Srimadramayana Kalpavrukshamu (transl. Holy Ramayana, the Wish-fulfilling Divine Tree), commonly referred to as Ramayana Kalpavruksham, is an Indian Telugu-language epic poetry work written by Viswanatha Satyanarayana.[1][2] It is a Telugu rendering of Valmiki's Ramayana. In 1970, Satyanarayana won India's highest literary award, Jnanpith Award for the book.[3] He became the first Telugu writer to receive the Jnanpith Award through this work.[4][5][6]
| Author | Viswanatha Satyanarayana |
|---|---|
| Original title | శ్రీమద్రామాయణ కల్పవృక్షము |
| Language | Telugu |
| Genre | Epic poetry |
| Publication place | India |
| Awards |
|
Ramayana Kalpavruksham is considered to be the magnum opus of Viswanatha Satyanarayana and one of the most prominent works of modern Telugu literature.[7][8][9][10] The book written in traditional metre and style is considered a neo-traditionalist work of 20th century Telugu literature.[11][12] Satyanarayana followed Valmiki in the narration of the story, but made some alterations to the characters and their motivations.[13]
Reception
editGandavarapu Pullamamba reviewed the book positively in the 3rd California Telugu Literary Convention in 2008.[14] Cheemalamarri Brundavana Rao wrote, "Viswanatha's work somewhat deviates from Valmiki's. While Valmiki's Rama is a great human, Viswanatha's Rama is a Bhagawan (God). Since the deviations are meritorious, it is not much of a problem."[15] In 2020, Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu noted that Viswanatha Satyanarayana was the first writer to impart a true Teluguness to Ramayana through his work.[16]
Peri Ravikumar, a literary critic, calls Kalpavruksam "the first truly Telugu Ramayana". He notes, “The Ramayana was written in Telugu earlier by many great writers. But when you read Viswanatha Satyanarayana’s Ramayana Kalpavruksham it is like reading a book set in a land of the Telugus. You get an impression that Lord Rama is a Telugu and the place where the epic unfolds is Telugu land. The food served is Telugu cuisine and the entire epic is filled with Telugu nativity.”[17]
References
edit- ^ Bhrugubanda, Uma Maheswari (2018). Deities and Devotees: Cinema, Religion, and Politics in South India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909327-4.
- ^ Sinhā, Madhubālā (2009). Encyclopaedia of South Indian Literature. Anmol Publications. p. 11. ISBN 978-81-261-3740-4.
- ^ Rāmārāvu, Esvī; Rao, S. V. Rama (1990). The Evolution of Telugu Literary Criticism. Pasidi Prachuranalu. p. 36.
- ^ "The Jnanpith Award: All the past awardees from 1965 to now". Outlook India. 25 July 2003. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Staying true to life". The Hindu. 25 April 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Ravuri Bharadwaja — A simple man with simple narrative". Business Line. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Telugu Culture. International Telugu Institute. 1981. p. 70.
- ^ Subrahmanyam, G. V. (1983). Abhinava lōcanaṃ: sāhitya vyāsa saṅkalanaṃ (in Telugu). Yuvabhārati. pp. 92, 94.
- ^ సుప్రసన్నాచార్య, కోవెల (1 May 2018). "కల్పవృక్షము – ఆధునికేతిహాసము". Sanchika (in Telugu). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Suprasannācārya, Kōvela (1992). Viśvanātha mārgamu (in Telugu). Śrīvāṇī Pracuraṇalu.
- ^ Rani, K. Suneetha (2021). Critical Discourse in Telugu. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-47044-4.
- ^ Natarajan, Nalini; Nelson, Emmanuel Sampath (1996). Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 312. ISBN 978-0-313-28778-7.
- ^ Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. 1963. p. 136.
- ^ గొర్తి, సాయి బ్రహ్మానందం (May 2008). "3వ కాలిఫోర్నియా సాహితీ సదస్సు – ఒక పరిచయం – ఈమాట". eemaata (in Telugu). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ Cheemalamarri, Brundavana Rao (September 2009). "నాకు నచ్చిన పద్యం: విశ్వనాథ అపురూప కల్పన". eemaata (in Telugu). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Protecting mother tongue, culture and nature will be a real tribute to Telugu litterateur, Shri Viswanatha Satyanarayana : Vice President". Press Information Bureau. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Viswanatha wrote the first truly Telugu Ramayana". The Hindu. 4 July 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
External links
edit- Ramayana Kalpavruksham at Indian Novels Collective