18th century writings Mysore literature in Kannada

1 18th century writings

1.1 proliferation of yakshagana
1.2 revival of haridasa literature
1.3 other writings

18th century writings
proliferation of yakshagana

part of kaushika ramayana of 18th century



part of kannada epic gokarna mahatme of 18th century

during first half of 18th century mysore s independence delicately balanced, incumbent kings accepting either nominal subordination or strategic alliance larger power, mughals of northern india, paying tribute while keeping marathas (baji rao i) of deccan plateau @ bay. 1830s, kings came under sway of powerful dalavoy (or dalwai, prime minister) nanjaraja (or nanjarajaiah) , sarvadhikari (chief minister) devaraja (or devarajaiah), influential kalale brothers of nanjangud. during period, literary contributions made members of royal family including king narasaraja wodeyar ii, nanjaraja , queen cheluvambe.

yakshagana, rustic form of theatre draws upon themes hindu epics, ramayana, mahabharata , bhagavata, has established history in kannada speaking region of on 400 years. in rudimentary form, script of play contains prasanga (poetic songs) sung bhagavata (musician), improvised matu (dialogue) added. witty comments interjected hasyagaras (clowns). musical instruments include maddale , chende (types of drums), , sruti (harmonium-like instrument). rangasthala (acting arena) temple compound, open space near patron s house or clearing in paddy field. sugriva vijaya (mid-16th century) kandukuru rudrakavi 1 of earliest available manuscripts of yakshagana play. based on story of ape-like humanoid king sugriva overthrew powerful brother vali regain kingdom in hindu epic ramayana. while scholars such m.m bhat, shivarama karanth , r.r. diwakar have proposed various theories origin , forerunners of yakshagana art, n. venkata rao, editor of southern school in telugu literature (1960), gives credit of writing earliest available yakshagana plays include sangita (music), nataka (drama) , natya (dance) polyglot king of mysore, narasaraja ii (r. 1704–1714). king proficient in kannada, sanskrit, telugu, tamil , prakrit. fourteen yakshagana compositions, written in various languages in kannada script, discovered @ government manuscripts library in chennai. 19th century, yakshagana had become popular in mysore , nearby yelandur, stage troupes active.

revival of haridasa literature

the haridasa literature propagates dvaita (dualistic) philosophy of madhvacharya. compositions have been of immense value development of music , literature in general. while hari (a form of god vishnu) central beliefs, compositions show tolerance other vaishnava deities well. bringing values cherished in upanishads (scripture) , vedas (hindu sacred texts) commoner in simple kannada, these itinerant haridasas made valuable contributions minstrels of god . passing of vijayanagara era, creation of haridasa literature slowed down century, despite attempts 2 dasa (devotee) poets, mahapati dasa (1611–1681), wrote 600 compositions, , son krishna dasa. tradition recovered in 18th century under able guidance of vijaya dasa (1687–1755), native of ceekalaparavi in raichur district. vijaya dasa inspired establishment of monastery of saint raghavendra swami (of madhvacharya order) @ mantralayam town. lyrical compositions, said 25,000 in all, written in purandara dasa tradition pen-name (ankita) vijaya vittala . well-known among many disciples gopala dasa wrote pen-name gopala vittala (1721–1769). later, gopala dasa inspired famous saint-poet, jagannatha dasa, take haridasa fold.

jagannatha dasa (1728–1809) considered notable of late-18th century haridasas. apart number of devotional songs, credited 2 important writings. harikathamritasara treats on philosophy of madhvacharya. written in shatpadi metre poetic touch, contains 32 chapters of 988 stanzas. tattva suvvali, containing 1,200 pithy , proverbial poems written in tripadi metre, known have been consolation widowed daughter. among women, helavanakatte giriyamma (pen-name helavanakatte ranga , 18th century) , harapanhally bhimava (pen-name bhimesa krishna , 1890) notable despite humble education , background. giriyamma authored more forty songs, , 5 narrative poems, best known among devotional piece chandrahasana kathe. in prayer poem famine, giriyamma wrote:

women taking out in vessels

water gone dry

while bringing it, think day:

o hari, send rain soon.


other writings

cheluvambe, queen of king krishnaraja wodeyar (r. 1714–1732), accomplished kannada writer. notable works include varanandi kalyana, written in sangatya metre. story narrates wedding of varanandi, daughter of badshah (emperor) of delhi, , god cheluvaraya swamy of melkote. in writing, author envisioned varanandi reincarnation of satyabhama, consort of hindu god krishna. other compositions include venkatachala mahatmyam – lullaby song written in choupadi (4-line verse) metre in devotion hindu god venkateshwara residing on vrishabha hill, songs centred on alamelu mangamma, consort of hindu god venkateshwara of tirupati, , songs in praise of god cheluvanarayana. shalyada krishnaraja, poet , member royal family proficient writer in kannada, telugu , sanskrit. contributions kannada literature include devotional songs, vachana poems, compositions in sangatya metre (nija dipika ratna), gadya (anubhava rasayana), , kirthane compositions (bhakti marga sarovara, gnana sarovara , shalyada arasinavara tikina kirtane).

nanjaraja noted of shaiva writers in court of king krishnaraja wodeyar ii (r. 1734–1766). literary taste, earned honorific nutana bhojaraja , comparison medieval king bhoja. native of kalale town near nanjangud, nanjaraja came influential family of warriors, statesman , scholars. politically active , known have created power centre, holding court in parallel krishnaraja ii. proficient in multiple languages , authored more twenty writings in kannada, sanskrit , telugu. among kannada writings, kukudgiri mahatmya, , musical composition called aravattu muvara trivadhi, account of life of 63 ancient devotees of god shiva, known.

other well-known shaiva writers chenniah, wrote in sangatya metre (padmini parinaya, 1720), nuronda, eulogised patron krishnaraja ii in soundarya kavya (c. 1740) in sangatya metre, , sankara kavi (chorabasava charitre, 18th century). linganna kavi wrote champu historical piece called keladinripavijayam in 1763–1804 period accounting chronology , history of keladi dynasty. work gives useful information contemporary kingdoms , states including nawabs of savanur, marathas , mughals. notable jain writers of period payanna (ahimsacharitre), padmaraja (pujyapada charitre, 1792), padmanabha (ramachandra charitre), surala (padmavati charitre), , jayendra (karnataka kuvalayananda). vaishnava writers distinguished lakshmakavi (bharata in 1728 , rukmangada charite), venkatesha (halasya mahatmya, in champu metre), konayya (krishnarjuna sangara), timmamatya (ramabhyudaya kathakusumamanjari, version of epic ramayana), timmarya of anekal (ananda ramayana, 1708), balavaidya cheluva (lilavati, , encyclopedia of precious stones called ratnasastra), , puttayia (maisuru arasugala purvabhyudaya, c. 1713, account of history of kingdom of mysore).