Tikkana

Tikkana Somayji
Image of Tikkana
Born	1205 Patur, Kovur, Nellore district
Died	1288 Patur, Kovur, Nellore
Pen name	Tikkana (Thikka Sharma)
Occupation	poet
Genre	Poet
Notable works	Andhra mahabharatam

Tikkana (or Tikkana Somayaji) (1205–1288) was a 13th century Telugu poet. Born into a Telugu-speaking Niyogi Brahmin family during the golden age of the Kakatiya dynasty, he was the second poet of the "Trinity of Poets (Kavi Trayam)" that translated Mahabharata into Telugu. Nannaya Bhattaraka, the first, translated two and a half chapters of Mahabharata. Tikkana translated the final 15 chapters, but did not undertake translating the half-finished Aranya Parvamu. The Telugu people remained without this last translation for more than a century, until it was translated by Errana.

Tikkana is also called Tikkana Somayaji, as he completed the Somayaga. Tikkana's titles were Kavibrahma and Ubhaya Kavi Mitrudu.

Religious conflict

Tikkana was born in 1205 in Patur village, Kovur, Nellore district during the Golden Age of the Kakatiya dynasty. During this time conflict occurred between the two sects of Sanātana Dharma, Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Tikkana attempted to bring peace to the warring Shivaites and Vaishnavites.

Political situation

Most of Northern India came under Muslim rule, but strong Kakatiya, Chalukya and Chola empires in the South held back the Muslims. Emperor Ganapatideva (1199–1261) of the Kakatiya dynasty brought all the Telugu kingdoms under his rule for the first time. Clashes between smaller kingdoms were controlled, making way for prosperity and the development of art and literature.

Tikkana was the prime minister (hence the title Tikkanamatya) of Manumasiddhi, king of Nellore and a descendant of the Kakatiya dynasty. When Manumasiddhi was dethroned by his cousins, Tikkana visited Orugallu (the capital of Kakatiya dynasty and today's Warangal) to request the help of Ganapatideva. The Emperor welcomed him in Warangal and restored the throne of Nellore to Manumasiddhi.

Tikkana dedicated his first literary work Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu, to Ganapatideva. In this work he narrated the later part of Ramayanamu, the story of Sita's banishment to the forests and the birth of Lava and Kusa. Later, Tikkana translated the Mahabharatamu and dedicated it to Hariharanadha.

Writing style

His writing style was mostly Telugu, unlike Nannayya whose work was mostly sanskritized. Tikkana used Telugu words even to express very difficult ideas. He used Telugu words and parables extensively. He is titled Ubhayabashakavimitrudu, as his poetic style pleases both Sanskrit and Telugu poets.

Examples

The flavor of Telugu similes spice up his poetry:

• madugu cheerayandu masi thaakinatlu- as if pure white cheera (sari) is touched by soot,
• paalalo padina balli vidhambuna-like the lizard in the milk,
• neyyivosina yagni bhangi- like the fire in which neyyi (clarified butter) was poured,
• mantalo midutalu chochchinatlayina- fate of locusts flew into the fire,
• kantikin reppayu bole- like th e eyelid for the eye,
• noothi kappa vidhambuna- like a frog in the well

Philosophy

During the reign of Emperor Ganapatideva, Shaivites, Vaishnvites and Jains had meetings to discuss different philosophies. Tikkana participated in those religious meetings and defeated the Buddhist and Jain participants and established Hinduism. During this time he proposed the unity of God. He preached that Lord Shiva (Hara) and Lord Vishnu (Hari) were one and that the apparent differences in names were made up and were untrue. This philosophy is known as "Hariharaadvaitamu (the Unity of Hari and Hara)Hariharaanadhudu called him Thikka Sharma please dedicate to me." To firmly establish this principle, Tikkana translated Mahabharatamu into Telugu. This was a great contribution to the peace and unity of Telugus.

Other works

Tikkana's other literary contributions include Vijayasenamu, Kavivaagbandhamu, Krishnasatakamu, etc. Though he was second to Nannayya in attempting to translate Mahabharatamu and second poet among the Trinity of Poets, he is second to none in his political, religious and literary accomplishments.

Legacy and depictions in popular culture

There is a library named after him in Guntur. It is maintained by a committee headed by Machiraju Sitapati and Kurakula Guraviah, an ex-corporator. In 2013 they celebrated 100 years of the library's functioning. There was a television series made on the life of Tikkana.

See also

• Kavitrayam
• Telugu literature