The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Doubts over Pothana’s native place

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Doubts over Pothana’s native place

Special Correspondent

Brochures of Kadapa district administration say that the saint poet belonged to Ontimitta in Kadapa

HYDERABAD: Did Bammera Pothana, the saint-poet of yore, belong to Warangal?

The answer may not be a firm “yes” if one goes by the literature provided by the district administration of Kadapa.

The literature and brochures, brought out by the district administration on the occasion of Kadapa biennial celebrations being organised from December 20, placed Bammera Pothana in the list of great personalities hailing from Kadapa district such as Annamayya, Yogi Vemana and Allasani Peddana.

What brochures say

The brochures took pride in announcing that Pothana belonged to Ontimitta or Ekasilanagaram in Kadapa. Ontimitta lies on the bank of Pennar river, 25 km from Kadapa.

The poet had spent many years at Kodanda Ramalayam which is located near Ontimitta.

The issue placed Kadapa Collector M. T. Krishna Babu in a tight corner, as he briefed the press on the arrangements made for the biennial celebrations here on Wednesday.

A questioner asked the Collector as to how the district administration could twist the history by projecting Pothana as belonging to Kadapa district (Rayalaseema) and not to Warangal (Telangana) which is also known as Ekasilanagaram.

The Collector, however, corrected himself saying that Pothama might have been born and written his “Srimad Bhagavatham” in Warangal area only.

However, there was strong evidence that he had migrated to Kadapa during later years and dedicated the holy book to the Lord at Kodanda Ramalayam.

Revenue records

Revenue records that still existed showed that “Pothanamatya” owned and cultivated lands near Ontimitta.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh