Ramarajabhushanudu

Ramarajabhushanudu (Telugu:రామరాజభూషణుడు) (mid 16th century CE) was a Telugu poet and a notable musician was one of the Astadiggajas (a collective title for Telugu poets in the court of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara Empire).

Biography

He was a native of Nellore. He was also believed to be an apprentice of the Allasani Peddana in his youth. He was later patronised by Krishnadevaraya and his successors.

His real name was Bhattu Murti, though because he was the jewel (Bhushanam) of the royal court of Aliya Rama Raya, he later became known as Ramarajabhushanudu. He was also a distinguished musician and played the veena.

Works

His popular works are "Kavyalankarasangrahamu, "Vasucaritramu", "Hariscandra Nalopakhyanamu", and "Narasabhupaleeyamu". He dedicated "Vasucharita" to Tirumala Deva Raya and "Harischandra Nalopakhyanamu" to Orugnati Narasaraya.

Style

His work "Vasucharitra" is the most renowned for its use of Slesha, or "double meaning". These poems were later imitated by many Telugu poets including Chemakura Venkata Kavi.

Similar to Pingali Surana, he also wrote a "dvayarthi"(double entendre) work called "Harischandra Nalopakhanam". Each poem of story narrates to life of the kings Harischandra and Nala.

As he was also a musician, some of his poetic compositions had a musical flow and rhythm.

ample poetry

Awards and Titles

* He is credited as gem of Ramaraya's court, and hence his name is "Ramarajabhushana".

External links

* [http://www.inca.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/telugu/classical/prabandha/ramaraja/ramaraja1.html Bhattumurthy]
* [http://www.esamskriti.com/html/new_inside.asp?cat_name=cultphil&sid=9002&count1=3&cid=519 Telugu literature]
* K.A. Nilakanta Sastry, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002) ISBN 0-19-560686-8
* [http://www.tlca.com/youth/golden-age.html Golden age of Telugu Literature]
* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka47.htm Literary activity in Vijayanagara Empire]