Jandhyala Papayya Sastry

Background

Papayya Sastry was born in Kommuru village, Pedanandipadu mandal, Guntur district in 1912.

Career

He was popularly known as Karunasri because his writings expressively show compassion (Karuna or Kāruṇyam), one of the Nine Rasas. His famous kavyas include Pushpa Vilapam and Kunthi Kumari. After primary and middle school education in his village.

Papayya Sastry has about 27 works, which include Pushpa Vilapam, Kunthi Kumari, Karunasri, Paaki Pilla, Udayasri, Vijayasri, Omar Khayyam, Aruna Kiranalu, Telugu Baala and Kalyana Kalpavalli.

His Pushpa Vilapam was born out of his anger towards a visitor, who began eating the petals of a rose from the flower vase on the table, while the poet had been in his prayer room. He saw the plight of a scavenger girl and wrote Paaki Pilla (1928) at the age of 16 years.

His compositions are timeless. They move the soul. The language is very simple and any common man with basic understanding of the Telugu language can easily understand the depth of his expression.

Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao rendered his Pushpa Vilapam and Kunti Kumari.

The lyrics and Ghantasala"s voice are said to make people cry with pity. Papayya Sastry acted as Nandi Thimmana without wearing any make-up in Bhuvana Vijayam during Ugadi celebrations. He became a devotee of Satya Sai Baba and Viswaguru Viswamji during his later years.

Papayya Sastry was married to Anasuyamma.

Achievements

• Papayya Sastry was awarded Honorary Doctorate from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.