Jandhyala Papayya Sastry (4 August 1912 – 21 June 1992) was an eminent Telugu writer and lyricist. He was popularly known as Karunasri because his writings expressively show compassion (Karuna or Kāruṇyam), one of the nine Rasas. His famous kavyas include Pushpa Vilapam and Kunthi Kumari.
Poetry is the tremendous reflection of integrated self-awareness of man and the suffering and maladies of society. Karunasri's “Udayasri” “Vijayasri” and “Karunasri” achieved the rarest and unique distinction innumerable reprints. The poet rightly described ″Udayasri″ as his fragrant heart, ″Vijayasri″ as his thoughtful head and ″Karunasri″ as his valuable life. These three works of karunasri are the manifestation of satyam (Truth), Sivam (Goodness) and Sundaram (Beauty).
“Udayasri” takes us from darkness to twilight;
“Vijayasri” from twilight to light;
and “Karunasri” from light to delight – The bliss of god.
Poetry of Karunasri will take us to the melodious heights of spirituality and to the depths of maladies and sorrowful sufferings of present society and ultimately act as panacea of all ills. His poetry is the harbinger of peace, social purpose and human values and also an answer and solution for all social problems.
Karunasri is a strange combination of tradition and modernity, spirituality and social awareness and most of his poetry dances and endures on the lips of every one sweetly and serenely. He is popularly remembered and revered as a poet of great popularity only next to Bammera Potana, the poet of Mahabhagavata.
Brief life sketch
Papayya Sastry was born in Kommuru village, Pedanandipadu mandal, Guntur district in 1912. After primary and middle school education in his village.
Papayya Sastry has about 27 works, which include Pushpa Vilapam, Kunthi Kumari, Karunasri, Paaki Pilla, Udayasri, Vijayasri, Omar Khayyam, Aruna Kiranalu, Telugu Baala and Kalyana Kalpavalli. His Pushpa Vilapam was born out of his anger towards a visitor, who began eating the petals of a rose from the flower vase on the table, while the poet had been in his prayer room. Karunasri was born out of his stream of his thoughts when he visited the rare Buddhist sculpture, Mahachaitya and pillars at Amaravathi village, Guntur district. He saw the plight of a scavenger girl and wrote Paaki Pilla (1928) at the age of 16 years. His compositions are timeless; they move the soul. The language is very simple and any common man with basic understanding of the Telugu language can easily understand the depth of his expression. Ghantasala rendered his Pushpa Vilapam and Kunti Kumari. The lyrics and Ghantasala's voice are said to make people cry with pity.
Papayya Sastry acted as Nandi Thimmana without wearing any make-up in Bhuvana Vijayam during Ugadi celebrations. He became a devotee of Satya Sai Baba and Viswaguru Viswamji during his later years.
Papayya Sastry was married to Anasuyamma. They had two sons and a daughter.
Parents: Mahalakshmi and Paradesaiah
Wife: Anasuya Devi
Sons: Dr. Jaya Krishna Bapuji, M.A., Ph.D. (Spouse: Subhashini) Venkata Ramana M.Com., M.Ed. (Spouse: Varasri B.sc B.Ed.)
Daughter: Vijaya Lakshmi, M.A., B.Ed. (Ch. Nageswara Rao, M.A., M.Ed.)
Address: 3-22-6, Kalyana Bharati, Ravindra Nagar, Guntur- 522006
Education: Rashtra Bhasha Visarada 1934 Ubhaya Bhasha Praveena 1936 Hindi Bhasha Praveena 1940
Teachers: Sri Kuppa Anjaneya Sastry, Cherukur (Grammar) Sri Bhamidipati Subrahmanya Sastry, Mopidevi (Literature) Sri Jammalamadaka Madhavarama Sarma, Guntur (Rhetoric)
Profession as Teacher: Stall Girls High School, Guntur – 4 years, Sri RamaKrishna High School, Amaravati – 4 years
Profession as Lecturer: A.C. College, Guntur – 22 years, Mahaveer College, Guntur – 3 years, Hindu College, Guntur – 2 years
Editor: Chief Editor, Potana Bhagavatam Project – T.T.D