Guruji has been exhibiting the capability of writing poems on fly, which has transitioned him to learn the skill of extempore interaction (Avadhanam) and laid the foundation in the year 1992. With his profound prowess in Telugu and Sanskrit, he completed writing Sri Neelakanteshwara Satakam (100 poems), Sri Sathya Sai Sapta Shati (700 poems), Greatness of Hanuma and Kalakinkinulu in a very short span of time. Sri Kadimella Varaprasad encouraged me to participate in this format which laid the foundation for Guruji to start the journey in 1992.
Nidamarru was the venue on 14th March 1993 for the first Avadhanam in which the entire program was completed in 85 mins and out of which, actual Avadhanam duration is only 45 minutes. Prominent newspapers like “Eenadu”, “Andhra Jyothi” wrote highly of this avadhanam. In just 85mins, culmination was a record.
Avadhanam has mainly eight components. There will be eight persons, each handling one component to test the Avadhani, one after another. It demonstrates how one with a focused mind could multi-task despite being pulled in different directions. They are:
Nishiddhakshari (barring a letter),
Samasya Puranam (problem-solving),
Datthapdi (giving words to compile a poem),
Varnana (giving a theme to compose a poem),
Aasuvu (instantly compiling a poem),
Vysthakshari (memorizing letters and their position in a sentence),
Purana Patanam (chanting a poem(s) from the epic or telling the epic name for a poem),
Aprasthuta Prasangam (unnecessary talk).
The true purpose of an Avadhanam event thus is the showcasing, through entertainment, of superior mastery of cognitive capabilities – of observation, memory, multitasking, task switching, retrieval, reasoning and creativity in multiple modes of intelligence – literature, poetry, music, mathematical calculations, puzzle solving.
Avadhānaṃ can be considered as the Divided attention (clinical model of attention) as it is the highest level of attention and it refers to the ability to respond simultaneously to multiple tasks or multiple task demands.
Ashtavadhanam is performed with eight persons for about two hours. The Satavadhanam is performed for three days, with 100 persons and Sahasravadhana is performed for 22 days, with 1,000 persons testing the single performer.
Guruji completed over 80 of Ashta Avadhanams (8 participants working with the speaker asking various intricate, dynamic and delicate questions of which the speaker is required to come up with a beautiful poem or meaning of the question instantaneously etc.) in a timeframe of 18 months which also was a record.
In another event called (Asukavita), Guruji was able to dictate around 108 poems extempore in a span of 2 hrs which was another record.
In 1995, the very first Sata Avadhanam (100 participants working from various angles) was conducted which spanned for two days in which in about 65 min, Guruji was able to retain and recollect about 81 poems that were given at the spur of the moment with no preparation.
In Tadepalligudem, the third Sata Avadhanam in 3 languages (Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi) was conducted and completed in a grandiose manner which was a the very first attempt for anyone to do.
In year 2000, the Tri Language Maha Sahasra Avadhanam was conducted (1000 participants with Telugu, Hindi and Sanskrit) at the same time due to which he is conferred with the title of “Tribhasha Maha Sahasravadhani”. He was able to comprehend and retain over 756 poems within 3 hours and 27 minutes which was a great accomplishment. In this event many prominent people participated. Sri Prasadaraya Kulapati garu who is the current Kurtalam Peetam chair, Sri Viswayogi Viswamji garu, Sri Rallabandi Kavita Prasad garu, Sri Medasani Mohan garu and Sri Jonnavittula garu. It was at this venue, Sri Jonnavittula garu conferred a title called “DharanaChitragupta” to Guruvugaru.
Guruji performed over 1233 Asta Avadhanams, 8 Couplet Avadhanams, 11 Sata Avadhaanams, 1 trilingual Sahasravadhanam and 3 avadhanas in Hindi. Guruji has performed as Sanchalakalu in various avadhanams.
Hindi Avadhanams are made in Orissa – Jayapur, Uttara Pradesh – Agra Central Hindi Samsthan, Andhra Pradesh – Nellore.
Even the Corona epidemic could not stop his glorious will and reluctant initiation. On 6th Feb 2021, Sri Pranava Peetham initiated virtual avadhanam program in social media with aspirants in the country and abroad and performed NAVAAVADHANAM with 9 aspirants.
On 29th May 2021, a new virtual avadhanam program with 7 continents across the globe named “Sapta Khanda Avadhana Sahiti Jhari” was initiated and 1231st Ashtavadhanam was conducted as part of it with 8 aspirants in Australia and subsequently 1232nd Ashtavadhanam was conducted with New Zealand on 26th June 2021 and 1233rd Ashtavadhanam with South Africa on July 31, 2021.
Gurudev’s devotion to his mother tongue and his immense admiration for literary service are evident in his efforts to spread eloquent literary literature in other countries such as London, Singapore, Dubai, Malaysia, America, and many more.
The very essence of doing this is to encourage, train and teach individuals who are interested in honing their skills to keep this tradition alive for the next generations.
His few students who are already participating in Virtual Avadhanams are becoming the beacons of light. They are Sri Paladugu Sricharan from America, Sri Tatavarti Kalyanachakravarthi of Australia.
Telugu poems are like nectar and so one has to enjoy the taste of them by learning them and repeating them. Let this not be limited to Youth but one and all must develop this to enjoy the sweetness of the language. This will certainly propagate the language. With this divine goal on making this languages foundation to be stronger and spread across the world, his students have been conducting competitive sessions for everyone who wants to participate across the globe.
Not only in their prophecies but also in the Padyaratnas, all the Dharmasastras, all the Vedantas, all the Mimamsas are composed with beautiful letters, and the Bhagavad-tatva is skillfully immersed in devotion so that it can be easily understood and immersed in devotion.
Guruji have been soothing this nectar, handed down to us by great sages and Maha Purushas like Sri Bommera Potana, Sri Valmiki Maharshi and Sri Vyasa Maharshi in all of his discourses and talks. Guruji have started yet another virtual event called “SaptaKhanda Avadhanajhari” which is to encourage Youth and all to promote the language from across the globe.
Even the Corona epidemic could not stop his glorious will and reluctant initiation. That is why on the 6th of February in the year 2021, Sri Pranava Peetham initiated discussions on the internet with the aspirants in the country and abroad.
It was attended by 9 aspirants from India, USA and Australia. Usually there are 8 topics in Ashtavadhanam. But additional 9th topic was also added and performed NAVAVADHANAM. This is something unusual and very special.
In the Yajna of making modern-day observances, Guruji encouraged his fellow disciples, Sri Paladugu Sri Charan Garu, an American, and Sri Tatavarthi Kalyan Chakravarti, an Australian resident, to become famous avadhanas. Of these, Sri Tatavarthi Kalyan Chakravarti was the first Australian avadhani.
As part of the process of making the Avadhanis in next generation, Guruji also trained 9-year-old Ahala Somayaju and gave her the opportunity to participate as an aspirant in Sri Charan Gari’s Avadhanam’s topic Vagananam on May 8, 2021, as their moderator on the Internet.
Gurudevs, who have made over 1233 different avadhanams today, are now determined to further glorify the mother tongue Telugu as part of their literary service in an innovative way. The determination to continue the series of attention with the aspirants of avadhana parampara the respective countries in the Seven Continents internationally on the Internet.
Part of this great event is to encourage literary fans in the country and abroad to become enthusiastic and attentive. Expanding the splendor and attention span of the Andhra language across the continents and providing the desired training to the enthusiasts and literary lovers. The beginning of activities such as making them motivated is to create a new trend in the history of Telugu literature.
As a part of this, the first focus was on the 29th May, 2021 on the laying of the foundation stone for the “Vaddiparti Sarva Desha Avadhana Yajna” with 8 aspirants in Australia who have recognized Telugu as their social language in the world. This is the 1231st Ashtavadhanam of Gurudeva. Completing it in just under an hour and a half with unparalleled speed is unparalleled and unique.
New Zealand’s 1232nd ashtavadhanam on June 26, 2021 over Internet, as well as the attention being paid to South African Pruchchakaas in July. Gurudev’s devotion to his mother tongue and his immense admiration for literary service are evident in his efforts to spread eloquent literary literature in other countries, such as London, Singapore, Dubai, Malaysia, America, and many more.
The path of attention they choose in the literary service contributes to the development of personality and resilience in man, and further multifaceted benefits. It is a great penance of our Gurudeva to make such a treasure trove available to tens of thousands of people, regardless of age, to literary lovers and fans abroad. Let us pray that this literary fragrance will be spread all over the world, that it will be an ideal for all, that the Telugu mother will be overjoyed, and that we will all be sanctified in the service of that mother.