ATLANTA TELUGU SAHITYA SAMSKRUTHI ORGANIZED
TRIGALAAVADHANAM AND RELEASES A TELUGU BOOK
By Ravi R Ponangi
Atlanta, GA: Telugu Sahitya Samskruthi, Atlanta has recently conducted a
literary fete in Telugu language and performed a unique Literary event called
Trigalaavadhanam. The event was held in ABC Party Hall, Suwanee. Telugu Sahitya
Samskruthi, Atlanta is a forum founded by Ramesh Valluri that work towards
enriching Telugu Language.
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Ravi R Ponangi (with mic) coplimenting organizers for arranging
Telugu Literary fete |
Avadhānaṃ is a literary performance that is very popular among Telugu speaking
community. It is a literary fete popularized by Telugu poets in modern times. It
involves the partial improvisation of poems using specific themes, meters,
forms, or words. The true purpose of an Avadhānaṃ is 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 etc.
Avadhānaṃ requires immense memory power and tests a person's capability of
performing multiple tasks simultaneously. All the tasks are memory intensive and
demand an in-depth knowledge of literature. The tasks vary from making up a poem
spontaneously to keeping a count of a bell ringing at random. No external memory
aids are allowed while performing these tasks except the person's mind.
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Promoters Sita and Ramesh Valluri with writer Rachalapalli Babu
Devidas from India |
In Trigalavadhanam, three avadhanis in three different Languages perform
concurrently and taking questions from Pruchchakas (questioner). This is
considered as one of the most creative, extremely difficult literary performance
that not only test the poetic skills but also the depths of Human IQ.
Avadhānaṃ or concentration is a faculty of mind. And for it to become an art,
Avadhānaṃ has been categorized into Astaavadhanam, Sataavadhanam,
Sahasraavadhanam and now added Trigalavadhanam, having been performed for the
first time in the world here in Atlanta, It has gone into the records for being
unique, very complicated to concurrently take 8 different poetic questions from
Pruchchakas who try to distract the concentration of the Avadhani.
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Visiting Telugu scholar from India |
First time in the history of Avadhānaṃ, 3 poets have performed 3 ashtavadhanams
(Trigalaavadhanam) in 3 different languages on the same stage simultaneously. "Avadhana
Prachanda" Sri Paladugu Sricharan performed in Sanskrit, "Avadhana martanda" Sri
Syamalananda Palaparti performed in pure Telegu dialect and "Avadhana vedanda"
Sri Nemani Somayajulu performed in Telugu literary language which is a mix of
both Sanskrit and pure Telegu. Ramakrishna Yerrapragada, a well-known writer
from India moderated Trigalaavadhanam.
At this function, a new book "Aksharaarchana" written by Pandit Devidas from
India is also released and he was awarded the title "Arsha vidya nishnata". Dr.
B. K. Mohan, a famous Cardiologist and litterateur in Atlanta released the book
and presented first copy to the writer Pandit Devidas and other scholars on the
dais.

The book akshararaarchana is a great display of Pandit Rachaalapalli Devidas's
knowledge in the field of devotion "Bhakti" based on Vedanta. Unlike a normal
satakam, which is a collection of over 100 poems that are similar in meter
(called "chandas" in Sanskrit), Pandit Devidas has used a variety of meters. He
has a knack of putting his point with great expressions (called "samaasa" in
Sanskrit) following all the rules of poetry. Each poem has a deep meaning filled
the yearnings of the poet. Each poem is a free and direct communication with
Goddess Parvati and as a child talks to his mother. He tried to express his
distress with the life in this material plane and begs for salvation. He has
written many other books and this book is another gem that is added to his.
All attendees enjoyed the poems rendered by the scholars and Telugu speaking
community members attended this Telugu literary meet in large number.
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Telugu book Aksharaarchana, containing 100 poems released on the
occassion |
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Aug-31-2019