Sathakam is a
Telugu
Telugu may refer to:
* Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India
*Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India
* Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language
** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode
S ...
literary piece of art. The name derives from ''Sata'', which means a ''hundred'' in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
. Sathakam usually comprises a hundred poems (give or take). Hence, a Sathakam is a volume (book) of hundred poems.It is one of the most important forms of poetry in
Telugu Literature.
Since the creation of Satakams have been around for centuries, they were passed down by transcribers of the bygone eras. Sometime some of the poems are lost to time. At other times the transcribers insert new ones mistakenly or deliberately. However, by doing a comparative study of the same literary work from multiple branches scholars establish which parts are authentic and original.
Purpose of Sathakam
Satakams are usually devotional, philosophical or convey morals. Some sathakams such as the
Sumathi Satakam are popular because of their simplicity and their usefulness in conveying morals which can be taught to school aged children.
Structure and Composition
Satakams are written in various well known literary scales. While some scales are very old and derive from the Vedic age (called Vedic scales), some are particular to some regions and languages.
Some Examples
*
Andhra Nayaka Satakam
Andhra Vishnu, better known as Srikakula Mahavishnu statue, was set up in Andhra in a pre-existing older temple. The previous deistic form worshiped in the temple is unknown.
Āndhra Vishnu temple
The deity of the temple is known as ''Andhr ...
by
Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). His parents were Kasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a court poet of the then- Raja o ...
*Dasarathi Satakam by
Kancherla Gopanna
Kancharla Gopanna ( te, కంచర్ల గోపన్న) ( – 1688), popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu ( te, భద్రాచల రామదాసు), was a 17th-century devotee of the Hindu god Rama, a sain ...
(Ramadasu)
*Subhashita Trisati (three sets of hundred) by Bhatruthahari
* Vrushadhipa Satakam by Paalkuriki Somanna
* Vyaja Ninda by
Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). His parents were Kasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a court poet of the then- Raja o ...
* Hamsaladeevi Gopala Satakam by
Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). His parents were Kasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a court poet of the then- Raja o ...
* Manasa bodha Satakam by
Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). His parents were Kasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a court poet of the then- Raja o ...
* Bhakta Kalpadruma Satakam by
Kasula Purushottama Kavi
Kasula Purushottama Kavi was a Telugu poet who lived during the late 18th century (). His parents were Kasula Appalaraju and Ramanamma. He hailed from the Diviseema area of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He was a court poet of the then- Raja o ...
*
Sumathi Satakam by Baddena Bhupaludu
References
External links
{{Wiktionary
Indian poetry collections