A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s4.8

c19.s4.8

The gap in the *Vana parva* between Nannaya's and Tikkana's works was filled by Yerrāpragaḍa (1280-1350). He was a *niyogi* Brahmin from Gudlur in the Nellore district, and his father, Śrī Sūrya, was a poet in Sanskrit and Telugu, and a *yogi*. Yerrāpragaḍa himself was a great devotee of Śiva and bore the title Śambhu-dāsa. He was attached to the court of Prolaya Vema Reddi. For fear of the possible evil consequences of continuing the ill-fated translation of Nannaya, he made it appear that his work was that of Nannaya himself by dedicating it to Rājarāja Narendra, Nannaya's patron. He says also that Tikkana appeared to him in a dream and urged him to complete the *Bhārata*. His ability as a poet is manifest from the fact that he begins his work in the style of Nannaya and, imperceptibly, passes into that of Tikkana.' He was called Prabandha Parameśvara. He also translated the Harivamśa, the epilogue to the Bhārata which traces the occurrences after the war. His other works are: Rāmāyaṇa (not extant), and Lakshmī Nrisimha Purāṇa also known as Ahobala Māhātmya.