The first poet Nannaya Bhattu left it abruptly in the middle of the Aranya Parva, probably due to death or political reasons. His patron, Raja Raja Narendra (1019-1061)' of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, was, by a strange coincidence, engaged in fighting for his throne with his half-brother throughout his life and Nannaya was his `Kulabrahmana' or spiritual advisor. They had to seek the help of his maternal uncle, Rajendra Chola in the South. The great literary undertaking was therefore, of topical interest.
Dear Vijay, I have great regards for Nannaya for his beautiful work on Bhagavatham (not exactly Mahabharat), the words mostly used sanskrit (even 90%).
The first Telugu words in letter (lipi) appeared through 'Palnaati Katha', a prose drama work on a Rayalasima war between local kings (Palnaati yuddham) - the period was 14th century. After that so many Telugu writers came forward with classical works on Telugu - again 75 to 80% sanskrit words.
Krishnadevaraya, who was according to historians a 'Tulu', but wrote a beutiful kaavyam in Telugu 'Aa Mukta Maalyathaa' on Andal's (Soodik koduththa sudarkkodi). even this also has lot of sanskritic words.
Meanwhile please let me know the word 'Durai' or Dhorai is tamil - dravidian based and what time it came to existance - during British/european period? Because the word Dhurai was used in some places of Nannayya's Bhagavatham.
Some people says he belongs to 15th century even 17th century, but not 11th century. Though Telugu is older than Kannada, the latter has got the first lipi works. But again historians quotes some of Mahendra Pallava (7th century) incribed letters are telugu lipi. Probably Telugu must have got proper lettering during 2nd BC (Saathavahana) but gradually diminished during 7th or 8th century CE as Sanscrit fully occupied top slot among scholars. Other reasons are the whole Telugu lands either occupied by Tamils, Maraathaas or Kalinga in the east during first milliniem of CE.
In other words, if we deeply study Nannayya, he is another Maanickavasakar.
Read that the pallava inscriptions in mamallapuram trace their geneology as below
Brahman Bharadvaja Sudhaman Drona Asvatthama, married to the Apsaras Madani Pallava and so on.
Drona was a brahmin and if so, is this linked to bharadvaja gothram - meaning all claim to be descendants of pallavas...pity indira gandhi abolished the privy purses, else could lodge my claim