BHAKTHA POTANA

The Bhagavata Purana of Sri Vedavyasa ha been rendered Into beautiful Telugu version by one of the greatest poets, Bhakta Potana. His life is full of miracles and an example of how God’s grace is showered on his ardent devotees! Born to Niyogi Brahmin parents, in Ekasila Nagara, potaraju was younger to his brother Tipparaju. One day, rearing cattle at the nearby hill, Potharaju spotted a yogi by name Chidananda, went and bowed to him with devotion. Pleased at the boy’s devotion, the Yogi gave him a powerful mantra for chanting. Potaraju chanted it with great concentration as a result of which he became a very great scholar and a poet! It did not stop at that. Once during the lunar eclipse, after taking his bath in the Ganga, he went into meditation and chanting. Amazingly, Lord Sri Rama presented himself before Potaraju and bade him  render Sri  Maha Bhagavata into the Telugu language! Waking up as if from a dream, Potaraju went home and informed the miracle to all his people. Potaraju was poor and had to be satisfied with only a meal a day! A farmer by profession, all his produce was spent in feeding guests and devotees! Despite his poverty, he never approached the king or the rich for help! His brother in-law, Srinatha, was a great poet patronized by the king and lived

in great luxury. He wanted Potharaju to live in luxury like him.

To show his prowess, Srinatha ordered his palanquin bearers to leave their hold! The palanquin did not fall down! It progressed forward as usual! Seeing this miracle, potaraju asked his son Mallanna who was tilling the field to release the bulls from the yoke. The plough went on tilling the field without the bulls! Potana told Srinatha that it is better to eke out a living by cultivation in villages rather than living in luxury by selling poetry and literature to kings! When Srinatha wanted Pothana to dedicate Srimad Bhagavata to the king, Pothana did not reply! In the meanwhile Srinatha informed the king that Potana had agreed to dedicate his Bhagavata to him! Potana was extremely sad for his silence. Soon Goddess Saraswati appeared in his vision in tears weeping pathetically! Potana was wonderstruck and pacified her by saying that he will not sell her to the cruel king of Karnataka! Meanwhile, the king, anxious to get the Bhagavata dedicated to him came with his retinue and camped on the outskirts of the town. He sent his man to inform Potana about his arrival. Potana was writing on the Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu and a real boar was keeping guard at potana's home! The person was terrified at this sight and ran back to the king! Others were sent but all returned shaking in fear! The king then went with all his servants and fought with the boar! All his soldiers failed to control the boar and were killed! The king too was wounded! Hearing this noise and confusion, Potana came out and was surprised to see the king in front of him!

The king fell at the feet of Potana and apologized! He begged pardon for trying to get the dedication of the Bhagavata by force! The dead soldiers came back to life after the king prayed to Sri Hari! Potana thanked the Lord for his compassion! Another amazing incident happened while Potana was translating the Astama Skanda of the Bhagavata! It was the story of Gajendra Moksha. He wrote a part of the stanza but couldn't continue. He gave them notebook to his daughter and went out for a small break. In the meanwhile Lord Sri Rama came in the guise of Potana and supplied the missing link! Potana returned and was speechless at the Divine intervention  and the fortune of his daughter in having the darshan of the Lord!

In describing the anxiety of the Lord to save Gajendra from the crocodile, potana had written that the Lord ran in hurruburry without informing Lakshmi or taking up his conch and chakra or Garuda or any of his followers! Srinatha made fun of the Lord hastening to save Gajendra without his Chakra! Potana replied that the Lord needed no implements to save other devotees! His will or Sankalpa is  enough in itself! But Srinatha was not convinced. The next day, Potana hid Srinatha’s son in a room and announced that he had fallen into the well. Srinatha was shell

shocked and immediately ran to the well. Potana stopped him and said how can he save his son without a rope and ladder! OkIf an ordinary father is so anxious to save his son, what more anxiety can be expected of the universal father to save his devotees? Potana taught a lesson to his brother in-law. Srinatha was ashamed of his conduct and remark. Potana then revealed that Srinatha’s son was safe and sound!

The Bhagavata Purana was fully completed and dedicated to the Lord! It is one of the most respected and honored of the Puranas! The rendering inTelugu is very faithful to Vyasa’s original. This is “kadalipaka” the essence of the plantain fruits which is very sweet and cannot be described till it is experienced! There is no other work sweeter and replete with pure devotion than the Andhra Maha Bhagavata in any language!