotana. According to legend, one day when Errana was meditating, his grandfather appeared and advised him to write Narisimhapuranamu. This work was based on Brahmandapuranamu and Vishnupuranamu.
According to Vishnupuranamu, Hiranyakasyapa was a powerful king of Bharatavarsha (the mythological country that encompassed the entire Indian subcontinent
) and was a contemporary of Indra
, the king of Ilavritavarsha, also known as Swarga, which was located in the North. The subjects of Bharatavarsha were called Manavas (the descendants of Manu - humans). The subjects of Indra were Devatas. Hiranyakasyapa fought a war with Indra
and occupied Ilavritavarsha. Under the rule of Hiranyakasyapa, most of the Devatas either converted to or disguised as Manavas for the fear of Hiranyakasyapa. Another contemporary of Hiranyakasyapa was Lord Vishnu, who ruled the land beyond Ilavritavarsha in the ksheerasagar (sea of milk).
Hiranyakasyapa had a son, Prahlada
. Prahlada is a devote of Lord Vishnu and for that reason father and son didn't get along very well. Hiranyakasyapa tortured Prahlada for defying him. Prahlada
ran away and took refuge in the northern kingdom of Lord Vishnu in the Ksheersagar. However, Hiranyakasyapa gave amnesty to Prahlada, later. Prahlada returned to the Bharatavarsha and served his father with love and affection. Soon after, Hiranyakasyapa was killed by a lion during a hunting expedition in the wild. Prahlada took over as the king of Bharatavarsha. Vishnupurana, the Sanskrit original, didn't describe how and why Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakasyapa. However, Errana introduced Narasimha (lion-man), an incarnation of Lord Vishnu
, as the killer of Hiranyakasyapa.
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 in the court of Prolaya Vemareddy (1325–1353), the founder of Reddy dynasty
Reddy dynasty
The Reddy kingdom was established in southern India by Prolaya Vema Reddy. The region that was ruled by the Reddy dynasty is now part of modern day coastal and central Andhra Pradesh...
(1325–1424) of Kondaveedu, who ruled Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
, Prakasam, 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 Kurnool
Kurnool
Kurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
districts of the state 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...
. Errana was also known as Yellapregada or Errapregada. He was honored with the title Prabandha Parameshwara (the supreme lord of Prabandha) and Shambudasusu.
Birth and Ancestors
Errana was born in GudluruGudluru
Gudluru/Gudlur is a village in the Kandukur taluk of Prakasham district of Andhra Pradesh, India and was called Netrapuri in the past and is accessible by bus from Kandukur.-History:...
village in Pakanadu and lived in Chadalawada. He belonged to Srivatsa gotram and Apastambha sutram of the Brahmin caste. His father was Surana and mother was Pothama. His grandfather was Errapothana whose name was given to him and his grandmother was Perama. His great-grandparents were Bolana and Polama and his great-great-grandfather was Bhimana. His family religion was Aradhya Shaivism. His teacher was Srisankaraswamy, an orthodox Shaiva. Although Errana was a devotee of Lord Shiva and his family was Shaiva family, he worshipped Lord Vishnu also.
Contributions
The SanskritSanskrit
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...
Mahabharatamu was translated into 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...
over a period of several centuries (11th to 14th centuries AD). Errana was one of the kavitrayam
Kavitrayam
Kavitrayam is a Telugu expression for trinity of poets. Kavitrayam popularly refers to the poets who translated the great epic Mahabharata into Telugu. The trinity consists of Nannayya, Tikkana and Yerrapragada.-Nannayya:...
(the trinity of poets) who translated Mahabharatamu. The other two poets were Nannaya and Tikkana
Tikkana
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...
. Nannaya translated two and a half parvamulu (books) of Mahabharatamu (Mahabharat). Tikkana translated the remaining books starting from the 4th, leaving the half finished third book, Aranya Parvamu (the Book of Forest), for Errana. Tikkana
Tikkana
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...
did not touch this part because it was considered to be inauspicious to translate this book, which was left half-finished by Nannaya. Errana started the remaining half of the Aranya Parvamu with the style of Nannaya and ended it with the style of Tikkana as a bridge between the parts translated by Nannaya and Tikkana. Just like Nannaya and Tikkana, he used half 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...
and half 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...
in his Telugu translation of Sanskrit Mahabharatamu. He translated Harivamsamu and Ramayanamu from Sanskrit and dedicated to king Prolaya Vemareddy. Nrisimhapuranamu was his own independent work. Errana got his inspiration for Nrisimhapuranam from his grandfather Errapotana. According to legend, one day when Errana was meditating, his grandfather appeared and advised him to write Narisimhapuranamu. This work was based on Brahmandapuranamu and Vishnupuranamu.
According to Vishnupuranamu, Hiranyakasyapa was a powerful king of Bharatavarsha (the mythological country that encompassed the entire Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
) and was a contemporary of Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
, the king of Ilavritavarsha, also known as Swarga, which was located in the North. The subjects of Bharatavarsha were called Manavas (the descendants of Manu - humans). The subjects of Indra were Devatas. Hiranyakasyapa fought a war with Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
and occupied Ilavritavarsha. Under the rule of Hiranyakasyapa, most of the Devatas either converted to or disguised as Manavas for the fear of Hiranyakasyapa. Another contemporary of Hiranyakasyapa was Lord Vishnu, who ruled the land beyond Ilavritavarsha in the ksheerasagar (sea of milk).
Hiranyakasyapa had a son, Prahlada
Prahlada
Prahlada is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, wherein he is famed for his exclusive devotion to Vishnu, despite attempts in the story by his father, Hiranyakashipu, to turn him to the contrary...
. Prahlada is a devote of Lord Vishnu and for that reason father and son didn't get along very well. Hiranyakasyapa tortured Prahlada for defying him. Prahlada
Prahlada
Prahlada is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, wherein he is famed for his exclusive devotion to Vishnu, despite attempts in the story by his father, Hiranyakashipu, to turn him to the contrary...
ran away and took refuge in the northern kingdom of Lord Vishnu in the Ksheersagar. However, Hiranyakasyapa gave amnesty to Prahlada, later. Prahlada returned to the Bharatavarsha and served his father with love and affection. Soon after, Hiranyakasyapa was killed by a lion during a hunting expedition in the wild. Prahlada took over as the king of Bharatavarsha. Vishnupurana, the Sanskrit original, didn't describe how and why Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakasyapa. However, Errana introduced Narasimha (lion-man), an incarnation of Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, as the killer of Hiranyakasyapa.
See also
- Telugu literatureTelugu literatureThe Telugu literature or Telugu Sahityam is one of the most precious possessions of the literary products of India. Telugu literature is rich reserve of poems, stories, dramas and puranas. It flowered in the early 16th century under the Vijayanagar empire, of which Telugu was one of the court...
- KavitrayamKavitrayamKavitrayam is a Telugu expression for trinity of poets. Kavitrayam popularly refers to the poets who translated the great epic Mahabharata into Telugu. The trinity consists of Nannayya, Tikkana and Yerrapragada.-Nannayya:...