Avadhaanam has its role in the Literature. It is a literary sport requiring
highest presence of mind, saavadhaanam; mastery of language with impromptu
(Ashu) poetic capability, and samasyaapuurti besides the memory etc. It is
that which is mostly appreciated and not necessarily the literary merit. As of
today if we remember the stories associated with Tenali Rama - kunjarayuudhambu
... or meka mEka or garibhi giribhi etc., it is by no means because of its
literature content. By far Allasaani manucharitra stands out as telugu
literature master piece of that times in comparison to paarijaataapaharaNam of
Tenali.
Avadhaanam is a sport to be enjoyed most, as it is being played. Not during
reruns. I can bet if you buy those video tapes, you will watch once at the
most. You will only keep it as a show case and ask others to watch. Enjoying
the literary classics is quite a different story. Only difficult samasyaas
puuranas and funny ones will be talked about for long just as Ram has listed
some. Of the hundered samasyas that were listed a month back that were given
during one of those Avadanaams only very few appealed to many of us as
interesting riddles to solve.
Avadhaanam's purpose is fully accomplished if it has provided the awesome
literary entertainment to the audience. To enjoy and to appreciate it also
require some amount of bhashaagyaanam. It is indeed a credit to our culture if
these things are being appreciated at such a mass scale. One can enjoy cricket
or horse race or boxing show - the quality of sportsmanship to enjoy these
obviously is different from that required to enjoy a literary sport like
avadhaanam.
That literature that remains the same for generations requires an inspired
contemplative mind and that type of poetry cannot be expected in a dramatic
environment of ashtaavadaanam. Avadhaani is not there to produce a masterpiece
literature. He is there only to provide a masterpiece entertainment for those
who can appreciate it. He is the master sportsman in that field. He is
appreciated for that reason. Fifty years from now, he is forgotten another
sportsman will come into the field. At most he will put in the so called hall
of fame, but not the thousand purnans he did. Just like any other sport.
Masterpiece literature will remain for ever.
We cannot therefore compare apples and oranges. Each has their role and taste.
Hari Om!
sadaananda
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"WHAT YOU HAVE IS HIS GIFT TO YOU, AND WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IS YOUR
GIFT TO HIM"- SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA
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K. Sadananda, Code 6323
Naval Research Laboratory
Washington D.C. 20375
Voice Phone: (202)767-2117
FAX: (202)767-2623
email:sadananda@anvil.nrl.navy.mil