Jandhyala Papayya Sastry
Jandhyala Papayya Sastry (4 August 1912 – 21 June 1992) was an eminent Telugu writer and lyricist. 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". Poetry is the tremendous reflection of integrated self-awareness of man and the suffering and maladies of society. Karunasri's “Udayasri” “Vijayasri” and “Karunasri” achieved the rarest and unique distinction innumerable reprints. The poet rightly described ″Udayasri″ as his fragrant heart, ″Vijayasri″ as his thoughtful head and ″Karunasri″ as his valuable life . These three works of karunasri are the manifestation of satyam (Truth), Sivam (Goodness) and Sundaram (Beauty). “Udayasri” takes us from darkness to twilight; “Vijayasri” from twilight to light; and “Karunasri” from light to delight – The bliss of god. Poetry of Karunasri will take us to the melodious heights of spirituality and to the depths of maladies and sorrowful sufferings of present society and ultimately act as panacea of all ills. His poetry is the harbinger of peace, social purpose and human values and also an answer and solution for all social problems. Karunasri is a strange combination of tradition and  modernity, spirituality and social awareness and most of his poetry dances and endures on the lips of every one sweetly and serenely. He is popularly remembered and revered as a poet of great popularity only next to Bammera Potana, the poet of Mahabhagavata. Brief life sketch. Papayya Sastry was born in Kommuru village, Pedanandipadu mandal, Guntur district in 1912. 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. "Karunasri" was born out of his stream of his thoughts when he visited the rare Buddhist sculpture, Mahachaitya and pillars at Amaravathi village, Guntur district. 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 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. They had two sons and a daughter. Parents: Mahalakshmi and Paradesaiah Wife: Anasuya Devi Sons: Dr. Jaya Krishna Bapuji, M.A., Ph.D. (Spouse: Subhashini) Daughter: Vijaya Lakshmi, M.A., B.Ed. (Ch. Nageswara Rao, M.A., M.Ed.) Address : Ravindra Nagar, Education: Teachers: Profession as Teacher: Stall Girls High School, Guntur – 4 years, Sri RamaKrishna High School, Amaravati – 4 years Profession as Lecturer: A.C. College, Guntur – 22 years, Mahaveer College, Guntur – 3 years, Hindu College, Guntur – 2 years Editor: Works Published. Bala Koteswara Tharavali (Poetry) 1934 Udayasri (Part I) (Poetry) 1944 ArunaKiranalu (Lyrics) 1945 Karunamayi (Drama) 1945 Vijayasri (Based on Maha Bharat) Poetry 1948 Ahimsa Jyothi (Homage to Ghandhiji) Compilation 1948 Karunasri Part I (Story of Boddha) Poetry 1950 Veera Bharati (Heroic Stories) 1950 Udaya Bharati Children's Text Book 1950 Bharata Pratibha Biographies 1951 Charumitra Playlet 1951 Tenugu  Seema Stories for Children 1952 Udayasri Part II Poetry 1952 Kalayana Kadambari Prose 1952 Prema Moorti Prose 1953 Swanna Vasavadatta Drama 1954 Ahimsa Jyothi Novelette 1955 Mahati Stories for Children 1955 Mandaramu Stories for Children 1955 Kalyana Kalpavalli Anthology of Old Poetry 1958 Bala Bharati Stories for Children 1958 Guru Dakshina Stories for Children 1958 Bangaru Padmam Playlets 1959 Indra Dhanussu Stories for children 1960 Chandamaamalo Kundelu Stories for children 1960 Kalayan Dampatulu Stories for children 1960 Telugu Baala Moral Poems 1961 Srinivasa vachanam children's text book 1961 Ganesa Pancha Ratnamaala Compilation 1961 Saptarshi Ramayanam Translation 1962 Pooja Pushpalu  Stories for children 1962 Naluguru Mitrulu Novelette 1962 Simham Mechina Chitteluka Stories for children 1962 Adrushtamichina Adbhuta Deepam Novelette 1963 Sakuntala Drama 1963 Vasantasena Novelette 1963 Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Manimanjari Compilation 1964 Adikavi vaalmiki Stories For Children 1965 Tyaga Moorti - Part I Story of Christ 1966 Tyaga Moorti - Part II Story of Christ 1966 Damayanti Novelette 1967 Sailaja Stories for Children 1967 Udayasri Part III Poetry 1968 Udayasri Part IV Poetry 1969 Kalayana Kanaka Durga Translation 1972 Srinivasodaharanam Poetry 1973 Bangaru Mungisa Stories for Children 1974 Matsya Yantram Stories for Children 1975 Maha Veerudu Novelette 1975 Udayasri Part V Poetry 1979  Bhagirathudu Novelette 1980 Kankanti Kavita Vaibhavam Commentary 1980 Potana Bhagavatam Commentary on I canto 1982 Bhagavata vaijayantika Essays 1982 Prasanna Katha vipanchi Commentary 1983 Ananda Lahari Poetry 1986 Amar Khayam Poetry 1987 Poola vaanalu – Tene Sonalu Commentary 1987 Anuraga Lahari Lyrics 1989 Sai Sudhalahari Devotional Poems 1990 Bhavya Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Arsha Bahrathi Stories of Children 1990 Purana Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Adarsha Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Kalyana Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Dalita Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Veera Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Viswa Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Pratibha Bharathi Stories of Children  1990 Vinoda Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Chamatkara Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Upadesa Bharathi Stories of Children 1990 Muddu Balasiksha Text Book For Children 1991 Padmavati Srinivasam Novelette 1991 Viswa Sandesa Lahari Moral Poems 1991 Karunasri Part II (Story of Buddha) Poetry 1991 Titles. Papayya Sastry was awarded Honorary Doctorate from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 12th Mar 1984. Kavita Kala Nidhi Awarded By Sahiti Sravanti, Rajole 5th Sep 1982. Kavi Kulalankara Awarded by N.K.V Peettam, Bapatla 17th Apr 1989 Awards. Telugu Akadamy Award Madras 29th Apr 1985 Rasamayi Award Hyderabad 27th Jun 1987 Abinandana Award Hyderabad 21st Sep 1987  Subhangi Award Hyderabad 27th Jan 1989 Abhiruchi Award Ongole 9th Apr 1989 Nalam Krishnaraya Award Bapatla 17th Apr 1989 Sindhuja Award Secunderabad 8th Nov 1989 Dr.Paidi Lakshmaiah Award Hyderabad 24th Jun 1989 Mahamantri Madanna Award Hyderabad 16th Mar 1990 Yarlagadda Ranganayakulu Award Madras 26th Oct 1990 Dr. Burgula Rama Krishna Rao Award Hyderabad 13th Mar 1991 Memorable Events. Editor for illustrated literary monthly “subhashini” 1951 – 1953 Participated in All India Poets Conference, New Delhi 24th Jan 1961 Divine felicitation by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba, Puttaparti 25th Sep 1972 Special Member – Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, Hyderabad 29th Jan 1977  Felicitation with Gold Flowers and Gold Bracelet, Vijayawada 27th Jun 1982 Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi Award 30th Jan 1983 Men of letters Fellowship – Cultural affairs 1st Apr 1984 Honoring By President of India, Sri Gnani Jail Singh 25th Apr 1987 Releasing function of 50th edition (Golden jubilee) of “Udayasri”, And 25th edition (Silver Jubilee) of “Vijayasri” and “Karunasri” by Hon. Andhra Pradesh Chief minister Sri N.T. Ramarao 27th Jun 1987 An appreciation in the Half yearly Magazine “Chitanya Kavita” 1st Apr 1990 More than 1.25.000 Copies of “Telugu Bala” Book were sold. More than 50,000 Copies of “Udayasri” Ist Part  were sold. More than 25,000 Copies of “Vijayasri” were sold. More than 25,000 Copies of “Karunasri” were sold. The Poems Pushpa vilapam, Kunti kumari and ananda lahari were translated into English and Hindi by Dr. Amarendra and Dr. P. Surya Naraya Bhanu respectively Delivered thousands of literary lectures throughout India. Advaita Murthy, Sandhyasri, Pushpa vilaapam, Kunti kumari, Anjali, Karunamayi and Prabhati poems were sung by Ghantasala, and melodious music by H.M.V Divine felicitation by Sri Viswayogi Viswamji on 6th Aug 1988 at guntur, to celebrate the completion of 60 years of literary endeavor. Review along with cover page photo in  the monthly magazine “Pathasala” on 1st Nov 1988 The director Rajaji made a Video film on “Pushpa Vilapam” on 16th Mar 1990 Honoring by Telugu University Hyderabad for “Amar Khayam” on 17th Apr 1990 Honoring by prof. C. Narayana Reddy on his 60th birthday celebrations on 26th Jul 1991 Honoring by Minister of Education, A.P, Sri P.V. Ranga Rao for his book Purana Bharathi on 8th Sep 1991 Several times acted as Mukku Timmana in Bhuvana vijayam, Nannaya in Bharatavataranam, Chemakura Venkata kavi in Indira Mandiram, and Potana in Brahma Sabha. Literary Criticism and Research on his works. Smt. P.  Sarojini devi did research on the topic “Vijayasri Paryalokanam” and got Masters in Philosophy from Nagarjuna university in 1979. Sri D.S.V Subrahmanyam did research on the topic “Karunasri Krutula Samagra Pariseelanam” and got Doctorate (Ph.D) from Banaras Hindu University in 1980 Sri G.A.N Raju did research on the topic “Karunasri Kavyanuseelanam” and got Masters in Philosophy from Andhra university in 1983. Dr. R. Surya Narayan Murty wrote a special book entitled “ Karunasri Kavya Samiksha” in 1955 Sri G. Prakasa Rao wrote a special book entitled “Karunasri Kavitasri” in 1974 The members of Ramaraja Bhushana Sahitya Parishat, bhimavaram compiled a  souvenir on Karunasri entitled “akshropaharam” in 1988 Dr. J. Suman Babu wrote a special research book entitled “Karunasri Kavita Sowrabham” in 1990 Prof. Divakarla Venkatavadhani, Prof. Siva Sankara Swamy, Prof. Bayya Surya Narayana, Prof. Gandham Appa Rao, Dr.Nanduri Rama Krishnamacharya, Dr. Amarendra, Dr.P.Surya Narayana Bhanu, Dr. Dasarathi, Dr.P.G. Krishna Murty, Dr. K. Rama Mohana Roy, Sri Sphurthisri, Sri Y. Balarama Murthy, Sri. Srivatsava, Sri Mahantaiah, Sri G.N. Murty, Sri Pulicherla Samba Siva Rao, Sri Nagalla Gurna Prasada Rao, Sri Gali Nasara Reddy, Sri Mannav Giridhara Rao, Sri P.V.S. Patro, Sri P. Nageswara Rao, Sri Sikhamani, Sri Supani , Sri Seerapani, Sri M.K. Sugam Babu, Sri Smitasri, Sri Mohan, Sri B. Mastan Rao, Sri Y. Jaganmohan Rao, Smt. Ch. Bhavani Devi, Smt Lata etc., written articles in Telugu,English and in Hindi by appreciating Karunasri's work. Opinions of Contemporary Literary Luminaries. Dr. Karunasri is a wizard who molded the poem as a word, as a song, as a saying and as an inspiration. He is perfect gentleman with compassion in his eyes and lyricism in his poetry. The very fact that his “Udayasri” had more than 50 reprints is sample proof of his great capabilities. Karunasree is famous  for his lucid, sweet style of expression. "Udayasri" is his magnum opus. - Dr. Papineni Sivasankar, Sahitya Akademi Awardee He created in Telugu poetry, a peculia style of his own, excusing classical splendor and lyrical sweetness. His works like Udayasri, Vijaytasri and Karunasri are monumental contributions to Telugu Literature. The poems of Udayasri will live in Telugu Literature as long as Telugu is spoken in this land, and as long as Krishna, Godavari, Tungabadra and Suvarnamukhi rivers flow in this land. Karunasri is the only poet who reflects the pulse of the Telugu people in his poetry after the great Bammera  Potana. To tell in a nutshell karunasri is the twilight ray of romantic poetry. He is emperor of sweet words that dance on the lips of the andhra people. He is a classical genius who showed that poetry springs from the union of music and literature. - Guntur Seshendra Sharma The Poetical works of karunasri were not written by mere words but by poetry itself. They are an index of turmoil of man. - Dr. Sanjiva Dev Among contemporary poets Dr. Karunasri belongs to top rank. His poetry reflects the compassion of buddhism and self enlightenment. His contemplative poetry is enchant and  enticing. - Prof. T. Donappa The wonderful pen of Karunasri is dipped in ambrosia. - Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Padmasri Dr. N.T. Rama Rao The poetry of Dr.Karunasri is as heart moving as the melodious rendering of his songs by Ghantasala, the Ghandarva Gayaka. The very fact that I have named my daughters as Vijayasri and Udayasri reveals the deep impression of his works on me. - Dr. Gummadi Venkateswara Rao Simplicity, Tenderness and Pleasantness are the natural ornaments of his poetry - Dr. Devula Palli Ramanuja Rao He is an emperor among modern andhra poets. His works are musical. - Dr. Utukuri  Lakshmi Kantamma The Golden jubilee of Udayasri is a golden chapter in Telugu literature. He has illuminated the Telugu poetical world with his poetical rays. His Udayasri is a pole star of his inimitable style in the modern Telugu poetry. In this age the 50th reprint of his Udayasri can gauge where the novel is reigning the glamour of his poetry. - Dr. S. V. Bhujangaraya Sarma