Potuluri Veerabrahmam

Potuluri Veerabrahmam (popularly known as Brahmam)[1] (c. 1610 - c. 1693)), was a Hindu saint, who lived in Andhra Pradesh region.[2] He is most notable in Andhra for his work Kalagnanam, a book of predictions written in Telugu. It forecasts many incidents which are proved to be correct by the posterity. [3] His prophetic texts in Kalagnanam are the Govinda Vakyas and Jeevaikya Bodha.

Potuluri Veerabrahmam
An idol of Potuluri Veerabrahmam in Vizianagaram
Personal
Born
Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy

1610
Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh Penance In Samadhi
Died
Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh
ReligionHinduism
Religious career
Literary worksKalagnanam
HonorsSri Madhviraat

Legendary account

According to a legend, Veerabrahmam was born to a religious couple, Paripurnayacharya and Prakruthamba, near the river Sarasvati River in the village of Brahmandapuram. The couple abandoned Swamy at birth and Veerambrahmam was brought up at Atri Mahamuni Ashram near Kashi (present-day Varanasi). Later Veerabhojayacharya, Head of the Papagni Mutt, Chikballapur, Karnataka, was on a pilgrimage with his wife. The couple visited the Sage Atri Ashram, and Sage Atri gave the child to the couple. They received the child as a divine gift and returned to Papagni Mutt. The child was named 'Veeram Bhotlaiah'.

Veerabrahmendra Swamy, then known as the Veerambhotliah at Papagni Mutt authored the Kalikamba Sapthashathi (the manuscript written in praise of goddess Kali) at the age of 11. A few days later, Veerabhojayacharya made a sacrifice and Veerambhotlayya told his stepmother that he had refused to take homage responsibilities and started his spiritual journey. His first disciple was Dudekula Siddaiah. People started listening to Veerambhotlaya's chanting and philosophical poems, and as a sign of respect they called him 'Sri Madvirat Pothuluri Veera Brahmendra Swami'.

Legacy
  • Brahmamgari matam in Kadapa district is a pilgrimage center in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Editor T Ganapati Sastri of the book BrahmaTatwa Prakasika of Sadasivendra Saraswati (Trivandrum Sanskrit Series No VII), published in 1909, makes passing mention of a Tamil work called Acharya-Darpana that supposedly details a wide description of his deeds.
  • Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra is a 1984 film on his life. Late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. T. Rama Rao acted and directed. The film became a hit in Andhra Pradesh.

References
  1. Yogendra K. Malik (1981). South Asian Intellectuals and Social Change: A Study of the Role of Vernacular-speaking Intelligentsia. Heritage. p. 314. A later poet similar to Vemana was Potuluri Veerabrahmam , popularly known as Brahmam
  2. Castes, Communities, and Culture in Andhra Desa, 17th & 18th Centuries, A.D.: Proceedings of the Seminar. Department of History, Osmania University. 1996. p. 190.
  3. Proceedings of the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Conference, First Session, Andhra Saraswatha Parishat, Hyderabad, May 1977. The Conference. 1979. p. 131. Kalajnana is a special type of discipline very popular in Andhra Desa because of the famous Kalajnanam of Sri Potuluri Veerabrahmam written in Telugu. It forecasts many incidents which are proved to be correct by the posterity.
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