And They Were Called Akasapu

Ever wondered how your family got those funky surnames? Well, for that matter, how did the Akasapus get their name? Well below is a piece of recorded family history. My family history. At least, my mother's family history.

Firstly, akasam in Sanskrit and Telugu means sky. So, Akasapu means 'belonging to sky' or 'of sky'. Family history has it (written on talapatras that existed till my grandfather was about 10 and then were later lost during ancestral wealth distribution) that the clan of Akasapus were master weavers. They were famous in their land for creating the most exquisite cloth of their times . Lore has it that they once weaved a saree out of exquisite, delicate silk with such finesse that they could fold it neatly and tuck it into a matchbox and present it to the king.

The king (I forget the name, but basically, a king before the era of Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vizanagara kingdom) was so impressed by their feat, and touched by their humbleness that he stated that they could ask for anything. The humble clansmen replied that they desired no ephemeral, worldly rewards, but wished for their name to be eternal and sasvatham. The king pleased by their reply, decreed that, from that day forth, they will be known as the Akasapu, people as eternal as the sky.

And thus, the Akasapus came to existence.