INTRODUCTION.
The Rāmāyana by Kaṭṭā Varadarāja Kavi presented to the Telugu public for the first time is a unique production of Dwipada Kāvya literature in general and Rāmāyana literature in particular. The Telugu Dwipada Kāvya belongs to Dēśi or indigenous literary compositions like the Udāharana, Yakshagāna, Śataka, Danḍaka, Vachana, and Sankirtana. They exhibit the genius and individuality of Telugu in south Indian literatures more vividly than the so called classical types of Prabandha and Purāṇa. But Dēśi literature has not been properly studied by scholars and has remained an unexplored and neglected field for a long time. It is only during the last two or three decades that through the incessant and earnest efforts of research scholars, [1]literateurs began to realise the importance of these types of literature for the evolution of Telugu poetry. Among these types, Dwipada stands most prominently as the basis of
- ↑ (i) Udaharana literature. This was first brought to the notice of scholars by the present Editor by the publication of Tripurantakodaharanamu of Tippana from the original manuscript copy obtained from the Tanjore Library in 1937. A complete history of this Literature with original texts has just been publishod by him.
(ii) Yakshagana Literature : Introduction of Sri V. Prabhakara Sastri to Sugriva Vijayam--a Yakshagana.
(iii) Sataka Literature: Late Vanguri Subba Rao through Sataka Kavula Charitra.
(iv) Dwipada Literature: This branch of literature is now being worked at by the present Editor. A bibliography of all the Dwipada works has already been prepared with full particulars of works and authors. Lives of many unknown Dwipada Kavya writers have been brought to light, and chapters relating to the technique, and critical notes on Dwipada works are under preparation. The other types are still to be worked at.
