Gayopakhyanam
Encyclopedia
Gayopakhyanam is a Telugu play
written by Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham
in 1890. It is also called Prachanda Yadavam (The story of fierce Yadava King - Sri Krishna). This play is the forerunner in presenting fictional themes in the Hindu Epics. The plot is based on war between Nara-Narayana
, the incarnation of Arjuna
and Sri Krishna induced by Gaya, a Gandharva King.
(1867–1946) wrote this play at the age of about 22 years. It was staged for the first time in April 1890. Famous politician Tanguturi Prakasam
played the role of Chitralekha and Arjuna and his teacher Immaneni Hanumantha Rao Naidu portrayed the role of Gaya. It was staged innumerable times by many drama troupes.
It was published in 1909 and broke the records of selling more than a lakh copies.
king, while moving across the skies, spits the pan down his divine plane. It falls into the open palms of Sri Krishna
, offering prayers to Sun god (Surya
). Sri Krishna gets very angry and vows to kill him. Gaya is a great devotee of Krishna. Krishna could not take back his vow. Narada
advices Gaya to approach Arjuna
and first seek his assurance of protecting him, before revealing about the person set to take his life. As per Narada's advice, the king takes Arjuna's promise for his protection before revealing Krishna's vow to kill him. Arjuna, though surprised, sticks to his word to Gaya. Any number of dialogues between both sides makes no dent in the situation. Intervention of Subhadra
, Narada, Rukmini
and others fail resulting in direct combat.
When they are almost out for a head on collision, Lord Siva
appears before them and averts a possible disaster to the world. Lord Krishna explains this situation as a test for Arjuna before the impending Mahabharata war.
in 1962/1963 and directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy. It is starring N. T. Rama Rao
as Lord Krishna, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao as Arjuna and Dhulipala as Gayudu.
Telugu drama
The Telugu drama or Telugu theatre is one of the most popular Art forms in India. There are many social and mythological plays performed by many eminent artists and have enthralled the audience from time to time with their magnificent performance. One of the interesting feature is the dialogue...
written by Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham
Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham
Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham was an Indian playwright, novelist and author of short stories, who wrote in the Telugu language. He was a romantic and a social reformer in the tradition founded by Veeresalingam...
in 1890. It is also called Prachanda Yadavam (The story of fierce Yadava King - Sri Krishna). This play is the forerunner in presenting fictional themes in the Hindu Epics. The plot is based on war between Nara-Narayana
Nara-Narayana
Nara-Narayana is a Hindu deity pair. Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother incarnation of the preserver-god Vishnu on earth, working for the preservation of dharma or righteousness...
, the incarnation of Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
and Sri Krishna induced by Gaya, a Gandharva King.
Author
Chilakamarthi Lakshmi NarasimhamChilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham
Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham was an Indian playwright, novelist and author of short stories, who wrote in the Telugu language. He was a romantic and a social reformer in the tradition founded by Veeresalingam...
(1867–1946) wrote this play at the age of about 22 years. It was staged for the first time in April 1890. Famous politician Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was an Indian politician and Freedom Fighter and the first Chief Minister of the Indian province Andhra state...
played the role of Chitralekha and Arjuna and his teacher Immaneni Hanumantha Rao Naidu portrayed the role of Gaya. It was staged innumerable times by many drama troupes.
It was published in 1909 and broke the records of selling more than a lakh copies.
The Story
Gaya, a GandharvaGandharva
Gandharva is a name used for distinct mythological beings in Hinduism and Buddhism; it is also a term for skilled singers in Indian classical music.-In Hinduism:...
king, while moving across the skies, spits the pan down his divine plane. It falls into the open palms of Sri Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, offering prayers to Sun god (Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
). Sri Krishna gets very angry and vows to kill him. Gaya is a great devotee of Krishna. Krishna could not take back his vow. Narada
Narada
Narada or Narada Muni is a divine sage from the Vaisnava tradition, who plays a prominent role in a number of the Puranic texts, especially in the Bhagavata Purana, and in the Ramayana...
advices Gaya to approach Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
and first seek his assurance of protecting him, before revealing about the person set to take his life. As per Narada's advice, the king takes Arjuna's promise for his protection before revealing Krishna's vow to kill him. Arjuna, though surprised, sticks to his word to Gaya. Any number of dialogues between both sides makes no dent in the situation. Intervention of Subhadra
Subhadra
Image:Jagannath, Baladev and Subadra in Radhadesh.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=|Subhadra, flanked by her brothers Balarama and Jagannatha . Deities of the Radhadesh temple in Belgium...
, Narada, Rukmini
Rukmini
In Hinduism, Rukmini is the principal wife and queen of Krishna at his city of Dwarka. Krishna heroically kidnaps her from an un-wanted marriage at her request . Of Krishna's 16,108 queens, Rukmini is the first and most prominent...
and others fail resulting in direct combat.
When they are almost out for a head on collision, Lord Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
appears before them and averts a possible disaster to the world. Lord Krishna explains this situation as a test for Arjuna before the impending Mahabharata war.
Main characters
- Gaya, Gamdharva King
- Sri Krishna
- Arjuna, One of the Pandavas
- Narada
- Subhadra, Sister of Sri Krishna and wife of Arjuna
- Lord Shiva
Famous poems
- Jalanidhu linkugaaka Kulashailamu lEdunu Grunkugaaka
- Alluda Rammani Adarammuna Bilvabampu Maamanu batti Champagalame
Criticism
The criticism that the poet sacrificed the sublime nature of the great characters like Krishna, Arjuna, Subhadra and others. The poet has natural tendency to dilute the expression, caring more for the common man. He is familiar with the idioms and proverbs familiar to him in the daily life. This may be main reason for the success of his play at root level of the audience.Films
The story is adopted for films in Telugu and Tamil languages and made as Sri Krishnarjuna YudhamSri Krishnarjuna Yudham
Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham is a 1962 film in Telugu and Tamil languages directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy. It stars N. T...
in 1962/1963 and directed by Kadiri Venkata Reddy. It is starring N. T. Rama Rao
N. 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...
as Lord Krishna, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao as Arjuna and Dhulipala as Gayudu.