Tikkana

Tikkana Somayaji, commonly known simply as Tikkana, was a 13th-century Telugu poet associated with the Kakatiya kingdom. Although biographical details are sparse, he is dated to the mid to late 1200s and is remembered as a key figure in early Telugu literature.

He is regarded as one of the Kavitraya, the triad of poets who laid the foundations of epic Telugu poetry, along with Nannaya and Errana. This trio is credited with shaping the form and diction of classical Telugu poetry during the early medieval period.

Tikkana’s best-known work is the Andhra Mahabharatam, the Telugu rendition of the Mahabharata. Nannaya began the translation, and Tikkana continued and expanded the narrative, rendering much of the epic in poetic form. Errana later contributed additional cantos, completing the traditional corpus. The Andhra Mahabharatam is celebrated for its refined language, adherence to classical meters, and its emphasis on ethics and devotion within the epic framework.

In terms of style, Tikkana is praised for polished diction, elevated syntax, and a rhetorically ornate yet accessible presentation of complex episodes. His contribution helped standardize Telugu literary language and dramatize classical Sanskrit narratives for Telugu audiences, influencing subsequent generations of poets.

Today, Tikkana is honored as a foundational figure in Telugu literature. His works, especially the Andhra Mahabharatam, remain central to the study of early Telugu poetry and the cultural transmission of the Mahabharata in the Telugu-speaking world.