Anecdotes from the Life of Puttaparthi
Dr. Y. HARE RAMA MURTHY
Padmasri,Saraswatiputra,
Dr.Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu was a
veteran literary giant for all times.
A poet par excellence
who composed poetry in half-a-dozen languages,
with intimacy over more than half-a-dozen languages –
some of them,
of course, being obsolete.
To his disciples and followers
he had been a mobile lexicon
and an encyclopaedia.
Sundry thoughts, imagery, stylistics culled
from various classics of South Indian languages
were quoted by him often
from the storehouse of his memory to people around him
to enthuse them to a study of the translations at least.
A knowledge of several languages,
the subtleties and beauties of each,
made him a great lover of languages
with a wider outlook,
a broader prospect and a catholicity of tastes
and interests.
To Puttaparthi,
languages are like the
offsprings of a single Motter, India.
Hence language fanaticism had
never flashed in his mind or heart.
He had been an evergrowing student
in pursuit of perennial knowledge.
There has been throbbing of joy
for him in learning things
new from various languages, Indian and foreign.
I had an occasion to speak to
Sriman Puttaparthi on the memorable events of his life,
his indomitable will and courage,
tireless perseverance and diligence
which led him to heights of
eminence unattainable to the contemporary poets.
He was tuned to a mood
to narrate the indelible,
remarkable impressions and incidents
and the following were some, of them to reckon with.
Dr. Puttaparthi remembered with
maudlin tears his better-half Smt. Kanakamma
(by herself a poetess in four languages)
who had rendered yeoman service
as a scribe to his extempore poetic utterances.
After the demise of his wife,
he was at a loss for a scribe.
Dr. Puttaparthi opined that
his liking for scholarship
was greater than that for versification.
He disliked exhibitionism,
he was averse to “poetastry”.
At times he was constrained to show his mettle as a poet.
Before reaching his teenage
Dr. Puttaparthi as a boy-prodigy
had produced “Penugonda Lakshmi”,
a bonanza poem.
When he was sixteen
he attended an interview seeking admission to
S. V. Oriental College, Tirupati.
Kapisthalam Krishnamacharyulu,
Principal of the College,
refused Puttaparthi admission,
for the latter had no certificate testifying his schooling.
Disappointed Puttaparthi had uttered
five or six Slokas offhand in chaste Sanskrit
and walked out of the Principal’s chamber.
Highly impressed by the poetic flow
and accurate diction, the Principal called him back
and listened to the Slokas again with rapt attention
and was pleased to have such a prestigeous scholar
in his institution.
The Principal gave option for him
to join in any course he desired.
It was an irony that
he had to study one of his own poems of his own works,
“Penugonda Lakshmi”
for his Vidwan Examination.
It was, of course, a rare instance.
While in Tirupati prosecuting
his studies in Vyakarana,
Dr. Puttaparthi had a unique opportunity of meeting
Sri Sri Sri Kamakoti Mutt Acharya
during his visit.
Dr Puttaparthi had performed
Ashtavadhana in Sanskrit
and was blessed by the Swamiji.
After 30 years
again Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Swamiji had an occasion
to bless Dr. Puttaparthi in Proddatur.
In his nineteenth year
Puttaparthi wrote a critical essay on
Sri Viwanatha Satyanarayana’s felicity of phrase.
His statement that
Sri Viswanatha could use Sanskrit phraseology
with greater facility and not so much so in Telugu,
raised a great controversy
in Dharmavaram scholarly circles.
On four days,
mornings were engaged in arguments
contradicting Putaparthi’s point of view
and evenings were spent in
establishing his standpoint.
To justify his statements
Puttaparthi had cited certain
aspects from Prakrit languages.
Viswanatha pleaded his lack of knowledge
of Prakrit languages.
In fine, Mrs. Kanakamma
concluded the discussion
declaring both of them equally great.
During his twentieth year
Dr. Puttaparthi attended a literary meet
which was conducted on a very grand scale
with programmes spreading for five days in Alampur
on the banks of the Krishna near Kurnool.
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
presided over the five days meet.
Dr. Puttaparthi wanted to present a special dissertation
on “The Influence of Kannada poet Pampa on Nannaya”.
His poetic rivals scented this
and tried by all means
to deprive him of a chance to read his article
as he would eclipse all other earlier scholars.
This they could succeed partially
and Puttaparthi was allowed at about 1-30 P. M.
to read one or two pages only before lunch-break.
He started reading the article;
after completing two pages,
he abruptly stopped reading
as per the instructions given earlier
by the President of the conference.
The information in the few pages was so fascinating
that it created a furore in the audience.
Uproarious insistence on further continuation
and completion, made the President permit him
to resume his reading
which lasted till 4-30 P. M. on that day.
The audience was thrilled
and spell-bound by the excellence of the i
nformation and the literary treatment.
Once an All India Oriental Conference
was conducted in Cuddapah for three days.
Dr. Puttaparthi could not attend the conference
on the first two days.
And the jealous lot took this opportunity
to traduce his name alleging that
he knew nothing of Kannada,
nor of Malayalam, nor even of Telugu
and propagated that
Dr. Puttaparthi had disappeared at the crucial time
to avoid humiliation.
Just then Dr. Puttaparthi
returned home from Kadiri town
after a felicitation programme there.
No sooner did he reach his house
than he was surrounded by his zealots.
They, in one voice entreated him
to put an end to the opponents’ gossip
by a fitting rejoinder from the platform.
For the third day conference
Dr. Puttaparthi prepared that night
a special article entitled “Egoism in literature”.
His lecture illustrated
the part played by the obdurate pride of poets
in different literatures.
Later in concluding his lecture
he threw an open challenge trenchantly that
anyone could test his knowledge
in any of the 14 languages he had mastered.
And no one ventured to come forward.
After the meeting
those that criticized him vehemently went to him
declaring that all their comments were for fun
and merely to spur his admirers to irritation.
They tried to please and appease him
with the flattering words.
“Swami, can anyone dare say
you don’t know other languages?”
That was the public trend,
commented Dr. Puttaparthi.
As Dr. Puttaparthi
had made an indepth study of the Vedas and Sastras,
I queried
whether anyone tested him in those philosophic classics.
With a beaming smile
Dr. Puttaparthi narrated that
Sringeri Mutt Swamiji had once visited Cuddapah.
No one introduced Puttaparthi to the Swamiji
as the Brahmins around
were austere and felt
Puttaparthi unorthodox in style and appearance
without a tuft and proper dressing.
But the Correspondent of his school
who was nearby introduced him to the Swamiji.
On the spur of the moment
Dr. Puttaparthi uttered 15 to 20 Slokas extempore.
Then the Swamiji invited him
to the place of his stay
and had discussion on the first Brahmasutra
“Athaato Brahma Jijnasa”.
Dr. Puttaparthi harangued for two hours in Sanskrit.
And the Swamiji
who was highly impressed honoured him
with a Zari-bordered Shawl.
Dr. Puttaparthi expressed his disillusionment
on a few occasions for his not experiencing t
he beatitude in spite of his everlasting chanting
and Sadhana on Lord Krishna.
were austere and felt
Puttaparthi unorthodox in style and appearance
without a tuft and proper dressing.
But the Correspondent of his school
who was nearby introduced him to the Swamiji.
On the spur of the moment
Dr. Puttaparthi uttered 15 to 20 Slokas extempore.
Then the Swamiji invited him
to the place of his stay
and had discussion on the first Brahmasutra
“Athaato Brahma Jijnasa”.
Dr. Puttaparthi harangued for two hours in Sanskrit.
And the Swamiji
who was highly impressed honoured him
with a Zari-bordered Shawl.
Dr. Puttaparthi expressed his disillusionment
on a few occasions for his not experiencing t
he beatitude in spite of his everlasting chanting
and Sadhana on Lord Krishna.
I was eager to know
how the title “Saraswatiputra”
was conferred on Dr. Puttaparthi.
Dr. Puttaparti said that
once he was confronted with several problems,
domestic and spiritual.
He ran away to Benares.
There he participated in a meeting
presided over by Govinda Malavya,
son of Pandit Madanmohan Malavya.
They received him very well
for his scholarship in Sanskrit.
Then he marched to Haridwar and Rishikesh.
On the way between
the banks of the Ganges and the foot of the Himalayas
there was a long path
whereon he found Swami Sivananda’s Ashram.
The Swamiji was just then awake from his trance.
He invited Dr. Puttaparthi into the hermitage.
For a few months Puttaparthi stayed there.
Finally the Swamiji tested him in all Sastras
and endearingly called him
“Saraswatiputra” with all his blessings.
The Swamiji also gave a few rare books
to the Saraswatiputra.
how the title “Saraswatiputra”
was conferred on Dr. Puttaparthi.
Dr. Puttaparti said that
once he was confronted with several problems,
domestic and spiritual.
He ran away to Benares.
There he participated in a meeting
presided over by Govinda Malavya,
son of Pandit Madanmohan Malavya.
They received him very well
for his scholarship in Sanskrit.
Then he marched to Haridwar and Rishikesh.
On the way between
the banks of the Ganges and the foot of the Himalayas
there was a long path
whereon he found Swami Sivananda’s Ashram.
The Swamiji was just then awake from his trance.
He invited Dr. Puttaparthi into the hermitage.
For a few months Puttaparthi stayed there.
Finally the Swamiji tested him in all Sastras
and endearingly called him
“Saraswatiputra” with all his blessings.
The Swamiji also gave a few rare books
to the Saraswatiputra.
On several occasions
the Saraswatiputra had to mingle with
scholars,
academicians,
educationists and so on.
The authorities of Travancore Lexicon Office
were seeking for a polyglot,
well-versed in the Dravidian languages
to carryon research work.
All the South Indian universities
recommended unanimously the Saraswatiputra
as the fittest scholar for that onerous duty.
He served that institution for three years.
the Saraswatiputra had to mingle with
scholars,
academicians,
educationists and so on.
The authorities of Travancore Lexicon Office
were seeking for a polyglot,
well-versed in the Dravidian languages
to carryon research work.
All the South Indian universities
recommended unanimously the Saraswatiputra
as the fittest scholar for that onerous duty.
He served that institution for three years.
Later Sri Krishna Kripalani,
a multilingual scholar,
the husband of
Rabindranath Tagore’s grand-daughter,
invited the Saraswatiputra to be Chief Librarian
for a 19-language library.
There the famous Malayalam poet
Pandit Suranand Kunhan Pillai,
an authority on ancient Malayalam literature
and on Sanskrit,
met the Saraswatiputra and spoke intimately
stating that
the Malayalees had recognized his greatness and worth.
Sri Pillai had quoted that
a diamond does not go seeking the buyer;
only buyers
who know the value go in search of precious diamonds –
that way ..
Dr. Puttaparthi was sought by
Travancore Lexicon Office.
And this comment moved Dr. Puttaparthi to joyous tears.
a multilingual scholar,
the husband of
Rabindranath Tagore’s grand-daughter,
invited the Saraswatiputra to be Chief Librarian
for a 19-language library.
There the famous Malayalam poet
Pandit Suranand Kunhan Pillai,
an authority on ancient Malayalam literature
and on Sanskrit,
met the Saraswatiputra and spoke intimately
stating that
the Malayalees had recognized his greatness and worth.
Sri Pillai had quoted that
a diamond does not go seeking the buyer;
only buyers
who know the value go in search of precious diamonds –
that way ..
Dr. Puttaparthi was sought by
Travancore Lexicon Office.
And this comment moved Dr. Puttaparthi to joyous tears.
On another occasion
Dr. Puttaparthi was introduced
to Sri C. D. Deshmukh by the famous Hindi poet,
Dinakar.
During the conversation
Sri C. D. Deshmukh recited a Hindi poem
and asked him to translate it into Sanskrit
which the Saraswatiputra had done instantly.
And C. D. Deshmukh was highly elated
by the translation piece.
Dr. Puttaparthi was introduced
to Sri C. D. Deshmukh by the famous Hindi poet,
Dinakar.
During the conversation
Sri C. D. Deshmukh recited a Hindi poem
and asked him to translate it into Sanskrit
which the Saraswatiputra had done instantly.
And C. D. Deshmukh was highly elated
by the translation piece.
Once the Saraswatiputra
stayed in the Aurobindo Ashram
and had learnt French, Greek and Latin languages.
He also translated Aurobindo’s writings into Telugu.
He had written in every literary form
and completed more than one hundred books.
Of them
Sivataandavam,
Penugondalakshmi,
Pandaribhagavatam and
Janapriya Ramayanam stand apart as masterpieces.
stayed in the Aurobindo Ashram
and had learnt French, Greek and Latin languages.
He also translated Aurobindo’s writings into Telugu.
He had written in every literary form
and completed more than one hundred books.
Of them
Sivataandavam,
Penugondalakshmi,
Pandaribhagavatam and
Janapriya Ramayanam stand apart as masterpieces.
On several occasions
Dr. Puttaparthi was suggesting to the Pandits,
scholars and authorities that
a very great deal of service was
still to be done to Telugu
and other Dravidian languages.
He was of the firm conviction that
without some study
and familiarity of the Dravidian languages
total mastery of Telugu would be incomplete as the people,
Languages and cultures of these neighbouring States
were interlinked in the Inner rhythm of their lives.
He emphasized the need of prolific translation of all classics
of the other Dravidian languages.
While commenting on the neglect of Telugu by the
authorities, he grieved over the prevailing plight
as the Andhras had not even translated
the renowned Caldwell’s History of Philology
(a book on South Indian languages).
The Saraswatiputra always felt that
the Government should regard poets
on a par with the scientists.
And Dr. Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu remains
as one of the brightest stars on the Andhra literary horizon.
Dr. Puttaparthi was suggesting to the Pandits,
scholars and authorities that
a very great deal of service was
still to be done to Telugu
and other Dravidian languages.
He was of the firm conviction that
without some study
and familiarity of the Dravidian languages
total mastery of Telugu would be incomplete as the people,
Languages and cultures of these neighbouring States
were interlinked in the Inner rhythm of their lives.
He emphasized the need of prolific translation of all classics
of the other Dravidian languages.
While commenting on the neglect of Telugu by the
authorities, he grieved over the prevailing plight
as the Andhras had not even translated
the renowned Caldwell’s History of Philology
(a book on South Indian languages).
The Saraswatiputra always felt that
the Government should regard poets
on a par with the scientists.
And Dr. Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu remains
as one of the brightest stars on the Andhra literary horizon.
