Patrons of Telugu Literature

Velama - Patrons of Telugu Literature and Culture

Velama rulers were big literary contributors of telugu literature and culture. Below are some of their kingdoms, and associated poets and their literary works:

Pithapuramu Samstanam

This is a Velama Kingdom that is now part of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Poets like Vinjamuri Somesha who wrote Ragahvayadaveeyamu were at the court of Pithapuramu. Vakkalanka Veerabhadrakavi wrote 'vasavadattaaparinayamu' and dedicated to the King of Pithapuram, Nayani Madhavarao (1679-1704). Famous poet Kuchimachi Timmakavi was honored by king Madhavarayalu ( 1710 - 1755 ) with the title, 'kavisarvabhouma' ( emperor of poets ). The following are the poets of Pithapuram kingdom and their works.

Author and his Literary Work

• Kuchimanchi Jaggakavi : Subhadraaparinayamu
• Kuchimachi Gangana : Satakanttharamayanamu
• Devulapalli Bapanna : Taravali
• Pindiprolu Lakhmana : Ravanadhammeeyamu
• Allamaraju Subrahmanyakavi : Bhadraparinayamu
• Devulapalli Subbarayasastri and Devulapalli Venkatakrishnasastri : Ravuvamsamuktavali in Sanskrit and Telugu language|Telugu.
• Devulapalli Subbarayasastri : Sriramapanchasattu, Mahendravijayamu, Ramarayavilasamu, Malhanastavamu, Kumara Satakamu, Mandeswara Satakamu  

Kings of Pithapuram and their descendents had invested a lot of money to support Telugu literature and established literary organizations like "Andhrasahitya Parishattu."

Bobbili Samstanam

Bobbili is part of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. This was a Velama kingdom. Poet families like Kotra, Kotikalapudi, Mandapaka, Mandavemula, Susarla etc., prospered in this kingdom. The following are the poets of Bobbili and their works:

Author and his Literary Work

• Kotra Balakavi : Vimalangi Parinayamu and Bhallanacharitramu.
• Rayudappa Rangarao Bahaddur (1790-1830) together with Garimella Subbayya : Sankalpa Suryodayamu.
• Kotikelapudi Venkatakrishna Somayaji : Tarakabrahmamu, Dilipacharitramu, Prabodhachandrodayamu, Meghasandesamu, Vignaneswaramu and Swetachalamahatmyamu.
• Kotikelapudi Kodandarama : Nrusimhapuranamu, Tarakabrahma Mahatmyamu, Janakirama Satakamu, Janakivallabha Satakamu, Venugopala Satakamu and Sudharangamu.
• Rayadappa Janardhana Ranga Rao : Mitravindaparinayamu and Bobbili Venugopalasatakamu.
• Mandapaka Peraya : Nirdoshtyadasaradhi Satakamu, Kumudvati Parinayamu and Indumati Parinayamu.
• Mandapaka Kamaya : Kartikavrata Mahatmyamu, Balaramakshetra Mahatmyamu and Suryanarayana Satakamu.
• Mandapaka Parvateeswarasastri : more than one hundred books that include Krishnabhyadayamu, Radhakrishna Samvadamu etc.
• Mandavemula Venkataramaya : Kriyayogasaramu.  

Sir Venkateswarachalapati Ranga Rao ( 1862 - 1926 ) supported many poets and funded printing of several books.

Venkatagiri

Venaktigiri kingdom was ruled by Velugoti family of Velama caste. This family migrated from Velugodu in Telangana to Andhra and established themselves in Venkatagiri in 1600 AD.

Author and his Literary Work

Velugoti Rayudappa Nayani ( 1600 ) period

• Returi Rangaraju: Bhanumati Parinayamu  

Velugoti Kumarayachamnayani ( 1777 - 1804 ) period

• Mudumbi Ayyappadikshitulu : Vishnupuranamu
• Narakuri Narayanappa : Parijatamu  

Velugoti Kumarayachendrulu ( 1832 - 1892 ) period

• Velugoti Kumara Yachendrulu : Sabharanjani, Manssakshyamu etc.
• Gopinadha Venkata : Srimadramayanamu, Brahmavaivartapuranamu, Krishnajanmakhandamu, Brahmananda Satakamu, Bhagavadgita Sastramu, Sisupalavadha, Radhikaparinayamu, Srimadramanauja Charitramu, Adityahrudayamu etc.
• Tarkabhushanamu Venkata Charylu : Sringara kalpavalli
• Tirumalasetti Jagnnadha : Halasya Mahatmyamu
• Odayaru Viranagaya : Sivaratri Mahatmyamu
• Mandapaka Parvatiswara Sastri : Radhakrishna Samvadamu
• Chilakapati Venkata Ramanuja Sarma : Gopikath sudhalahari, Vinodakatha kalpavalli

Sri Kalahasti

Damerla family of Velama caste ruled Sri Kalhasti.

Author and his Literary Work

• Damerla Vengala bhupaludu (late 1500): Bahulasva Charitramu
• Damerla Ankabhupaludu : Usha parinayamu
• Nadiminti Venkatapati : Abhishikta raghavamu
• Ravukondalarayudu : Chitra kavitva darpanamu
• Lingaraju ( Kumara Dhurjati ) : Kalhatimahatmyamu, Dvipada bhagavatamu
• Venkatapati : Ratnavali Parinayamu
• Munipalle Subrahmanyasastri : Adhyatmramayan Kirtanalu
• Sishtu Sarvasastri (1830 - 1880 ) : Amarukamu and Jnanaprasunambika Satakamu
• Kotra Lakshminarayanasastri : Lakshminarayaniyandhra Dictionary
• Kalatturi Vikrala Raghavacharylu ( 1840 - 1890 ) : Vedasamrajyamu, Sikshabhashyamu, Sulbasutramu, Rahsyatrayabhashyamu, Suryasiddhanta, Vyakhyanamu, Grahadarshamu, Dharmanirnayamu, Vruttisngrahamu, Andhrabhasha Mahima Varnanamu
• Damerla Venkatabhupaludu : Setukhandamu

Nujividu Samstanam

This was a Velama kingdom in Krishna District.

Author and his Literary Work

• Venkatacharyudu : Indumati Parinayamu
• Anivilla Venkatasastri Apparaya : Yasaschandrodayamu, Alankarasudhasindhumaheswara, Mahatmyamu, Rukminni Parinayamu, Bhaskara Prasasti, etc.
• Dittakavi Ramayogi : Rajgopala Satakamu, Mahisasuramardani Satakamu, Raghutilakahelavati Dandakamu, etc.
• Madabhushi Venkatacharya : Bharatabhyudayamu, Pushpabanavilasamu, Ramavadhuti taravali etc.
• Bukkapattanamu Raghavacharyulu : Andhradesha Charitra and Kuvalyasva Vijayamu
• King Venkatadri Apparao Bahaddur Ramadasu : Jyotirleela, Govardhanoddharanamu, Andhrashtapadulu, Sobhanachala Mahatmyamu, Andhragitgovindamu, etc.
• Duriseti Venkataramacharyulu : Anarkali
• Yarroja Madhavacharyulu : Maghavalayamu

Narasaraopeta Samstanam

This kingdom was ruled by Malraju family of Velama caste. This is also known as Bellamkonda kingdom.

Author and his Literary Work

• Ahobila : Kavisirobhushanamu and Kalindikanya Parinayamu
• Pattabhiram : Kavisarpagarudamu, Kavimushikamarjalamu, Marunnandana Satakamu, Malarajugudanarayanopakhyanamu, Vajrapanjara Satakamu, and Syamantakopakhyanamu
• Dittakavi Narayana : Rangaraya Charitramu
• Dittakavi Ramachandra : Uddandagopalaraya Satakamu and Raghukulatilaka Satakamu
• Venkata and Pardhsardhi : Vichitraraghavamu