Literary Development During Nayak Period in Thanjavur-A Study

Aayvagam An International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Volume 4 |Issue 12|January 2017 16 ISSN (Online): 2321 – 5259 ISSN (Print): 2321 – 5739 Literary Development During Nayak Period In Thanjavur-A Study. R.Rajakumaran* and Dr.V.Ravichandran** *Ph.D Research Scholar, Department Of History, A.V.V.M Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) Poondi **Associate Professor Of History, Department Of History,A.V.V.M Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) Poondi. The development of literature received a special attention by rulers of Nayaks, who extended all benevolent helps to scholars of different languages. As a sequel, a volume of literary texts appeared in Telugu, Sanskrit and Tamil. Also different literary talents resulted in the production of new varieties. The history of the library is in itself of absorbing interest. After the sun had set on the Chola dynasty, the kingdom became with time a province of the great Vijayanagar empire, whose rulers installed their deputies (or nayaks) to govern the lands, the ‘deputies’ turning later into Nayak kings, who founded a dynasty of their own in Thanjavur in the middle of the 16th century. But a century and a quarter later, in 1674, the Nayak power was supplanted by that of the Marathas. It is to the Nayaks and the Marathas that the library owes its existence and its growth. The Nayaks, following widespread royal precedents, created their own Saraswati Bhandara: a repository of learning, invoking the goddess Saraswati, in the form of texts and illustrated manuscripts. But it was under the Marathas really that the library grew dramatically, the name most intimately associated with it being that of Serfoji II (reigned 1798-1832), that remarkable ruler, whose name the library now bears, being called the "Maharaja Serfoji Saraswati Mahal Library". Serfoji’s (also named sometimes as Sarabhoji) is a name that reverberates throughout Thanjavur, and the story of his own development is most unusual. Neglected on account of politics in his childhood years, and nearly deprived of his succession rights, he came under the tutelage of Rev. Schwartz, a Danish missionary, something that determined the course of his interests, perhaps of his life. Traditional learning apart, the young man was exposed to, and took to, western culture like almost no other royal of his own times. Telugu Telugu, being the mother tongue as well as the official language of the Nayaks of Thanjavur, gained greater importance. More number of literary works was generated. Among them, the most significant development was the introduction of ‘Yakshagyana’ literature in Telugu, as a sequel to the introduction of the new concept in the field of art namely, the Dance Drama ‘Yakshagyanam’. It was a dramatic composition, which clearly included dance and song, occasionally upon the stage accompanied by musical instruments. They mixed Telugu with colloquial Tamil in Telugu Script1. This type of literature attained great familiarity in classical work of Telugu. The theme mainly concentrated on love affairs of the rulers and mythological anecdotes. Ragunatha Nayak himself took great interest and composed this Yakshaganam. The works of ‘Gajendra Motshamu’, ‘Rukmani Krishna vivahamu’ and ‘Janaki Parinayamu’ were his contributions which all reflect the mythological themes2. The period also witnessed the richness of ‘Prabandha’ literature in the Telugu language which reflected folly styles and themes. ‘Valmiki Charithra’ was the best example for this category written by Ragunatha Nayak. More numbers of ‘kaviya’ works were also written in this period. The kaviya was narrative type of literature, mixing poetry with prose. Shimmakura venkatakavi Sarangadhra charitham and Vijaya vilasamu were the best kavyas3. The works of Ragunathabhudayamu of Ramabhadramba, Shahityaratangara of Naharayana Dikishita Achutabhudayamu of Ragunatha were also in Kavya style. Ragunatha also wrote Telugu poetic work on the Ramayana and Nala Charithra. Thus Ragunatha Nayak for his outstanding contribution to Telugu language and literature earned the title ‘Kaviraja’4. The reign of Vijayrahava was the “Golden Age” of Telugu language and literature. He himself contributed much for greater output of literary works in Telugu. More Poets and Poetesses adorned his court. Chengulva Kalakavi was the court Poet. Rangajamma, Krishnaji and Leelavathy were the noted poetesses in Telugu. Aayvagam An International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Volume 4 |Issue 12|January 2017 17 ISSN (Online): 2321 – 5259 ISSN (Print): 2321 – 5739 Rangajamma had the ability to compose poems in eight languages. Her work ‘Mannarudasa Vilasamu’ is considered as a prabandha and dramatic in nature 5. Her work ‘Ramayana Sangarahamu’, ‘Bharata Sangarahamu’ and ‘Bhagavatha Sangarahamu’ were in prose forms. Her prabandha works deal with the dramatic marriage between Gantimali and Mannarudasa. She was honoured with Kanakabhiseka by Vijayrahava Nayak for her outstanding contribution in literature 6. Another Poetess, Krishnamba in Vijayrahava Court had the capacity of completing any given verse. Leelavathy was considered a poetess of the Vijayrahava’s time, but her works are not available. Mannarudasa wrote a biographical work of his father known as ‘Vijayrahava Bhudhayamu’. Another work on divine marriage between Lord Rajagopalaswamy and Hemlaji in dramatic form was also his contribution7. Another drama ‘Vijayrahava’s kalyanamu’ of Koneti Dikshita Chandra depicted the marriage of Vijayrahava with Mandanamanjari. A drama known as ‘Thanjapura mahanatakam’ brought out the daily feeding of five thousand Brahmins by Vijayrahava8. Vijayrahava chandri kaviharamu was the outstanding drama of court poet Pattampu kavi which narrates the marriage between Vijayrahava and Leelavathi. The drama such as Prahalada charithramu, Putanaharamu and krishnavikasamu written by Vijayarahava revealed the heroic acts of Lord Krishna. Another drama Viranarayana charitra described the life of Thondaradipodi Alwar one among the thirteen Alwars. The drama Sengamalavalli parinayamu, dakshinavaralaru and Shtala varanamu informed about the god and goddess of Mannargudi Rajagopalaswami. Other dramas Govardha Oddaharanamu, Janaki kalyanamu, Kamsa vijayamu, Kaliyamardanamu, Radhi Manmatharanamu, Rukmani kalyanamu, and Sathyabhama vivahamu were all the outstanding Telugu dramas. To sum up, as many as 54 poets and poetess including the royal poet Vijayrahava enriched the Telugu language by their contributions and as such the period of Nayaks witnessed the growth of Telugu literature to the apex9. The Telugu literature continued to have its development under the aegis of the Maratha who though were conquerors, extended patronage to the language of the conquered. Shahji and Tulaja threw their might for enriching Telugu. The Bhagavatha Mela drama such as the ‘Rama pattabisheka nataka’, ‘Ganga Cauvery samvath nataka’, ‘Gandhimathi parari nataka’, ‘Girthavilasa’, ‘Krishna leela’, ‘Kusalava sathpathy’, ‘Dhanavilasa nataka’, ‘Saraswathi Kalyana nataka’, ‘Salakrtia nataka’, ‘Southakalyanam nataka’ and ‘Bakthavasala vilasa nataka’10 were the outstanding contributions during the reign of shahji who also composed a grammar book in Telugu known as ‘Thiagarajar vinodha Charithra prabanda’11. During his reign, the drama ‘saraswathi kalyanam’ was written. A Modi record informs that the Telugu drama ‘Sahendra Vilasam’ was the work of Sridhar12. Other important Telugu dramas ‘Sivagamasundari Parinayam’13 and ‘Thiyagarja vilasa yakshakanam’ were written in Telugu script. The important Telugu grammar was the work of Govinda Kavi. In common with Shahji literary activities in Telugu, he composed 20 plays in Telugu of yakshakana and veethi nataka14. In connection with others’ contribution to Telugu language and literature, Aaluri Kuppanna who was popularly known as ‘Andhra kalidasa’15 wrote ‘Aachariya Vijaya pancharatha talapuranam’, ‘parama bagavatha charithiram’16, ‘Bhagavatha yashakanam’ and ‘Harikatha sudharsham’ were all outstanding works in Telugu language. The ruler Ekoji II himself took interest in writing Telugu works. The dramas ‘Samsheba ramayanam’, ‘Ekoji raya sahitham’ and ‘Vinayagar kalyanam’ portrayed his love for Telugu language17. The principles of vaishnavism and the glory of Lord Krishna were explained in the drama ‘Rukmankatha charithiram’. For his contribution, the author of this work got the inam land at Mahimalai near Ammapet. ‘Radhika swantanamu’ was the work of poetess Muthupalani which was considered an epic. Along with rulers, the nobles also patronized the development of Telugu language and literature. They received free lands from the rulers for their contributions to the language and literature. Sanskrit Sanskrit occupied important place among all the languages in Thanjavur, like other parts of India where more number of Sanskrit works were produced. It was considered as a language for literary and religious works. Sanskrit works in all forms were patronized. The Brahmanical culture with its Sanskrit influence was the main player in this regard. The greater influence was that Non-brahmins too contributed some of the literary Aayvagam An International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Volume 4 |Issue 12|January 2017 18 ISSN (Online): 2321 – 5259 ISSN (Print): 2321 – 5739 works in Sanskrit. In the early period of study Sanskrit language in its original form was used but during the Maratha period the Devanagiri script was used18. Govinda Dikshitar, the prime minister of Sevappa and Achuthappa Nayaks took interest for the cause of

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