Biographical Sketches of Dekkan Poets/Bhima Kavi
BHIMA KAVI.
The account that has been handed down by traditionary records of this poet, assign to him virtues that elevate him to a rank, equal to a demi-god: he was born at Vemula Vada, in the province of Veligandi, his mother was a widow, and Bhima Kavi is said to have been produced by the operation, of the spirit of Siva. His mother having made several vows. The mother of Bhima, had made vows to propitiate the deity, that her son might become a wise and enlightened man, and it is said, that be acquired perfect knowledge of languages with very little application, and his father the God Siva, had pronounced a blessing, that whatever he expressed by word of mouth, should come to pass. By the works, he left behind him, it appears, that Bhima Kavi had travelled into different foreign countries, such as Karnata, Maharatta, &c. he visited the king of Sajanagar, (named Rayakalingagangu) a town in the province of Kalinga, but as that monarch treated him with great disrespect, and received him in a haughty and scornful manner, Bhima Kavi pronounced a curse, where by the aforesaid king lost all his wealth, and suffered, very severe misfortunes; the king of Sajanagar, however shortly repented of the treatment he had shown to Bhima Kavi, and approaching him humbly he sought his forgive ness. The poet pardoned him and blessed him in the following verse:—
Thy countless tropps marshall'd in bright array,
Shall make each hostile squadron fly away,
And flush'd with spoile shall victory proclaim,
And o'er each region spread thy glorious name,
While fertile Sajanagar's splendid throne
Shall void of danger e'er remain thy own.
By this blessing of the poet, the king Roya Kalinga Gungu repossessed the throne, and conquered all his enemies.
Bhima Kavi wrote a treatise on prosody, entitled "Bhimana Chandasu," and a work on astrology, named Bhimana Jotisha, comprising a number of subjects, especially the twenty-seven lunar mansions and rules, by which nativities may be cast: besides the above Bhima Kavi published a collection of poetical effusions on various subjects, many of which are lost, but few are still in existence, and in the possession of the bards and panegyrists in the Telugu country, a few more are to be found in the libraries of some men of note. All the wonders performed by Bhima Kavi, however are in the mouths of all the women and children in most of the Telinga provinces, for his name is very popular, and all the wonders he performed as handed down by tradition, universally credited as real facts. Bhima Kavi died, lamented by all classes as few could exceed him in justice and charity.