Mahakavi Dhurjati (Telugu language: దూర్జటి; c. 15th and 16th centuries Common Era) was a Telugu language poet and an Ashtadiggajas in the noble court of the Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara.
Biography
Dhurjati was born in
Srikalahasti. In his works, Dhurjati referred to his birthplace as being a part of
Pottapi Nadu in reference to a
Telugu Chodas based at Pottapi in
Cuddapah. He was the son of Singamma and Narayana and grandson of Jakkayya.
He was a devotee of Shiva.
He was known as Pedda Dhurjati () as there were four other people from the same family line who went by the name of Dhurjati during the same period and after him. His grandson Venkataraya Dhurjati wrote Indumati Parinayam (), a story from Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa.
Works
The works of Dhurjati dedicated to
Shiva, referred to as the
Srikalahastiswara (). His famous works include the
Sri Kalahasteeshwara Mahatyam () and
Kalahastisvara Satakamu ().
He is also credited with many Chatuva, stand-alone extempore poems.
Style
Like his contemporaries during the Vijayanagara Empire's Prabandha period, he has taken themes from the
Puranas and added regional lore to them in his works. Unlike some of his contemporaries like Peddana and Mallana, who have chosen the stories of monarchs for their works, he choose faith as the central theme of his poetry.
Krishnadevaraya described his poetry with "Stutimati yaina Andhrakavi Dhurjati palkulakelagalgeno atulita madhuri mahima...." ().[ Dhurajti ]
Bibliography
