Karnataka > Culture and Kannada literature of Karnataka
Kannada Literature
Kannada literature has a history dating back to at least 1500 years. This apart, the folk literature which began earlier, still runs parallel to the written form. Seygotta Sivarama's 'Gajashtaka' is cited as an example of early folk literature. The oldest available work in Kannada is however, a book on poetics, called 'Kavirajamarga'. Some controversy surrounds this work regarding the authorship, but the consensus is that it was written more likely by Srivijaya than king Nripathunga. The work not only discusses figures of speech like 'rasa' and 'dhwani', but also gives descriptions of the geographical boundaries of Karnataka, as well as its life and culture.
Thumbalacharya is credited with having written 'Chudamani', a philosophical work, much earlier. But the earliest Kannada prose work is Sivakotiacharya's 'Vaddaradhane' which even to this day is considered a masterpiece. It is a collection of 16 Jaina stories. These seem to have been based on an earlier Prakrit commentary called 'Bhagavathi Aradhana'.
Pampa's Vikramarjuna Vijaya' based on 'Mahabharatha' and written in Champu style, which is a mixture of prose and poetry, unique to Kannada, is the earliest epic work in Kannada. Pampas influence on Kannada literature is so deep that T.N.Srikantaiah speaks of him as the Kalidasa of Kannada. Being a Jaina poet, he also wrote 'Adipurana' based on Jinasena's 'Mahapurana'.
Ponna who wrote 'Shanthipurana', and Ranna's 'Gadayuddha' have earned them immortality as poets, were also Jainas. They lived in the 10th Century. Nagavarma II who belongs to the next century was also a Jaina poet and wrote 'Kavyavalokana', a book on poetics, and 'Karnataka Bhashabhushana' a Kannada grammar in Sanskrit. His 'Vardhamanapurana' was discovered only recently. Janna, a Jain poet again, wrote 'Yashodhara Charithe', a love story. Durgasimha, in llth century, wrote 'Panchatantra' based on Vasubhaga's Sanskrit work, and it is a classic example of the ancient art of story telling. Rudrabhatta wrote 'Jagannatha Vijaya' based on 'Vishnu Purana', The last two were Brahmin poets. The 12th century saw a sea of change in Kannada literature both in content and style. What caused this is the growth of Veerashaivism which was essentially revolutionary in approach. It derecognised untouchability and saw women as equals. It liberated Kannada from the clutches of Sanskrit. The moving spirit behind this movement was Basaveshwara, who was a minister in the court of Prince Bijjala. His Vachanas which can be called prose-poems, have their moorings in folk-literature and folk-culture, and yearn to liberate man from the bondage of untruth and ignorance. They seek to provide happiness here and elsewhere. Allamaprabhu, Akkamahadevi, Channabasavanna, Siddarama, Madivala Machayya, Dohara Kakkayya, etc., were other Vachanakaras.
After Basavanna, the greatest influence on Kannada literature was Harihara, who used an innovative form called 'Ragale'. His 'Basavarajadevara Ragale' and 'Nambiyannana Ragale' are the examples of this genre. His nephew Raghavanka introduced yet another form of poetry called 'Shatpadi' and apart from 'Somanatha Charithe' and 'Siddarama Charithe' and his 'Harischandra Kavya' is considered to be a masterpiece.
The Sixteenth Century saw Veerashaiva poets of extraordinary merit. Sarvajna who was real Vairagi in that he had no settled home, and no religion, wrote "Sarvajna Padagalu' in Vachana style. This work is really a compendium of wit and wisdom. Nijaguna Sivayogi who was a ruler, saint and scholar wrote 'Viveka Chintamani' an encyclopedia in Kannada.
Dasakoota or the Vaishnava movement was led by Purandara Dasa, who is also considered the father of Karnatic music. Through his Keerthanas, he propounded the Dwaitha Philosophy and gave an impetus to Bhakthi movement. Kanaka Dasa, though hailing from the Kuruba community, followed in the footsteps of Purandara Dasa. Karnataka culture reached its zenith during the Vijayanagara empire. Naranappa's (Kumaravyasa) 'Karnataka Bharatha Kathamanjari' or 'Gadugina Bharatha' as it is popularly known is the finest example of the literature of this period. This was followed by Lakshmisha's 'Jaimini Bharatha' which is also an immensely popular work. Chamarasa's 'Prabhulingaleele' is another notable work of this period.
Post-renaissance movement saw a four-lined folk-metre called 'Sangatya' which was particularly suitable for singing. Nanjundakavi who wrote 'Kumararamana Kathe' proved its multi-dimensional application. But it was Rathnakaravarni who, in 'Bharathesha Vaibhava', explored its full potential.
The Wodeyars of Mysore gave a boost to Kannada literature. Particularly noteworthy is Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar's period from 1672 to 1704. He himself wrote 'Chikkadevaraja Binnapa'. Tirumalaraya's 'Chikkadevaraja Vijaya' has Mysore history as its theme and is in Champu style. Singararya's 'Mitravinda Govinda', translated from Harsha's 'Rathnavali' is considered to be the earliest Kannada play. Another noteworthy poetess of this period is (Sanchi) Honnamma who wrote "Hadibadeya Dharma' in Sangatya metre.
Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar continued the tradition of his predecessor. Kempunarayana's 'Mudramanjusha' deserves a special mention. Wodeyar also started the Raja's English School (1833) and this along with the expansion of Missionary activities, increased the Western influence on Kannada literature.
Chamaraja Wodeyar's period saw a new era in Kannada literature. M.S.Puttanna's 'Madiddunno Maharaya', D.Venkatachalayya and Dr.B.V.Venkateshaiyya's detective stories like 'Parimala' and 'Arindamana Sahasagalu', Galaganatha's social and historical novels, Kittel's dictionary, Cha.Vasudevarayya's 'Bala Bodhe' belong to this period. Muddanna's 'Ramashvamedha' is an epic episode in prose. This has a tinge of modem writing. Translated novels by B.Venkatacharya and Galaganath, mostly historical made a deep impact on readers. In 1921, Professor B.M.Srikantayya heralded the 'Navodaya' movement. His 'English Geethagalu' was a free rendering of some great English poems. Around this period, and unknown to him, K.V.Puttappa (Kuvempu) had switched over from English writing to Kannada and the culmination of his work was 'Sri Ramayana Darshana' written in blank verse. Puttappa's social novels such as 'Kanurusubbamma Heggadati' and 'Malegalalli Madumagalu' are equally well acclaimed. Among the works of the thirties, D.V.Gundappa's 'Manku Thimmana Kagga' stands out as a jewel. It is considered to be unique in the sense that it contains ethical principles, philosophic truths and experiences of life. Samsa wrote many plays in Halegannada, of which 'Vigada Vikramaraya' is the best example.
It is interesting to note that except U.R.Ananthamurthy and Girish Karnad, all the five of the seven Jnanapeetah awardees in Kannada, Kuvempu, Da.Ra Bendre, Shivarama Karantha, Masthi Venkatesha lyengar and V.K.Gokak have been writing since the Navodaya period. Da.Ra. Bendre won the award primarily for 'Naku Thanti' a metaphysical poetic work but his popularity is based more on his writings drawn from folk culture. Shivarama Karantha's writings range from encyclopedea to novels, essays, drama and poetry. 'Marali Mannige' is his oft-mentioned novel, but 'Bettada Jeeva' 'Chomana Dudi' and 'Mookajjiya Kanasugalu' are also noteworthy. His works mirror the cultural ethos of Dakshina Kannada. Masthi Venkatesha lyengar is primarily noted as short story writer, his 'Chennabasava Nayaka' and 'Chikaveerarajendra' are historical novels dealing with degeneration of monarchy, and 'Subbanna' is a long story which reaches metaphysical heights. V.K. Gokak began as a Navodaya poet but his magnum opus is 'Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi' which seeks to find answers for the modern man's dilemmas in ancient epics. Significantly, Ananthamurthy's 'Bhava' also seeks inspiration from traditional wisdom.
K.S. Narasimha Swamy's 'Mysoora Mallige', a collection of poems with love and separation as the theme is a landmark of the Navodaya period. G.P. Rajarathnam's 'Rathnana Padagalu' perhaps stands unique in world literature in seeing truth a beauty in drunken man's gay gibberish. Pu.Thi. Narasimhachar's 'Gokula Nirgamana' has Krishna's separation from Radha as its theme.and this again reaches spiritual heights. Gorur Ramaswamy lyengar chose the easy form to portray the life of rural Karnataka his 'Halliya Chitragalu' is considered the supreme example of his writings. His tradition was continued by A.N.Murthy Rao in 'Hagaluganasugalu' and M.R.Srinivasa Murthy in 'Rangannana Kanasina Dinagalu'.
The period also saw a spurt of literary critisism. Of these T.N. Srikantaiya's 'Bharathiya Kavya Meemamse' is considered to be a classic. A.R. Krishna Shastry nurtured a whole generation of writers through 'Prabuddha Karnataka', a periodical brought out by the Kannada Sangha of the Central College and later shifted the publication to Mysore University. S.V.Ranganna, an English Professor, who had by this time established himself as a Kannada writer through 'Ranga Binnappa', wrote on literary criticism in 'Shaili' and 'Ruchi'. V.Sitaramayya's output varied from 'Hana Prapancha', an economic treatise, to 'Pampa Yathre' a travelogue, to host of writings, from poetry to literary criticism. R.S. Mugali wrote 'Kannada Sahitya Charithre' succinct and balanced history of Kannada Literature. Related tags on Kannada Literature
Kannada Literature in Karnataka
Theatre In Karnataka
Yakshagana
Painting In Karnataka
Music In Karnataka
Dance In Karnataka
Cinema In Karnataka
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