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Revision as of 15:47, 4 December 2008
Vemana (Template:Lang-te) was a Telugu poet. He composed numerous poems in Telugu in Aata Veladhi metre which consists of four lines; the fourth line, with some exceptions, is the refrain or chorus Viswadabhirama Vinura Vema. Vemana's style is simple, his poems deal with social problems and sometimes propose solutions too. With the zeal of a social reformer, many of his poems criticise and strive to give fresh perspective to ardent followers of old, embedded traditions. Vemana is often portrayed in the nude.
Biography
Basically Vemana was a Yogi. He disseminated his philosophy in simple Telugu verses. And he is very famous in Telugu literature, relatively very less is known about the actual poet.
Vemana was from Kapu social group having the title 'Reddy'. He was a native of Kadapa district and believed to have lived in Gandikota area. He was born at Mugachintapalli. Later he moved to Kondaveedu to learn Achala Yoga from Lambika Shiva Yogi. He wandered most of the southern India to propagate his Achala Philosophy through verses. At the end of his life, he settled in Katarlapalli near to Kadiri.
Scholars do not unanimously agree about the period in which he lived. C.P. Brown, who did extensive work on Vemana in his preface to the English translation Verses of Vemana, states that the date of birth from his 707th verse is Vemana's date of birth. But it is not clear. This cyclical date of Hindu calendar coincides with 1352 or 1412 or 1472. Brown also wrote that the verses of Vemana were 400 years older in his preface of the book 'Vemana padyalu'. So it is inferred that he was born in the year of 1352. He denied the false religious systems and blind beliefs. He discouraged idol worships. He preached universal brotherhood. He is not Advaitin. He refuted the theories of Dwaita and Visisthadvaita also. He was a great Achala yogi.
The Andhra Pradesh government established a University in Kadapa in his name Yogi Vemana University. The university construction has been started and going in full pace to start its operations by 2008.
Literature and Style
Many lines of Vemana's poems are now colloquial phrases of the Telugu language. They end with the signature line Viswadhaabhi Raama, Vinura Vema, literally Beloved of Vishwadha, listen Vema. There are many interpretations of what the last line signifies.
Vemana's poems were collected and published by C.P.Brown in the 19th century. His poems are of many kinds, social, moral, satirical and mystic nature. All of them are in Ataveladi (dancing lady) meter.
Sample poetry
- Uppu Kappurambu nokka polika nundu
- Chooda chooda ruchulu jaada veru
- Purushulandu Punya purushulu veraya
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- Gangi govu paalu garitadainanu chaalu
- Kadivedainanemi kharamu paalu
- Bhakti kalugu koodu pattedainanu chaalu
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- A ladleful of a Sacred cow's milk is enough
- Of what worth is even a potful of donkey's milk
- Even a little food given with respect is sumptuous
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Atmasuddhi leni acharamadi ela
- Bhandasuddhi leni pakamadi ela
- Chittasuddi leni sivpujalelara
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- What is the purpose of custom sans inner purity?
- What is the purpose of cooking sans cleanliness of vessels?
- What is the purpose of worship of Shiva sans purity of mind?
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Alpudeppudu palku adamburamu ganu
- Sajjanundu palku challaganu
- Kanchu moginatlu kanakammu mroguna
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- Anagananaga raga matisayilluchunundu
- thinaga thinaga vemu tiyyanundu
- sadhanamuna panulu samakuru dharalona
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- As you sing (again and again), the melody (raga) excels
- As you eat Neem (again and again) , it becomes sweeter
- With practice, things become perfect
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Anuvu gani chota Nadhikulamanaradu
- Kochmayina nadiyu kodava gadu
- konda addamandu knochami undada
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- When it is not our place or time, we cannot win
- You have not become small because of this
- Don't you know the hill looks small in a mirror
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Apadiana velanarasi bandhula judu
- bhayamuvela judu bantu tanamu
- Pedavela judu pendlamu gunamu
- Viswadhaabhuraama, Vinura Vema
- In times of distress, observe the attitude of relatives
- In times of fear, observe the behaviour of the army
- In times of poverty, observe the nature of the wife
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Chippalonabadda chinuku mutyambayye
- nitabadda chinuku nita galise
- Brapti galugu chota phalamela tappura
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- Veshabhashalerigi Kashayavastramul
- gattagane mukti galugabodhu
- talalu bodulina talapulu bodula
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinrua Vema
- Knowing external behaviour and language, wearing saffron (renunciate) clothes
- That does not lead to mukti (liberation)
- Shaving of head (of a renunciate, widow etc) does not shave (unwanted) thoughts
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Cheppulona rayi chevilona joriga
- kantilona nalusu kali mullu
- intilona poru intinta gadaya
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- A stone in shoe, a fly near ear
- Pollen in eye, a thorn in foot
- A quarrel in the house, are unbearable(painful)
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Tappulennuvaru Tandopatandambu
- Lurvi janulakella nundu tappu
- Tappu lennuvaru tamatappu lerugaru
- Viswadhaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- There are many that find faults (with others)
- Every one in the world has faults
- The people who count faults do not know their own faults
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Inumu virigeneni irumaaru mummaaru
- kaachi yatakavachu kramamu gaanu
- manasu virigeneni mari chercharaadaya
- Viswadaabhiraama, Vinura Vema
- Iron, if broken, can be joined together, twice or thrice
- but heart once broken can never be put together again
- Medi pandu chooda melimaiyundu
- Potta vippi chooda purugulundu
- Pirikivani madibinkamilagura
- Viswadhaabhirama vinura Vema
- Medi, a fruit, looks gorgeous externally,
- But when we rip it, we find worms within.
- In a similar manner, a coward appears brave outside, but in reality he is not.
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
- Eluka tholua thechi
- Edathi uthikina
- Nalupu Nalupey gani thelupu kadhu
- Viswadhaabhirama vinura Vema
- Even if you take a rat's skin and wash it in water for a year
- The black rat will remain a black rat and not become white
- Similarly, you cannot change the color (character) of men who are dyed in the wool
- Beloved of the Bounteous, Vema, listen!
See also
References
- ^ Brown, C.P. (1829). Verse of Vemana: Translated from the Telugu.
External links
- Vemana poems
- Verses of Vemana - English Translation by C.P.Brown
- Verses of Vemana - First 50 verses in Telugu with English translation
- Vemana by V.R.Narla in Makers of Indian Literature, 3rd edition, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi, 1982