Nellore:
Although it was nine centuries since the great poet, Tikkana Somayaji, the one among three poets (Trinity of poets) who translated Mahabharata from Sanskrit to Telugu, his descendents have been protecting the only memory of his invaluable service.
The 18th descendant of his family, Paturu Harihara Sarma, takes pride in showing a sheath made of sandal wood, that was used to keep the ancient writing implement (Ghantamu or iron stylus) by Tikkana while writing Mahabharata on palm leaves.
The sheath with the pictures of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Saraswati carved on either sides, perfectly reflects the artistic skills of artisans in 12 century AD.
“This precious piece has been with our family for generations. My grandfather gave to my father and I was given this responsibility after taking an oath that I would protect it throughout my life,” says Harihara Sarma holding it carefully.
He said that he declined to part with the sheath when AP archaeology wing officials have approached him to take possession of the sheath in 2006 after this newspaper published an article on the subject.
Another testimony of Tikkana era was a mandap located on the banks of Pennar River in Nellore. The poet is believed to have penned down the great epic, sitting in the mandap, which is still there standing as classic example for the negligence of authorities.
A park near the mandap which was named after Tikkana and Siddheswara Swamy temple in his native village Paturu, 10 km from Nellore, where the poet worshiped Lord Siva, are also in bad shape.
The retired head of Telugu department of VR College, Nellore and a scholar who did extensive research on Tikkanna, Mopuru Venugopalaiah says the literary giant has constructed Lord Hariharanadha temple close to the existing Sri Ranganadha Swamy temple at Nellore.
As a result of sheer negligence, the traces of the temple are completely washed out, Venugopalaiah said.
“Though born as a Shaivaite Brahmin, Tikkana Somayaji during the rule of Kakatiya Empire, his works has a clear message that there is no difference between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. His first epic Nirvachanottara Ramayanamanu speaks about Sita’s banishment to forest and the birth of twins Lava and Kusa. Tikkanna translated 15 chapters of Mahabharatam, using more colloquial Telugu unlike Nannaya and Errana,” Venugopalaiah said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / December 27th, 2012