Previous Year Question
Who among the following are known for their Telugu translations of the Mahabharata?
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Kamban
Kuttan
Nannaya
Tikkan
Codes:
1, 2 only
2, 3 only
3, 4 only
4, 1 only
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
In Telugu literature, Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana (Yerrapragada) are collectively known as the Kavitraya, or the Trinity of Telugu poets. These three poets rendered the Sanskrit Mahabharata into Telugu as the Andhra Mahabharatam.
Nannaya Bhatta began the Telugu rendering of the Mahabharata in the 11th century. He is traditionally regarded as the Adikavi or first poet of Telugu literature. He completed the Adi Parva, Sabha Parva and a part of the Aranya Parva.
Later, Tikkana/Tikkan continued the work in the 13th century. He rendered most of the remaining Mahabharata from the Virata Parva to the Svargarohana Parva, but did not take up the unfinished portion of the Aranya Parva left by Nannaya.
Finally, in the 14th century, Errana completed the remaining portion of the Aranya Parva. Thus, the trio of Nannaya, Tikkana and Errana completed the Andhra Mahabharatam.
Kamban is a distractor in this question. He was a celebrated Tamil poet and the author of the Kamba Ramayanam; he was not associated with the Telugu translation of the Mahabharata.