Andhra Vishnu
Encyclopedia
Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu better known as Śrīkākuḷāndhra Mahāviṣhṇu was a legendary warrior by name Viṣhṇu who became famous as a very valorous savior of his small kingdom.
of the divine savior Lord Maha Vishnu himself. Perhaps in his honor, people had dedicated a new temple now located at Śrīkākuḷam
, Krishna District
, Andhra Pradesh
. The lord of the temple is known as Āndhra Viṣhṇu or Śrīkākulāndhra Viṣhṇu. The main sanctum of the temple survived at least since the time of the Sātavāhana emperors, perhaps from 2nd or even 3rd century BC. In that respect, it is perhaps one of the most ancient temple sites in the country. Available evidence seems to suggest that king Āndhra Viṣhṇu ruled before the time of Sātavāhanas.
, a poet under patronage of Zamindar of Challapalli
in diviseema
region of Andhra Pradesh
, which was his most famous literary work. The ancient temple dedicated to Āndhra Viṣhṇu is just few kilometers away from the poet's native place in diviseema
.
The Satakam is known to just about every high school student in Telugu region
because of a few mandatory selections from the Satakam that appear in school textbooks. There are only a few people who become famous through just one tiny literary work. Kasula Purushottama Kavi
was one such writer. The poems of the Satakam are so very endearing because of the vyāja ninda and vyāja stuti employed to denounce the Lord Āndhra Viṣhṇu and put him down for his various qualities and actions while actually praising him indirectly.
Apparently, the Śrīkākuḷāndhra Viṣhṇu temple during poet's time seems to be in a deteriorated state. The poet seems to be concerned about it and composed the Satakam asking the Lord Andhra Viṣhṇu, why he did not set his own house in order. This Sataka is perhaps the most famous in the Vyāja ninda genre of Telugu
Prosody.
emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya was travelling via Vijayawada
during his Kalinga
campaign. He had conquered Vijayawada
, kondapalli
fort and the surrounding areas. He came to know about the holy temple of Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu and visited Srikakulam village for a few days. He performed the Ekadasi Vrata
m during that time. It is here that Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu in all his glory appeared to the emperor in an early morning dream ("neela mEGhamu DAlu Deelu sEyaga jAlu….").
Sri Krishnadevaraya Explains the incident as ..Observing the fast of the Vishnu's Day, in the fourth and last watch of that God's night, Andhra Vishnu came to me in my dream. His body was a radiant black, blacker than the rain cloud. His eyes wise and sparkling, put the lotus to shame. He was clothed in the best golden silk, finer still than the down on his eagle's wings. The red sunrise is pale compared to ruby on his chest.
Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu told him to compose the story of his wedding with Andal
at Srirangam
("rangamandayina penDili seppumu.."). He also ordered the emperor to tell the story in Telugu
.
The Lord reasoned "telugadElayanna, dESambu telugu. yEnu telugu vallaBhunDa. telugo kanDa.…. yerugavE bAsADi, dESa BhAShalandu telugu lessa!" The emperor obliged and composed Amuktamalyada which is one of the most famous poetic works in the entire Telugu literature
. From 14th poem of this work we can see that the Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu refers himself as King of Telugus (Telugu Vallabhunḍa) and refers Sri Krishnadevaraya as Kannada King (Kannaḍa Rāya).
Meaning of Quote :"If you ask why a work in Telugu; I am Telugu (i.e., belong to Teluguland) and King of Telugus. Telugu is language which got stuff (TelugO kanDa). So, with all kings serving under you, by speaking you will know that of all regional languages Telugu is superior. "
Within Āmuktamālyada itself it was mentioned that on a Harivāsara, Sri Krishnadevaraya had the Darsan of Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu. Harivāsara is the time between the last 4 muhurtas of Ekadasi and the first 4 muhurtas of Dwadasi, i.e., 6 hours and 24 minutes. This incident of visiting the temple must be between Ahobilam
Śaasanam (dated December, 1515) and Simhāchalam
Śaasanam (dated 30 March, 1515)
, Jamuna
, S. V. Ranga Rao
, M. Balaiah, Relangi Venkataramaiah, Girija, L. Vijaya Lakshmi, Chaya Devi, Mudigonda Linga Murthy. Producer was D. Lakshminarayana Chowdary and music was given by Pendyala Nageswara Rao
.
Āndhra Vishnu Temple
After his reign, people came to believe that he had an amśaIncarnation
Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
of the divine savior Lord Maha Vishnu himself. Perhaps in his honor, people had dedicated a new temple now located at Śrīkākuḷam
Srikakulam village
Srikakulam is a Village located in Ghantasala Mandal in diviseema region of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.This place is known for the Srikakulandhra Vishnu temple built in the honor of a king named Andhra Vishnu who reigned before Satavahanas...
, Krishna District
Krishna district
Krishna District is a district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It is named after the Krishna River, the third longest river that flows within India, flows through the district and joins Bay of Bengal here in this district. It has a population of 4,529,009 of which 32.08% is urban as 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...
. The lord of the temple is known as Āndhra Viṣhṇu or Śrīkākulāndhra Viṣhṇu. The main sanctum of the temple survived at least since the time of the Sātavāhana emperors, perhaps from 2nd or even 3rd century BC. In that respect, it is perhaps one of the most ancient temple sites in the country. Available evidence seems to suggest that king Āndhra Viṣhṇu ruled before the time of Sātavāhanas.
Andhra Kaumudi
In Andhra Kaumudi, a Telugu grammar book it was mentioned that he was son of Suchandra. It seems Āndhra Viṣhṇu having built an immense wall, connecting Sri Sailam, Bheemeswaram, and Kaleswaram, with the Mahendra hills, formed in it three gates, in which the three eyed Ishwara, bearing the trident in his hand and attended by a host of divinities resided in the form of three lingams. Āndhra Viṣhṇu assisted by divine angels having fought with the great giant Nishambhu for thirteen yugas killed him in battle and took up his residence with the sages on the banks of the river Godavari, since which time, the Andhra country has been named Trilingam.Āndhra Nāyaka Satakam
Āndhra Nāyaka Satakam was written by Kasula Purushottama KaviKasula Purushottama Kavi
Kaasula Purushottama kavi lived during the late 18th century . His parents were Kaasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a Bhattu kavi with the feudal Zamindar of Challapalli. He composed Apart Andhra Nayaka Satakam on...
, a poet under patronage of Zamindar of Challapalli
Challapalli
Challapalli or Challapalle is a village and Mandal in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.-Geography:Challapalle is located at . It has an average elevation of 6 metres .-Demographics:...
in diviseema
Diviseema
Diviseema is a small and fertile island in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.-Geography:Diviseema is located in the delta area formed at Puligadda , where the Krishna River is divided into two before merging into the Bay of Bengal...
region 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...
, which was his most famous literary work. The ancient temple dedicated to Āndhra Viṣhṇu is just few kilometers away from the poet's native place in diviseema
Diviseema
Diviseema is a small and fertile island in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.-Geography:Diviseema is located in the delta area formed at Puligadda , where the Krishna River is divided into two before merging into the Bay of Bengal...
.
The Satakam is known to just about every high school student in Telugu region
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...
because of a few mandatory selections from the Satakam that appear in school textbooks. There are only a few people who become famous through just one tiny literary work. Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kaasula Purushottama kavi lived during the late 18th century . His parents were Kaasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a Bhattu kavi with the feudal Zamindar of Challapalli. He composed Apart Andhra Nayaka Satakam on...
was one such writer. The poems of the Satakam are so very endearing because of the vyāja ninda and vyāja stuti employed to denounce the Lord Āndhra Viṣhṇu and put him down for his various qualities and actions while actually praising him indirectly.
Apparently, the Śrīkākuḷāndhra Viṣhṇu temple during poet's time seems to be in a deteriorated state. The poet seems to be concerned about it and composed the Satakam asking the Lord Andhra Viṣhṇu, why he did not set his own house in order. This Sataka is perhaps the most famous in the Vyāja ninda genre 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...
Prosody.
Āmuktamālyada
Once the VijayanagaraVijayanagara
Vijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya was travelling via Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
during his Kalinga
Kalinga
Kalinga is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north...
campaign. He had conquered Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
, kondapalli
Kondapalli
Kondapalli is an industrial town near Vijayawada city, Andhra Pradesh, India with population of nearly 38000. It is 16 km by road from Vijayawada on National Highway 221 and on Hyderabad–Vijayawada railway line.....
fort and the surrounding areas. He came to know about the holy temple of Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu and visited Srikakulam village for a few days. He performed the Ekadasi Vrata
Vrata
In the context of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, the term vrata denotes a religious practice to carry out certain obligations with a view to achieve divine blessing for fulfillment of one or several desires. Etymologically, vrata, a Sanskrit word , means to vow or to promise...
m during that time. It is here that Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu in all his glory appeared to the emperor in an early morning dream ("neela mEGhamu DAlu Deelu sEyaga jAlu….").
Sri Krishnadevaraya Explains the incident as ..Observing the fast of the Vishnu's Day, in the fourth and last watch of that God's night, Andhra Vishnu came to me in my dream. His body was a radiant black, blacker than the rain cloud. His eyes wise and sparkling, put the lotus to shame. He was clothed in the best golden silk, finer still than the down on his eagle's wings. The red sunrise is pale compared to ruby on his chest.
Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu told him to compose the story of his wedding with Andal
Andal
Andal is the the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She is credited with the great Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of...
at Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
("rangamandayina penDili seppumu.."). He also ordered the emperor to tell the story in 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...
.
The Lord reasoned "telugadElayanna, dESambu telugu. yEnu telugu vallaBhunDa. telugo kanDa.…. yerugavE bAsADi, dESa BhAShalandu telugu lessa!" The emperor obliged and composed Amuktamalyada which is one of the most famous poetic works in the entire Telugu literature
Telugu literature
The 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...
. From 14th poem of this work we can see that the Lord Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu refers himself as King of Telugus (Telugu Vallabhunḍa) and refers Sri Krishnadevaraya as Kannada King (Kannaḍa Rāya).
Meaning of Quote :"If you ask why a work in Telugu; I am Telugu (i.e., belong to Teluguland) and King of Telugus. Telugu is language which got stuff (TelugO kanDa). So, with all kings serving under you, by speaking you will know that of all regional languages Telugu is superior. "
Within Āmuktamālyada itself it was mentioned that on a Harivāsara, Sri Krishnadevaraya had the Darsan of Śrī Āndhra Viṣhṇu. Harivāsara is the time between the last 4 muhurtas of Ekadasi and the first 4 muhurtas of Dwadasi, i.e., 6 hours and 24 minutes. This incident of visiting the temple must be between Ahobilam
Ahobilam
Ahobhilam also known as Ahobalam is located in the Allagadda mandal of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at a distance of 40 km from Nandyal and about 150 km from Kurnool, the district headquarters...
Śaasanam (dated December, 1515) and Simhāchalam
Simhachalam
Simhadri or Simhachalam temple is a Hindu temple located near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is dedicated to the incarnation of Vishnu known as Narasimha...
Śaasanam (dated 30 March, 1515)
In Popular Media
In 1962, the Telugu movie named Srikakula Andhra Mahavishnu Katha was made based on the story of this legendary king, directed by A. K. Sekhar, casting N. T. Rama RaoN. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician...
, Jamuna
Jamuna
Jamuna may refer to:* Jamuna , Telugu film actress* Jamuna Baruah, Assamese actress* Jamuna River in Bangladesh * Jamuna Bridge in Bangladesh...
, S. V. Ranga Rao
S. V. Ranga Rao
Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao Popularly Known as S.V.R. was an Indian Theater actor, Tollywood actor, director and producer...
, M. Balaiah, Relangi Venkataramaiah, Girija, L. Vijaya Lakshmi, Chaya Devi, Mudigonda Linga Murthy. Producer was D. Lakshminarayana Chowdary and music was given by Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Pendyala Nageswara Rao was a popular drama actor, singer and music director in Telugu Film Industry for over 25 years from early 1950s to late 1970s. He has composed music for many successful Telugu movies during that period.-Early life:He was born at Vanukuru near Vijayawada and later shifted to...
.