{{Short description|Indian literary performance genre}} {{More citations needed |date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
'''Avadhānaṃ''' (literally meaning "concentration") is a genre of performance in India, where a performer (called the ''avadhāni'') answers challenging questions from several questioners in parallel. The most popular variety, called ''sāhitya'' (literary) ''avadhānam'' involves the performer composing poetry, thereby entertaining the audience and demonstrating the poetic skills of the performer. The art form was developed particularly by Telugu poets in medieval times.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&dq=Avadhanam+telugu&pg=PA292 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature |date=1987 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 |volume=1 |pages=292, 293 |language=en |author-link=Amaresh Datta}}</ref> It involves the partial improvisation of poems using specific themes, metres, forms, or words.<ref name="Indian Literature">Amaresh Datta, ''The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature'', v. 1, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&dq=%22Avadhanam%22&pg=PA292 "Avadhanam"] (Sahitya Akademi, 2006; {{ISBN|81-260-1803-8}})</ref> There is a tradition of mentoring in Avadhanam. The best ''avadhani''s have contributed to the oeuvres of Telugu and Kannada poetry.
== Method== thumb|Performance of an ''avadhanam'' with 100 questioners, with the ''avadhani'' on a raised podium and questioners on either side. Avadhānaṃ requires a talent for memorisation, intellect, an extensive knowledge of Indian poetry, prosody and performance skills.
The ''avadhāni'' (performer) demonstrates his skill by completing tasks concurrently. These tasks are set by the ''pṛcchaka'' (questioner). The leading questioner is called the ''pradhāna pṛcchaka''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hindu - November 2010 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article879927.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629132551/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article879927.ece |archive-date=2011-06-29 |access-date=2011-03-03 |website=The Hindu}}</ref>
Several of the tasks require creating a four line poem that conforms to ''chandas'' or metre, the basic rhythm of verse. Generally, the questioner will give the performer a description of the subject in prose. The performer will then give their reply in the form of a poem. The questioner may increase the difficulty by imposing restrictions, for example, requesting a particular form of poem or the inclusion of particular elements in the poem.
The performer's first reply is not an entire poem. Rather, the poem is created one line at a time. The first questioner speaks and the performer replies with one line. The second questioner then speaks and the performer replies with the previous first line and then a new line. The third questioner then speaks and performer gives his previous first and second lines and a new line and so on. That is, each questioner demands a new task or restriction, the previous tasks, the previous lines of the poem, and a new line.
This process continues, sometimes over several days until the performer makes a mistake and is disqualified or is able to recite his entire poem of four lines. This final success is the ''dharana''.
Furthermore, one of the questioners may be made responsible for setting tasks for ''aprastuta-prasangam'' or "extraneous speech-making" (in essence, "gift of the gab"). This questioner is appreciated for his own wit and the ingeniousness of his silly questions.
The greater the number of questioners, the more difficult the performance. There might be 8 (''aṣtāvadhānaṃ''), 100 (''śatāvadhānaṃ'') or 1000 (''sahasrāvadhānaṃ''). A person who has successfully performed opposite 8 questioners is called an ''aṣtāvadhāni'', opposite 100 is a ''satāvadhāni'' and opposite 1000 is a ''sahasrāvadhāni''.
Other less commonly performed avadhana include chitravadhanam (painting), nrutyāvadhānaṃ (dancing), gaṇitāvadhānaṃ (mathematics) and netrāvadhānaṃ (dexterity of eye movements).
== History ==
===Medieval India===
Medieval India refers to the era between the fall of the Gupta Empire in the mid-6th century CE to the rise of the Mughal Empire in the early 16th century CE. Avadhanam is noted at the time of the Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent in the courts of the Turks.
Jain poets performed Avadhanam for Mughal emperors and their subahdars (provincial governors). Those who performed at the court of Akbar (Mughal emperor 1556 - 1605 CE) included Nandivijay (mentored by monk, Vijayasen Suri) who performed the Ashtavadhana form and Siddichandra (mentored by monk, Hiravijaya Suri) who performed the Shatavadhana form, completing 108 simultaneous tasks. Both were well received.<ref name="pd-avadhan">{{cite book | last=Prasad | first=Pushpa | editor-last=Habib | editor-first=Irfan | language=Hindi | title=अकबर और तत्कालीन भारत |trans-title=Akbar and contemporary India | publisher=Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt Ltd | year=2009 | location=New Delhi, India | isbn=978-81-26-70979-3 | chapter=अकबर और जैनी |trans-chapter=Akbar and the Jains | pages=107–108}}</ref> Siddhichandra was a guest of the Mughal court until late in the time of Jahangir (Mughal emperor 1605 - 1627 CE).<ref name="pd-avadhan"/>
Yashovijay Suri, the author of the work ''Jain Tarka Bhasha'', performed several avadhanams at Ahmedabad in the 17th century, including 18 performances before Mohabat Khan, the Subahdar of Gujarat under Aurangzeb (Mughal emperor 1658 - 1707 CE).<ref>{{cite book | last=Shastri | first=Indra Chandra | language=Hindi | title=जैन तर्क भाषा |trans-title=The dialectics of Jains | publisher=Shri Triloka Ratna Sthanakvasi Jain Dharmik Pariksha Board | year=1964 | pages=1–2}}</ref>
===19th and 20th centuries=== thumb|Tirupati Venkata Kavulu statues at a high school. In the late 19th century, Telugu avadhana was popularized by Tirupati Venkata Kavulu, the cousin duo Divakarla Tirupati Sastry (1871 - 1919) and Chellapilla Venkata Sastry (1870–1950). Their contemporaries include Kopparapu Sodara Kavulu, who was known for the rapidity of his compositions, and Venkata Raamakrishna Kavulu. Tirupati Venkata Kavulu mentored Viswanatha Satyanarayana (1895 - 1976), a Jnanpith Award winner (for contribution to literature), Subbanna Satavadhani and Paada Subrahmany Sastry.
Sathavathani Sheikh Thambi Pavalar (1874 - 1950) was a Tamil poet. On 10 March 1907, he performed sathavadhanam at Victoria Public Hall in Chennai (formerly Madras). On 31 December 2008, Pavalar was honoured with the release of a commemorative postage stamp.
Shrimad Rajchandra (1867 - 1901) , also known as Param Krupalu Dev, was a Gujarati Jain poet and shatavadhani whose skills impressed Mahatma Gandhi.<ref>{{cite book | title=Gandhi: A Political and Spiritual Life | last=Tidrick | first=Kathryn |author-link=Kathryn Tidrick | publisher=I.B. Tauris | year=2007 | isbn= 978-1-84511-166-3 | page=23 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pp-gZ5OVkuUC&pg=PA23 | accessdate=October 8, 2012 }}</ref>
Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty (1906 - 1973) was an ashtavsdhani was an historian, poet, and independence advocate. Under British rule, in Andhra Pradesh, he became the first district magistrate of Indian heritage in Andhra Pradesh under British rule.<ref>[http://www.techautos.com/avasc/avasc2.html Ashtavadhani - Ambati Subbaraya Chetty]</ref>
Pandit Veni Madhav Shukla was a scholar and shatavadhani from Jaunpur. He was a relative of the Indian Hindu religious leader Rambhadracharya.<ref>{{cite book | page=51 | last = Nagar | first = Shanti Lal | title = The Holy Journey of a Divine Saint: Being the English Rendering of Swarnayatra Abhinandan Granth | editor1-first = Acharya Divakar | editor1-last = Sharma | editor2-first = Siva Kumar | editor2-last = Goyal | editor3-first = Surendra Sharma | editor3-last = Sushil | publisher = B. R. Publishing Corporation | edition = First, Hardback | location = New Delhi, India | year = 2002 | isbn = 81-7646-288-8}}</ref>
From 18 February 2007 to 20 March 2007, Medasani Mohan (born 1955) performed an avadhanam called ''Apoorva Pancha Sahasra Avadhanam''. It is seen as record breaking and an exemplar of several forms of poetry such as ''seesa padya'', ''champakamala'', ''sardulam'', ''mattebhavikriditha'', and ''thetageetha.'' The questioners included at least 1000 poets and 4000 scholars. The subjects of poetry included untouchability, AIDs, women's power, the internet, computers, students and so on.<ref name="record">{{cite news |last=Srihari |first=Gudipoodi |date=30 March 2007 |title=Amazing 'Avadhanam' |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/amazing-avadhanam/article2271951.ece |accessdate=1 December 2012 |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
Gadiyaram Ramakrishna Sarma (1919 - 2006) was a poet, social reformer and independence advocate from Alampur, Andhra Pradesh performed avadhaanam. He is known for his efforts to revive the temples of Alampur.
Perala Bharata Sarma was a late 20th century academic in the field of Sanskrit literature who performed ashtavadhanams.
===21st century===
====Telugu avadhanis==== thumb|Medasani Mohan Medasani Mohan (b. 1955) is referred to as ''Apoorva Pancha Sahasravadhana Sarvabhouma'' for being the first to perform a pancha sahasra avadhanam (an avadhanam with 5000 questioners). He has performed a very large number of a variety of avadhanam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Medasani Mohan, Avadana Samrat |url=http://www.medasanimohan.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305000025/http://www.medasanimohan.com/ |archivedate=2016-03-05 |access-date=2016-04-05 |website=www.medasanimohan.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-11-25 |title=Medasani Mohan felicitated |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/medasani-mohan-felicitated/article1955207.ece |access-date=2016-04-05 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr.Medasani Mohan Created History on American Soil |url=http://www.greatandhra.com/movies/movie-news/drmedasani-mohan-created-history-on-american-soil-1839.html |access-date=2016-04-05 |website=greatandhra.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="ALMIGHTY IS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST GURU"-DR MEDASANI MOHAN – TTD News |url=http://news.tirumala.org/almighty-is-the-first-and-foremost-guru-dr-medasani-mohan/ |access-date=2016-04-05 |website=news.tirumala.org |archive-date=2016-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808132312/http://news.tirumala.org/almighty-is-the-first-and-foremost-guru-dr-medasani-mohan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Garikapati Narasimha Rao (b. 1958) is referred to as ''Maha Sahasraavadhani'' and ''Dhaarana Brahma Raakshasa'' for his achievements''.'' He is the author of ''Saagara Ghosha.''
Rallabandi Kavitha Prasad (1961 - 2015) was a director of the department of culture in Andhra Pradesh performed many avadhanams of various types and developed the vidya form. Osmania University in University awarded him a doctoral degree for his thesis on avadhanam vidya. Prasad wrote an anthology of modern poetry titled ''ontari poola butta'' and books including ''Kadambini''.
Akella Bala Bhanu is a Sanskrit lecturer at Aditya Junior College in Amalapuram. She performed an ashtaavadhanam in Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh at 18 years of age. Bhanu is the first and only female Shathhavadhani. She is related to Bharatam Srimannayarana Garu and Yeluripati Anantaramayya Garu.<ref>{{Cite web |title= VISAKHAPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH, 28-01-2015: First woman Shatavadhani Akella Bala Bhanu of Amalapuram performing Ashtavadhanam... | the Hindu Images|url=https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=160187398}}</ref>
Asavadi Prakasarao (1944 - 2022) was mentored by CV Subbanna. Prakasarao, a member of the marginalised Dalit caste performed his first avadhanam at 19 years of age.
Madakasira Krishna Prabhavathi is a Telugu author who was a principal at the Government Railway Junior College in Guntakal.
Other contemporary Telugu adhavanis include, Madugula Nagaphani Sarma, Amudala Murali, Vaddiparti Padmakar (a tribhasha sahasravadhani who is multilingual), Kadimella Vara Prasad, Gannavaram Lalit Aditya (a Vasma Foundation Yuvasiromani Award winner from the United States), Bulusu Aparna (a Sanskrit Teacher in Tirumala), and Dorbhala Prabhakara Sarma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avadhanasaraswathipeetham.com/aboutus.html|title=Avadhana Saraswathi Peetham|website=www.avadhanasaraswathipeetham.com|access-date=2016-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjikiu_sri-vaikunta-vaibhavam-naga-phani-sharma-part-01_news|title=Sri Vaikunta Vaibhavam - Naga Phani Sharma - Part 01 - Video Dailymotion|website=Dailymotion|date=25 June 2011 |access-date=2016-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravachanam.com/browse/telugu/srimad_bhagavatham/madugula_nagaphani_sharma|title=Pravachanas by Madugula Nagaphani Sharma {{!}} Pravachanam.com|website=www.pravachanam.com|access-date=2016-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317232603/http://www.pravachanam.com/browse/telugu/srimad_bhagavatham/madugula_nagaphani_sharma|archive-date=2016-03-17|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ashtavadhanam-today/article2563866.ece|title='Ashtavadhanam' today|date=2011-10-23|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
====Sanskrit and Kannada avadhanis==== Shatavadhani Ganesh (R. Ganesh) (b. 1962) is a prolific and multilingual avadhani. He introduced chitra-kavya to the art of avadhanam.<ref name="test">{{cite news|title=Test of memory and verse, in Kannada|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/test-of-memory-and-verse-in-kannada/article4149156.ece|accessdate=1 December 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 November 2012}}</ref>
Pandit Sudhakar Kallurkar, an avadhani from the Uttarhadi Hindu monastery performed for Satyatma Tirtha (b. 1973).
Vid. Gundibailu Subrahmanya Bhat from Udupi, is a scholar of the vedanta philosophy and has achieved a vidwath certification in Hindu classical voice. He performs in Sanskrit and Kannada.
Vid. Ramnath Acharya from Udupi is a scholar of Dvaita Vedantha philosophy and is also a Shatavadhani. He perforrms in Sanskrit and Kannada. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-pDVP-ja3M |title=ಅಷ್ಟಾವಧಾನ - ಡಾ. ಶತಾವಧಾನಿ ಉಡುಪಿ ರಾಮನಾಥ ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಇವರಿಂದ |date=2025-09-07 |last=SRI PUTHIGE MATHA UDUPI |access-date=2026-05-04 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
==== Tamil avadhanis ==== Rama. Kanaga Subburathinam performs sodasa avadhani (one with sixteen skills).<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= 10 May 2012|title=Anandha Vikatan Article |url=http://www.vikatan.com/new/article.php?module=magazine&aid=7947 |accessdate= |website= |publisher=}}</ref>
====Jain avadhanis==== Muni Manak Maharaj is a multilingual avadhani from Sujangarh who was mentored by Acharya Tulsi. He has knowledge of astrology, palmistry and numerology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shreemahashaktimandir.org/about-temple/key-persons |accessdate=October 9, 2012 |title=Pujya Shree Manak Muni Ji Maharaj |publisher=Shri Maha Shakti Mandir |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104191407/http://www.shreemahashaktimandir.org/about-temple/key-persons |archivedate=January 4, 2013 }}</ref>
Muni Rajkaran (b. Rajasthan 1927) was a widely travelled monk mentored by Acharya Tulsi. With knowledge of Jain Agamas, Sanskrit and Prakrit he performed 500 or more avadhanams on one day.<ref>http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=62442&tt_address_pi1[uid]=89&no_cache=1</ref>
Muni Mahendra Kumar (b. 1937) became a monk in 1957, a contemporary of Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahaprajna. He on the faculty of the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladnu. He instructs in Jain (Preksha) meditation. Kumar is the author of the cosmology texts including ''The Enigma of the Universe'' and ''Vishva Prahelika'' in Hindi. He has performed shatavadhana at universities and international conferences.<ref>[http://herenow4u.net/index.php?id=cd1347 Jain monk - ashtavadhani]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.furhhdl.org/bio+Kumar | accessdate=October 13, 2012 | title=Muni Mahendra Kumar | publisher=The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama}}{{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref>
Muni Ajitchandra Sagar (b. 1988) is mentored by Acharya Shree Naychandrasagarji Mharaj. He performs samyukta avadhanas, mahashatavadhana, netravadhana (use of the eyes) and ganitavadhana (mathematics).<ref name="jainworld">{{cite web | last =Shah | first=Dilip V | url=http://jainworld.com/SHATAVDHAN.pdf | title=Shatavadhana - A glimpse at the power of the soul | publisher = Jain World | accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://tittertot.com/?p=1232 | title=Shatavadhan and why it is so intriguing to a parent | accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref> in 2009, he demonstrated the shatavadhana at a Jain Doctors' Federation conference in Ahmedabad.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jainsamaj.org/magazines/ahimsatimesshow.php?id=156 | title=Fifth Conference of Jain Doctors' Federation Organized in Ahmedabad | work=Ahimsa Times | volume=103 | date=January 2009 | accessdate=October 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103180047/http://www.jainsamaj.org/magazines/ahimsatimesshow.php?id=156 | archive-date=November 3, 2012 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2012, in Mumbai, Sagar demonstrated the dvishatavadhana, hearing 200 questions including puzzles, names of objects, places and persons, Sanskrit shlokas, factual and philosophical questions, foreign language words and complex mathematical problems with closed eyes. Sagar holds the Guinness world record for being the world's second-fastest speaker.<ref name="ac-ie">{{cite news |last=Phadke |first=Manasi |date=March 5, 2012 |title=A monk of mathematical puzzles, memory and focus |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-monk-of-mathematical-puzzles-memory-and-focus/920139/0 |accessdate=October 8, 2012 |work=Indian Express}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20171214074833/http://ignca.nic.in/nl002104.htm Seminar: Avadhana The Unique Art of India] (2002, IGNCA) *[http://ellakavi.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/shatavadhani-dr-r-ganesh/ Shatavadhani-Dr. Ganesh] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629040511/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/07/11/stories/2008071150450300.htm The Hindu - July 2008 - A Literary treat] * {{cite news|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun162007/panorama200706157682.asp |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=June 16, 2007 |author=Sudha Madhavan |title=Relevance of Ashtavadhana |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103235314/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun162007/panorama200706157682.asp |archivedate=November 3, 2011 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110630184524/http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/24/stories/2011042459760200.htm The Hindu - 24 April 2011 - 'Ashtavadhanam' impresses one and all] * '''"[https://www.logili.com/poetry/nepadhyam-madakasira-krishna-prabhavathi/p-7488847-15196285377-cat.html#variant_id=7488847-15196285377 Nepadhyam]"''' by '''Madakasira Krishna Prabhavathi''' - ISBN : VISHALA923, Published Date : 2016'''.''' * [https://logilitelugubooks.com/book/bhavabdhipotam-%E0%B0%AD%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%AC%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%AA%E0%B1%8B%E0%B0%A4%E0%B0%82-telugu-book-by-m-k-prabhavathi Bhavabdhipotam] by '''Madakasira Krishna Prabhavathi'''
Category:Arts in India