Karnataka > Sanskrit in Karnataka
It is difficult to trace the advent of Sanskrit into Karnataka because the earliest available inscriptions are in Prakrit, and only from fourth century we have Sanskrit records. The early Jaina poets who first wrote in Prakrit, later switched over to Sanskrit and only in the 9th Century A.D. they atarted writing in Kannada. Kannada is a language of the Dravidian group while Prakrit and Sanskrit belong to the Indo-Aryan group. The early books on Kannada grammar were modelled on the lines of Sanskrit grammar and some were also written in Sanskrit. Kannada script has originated from the Brahmi script which also fathered the Devenagari script used for Sanskrit. In the field of poetics and prosody. Kannada has derived much from Sanksrit. 'Kavirajamarga', 'Udayadityalankara', 'Kavyalankara', 'Madhavalankara', 'Rasaviveka', 'Shringararatankara', 'Aprathima Veera Charita', 'Navarasalankara', 'Rasaratnakara', 'Narapativijaya', and many other works on 'alankara' written in Kannada closely follow Sanskrit 'alankara' works. Gradually many Sanskrits words entered Kannada and they were accepted into its fold. Literary works in Kannada mostly draw their themes from the original Sanskrit works like the 'Ramayana', the 'Mahabharatha', 'Brihatkatha', Jain Agamas, the Saiva Aagamas and the Puranas. There were many poets and scholars in Karnataka who wrote in Sanksrit. 'Chudamani' (Vardhamandeva). 'Kathasarith-sagara' (Somadeva) and many other Jain writers wrote in Sanskrit. Some of the notable early works in Sanskrit that were produced by Sanskrit scholars of Karnataka are 'Parswanathacharita', 'Chandraprabha-charita', 'Varangacharita', 'Yashadhara-charita', 'Harivamsha Purana', 'Gadyachinthamani', 'Jinadhattacharita', 'Uttarapurana', 'Yashastilaka-champu', 'Kavirahasya', 'Mritasanjeevini', 'Vikramankadeva Charita', 'Gadyakarnamrita', 'Rukminikalyana', 'Ushaharana', 'Madhawavijaya', 'Jayateerthavijaya', 'Vadirajacharitamrita'. 'Vidyahadhishavijaya', 'Satyanathabhyudaya', 'Raghavendra Vijaya,' 'Satyabohavijaya,' 'Guruvamshakathakalpataru,' 'Udaharanamala', 'Ramollasa', 'Tripuravijaya', 'Veerakamparaya charita' or 'Madhuravijaya', 'Alankara Sudhanidhi', 'Subhashitasudhanidhi', 'Ramabhyudaya', 'Narakasuravijaya ', 'Jambavathukalyana', 'Kavikarnarasayana', 'Veerabhadravijaya', 'Subhadrahananjaya', 'Nanjarajayashobhushana', 'Konkanabhyudaya', 'Hamsasandesha', 'Subhadra Parinaya' etc. are in Sanskrit. In recent times writers like Jaggu Alwar Iyengar. Galagali Ramacharaya, K.S. Nagarajan, K. T. Panduranagi, Raghavan, C. G. Purushottama etc. are working in the field of Sanskrit literature. Pandarinathacharaya Galagli and Jaggu Vakulabhushanam have receiced Central Sahitya Akademy awards for their works.
In the field of Kavya, Nataka and general literatue the above mentioned wroks can be included. But Karnataka's contribution in the field of literatue on Shastras and religion in Sanskrit is very rich. Sureshwara-Vishwarupa. Anandagiri, Prakashatma, Anadabodha, Vidyaranaya, Sayanacharya. Nrisimhashramamuni. Bharatiteertha, Vadindra and Nrisimhasharama have written treatises on Advaita doctrines. Ramamishradeshika. Vatsyavarada. Parakalayati. Srinivasacharya and Anantacharay have written works on Vishitadvaita.
Karnataka has exclusive claim over the contribution made by the founder of Dwaita school of Philosophy. Madhwacharya wrote Bhashyas on many subjects. Writers like Anandateertha , Jayateertha, Vijayendra. Vadiraja, Vidyadhisha, Satyanatha, Raghavendra, Yadavarya, Srinivasabhatta, Anandabhatta, Keshavabhatta and Srinivasateertha are scholars who enriched Sanskrit literature by their writings on the Dwaita philosophy.
Many Jain works, some on the work of Shaivasharana, interesting works in polity, grammar, etymology etc., are also found, Sanskrit enjoyed royal patronage also in Karnataka. 'Manasollasa' and 'Shivatattava Ratnakara' are two Sanskrit encyclopaediae by royal authors. Chalukya Someshwara III and Keladi Basavaraja respectively. The recent poets and writters of Sanskrit are Jaggu Vakulabhashana, R. Ganesh, K. Nanjunda, Ghanapathi, M. Manjunatha Bhatta, Pandarinathacharya Galagali, R. S. Panchamukhi and others. Many great works of Kannada and other languages are also translated to Sanskrit. Gokarna, Sringeri, Udupi. Melkote and Shivayoga Mandira are centres where Sanskrit scholars are engaged in research and teaching of Sanskrit.
Ubhaya Vedantha Sabha at Bangalore, Madhwa Siddhantha Sabha at Udupi, Abhivriddhikarini Sabha, Samirasamayasabha and other organisations conduct Vidvat Sabhas annually. Thus, Sanskrit is very much present in the intellectual life of Karnataka.
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