List of Karnataka literature

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


Karnataka literature refers to writings from the Karnataka region of South India roughly corresponding to the modern state of Karnataka. This literature includes works in Sanskrit and Kannada.

Western Ganga Dynasty (350-999)[edit]

  • Pujyapada (Sarvathasiddi, Jinendra Vyakarana, KalayanaKaraka in Sanskrit)
  • Jinasena II (Adipurana – Sanskrit)
  • Ajitasena
  • Bharavi
  • Akalanka or Nemichandrasiddanta
  • King Madhava II (370-390 AD) (Dattaka Sutrain Sanskrit)
  • King Durvinita (495-535 AD) (Reference to his Kannada work in Kavirajamarga, Vaddakatha Sanskrit translation, Sabdavatara a work on Sanskrit grammar, commentary on the 15th sarga of Bharavi's Kiratarjuniya in Sanskrit)
  • Sripurusha (Gajasastra)
  • King Shivamara II (788-816 AD) (Gajashtaka, a Kannada work on elephant management, and Sethubandha in Prakrit).
  • Hemasena or Vidya Dhananjaya (Raghavpandaviya)
  • Vidhibhasimha (Gadyachintamani and Kshatrachudamani)
  • Guru Nemichandra (Gommatasara book on jain philosophy, his title was Siddhant-Chakravarti and was guru of Chavundaraya)
  • Chavundaraya (978 AD) (Chavundarayapurana, Charitrasara, Trishashti LaksanPurana -Kannada)
  • Gunavarma (Kannada Grammar)
  • Nagavarma (Chandombhudhi)
  • Jinasena I (738 AD) (Harivamsha – Sanskrit)

Rashtrakutas (753-973)[edit]

  • Trivikrama (Nalachampu in Sanskrit)
  • Halayudha (Kavirahasya and Mritasanjivini)
  • Somadevasuri (Nitikavyamrita)
  • Mahaviracharya (Ganita-sara-samgraha)
  • Padma pada
  • Visvarupa
  • Virasenacharya (Jayadhavala-tika)
  • Jinasenacharya (Parsvabhyudaya Mahapurana, Dhavala)
  • Gunabhadra (Uttarapurana – Sanskrit)
  • Pushpadanta
  • Akalanka
  • Asaga (Vardhamana Purana-Kannada)
  • King Amoghavarsha I Nripatunga, (Prashottara Ratnamakike, Kavirajamarga, a treatise on Kannada poetics, 850 A.D.)
  • Sri Ponna (950 AD) (title, Kavichakravarthi wrote Bhuvanaika- Ramabhyudaya, Santipurana and Jinaksaramale – Kannada)
  • Adikavi Pampa (902-975 AD) (called Adhikavi wrote Adipurana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya in Kannada)
  • Shivakotiacharya (Vaddaradhane 900 CE earliest prose in Kannada borrowed from Sanskrit work Brihatkathakosha of Harishena)
  • Sri Vijaya
  • Rudrabhatta of Banahatti – Kannada
  • Ravinagabhatta who wrote a record for Govinda IV – Kannada
  • Kavi Rajaraja wrote the Kalasa record, minister of Krishna II – Kannada
  • Gajankusha who wrote on erotics – Kannada

Western Chalukyas (973-1189)[edit]

  • Ranna (949 AD) (Ajitapurana, Sahasabhimavijaya, Gadayuddha, and Rannakanda – Kannada)
  • Chavundaraya II (Lokopakara, an important literary source in Kannada dealing with variety of subjects useful for mankind such as Veterinary Science, Aeromatics, Horticulture, Medicine, Astrology, Water resource, Cookery,etc. belonging to 11 C AD – Kannada)
  • Chandraraja (Madanatilaka, a work on erotics – Kannada)
  • Shridharacharya (Jatakatilaka is a work on astrology – Kannada)
  • Kirtivarma (1125 AD) (Govaidya on veterinary science – Kannada)
  • Durgasimha (panchatantra – Kannada)
  • Nagavarma (Kavyavalokana – Kannada)
  • Brahmashiva (Samayaparikshe – Kannada)
  • Devara Dasimayya (Vachanakara belonged to this period – Kannada)
  • Vadiraja ( Yashodharacharitam and Parshvanatha Charitam – Sanskrit)
  • Bilhana (Vikramankadeva Charitha, The Kashmiri poet immortalized the name of his patron Vikramaditya VI through this work – Sanskrit)
  • Vijananeshvara (Mitakshara, a commentary on Yajnavalkya Smriti – Sanskrit)
  • Someshwara III (Abhilashithartha Chinthamani or Manasollasa, an encyclopedia of all arts and sciences and Chandraprabhacharite – Sanskrit)
  • Jagadekamalla (Sangithachudamani in Sanskrit)
  • Jagaddala Somanatha (Karnataka Kalyanakaraka) Kannada work on Ayurvedic medicine (1150 AD)
  • Karnaparya (1140 AD) (Neminatha purana- Kannada)
  • Nayasena (1112 AD) (Dharmamrita- Kannada)
  • Brahmasiva (1150 AD) (Samayaparikshe- Kannada)
  • Naga Chandra (Jain Ramayana- Kannada)
  • Kanti (Jain poet – Kannada),
  • Shantiraja (Sukumaracharita – Kannada)
  • VrittaVilasa (1150 AD) - Had written Sanskrit's DharmaParikshe in Kannada
  • Nagavarma II ("ShabdaSmruthi", Kavyavalokana, Bhashabhushana and Abhidana Vastukosha).

Hoysala Empire (1000–1346)[edit]

  • Madhvacharya(1238–1317 AD) wrote Sarvamula Granthas in Sanskrit – propounded Dvaita Philosophy
  • Vidyatirtha (Rudraprashnabhashya – Sanskrit)
  • Nagachandra (Ramachandra Charita Purana, and Mallinathapurana – Kannada. He is known as Abhinava Pampa).
  • Kanti (poet)
  • Vishnudandadipa
  • Santa Mahanta
  • Harihara (Girija Kalyana, BasavarajadevaraRagale – Kannada)
  • Raghavanka (established Shatpadi, , Harischandra Kavya, Siddhara Chanitra, Veeresha Charite, Sharabha Charitre, somanathacharita and Harihara Mahatwa – Kannada)
  • Janna (1191–1230 AD) (Yashodhara Charite and Ananthanatha Purana- Kannada. Obtained title Kavichakravarti)
  • Nemichandra (1170 AD) ( (Leelavati, Neminatha Purana – Kannada)
  • Achanna (1195 AD) (Vardhamana Purana)
  • Rudra Bhatta (Jagannatha Vijaya – Kannada)
  • Mallikarjuna (Sukti & Sudharnava- Kannada)
  • Kesiraja (Shabdamanidarpana- Kannada grammar)
  • Hastimalla (1290 AD) (Adipurana- Kannada)
  • Andayya (1235 AD) – (Vardhamana Purana, Kabbigarakava – Kannada)
  • Choundarasa (1300 AD) (Abhinava-DashaKumara Charitha and Nala Champu – Kannada)
  • Rajaditya (1191 AD) (Kshetraganita, Vyavaharaganita, and Lilavati on mathematics-Kannada)
  • Ratta Kavi (1300 AD) (Rata-Mata work on meteorological topics – Kannada)
  • Bandhuvarma (1200 AD) (Neminatha Purana, Harivamsha – Kannada)
  • Mahabalakavi (1254 AD) (Neminatha Purana – Kannada)
  • Sumanobana – Kannada poet
  • Padmarasa (Dikshabodhe – Kannada)
  • Hastimalla (1290 AD) (Adipurana)
  • Trivikrama (Ushaharana, Dvaita philosophy – Sanskrit)
  • Narayana Pandita (Madhwavijaya, Manimanjari and Parijataharana – Sanskrit)
  • Anandabodha – Advaitha Philosophy – Sanskrit
  • Vidyacharkarvartin II (Rukminikalyana – Sanskrit)

The Kalachuri kingdom (1130–1184), Virashaiva Saints and Vachanakaras[edit]

  • Basavanna (known as Basaveshvara wrote the spiritual lyrics vachanas- Kannada)
  • Renukacharya
  • Darukacharya
  • Ekoramacharya
  • Panditaradhyacharya
  • Vishwaradhyacharya
  • Akkamahadevi
  • Nilambike
  • Gangambike
  • Allama Prabhu
  • Siddarama
  • Chennabasava
  • Madivala Machayya (vachanakara- Kannada)
  • Madara Channayya (vachanakara -Kannada)
  • Sakalesha Madarasa (vachanakara-Kannada)
  • Ramanna (vachanakara-Kannada)
  • Sujikayakada Ramitande (vachanakara-Kannada)
  • Medara Ketayya (vachanakara-Kannada)
  • Kayakada Basappa (vachanakara-Kannada)
  • Virupaksha Pandita – (Chennabasavapurana- Kannada)
  • Dharani Pandita – (Bijjalarayacharite – Kannada)
  • Chandrasagara Varni (Bijjalarayapurana- Kannada)

Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri(850-1315)[edit]

  • Kamalabhava (Santhishwarapurana – Kannada)
  • Achanna (Varadhamanapurana – Kannada)
  • Amugudevi – Vachanakara
  • Chundarasa of Pandharapura (DashakumaraCharite – Kannada)

Vijayanagara Empire (1335–1565), Kannada Haridasa Sahitya[edit]

  • Kumara Vyasa (1430 AD) (Gadugina Bharata or Karnataka Bharata KathaManjari a Kannada adaptation of Mahabharata and Airavata. His title was Rupaka Samrajya Chakravarti (Emperor of the World of Metaphors).)
  • Narahri or Kumara Valmiki (1500 AD) (Torave Ramayana in Kannada & Smriti Kaustubha in Sanskrit)
  • Vittalanatha (Bhagavatha)-Kannada
  • Ratnakarvarni (16th century) (Bharatesha Vaibhava, Triloka Sataka, Someswara Sataka) – Kannada
  • Nanjunda -Kumara Rama Charita (16th century) – Kannada
  • BhimaKavi – Basavapurana(1369 AD) – Kannada
  • Padmanaka – Kannada
  • Kereya Padmarasa – Padmaraja Purana (1385 AD) – Kannada
  • Lakkana Dandesa Shivatatwa Chintamani (1428 AD) – -Kannada
  • Gubbi Mallanacharya – Veerasaivamrita (1513 AD) – Kannada
  • Singiraja – Kannada
  • Chamarasa (Prabhulinga Leele) -Kannada
  • Akalanka (16th century), Jain scholar – Kannada
  • Bhattakalaka (16th century) -Kannada grammarian
  • Mangaraja (1360 AD) (Khagendra-Mani-Darpana, work on poisons and antidotes) - Kannada
  • Sayana (Vedartha Prakasha, Yajnatantra Sudhanidhi, Prayaschitra Sudhanidhi and Purushartha Sudhanidhi) -Sanskrit
  • Madhava Vidyaranya (Parasara – Madhaviya, Sarva-darshana-samgraha) - Sanskrit
  • Devanna Bhatta (Smriti Chandrika) – Sanskrit
  • Gangadevi (Poet, Madhura Vijayam) – Sanskrit
  • Tirumalamba Devi (Poet, Varadambika Parinayam) – Sanskrit
  • Krishnadevaraya (Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya& Rasamanjari- Sanskrit
  • Ramaraja (Bakhair – Battle of Talikota – Persian??)
  • Timmanna Kavi, patronised by king Krishnadevaraya, Kannada
  • Kereya Padmarasa, Padmaraja Purana – Kannada
  • Linganna, Keladinripavijayam – Kannada
  • Unknown author, Krishnadevarayana Dinachari is a recent discovery in Kannada.
  • Chatu Vithalanatha, Kannada
  • Madhura, Kannada
  • Salva
  • Mallanarya, Veerasaivamrita- Kannada
  • Lakkana Dandesa, Shivatatwa Chintamani – Kannada
  • Shivagna Prasadi Mahadevayya and Halageyadeva, Shunya Sampadane- Kannada
  • Kallumathada Prabhuva – Kannada
  • Jakkanna – Kannada
  • Maggeya Mayideva – Kannada
  • Tontada Siddalingayati – Kannada

Haridasa

  • Purandaradasa (1484–1564 AD) (Father of Carnatic music. Composed 475,000 songs in Kannada. His titles wereDasaShreshta Purandaropanishat, Sangitapitamaha)
  • Kanakadasa (1509–1607 AD) (Padas and Keertans

RamadhyanaCharite, Haribhakthisara, Kalacharithre, Mohana Tarangini, Nalacharitre – Kannada)

Later Haridasa[edit]

  • Guru Raghavendra Swami (1600–1671 AD) the great Sage of Manthralaya.Important works
  • Vijaya Dasa (1687–1755 AD)
  • Mohana Dasa
  • Gopala Dasa (1721–1762 AD)
  • Helavanakatte Giriyamma
  • Jagannatha Dasa (1728–1809 AD) (Harikathamrithasara, Uga Bhogas, Keerthanas and Tathva Suvalis- Kannada)

Kannada literature from Mysore Kingdom, Keladi Nayaka kingdom[edit]

  • Basappanayaka (Shivatatwa Ratnakara – History Keladi Kings)
  • Linganna (Keladi Napra Vijaya- History of Keladi Kings)
  • Chikkupadhyaya, Minister and teacher of His Highness Sri Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar (1670 AD) – more than 30 works in Kannada
  • Tirumalaraya (1680 CE) (Chikkadevaraja Vijayam, Chikkadevaraja Vamshaavali – History of Mysore Kings)
  • Govinda Vaidya (1648 CE) (Narasaraja Vijaya – History of Mysore Kings)
  • Bhattakalanka Deva (1604 AD) (Karnataka Shabdaushasana on grammar)
  • Sakdakshara Deva (1657 AD) (Rajshekhara Vilasa- romantic champu)
  • Noorondayya (1740 AD) (Soundara Kavya)
  • Nijaguna Yogi (1650 AD) (Viveka Chintamani- Shaiva work)
  • Nanja Raja (1760 AD) (Shiva Bhakti Mahatmya and Hari Vamsa – Puranic works)
  • Brahma Kavi (Samaya Pariksha)
  • Sarvajna (1650 AD) (tripadis or vachanas pithy three lined poems in Kannada)

Kannada literature from old Bangalore (18th – 21st century AD)[edit]

18th Century Kannada

  • Guru Nanjesh (Jayastuti)
  • Ekambara Dikshit (Veerabhdra Vijaya)
  • Jayaram Pande (Radha Madhava Vilasa)
  • Mudduveeraswamy (1700 AD) (Vachanakara)
  • Sarpabhooshana Shivayogi (1795–1839 AD) (Vachanakara)
  • Mahant Desika (Vachanakara)
  • Jeerage Basavalingacharya (Vachanakara)

19th Century Kannada (topics-grammar, linguistics, Jain and Virashaiva philosophy, geology, agriculture, politics)

  • Siddhanti Velanada
  • Subramanya Shastri
  • Siddhanti Shivakumara Shastri
  • Srinivasa
  • Nagasharma
  • Dakshinamurthy Shastri
  • Padmaraja Bhramasuri
  • Ramanathapuram Raguraya
  • S. N. Narasimhaiah
  • Doddabele Narayana Shastri – commentary on Jaimini Bharatha, Sundarakhanda, translations of Kalidasa works

20th century Kannada

  • Bidare Ashwatha Narayana shastri (Dhammapada)
  • B. Puttiah (printing technology)
  • Panyam Sudarashastri (a translation of Bhasa Dharma)
  • S.K. Nasasimhaiya (biography of Magadi Kempe Gowda)
  • Toppulu Raghavacharya (translation of commentary on Gita)
  • Mahant desika (Yakshagana composition)
  • Balasaraswati (first detective novel)
  • Mahadevaswamy (nicknamed Abhinava Allama)
  • Pt. Shivakumar Swamy
  • Siddalingaswamy of Beli Matha
  • Nanjundaswamy of Guruvanna Matha
  • Pt. B. Shivamurty Shastri

20th century Sanskrit Keerthanakaras

  • Singeri NarasimhaShastri
  • M. Lakshminarasimha Shastri
  • Varada Desikachar
  • Jaggu Vakulabhushana
  • Rariapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma
  • Motaganahalli Subramanya Shastri

20th century harikathe dasaru

  • Gururajulu Naidu
  • Sant Keshava Das
  • Bhadragiri Achuth Das
  • Malur Sonnappa
  • Muiratnam Mudaliar

Modern Kannada poets, scholars and writers[edit]

Jnanpith Awardees

Sahitya Academy Awardees

Kendra Sahitya Academy Awardees (translation)

  • 2005 Dr. Panchakshari Hiremath, Urdu to Kannada

Other eminent writers

  • Panje Mangesh Rao
  • De. Javare Gowda
  • Annadanayya Puranik – Vachanas, Law, Shiva Sharana literature
  • Siddayya Puranik – Vachanas, Shiva Sharana literature
  • Chandrika Puranik – Shiva Sharana literature
  • Udaya Shankar Puranik – science and technology, columnist
  • Haldoderi Sudhindra – columnist
  • Pandit Kallinath Shastri Puranik – 12 Puranas and Ayurveda
  • Basavaraj Puranik – Shiva Sharana literature
  • Samethanahalli Rama Rao (Raasa)
  • Anupama Niranjana
  • B. M. Srikanthaiah (B. M. Sri)
  • Dr. A. N. Krishna Rao (Anakru)
  • G. P. Rajarathnam
  • G. B. Joshi (JadaBharata)
  • M Govinda Pai
  • M. V. Seetaramiah
  • Nisar Ahmed K. S.
  • P. Lankesh
  • Dr. Panchakshari Hiremath
  • SAADHANE-RajguruGuruswamiKalikeri (Poetry, research, legends, biographies and lyrics)
  • S. V. Parameshwara Bhatta
  • T. P. Kailasam – drama
  • Tha. Ra. Subbarao
  • Thee. Nam. Shree
  • R. K. Narayan, author
  • R. K. Laxman, cartoonist & humorist
  • Kamala Markhandaya
  • Triveni (Sharapanjara), novelist
  • G. P. Rajaratnam (Ratnana Padagalu)
  • Beechi – humorist
  • Dr M.Shivaram, Rashi – humorist
  • T. Sunandamma – humorist
  • H. L. Nage Gowda – folklorist
  • Go Ru Chennabsappa (Go Ru Cha) – Janapada Saahithya & Sharana Saahithya
  • Anakaru – novelist
  • M. Ramamurthy
  • K. V. Iyer
  • Devudu
  • Niranjana
  • Na. Kasturi
  • Navaratna Rama Rao
  • T. T. Sharma – journalism
  • VeeraKesari
  • Siddavanahalli Krishna Sharma
  • Hariharapriya
  • R. Kalyanamma
  • Tirumale Rajamma
  • Ambabai
  • H. V. Savitramma
  • H. S. Parvathi
  • Chi. Na. Mangala
  • H. R. Indira
  • M. K. Indira
  • M. V. Kanakamma
  • Nirupama
  • N. Pankaja
  • Usha Navaratna Ram
  • Kakolu Saroja Rao
  • Anupama Niranjana
  • Vi. Seetharamiah, poet, critic
  • Basavaraja Kattimani
  • Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba (author)
  • Sundar V. Nadkarni, fiction writer and poet
  • Ta. Raa.Subba Rao, novelist
  • Veenaa Shantheshvara, short story writer
  • Vaidehi, short story writer
  • Sumangala, short story writer
  • Dr K. R. Sandhya Reddy, poet, story writer, folk literature
  • T. K. Venkatesh Prabhu – novelist & poet
  • A. N. Prahlada Rao Kannada crossword writer
  • Pratibha Nandakumar, poet
  • D. R. Nagraj, critic
  • K. V. Narayana, literary critic and linguist
  • B. C. Ramachandra Sharma, poet and fictionist
  • Shanhinatha Desai, novelist, story writer
  • Kum. Veerabhadrappa, novelist, story writer
  • Gowri Lankesh, columnist
  • Vishweswara Bhat, columnist
  • Abdul Raheem Teekay, Writer[1]
  • Ravi Hanj, columnist
  • B. V. Veerabhadrappa, columnist
  • Dr. N. Someswara, health writer
  • N. Narasimhaiah – detective novelist
  • A. N. Murthy Rao
  • Dr. S. R. Ramaswamy, journalist
  • Ba. Na. Sundara Rao, author and journalist
  • Shivarudraprasad, poet and columnist

Christian missionaries literature

  • Rev. John Garet (translated Bible, Bhagavadgita, Panchatantra, Shabda Manidarpana to Kannada)
  • Daniel Sanderson (translated Jaimini Bharata to English)
  • Thomas Hodson
  • Ellis Robert
  • Rev. B. L Rice
  • Edward Peter Rice

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter Books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC 7796041
  • Prof K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002), ISBN 0-19-560686-8
  • R. Narasimhacharya, History of Kannada Literature, 1988, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, Madras,1988 ISBN 81-206-0303-6.
  • Ramachandra Sidenur, Karmanye Vadhi Karaste, 2004, Dharwad

External links[edit]