Nandi Timmana

Nandi Timmana was a prominent member of the famous group of eight poets popularly known as Ashtadiggajamulu in the court of Sri Krishna Deva Raya. He has been traditionally counted second in that group after the great poet Peddana.

Nandi Timmana lived during CE 1475-1540. Timmana appears to be a native of Anantapuram area. His family, which had a long line of distinguished poets, seemed to have lived there (close to the seat of the imperial court) for generations and received patronage. His parents were Nandi Singana and Timmamba. He was a Saiva and was a pupil of Aghora Siva guru. But, following the contemporary politico-social preferences and imperial patronage, he composed poetry on vaishnava themes. His grand uncle Nandi Mallayya and an uncle Ghanta Singana (alias Malaya Maruta kavi) were a famous poetic pair (Janta kavulu). The two excelled in the court of Narasimha Deva Raya (father of Sri Krishna Deva Raya).

Timmana composed a famous prabandham by name Parijatapaharanamu (in five cantos -511 verses) using an episode from the epic Harivamsam. There is a very popular story on how the book came to be written. It is said that once, the ankle of the wife of Sri Krishna Deva Raya touched his head. This the Rayuluvaru thought it to be insulting and stopped visiting her chambers. Nandi Timmanna being a poet who had come along with Tirumala Devi ( the wife of Rayuluvaru) as part of her dowry to Rayuluvaru she sent for the poet and told him her misery. Timmana is said to have consoled her, returned home, composed a grand poem on the Paarijataapaharanam on Sri Krishna and Satyabhama and their love quarrel. He dedicated it to the emperor. The Paarijataapaharanam is famous for many great poems. Timmana's art is especially admired for the way he portrayed the lover's quarrel between krishna and Satyabhaama. As the story goes, Satyabhama in a moment of anger pushes aside the crown of Sri Krishna and the Lord instead of taking it as an insult is concerned that it did not cause injury to the feet of Satyabhama. This concern shown by the Lord melts Satyabhama instantly. The message to Rayuluvaru is that, given the fact that Sri Krishna himself had a similar experience from his wife and the Lord’s reaction, Rayuluvaru can reconcile as well. The message to Sri Krishna Deva Raya is understood by him instantly and he reconciles to his wife.

Timmana, though a great scholar used short, soft, befriending expressions with an endearing quality. Timmanna also composed a poem on the beauty of ladies’ noses. Because of his famous description of the nose (mukku), Nandi Timmana became known as Mukku Timmana. In terms of language, imagery and literary nuances, these poems exemplify much of the poetic skills of this era.

pArijAtApaharaNaM

by

nandi timmana

ishTadEvataa stuti

SreemadikiM briyaM besa@mga@m

jErcina yuyyela leela vaijayaM

tee miLitaaccha kaustubhamu

niddapu@m gaaMti@m danarci yaatma va

kshOmaNi vEdi@m bolpesa@mga@m

jUDkula paMDuvu sEyu vEMkaTa

svaami kRtaarthu@m jEyu nara

sa kshitinaathuni kRshNaraayanin^

pola@mtul kau@mgiTa@m grucci yetti tala@mbraa lvOyiMcu navvELa nau@mdala gaMgaM dana neeDa@m daana kani maugdhyaM boppa vE~rokka toyyali yaMcun&madi neMcu paarvati yasUyaavaaptikin&navvu kron&nelapU daalupu kRshNaraayaniki saMdhiMcu n&mahaiSvaryamul ma [2]

tana daMtaagramucEta@m deekshNamati, nudya tkuMbhayugmaMbucEta nitaaMtOn&nati, daana visphuraNa nutsaahaMbu, SuMDaa mukhaMbuna deerghaayuvu niccu@m gaavuta guNaaMbhOraaSikiM gRshNaraayaniki n&vaaraNa raaja vaktR@mDu kRpaayattaika cittaabju@mDai ma [3]

sarasapu Talka@m deercuta~ri Saar~mga sudarSana naMda kaabja saMbharaNa guNaapti nen&naDumupai@m gaTipai jaDapai gaLaMbupaihari nalugElu@m baikona sukhaaMbudi niccalu nOlalaaDu niMdiri kRpa@m jUcu@m gaata nara dEva Sikhaa maNi@m gRshNaraayanin^ ca [4]

tana mRdu geetikaa pariNata dhvani vaikhari@m balku maMcu niMcina rahi@m jEtiveeNiyaku@m jekkulu gee@mTucu nErpu leela noyyana nakharaaMkuraMbula nayam&muna@m daMtrulu meeTi gaana miMponara@mga@m jEyu vaaNi pratibhOn&natu@m jEyuta@m gRshNaraayanin^ ca [5]

valimala yalluvaa@mDu talavaa@mka dhariMcina pUvugutti, vElpulagami jeeva ga~r~ra, yuDivOvani calvala TeMki, ven&nelalmolacina paadu, paalkaDali muddulapaTTi nRsiMha kRshNaraayala@m garuNaarasaMbu ninupaareDi cUpula@m jUcu@m gaavutan^ ca [6]