Nannayas

Nannayas refers to a group of people historically associated with the Telugu language and literature. While the exact etymology and original meaning of the term are debated, it is most famously connected to Nannaya Bhattaraka, a renowned Telugu poet and scholar. Nannaya is credited with being the first to translate the Mahabharata into Telugu, a monumental undertaking that significantly shaped Telugu literary traditions. His work is considered a foundational text in classical Telugu literature and established a poetic style that influenced subsequent generations of writers.

The term "Nannayas" may also broadly refer to scholars, poets, or literary figures who followed in the tradition established by Nannaya Bhattaraka. These individuals often engaged with classical Sanskrit literature and adapted its themes and narratives into Telugu. Their contributions were crucial in developing a rich and sophisticated Telugu literary canon. The period associated with Nannaya and his followers is often considered the golden age of early Telugu literature, characterized by the adherence to strict poetic meters and grammatical rules derived from Sanskrit. The legacy of Nannaya and the broader understanding of "Nannayas" continue to be studied by scholars of Telugu language and literature.