Puroshottam Choudhary

Puroshottam Choudhary (5 September 1803 – 24 August 1890 ) also spelled Purushottama Chaudhary or Purushothama Choudhari was a great 19th century Telugu Christian poet. He was a Christian preacher, evangelist, and pastor of the Berhampur Church, founded by Isaac Stubbins in 1838.

He was also a poet, pamphleteer, and one of the first Christian vaggeyakaras (composers) - contributing immensely to "Bhakti tradition" in Telugu Christianity and to Christology in India.

Biography Choudhary was born on 5 September 1803 to Bengali parents Kurmanatha Chowdhari and Subhadhra at Madanpur in Ganjam district, Orissa - with predominant Oriya and Telugu-speaking people and their neighbouring lands – Ganjam district is located on the border of Telugu-speaking districts of present-day Andhra Pradesh - namely, Chicacole (present Srikakulam) and Vizagapatam (present Visakhapatnam). While in Orissa, he was married to his cousin, Radhamani Devi. They had two sons and three daughters.

Initially in 1834, he worked as an assistant missionary under Major Brett of London Missionary Society at Madras; accordingly, he made numerous trips to Oriya speaking districts and Telugu speaking districts of then-Madras Presidency, including regions of Andhra and Bellary of present Karnataka, to preach the "Word of God,"(gospel) and to distribute Christian literature, including the evangelical literature written by him.

Works Nilachala Vilasamu, a poem written while a - not yet baptised, 1828. Kulachara Pariksha (Examination of caste), a tract, 1833. Muktimarga Pradarsanam (The way of happiness), a tract, 1845. Yesu Kristu Prabhu Satakamu (Ode to the Lord Jesus), a poem, 1845. Jagannadha Pariksha (Testing of Jagannath), in Telugu, 1845. Muktimarga Pradarsanamu (The way of happiness), a tract, 1845. Rakshana Charitra (History of salvation), 1846. Nistara Ratnakaramu (Jewel mine of salvation), 1846. Vigraha nirmanamu (The creating of an Idol), 1847. Pancha Chamara Pannamulu, 1847. Pancha Ratnamulu (Five jewels), poems about God, 1847. Brahma Jnanamu (on Pantheism), 1856. Andhakara Nasanamu, in Telugu, 1861. Masuchi, Visuchi, Sankata bhranti nivritti (The destruction of the fear of disease), 1862. Manasse Mulam (The mind is everything), 1863. Kristava Niti Prakasamu (the gospel trumpet) written in 1851, a booklet in Telugu, published by Das Anthravedy in 1871. Satyaveda sara sangrahamu or Christ's paratatva (Christian philosophy), 1871. Hymns for public and private workshop, in Telugu metre (1883) Devuni Viradrupa Varnanamu (Description of the grandeur of God), in Telugu, 1884. Life of Purushottam Chowdhari, 1888.

Works he assisted In compilation of Telugu Baptist hymn book. Assisted W. Dawson (L.W. Society) on Telugu hymn book, containing about 80 of Purushottam's hymns, 1848. Assisted in compiling hymns about 130. Assisted J. Hay on Telugu scriptures. Index to the Telugu Bible, a laborious production of Purushottam.