SWAMI SRI VEERABRAHMENDRA

A Monograph on Pothuluru Veerabrahmendra Swamy

To depend on calculations of this kind, will be of no use to arrive atleast at an approximate date of the Swami’s birth.

The trumpet of Kalajnana is still blown through the loud voices of street singers and beggars that Veerabrahmam will put an end to his human form on the 13th day of the increasing moon of Ashadh in the year Vikari and incarnate himself as Veerabhoga Vasantaraya after 32 years in the Holy place of Kandimallayapalle. This year corresponds either to 1719 A. D. or 1799 according to the calculation of scholar M. K. Reddy (vide article No. 3 of his, on Veerabrahmam published in Andhra Prabha dated 14, December, 1974). He too did not agree with these dates as they were found to be irregular. Putting aside all these internal evidences, he finally resorts to the popular belief which confirms that Vemana was born earlier than Brahmam. The external evidence for this belief is, the scholar maintains, that the statue of Vemana is found at the gate of Veerabramam’s mutt. This statement gives scope for doubt t at the statue of Vemana could have been installed in recent times and it need not necessarily be installed at the time of the construction of the mutt in Kandimallayapalle, when Brahmam was alive. The statue does not contain any date of its installation. Hence the statement that Vemana was born earlier than Veerabrahmam cannot be taken for granted on the basis of the statue of Vemana being installed at the gate of Kandimallayapalle mutt of Veerabrahmam.

The scholar, M.K. Reddy, having placed before us a number of arguments to arrive at the date, on the basis of internal and external evidences, finally states, in a rather disgusted mood that instead of meddling with this thorny shrub of evidences it is better that we accept the fact that the Swamy lived during the period from 1731 to 1791 A.D, and heavens won't fall if these dates are accepted for practical purposes.

Another scholar, K. Lakshminarayana, a noted historian who published as many as 56 research papers in history, which include “Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swami” is of the opinion that Veerabrahmam lived between 1608 and 1693 A.D. He confirms these dates in consult ation with the present principal guru of Veerabrahmendra Peetham of Kandimallayapalle.

Lakshminarayana has shown a number of convincing evidences in support of his argument and his way of approach towards the problem is also systematic. If the dates assigned by him are to be accepted, the date of birth of Veerabrahmam would be earlier than that of Vemana. The dates assigned to Vemana by CP. Brown in his earlier writings are 1652 to 1710 A.D. which are probably correct in the opinion of V.R. Narla, the author of a monograph in English on ‘Vemana’ published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (1969-First Edition).

If the life span of Veerabrahmam is 85 years, the life time of Vemana is 58 years according to the above calculation.

Now on the basis of these details one may have to conclude that Vemana was born when Veerarabrahmam was 44 years old. But before jumping to these conclusions one has to satisfy whether they are based on sound principles of clear evidence.