Amuktamalyada
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 Title page of 1907 Edition | |
| Author | Krishnadevaraya |
|---|---|
| Original title | ఆముక్తమాల్యద |
| Language | Telugu |
| Genre | Epic poetry |
Publication date | 1509–1530 |
| Publication place | India |
The Āmuktamālyada (Telugu: ఆముక్తమాల్యద) is a Telugu epic poem composed by Krishnadevaraya, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, in the early 16th century. Amuktamalyada translates to "One who offered the garland after wearing it herself". Considered as a masterpiece, the Amuktamalyada describes the legendary wedding of the Hindu deity Ranganayaka, an avatar of Vishnu, and Andal, one of the poet-saints called the Alvars, at Srirangam gives insight into the religious, political and cultural settings of Vijaynagar empire. It is a treatise on polity and administration.[1]
Krishnadevaraya was the king of the Vijayanagara Empire reigning between 1509–1530.[2] He was the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty, and presided over the Vijayanagara empire at its zenith. Krishna Deva Raya earned the titles of Andhra Bhoja (transl. Bhoja of Andhra) and Mooru Rayara Ganda (transl. King of three kings). He became the dominant ruler of the peninsula of India by defeating the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate and the Gajapati Kingdom of Orissa.[3]
Krishnadevaraya during his reign patronised many Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit poets. His court had 8 Telugu poets (Astadiggajalu) - Allasani Peddana, Nandi Thimmana, Madayyagari Mallana, Dhurjati, Ayyala-raju Rama-Bhadrudu, Pingali Surana, Ramaraja Bhushanudu and Tenali Rama Krishna. The Kannada poets Mallanarya who wrote Bhava-chinta-ratna and Satyendra Chola-kathe and Chatu Vittal-anatha who wrote Bhagavata also enjoyed his patronage. The Tamil poet Haridasa and Tamil literature were patronised by Krishnadevaraya. The Sanskrit poet Vyasatirtha who wrote Bhedo-jjivana, Tat-parya-chandrika, Nyaya-mrita (a work directed against Advaita philosophy) and Tarka-tandava enjoyed his patronage. Krishnadevaraya was himself an accomplished Sanskrit scholar and wrote Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya, Rasamanjari and Jambavati Kalyana.[4][5]