Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau
Encyclopedia
Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rau (1885 - 1964), was Maharajah of Pithapuram
. He was called by Telugu people "Abhinava Krishnadevaraya". Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda
was his daughter.
royal family. This late birth and adoption led to endless litigation between 1891 and 1899. Finally the Privy Council decided in favour of the new-born prince. According to the will written by his father, Gollaprolu
Estate was given to the adopted son.
His childhood was passed by the sad experience of the death of his father at the age of 5 years and mother at the age of 9 years. However he was looked after by his stepmother Chittada Rani.
He was placed under the care of Court of Wards and admitted in Newington College, Madras. The Principal Morrison allowed the young prince to come under the influence of Indian Culture through study of Sanskrit and Telugu languages. His tutor, who became later his mentor, was Mokkapati Subbarayudu, a great scholar and a noble soul. Mokkapati was equally proficient in English and Telugu and devoted to the ideal of 'plain living and high thinking'. Mokkapati was to be Maharajah what Aristotle was to Alexander - teacher, friend, philosopher and counsellor.
His teacher introduced his own teacher Raghupathi Venkataratnam, who in due course his spiritual master and inspirer of noble deeds. He also came in contact with another great soul Kandukuri Veeresalingam
.
He married Chinnamamba Devi in 1905. She was the eldest daughter of Rajah Venkata Ramayya Appa Rao Bahadur, Zamindar of Kapileswarapuram (Nuzvid
).
Pithapuram
For famous Playback singer see Pithapuram Nageswara RaoPithapuram is a town and a municipality in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh....
. He was called by Telugu people "Abhinava Krishnadevaraya". Maharani Sita Devi of Baroda
Sita Devi of Baroda
Maharani Sita Devi Sahib of Baroda, born May 12, 1917 in Madras, India, died February 15, 1989 in Paris, France. She was known as the “Indian Wallis Simpson. She was a colorful lady who led an extravagant life for over 40 years and was a member of the international jet set...
was his daughter.
Early life
Surya Rau was born to Raja Gangadhara Rau and Maharani Mangamamba Devi on October 5, 1885 in the Pithapuram Fort and was named 'Suryaraya'. Gangadhar Rau married seven wives, but did not bear any children for sometime. Before his birth, Maharajah adopted a boy from the VenkatagiriVenkatagiri
Venkatagiri is the fourth largest town and municipality in Nellore district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.Venkatagiri's old name is "Kali Mili".It is famous for its Handloom Cotton Sarees. Venkatagiri is a place for history and handlooms. It was part of a small kingdom that was integrated...
royal family. This late birth and adoption led to endless litigation between 1891 and 1899. Finally the Privy Council decided in favour of the new-born prince. According to the will written by his father, Gollaprolu
Gollaprolu
Gollaprolu is a Municipality north-east of Pithapuram in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in south India, about 130 km south of Vishakhapatnam and is on the rail line between Madras andCalcutta...
Estate was given to the adopted son.
His childhood was passed by the sad experience of the death of his father at the age of 5 years and mother at the age of 9 years. However he was looked after by his stepmother Chittada Rani.
He was placed under the care of Court of Wards and admitted in Newington College, Madras. The Principal Morrison allowed the young prince to come under the influence of Indian Culture through study of Sanskrit and Telugu languages. His tutor, who became later his mentor, was Mokkapati Subbarayudu, a great scholar and a noble soul. Mokkapati was equally proficient in English and Telugu and devoted to the ideal of 'plain living and high thinking'. Mokkapati was to be Maharajah what Aristotle was to Alexander - teacher, friend, philosopher and counsellor.
His teacher introduced his own teacher Raghupathi Venkataratnam, who in due course his spiritual master and inspirer of noble deeds. He also came in contact with another great soul Kandukuri Veeresalingam
Kandukuri Veeresalingam
Rao Bahadur Kandukuri Veeresalingam , also known as Kandukuri Veeresalingham Pantulu , was a social reformer of Andhra Pradesh. He was born in an orthodox Niyogi Telugu Brahmin family...
.
He married Chinnamamba Devi in 1905. She was the eldest daughter of Rajah Venkata Ramayya Appa Rao Bahadur, Zamindar of Kapileswarapuram (Nuzvid
Nuzvid
Nuzvid is a mandal and municipality in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 50 km from Vijayawada and 35 km from Eluru. This place is well connected by bus and rail. Nuzvid is well known for its mangos, which are exported world wide....
).
Contribution to Telugu Language
The zamindar of Pithapuram sponsored the monumental classical Telugu dictionary, Suryarayandhranighantuvu, and even commissioned the first typewriter in Telugu.Publications
Surya Rau garu from the early age devoted his time and energy to the development of literature, patronage of authors and many other philanthropic activities. The following is list of books dedicated to him:- Adipudi Somanadha Kavi - Vijayendra Vijayamu
- Allamraju Subrahmanyam - Subhadra Parinayamu
- Chavali Rama Sudhi - Sahitya Chintamani
- Chintalapudi Ellana - Vishnumaya Natakam
- Dasari Lakshmana Swamy - Amruta Kalasamu, Bhaktajana Manoranjanamu, Varnanaratnakarmamu
- Devaguptapu Bharadwajam - Sri Suryarat Satakamu
- Devulapalli Subbaraya Sastry - Mahendra Vijayamu
- Devulapalli Venkata Krishna Sastry - Krishna Paksham, Nayanollasamu, Yatiraja Vijayamu
- K. Rajamannar - Sri Suryarat Prabhu Darsanamu
- Kandala Sathagopacharlu - Peethapuri Vijayamu
- Kasibhatla Subbaraya Sastry - Sri Ramottareti Vruttamu
- Kilambi Gopala Krishnamacharlu - Pithapura Maharaja Charitam
- Kotikalapudi Sitamma - Geetasaram, Viresalinga Charitra
- Kurumella Venkata Rao - Ma Maharajutho Doora Teeralu
- Madhunapantula Satyanarayana SastryMadhunapantula Satyanarayana SastryMadhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry is one of the most eminent personalities in pure Telugu literature of recent times. He lived in Rajahmundry in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh of South India. His magnum opus is Andhra Puranam...
- Parivabhyudaya Kavyam, Ratna Panchalika, Shaddarsana Sangrahamu, Surya Saptati - Malladi Suryanarayana Sastry - Kalapoornodayam, Uttara Hari Vamsam
- Nadakuduti Virraju - Vibrama Tarangini
- Padala Rama Reddy - Andhra Pradesh Vidya Vishayaka Sasanamulu
- Pasupuleti Venkanna - Seetha Vijayamu
- Puranapanda Mallaya Sastry - Andhrasutra Bhashyam, Sukraneeti Saramu
- Ramakrishna Kavulu - Andhra Kathasaritsagaramu, Damayanty Kalyanamu, Madalasa, Suvrutti Tilakamu, Viswagunadarsamu, Vyasabhyudayamu
- Sarvagna Singa Bhoopala - Ratnapanchalika
- Sri Tarakam, M.R.Appa Rao, Venkata Parvatiswara KavuluVenkata Parvatiswara KavuluVenkata Parvatiswara Kavulu were two prominent Telugu poets; Balantrapu Venkata Rao and Voleti Parvatisam . Bhava Kusumavali Brundavanam and an unfinished Ramayanam established their reputation as poets honored with the title Kaviraja Hamsalu ....
- Brahmarshi Venkata Ratnam Jeevita Sangrahamu-Upadesalu-Kathalu - Sripada Krishnamurthy Sastry - Brahmanandamu
- T. Atchyuta Rao - Vijayanagar Samrajyam - Andhra Vangmaya Charitam, Life of Pingli Surana
- Tallapaka Tiruvengalanadha - Paramayogi Vilasamu
- Uppalapu Subbaraja Kavi - Sri Suryaraya Vijayamu
- Varanasi Venkateswara Kavi - Ramachandropakhyanam
- Vavilakolanu Subbaraya Kavi - Valmiki Ramayanam
- Vedam Venkataraya SastryVedam Venkataraya SastryVedam Venkataraya Sastry B.A. was a Sanskrit and Telugu poet, critic and dramatist. He is respected for providing authoritative editions of Sanskrit and Telugu classics.-Life sketch:...
- Andhra Naishada Vyakhya - Voleti Bhaskara Rammurthy - Srirama Jananamu
- Voleti Parvateesam - Suvarnamala