SWAMI SRI VEERABRAHMENDRA

A Monograph on Pothuluru Veerabrahmendra Swamy

Veerabrahmam was no less a rebel poet than Vemana. Furthermore he was a rebela saint too. He was thousands of years far in advance of his age. His Kalagnana was a living example of the same foresight. He was the best teacher and a preacher that his age produced. The popular belief and famous saying in this part of the country is that of all the Yogis. Vemana is the best and of all the Gurus, Brahmam is the best. It is a pity that he was not propagated by a western scholar like CP. Brown. The reason for this was quite evident. The medium he chose for his teachings was not conventional poetry but simple spoken Telugu such as people speak, in other words, it was peoples’ literature. During the 17th and 18th centuries the external and internal political incursions in this part of the country effectually crushed the peoples’ literature and consequently it fell low. The colloquial dialect also becomes equally corrupt. It may not be out of place if I quote a few lines from C. V. Gover’s article on Vemana entitled “Popular Poet” in which he made the following illustrious remarks.

Another cause has, however, done tenfold more damage to Telugu peoples literature; that is foreign conquest…… From the overthrow of the Kings of Vijayanagar to the rise of the British ascendency under Warren Hostings, confusion and despair fell upon the poor Telugus. Moghuls, Pathans, Maharashtras, Pindaries, Nizams, Soubahdars, and Rajahs came like waves over the rich land. Perhaps the strength of the nation has gone to foreign parts and homestayers were too weak to fight, but whether this were so or not, the Telugu nation was nearly wiped off the face of the earth. Where once dwelt a great nation now roam the wild tribes of Buster and hill agencies. Human sacrifices are offered where once ambassadors were received. In this great destruction, the people’s literature could not survive”.

Mr. Gover did not make any exaggeration of the situation. He correctly pointed out the cause for the destruction of the people’s literature. In Rayalaseema, a large portion of Brahmam’s literature also was lost. The little that survived, forms the basis to know something about the Swami’s invaluable teachings and prophecies in Kaalajnaana which have become true to a great extent in recent years.

My attempt in these pages is more to present a human document of the Swami than to deify him. In fact he was one amongst us. But the self-realization and spiritual consciousness with which he pronounced that “I am the Brahmam myself” make him stand head and shoulders above others as a spiritual saint.

Let us now see how from a simple sculptor and blacksmith he blossomed forth into a Rajayogi and finally emerged as Veerabrahmam himself to save mankind from the dangers of social evil and ignorance as also the encircling spiritual gloom.