Vemana 



Vemana is one of the most popular Telugu poets. He is believed to have lived in the 17th century near Gandikota in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.He can best be described as the poet of the people. British official C.P. Brown was the first to collect and publish Vemana’s poems after obtaining certification and clarification from learned scholars Vemana employed  simple style to convey profound philosophical ideas. He talks of commonplace experiences and mocks at the superstitions and highbrow attitude of some persons in society. He is a great social reformer. In his poems one can perceive his desire to purge the society and enlighten the illiterate and the gullible.
There are innumerable translations of his poems. Each translator presents his own interpretation. It is a tribute to the people’s poet that his poems and ideas have been remembered with regard and the poems are recited with ecstasy even today. Vemana is the forerunner of Marx, Periyar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Ambedkar. His personal life is a matter of great conjecture and scholarly debate. The abiding appeal of Yogi Vemana is, indeed, amazing. Only a few thousands of his poems are available, though he is supposed to have composed many more thousands extempore as was his practice!. His pursuit of alchemy seems to have culminated in the realization of Truth and Knowledge.


Translators: Prof. K.S.Sastry & Usha Srinivas.
Prof. K.S.Sastry is a retired Prof of Osmania University. He is a poet, philosopher, thinker.
His areas of interest are poetry, philosophy and criticism. He is a passionate seeker of excellence and truth. Poetry in any language appealsto him immensely. He considers translation Seva to Sahitya.
Usha Srinivas: is a scientist in C.C.M.B, Hyderabad. With her husband K.S.Sastry she translates poetry from Telugu into English. Translation is a hobby for her, a lover of literature and language.

 

**** **** ****
Black in appearance is musk
Far and wide spreads its perfume
So are the qualities of gurus!
Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen
**** **** ****
Innumerable are faultfinders
All in the world have faults
Faultfinders know not their own faults
Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen.

**** ***** ****
Son with no regard for mother and father
What for is he born what for does he die?
In termite-hill are termites not born, do they not die?
Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!

***** ***** *****
Enough is a spoonful of milk from a good cow!
What for a pot full of donkey’s milk?
Enough is a handful of food gotten with love
Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen.

***** ***** ****
What for custom sans inner purity?
What for cooking sans cleanliness of vessels?
What for worship of Shiva sans purity of mind?
Beloved of the Bounteous,Vema, listen.

**** ***** *****
Diverse are cattle’s colours, milk is one colour
Flowers are of different kinds, worship is the same
Appearances are different, God is one
Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen.

**** ***** ****
What has man brought, what will he take
At birth, at death
Where do riches go, where does he go?
Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen.

****** ***** ****
Wives and sons are illusion, families are illusion
Wealth and honour are illusion, body is illusion
The conqueror of illusion is a mystic yogi
Beloved of the Beounteous,Vema, listen.

***** **** ****

ANNAMACHARYA

Tallapakka Annamacharya(1408-1503) was a famous poet-saint who wrote thousands of felicitous songs in Telugu in praise of Sri Venkateswara, a celebrated iconic form of Sri Vishnu, whose temple stands on the top of the hill Venkatadri in Tirupati. He was a pioneer in hymnography in Telugu and could handle both the erotic (sringara) and spiritual (adhyatma) strains with equal skill. He left his impact on other composers of hymns like Kshetreyya and Tyagaraja. His songs enjoyed great popularity in his own days. But they gradually went out of vogue for some inexplicable reason, and were forgotten for over three centuries. The sustained efforts of dedicated scholars and musicians during the last thirty years have revived their popularity among the Telugu people. But he is still unknown to others. His poetry is remarkable for his profound thoughts, exquisite expression besides ardent devotion.

**

God is one, he is one
he is one, he is one.

There is no room here
for distinctions
of high and low;
Hari is the dweller
of all beings.
Creatures are all alike here.
of all beings.


The solace of slumber is
the same to the king,
and to his guard
who rests close by.
the same is the high land
where the Brahmin dwells,
and the low land
where lives the untouchable.
….. ….. ………...
Day and night are the same
to the rich and the poor.

Hunger is the same to one
who eats mild, tasty food,
and to the one who consumes
stale, unclean, stuff.
It is the same wind that blows
over dirty, stinking spots,
and clean, fragrant objects.

The same sun shines
on the elephant and the cur.
The mighty name of Sri Venkatesa
is equally powerful
to save the sinner and the righteous.

Translated by A.Ramakrishna Rao

Late Sri Adapa Ramakrishna Rao was a Professor of English at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Prasanthanilayam in Andhra Pradesh. He has Master’s degrees in English, Telugu, and American literatures, and Ph.D degree from the university of Wisconsin for his thesis on the American philosopher Emerson. He translated extensively creative writing from English into Telugu and vice versa.
Dr.Ramakrishna Rao was recipient of General Macdonald Medal from Andhra University, Fulbright/Smith-Mundt Fellowship, and A.P.Sahitya Akademi award for his Telugu book of criticism Gandhi Sahitya Sameekhsha. He served on advisory boards of Sahitya Akademi. Bharatiya Jnanpith, Telugu Akademi, International Telugu Institute, and Telugu University.
 

Bammera Pothana:

Pothana lived in the later half of 15th century. Though there is much disagreement regarding the place of his birth, now it is generally agreed that he belonged to Orugallu (present day Warangal).It was known as Ontimitta , earlier. He translated from Sanskrit into Telugu Veda Vyasa’s Bhagawatham with the title Sreemad Andhra Mahaa Bhagavatham.. The Telugu version at times excels the original text. The essence of Upanishads is offered in lucid style that tastes like nectar. This text manifests Madhura Bhakti at its glorious best. The metered poems enthrall the literate and the illiterate alike. They are recited animatedly even by the illiterate all over Telugu-speaking land. Pothana refused to dedicate his Maha Bhaagawatham to the ruler of the day and had to undergo many hardships. He also authored Bhogini  DanDakam and Weerabhadra Wijayam. The King Elephant Unbound:(Saarasa)
 

Gajendra Mokshana Katha of Bammara Potana's Srimad Andhra Maha Bhagavatam

(This story is an allegory of the human soul in its struggle to attain salvation, by breaking free from worldly fetters. Once upon a time there lived a mighty elephant, who went to roam in the woods with his consorts. Tired and thirsty, he goes to a lake for water where a crocodile catches hold of him. Only when he is unable to extricate himself from the clutches of the crocodile, does the elephant recognize the necessity of divine help).

Like a creature with thought sullied
Fighting life's battle
Struggling in vain to break free
From creepers of illusion
The elephant struggled
Pathetic in plight
Like a being assailed by doubt
With his heels endlessly beaten to the bone and
Bitten by the crocodile.
For a thousand years with grim resolve
untired and undaunted
With the crocodile
The elephant fought with ferocity
At dawn and day, dusk and dark.
With all its might the elephant fought for years with the water demon
His might now in doubt
With no illusion in sight
He conquers his might with his foe's
Confirms he can't compete
And at last in anguish
With wisdom supernal
Born of good deeds of the past, Thus he moans:
How can I overcome my foe Whom shall I propitiate Whom shall I invoke Who can stop this mighty crocodile; Ah! Who can check my foe? Are not there some omniscient To heed my anguished cry, Noble souls, for me to salute?
Oh God, why did I
Who with mighty battalions
A million crore strong
Was honoured
Ah, why did I come here for water
Were it not better done
To stay amidst the sandal groves
In woods full of water?
Oh God, I fear it.
His help I seek
By whom the universe is born
In whom it is subsumed and is consumed
The great God who is the source of all
Of whom none knows the beginning, middle or end,
The all-inclusive, self-born God.
Him I invoke
Who unfolds the worlds
or folds the same




The immaculate,
The witness of all
The all-seer
The root of all.
……………….
……………….
Him I salute
The blissful, the knower of salvation's bliss,
The lord of salvation, free of pride
The fearful, the mysterious,
The knower of attributes, the tolerant,
Boundless of wisdom
The seer of all senses
The presiding power, the reader of minds
The ocean of mercy
The root of nature and soul
The mentor of sense-control
The dispeller of sorrow
The great one who shines
With the shadow of untruth
The noblest who causes all or causes none
Him I salute
That he may mould me.
I salute the Brahman
Whom sages with their deeds
Rendered pure by the fire of yoga, salute
With no second thought and with minds enlightened,
Perceive.
Him I salute
The ocean of all vedic lore
The salvation-giver, who resides in noble souls
The fire of wisdom born of all attributes
The noble one, the self-illumined
The great mind illumined by the rhythm of attributes
………………………
………………………
Him I salute
Who being neither masculine nor feminine
Nor even the neuter, - genderless being,-
Neither godly nor human
Being neither deed nor attribute
Is yet, the driving force behind all.
They say He is there
For the distressed
They say he abides
For savants galore.
They say He is here,
There and everywhere.
But is He there
Who they say again and again,
Is there?
Does He not stand by me
Who stands by the poor and the rich, alike?
Does He not save me
As He saves the pious from the impious?
Does He not care for me
Who look up to him?
He who owns all forms
He who shines with no beginning, middle or end.

He who is with the devout and the distressed Does He not hear? Does He not notice?
Does He not bother? Does He not speed?
Thus saying, the king elephant invokes the divine:
Come, save me Lord!
Bless me. My strength is gone.
My valour is in doubt.
My life seems to be ebbing out.
I swoon.
My physique is weary
And I struggle
I don't know any, but you alone.
Forgive me, this destitute!
O Lord, save me !
It seems you hear the living
It looks you go where you may not
If only to save the needy;
It seems you see all;
Pardon me, but I doubt all this!
Oh! Lotus - darling!
Oh, giver of blessings oh, thou impartial God!
Oh, The praised of poets and
Oh, Noble Lord! friend of the distressed!
Oh the darling of sages! Oh all pervading power!

Come, have mercy, think of this distressed soul! Save this destitute!
……………………
There, in the town of Vaikunta By a mansion in a corner far Deep inside a hibiscus grove Near a blessed lake besides Amidst a lotus of lapis lazuli In the lap of Lakshmi, frolicking The divine of the distressed Heard the anguished ha! ha! Of the king elephant And in haste unseemly, sped.
To Lakshmi, he reveals nought,
In his pair of arms
The conch and the chakra, he bears not;
His retinue, he beckons not,
Garuda, he rides not;
He leaves his hair,
A broad span, unkempt;
Nor does he let go
Even the fringe of her upper garment
Torn in sport.

Thus Vishnu, the saviour of his devotees, and the dweller of the hearts of all living creation, having considered the pathetic appeals of the king elephant, having given up his flair for fun and frolic with Lakshmi, with a stunningly quick glance in all directions with his retinue, alerted again and darted across the sky,
Behind him Lakshmi,
Behind her his retinue,
Behind them Garuda
And his bow, his mace,
The conch, the chakra
And his arms, besides;
Sage Narada and the army chief
All came in a haste,
Men, children and women, all of Vaikunta,
And then with honey'd beads of sweat besieging her face, Goddess Lakshmi, with her skirt held in Vishnu's hands, muses thus:
His station unannounced, he speeds Was it that he heard the cries of damsels in distress? Or were the Vedas stolen by ignoble thieves? 7 Did the demons strike at the heavens? Or did rascals from his devotees demand,
"Where is Vishnu? Speak out".
……………………….
Fast she flies saying
'Let me elicit,1 yet withdraws
Lest her spouse deny
She walks and she stops
She turns and returns
Ambulating in ambience.
With her tresses brushing her forehead past
The bees and butterflies buzz all around
Taking her face for Lotus.
The parrots leap to catch the glow of lips
The big fish in the Ganges
Leap to catch the fish of her eyes.
Her glowing body
clashing with clouds
Begets flashes of lightnings in the sky
When she like a lightning
Follows Vishnu, the cloud-coloured
Flying in the sky the gods saw
Lord Vishnu
The denier of the life and glory of demons,
The foes of gods,
The propagator of mercy
The dweller of sages' souls
The tolerant and the merciful
He who has the glory of his devotees.
As his ornament.
"He has come, the great Vishnu
Have you seen Lakshmi, besides
The blowing conch here, the chakra there,
Garuda, the serpent-killer
Is there as weil.
They are all come" So saying the Gods saluted Lord Vishnu in one voice Standing in the mid heavens Vishnu, the dispeller of distress Of the king elephant.
Vishnu, the ocean of mercy Sent flying the Chakra Which makes the earth tremble Which sends flying sparks of fire Enveloping the sky entire.
Him the deceitful crocodile, Of physique mountainous,

Stunning the herd of elephants
The abode of lust and anger,
Bathing in the blood of the Elephant
Full of illimitable fury
Quenched of its thirst
Lusting for victory
Him the chakra did behead instantly.
Hari blew the conch Panchajanya, The herald of an ocean of mercy, Rousing with its mighty roar Or stunning into silence The consciousness of the very elements The white effulgence of the conch Dazzling even the mighty Indra The dispel ler of devotees" distress.
And of spiteful foes.
The drums of Gods thundered,
Breeze wafted pleasing the lotuses
Flowers showered like rain
The sky was full of Apsaras in dance
In all directions the living creation
Hailed the deed
The ocean rose in tide
With waves trying to kiss
The Lotus-faced Ganga in the sky.

Translated from Telugu
By T. Viswanadha Rao: Professor of English, teaches and lives in Kakinada. Proficient in Telugu, Sanskrit and English. Powerful poet and eminent translator. Has many publications to his credit.
 

Gurazada Appa Rao:

Gurazada Appa Rao (1861-1915) is credited with heralding a new era of writing in Telugu Poetry. He proved that for literature to be effective and communicative the language of the people was the unparalleled vehicle. His play Kanyasulkam was written to castigate the evils of child marriage and to encourage widow marriage. He discovered a particular kind of matra chandas and called it Mutyala Saram. He used it effectively in a number of songs. His patriotic songs and poems are recited today with pride by all Telugu people.

Strings of Pearls

I will take the most limpid words
Limpid as pearls and string you wreaths;
I’ll marry the old and new
To never significance

I know well you will not approve
My verses –how can damsels wake
Dull senses long used to admire
Sumptuously stuffed up dolls?

The eastern sky was bright with dawn;
The morning star went up the sky
The Halley’s Comet stretched its tail;
The regent moon held state

The stars into a lake of light
Sank one by one and darkness crept
Out slowly: from his perch unseen
A Koel tuned his songs:

I went to town on business bent,
As it chanced, I stayed a weak
And came along alighted minds
All zealous of reform

And came back home at early dawn
and woke my lady up from bed,
“look up I said” I said, high in the sky
is manmatha’s bent bow?

My love rose with a start from bed,
and looked not at me nor the sky,
and nursed her necklace and hair,
in to place with a side ways look

I said, “the moon does not regards
the comet in the false alarm
that the long tail one the ‘ketu’ comes
with intend to devour him

“But no, to me he gives conceit
of a shining lily come to grace
the wrists of starry Goddess
a gift of bounteous nature”
“Comets are rare phenomena
so wonders that the mind of old
steeped in crass ignorance believed
that the trains they trailed brought harms”

“It’s the pity, pundit who lay claims
to wisdom weave such silly fancies
about things so sublime which poets
should hail as heaven blessings”

“Minds English, love in science verses
Penetrate the core of things,
And fetch forth truth, they will not let
Untruth obscures their vision.

“I’ve learnt from them that this rare Comet
To this our earth claims some relation,
And gives us sight of its great beauty
Once in some seventy years”

“My sweetest love, it is my fancy
That this great star brings good, not harm
It spells great social change, I take it
As the standard of reform.”

“In the days to come reforming men
Will spring and bring their strength of mind
To bear upon our social ills,
And break the chains of caste.”

“Caste and colour shall be things
Of the past; all nations will be brought
Into one fold: the lowliest
Shall come to man’s estate.”

“The many creeds which now divide
Mankind shall have been laid to rest:
To this high end was set in motion,
A movement in the town.”

“The cream of high society,
A cosmopolitan dinner held,
Without observing caste or creed –--
The news may have reached here.”

My love was mute a little while,
And then she let her tears flow fast,
And most indignantly intoned
A very screed of words.

“I’ve more than heard of the part you took
In the said festivities,
Since which time I have neither slept
Nor have known peace of mind.”

“Your brother’s wife was full of taunts;
I did not care; others consoled
Me but it was past bearing when
Women mocked me without speech.”

“It pained me, mother-in-law might
Put me down as conspirator
With you; when your father-in-law blamed
The times, I felt ashamed”

“It’s tie you realized your folly,
And put stupid ideas by:
If elders knew that English learning
Would mean mixing of castes,

They would not have sent you to town
For English study and besides,
O wonder secular studies can
Shake society’s foundations,”

“If you had no consideration
For me, you should at least have cared
For the good name of parents whom
You have thus compromised.”

“To think promiscuous mixing can
Dissolve diversity of castes, ----
If you’re set on’t, you should run sway
With an untouchable girl.”

Her anger mounting to a peak,
She held her necklace half-way up;
And gave a flick as it me struck
And walked away in dungeon.

It was broad daylight now, and moon
And stars and Comet vanished quite’ ----
The worldly will not see what’s good
For them and for the world.

Translated by Prof.R.Appalaswamy :

Late R.Appalaswamy taught English in Vizianagaram. Poet, critic, translator. Master of several Indian and European languages, he was considered a walking encyclopedia in his life time. Prolific writer and excellent orator ,he  was known for his remarkable zest for life.