Western Ganga literature ( kn, ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಗಂಗ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ) refers to a body of writings created during the rule of the
Western Ganga Dynasty
Western Ganga was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which lasted from about 350 to 1000 CE. They are known as "Western Gangas" to distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ruled over Kalinga (m ...
, a dynasty that ruled the region historically known as
Gangavadi (modern Southern
Karnataka
Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
, India) between the 4th and 11th centuries. The period of their rule was an important time in the history of
South Indian
South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territ ...
literature in general and
Kannada literature in particular, though many of the writings are deemed extinct. Some of the most famous poets of
Kannada language
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native ...
graced the courts of the Ganga kings. Court poets and royalty created eminent works in Kannada language and
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
language that spanned such literary forms as prose, poetry, Hindu epics,
Jain
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...
s (saints) and
elephant
Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae ...
management.
Kannada writings
The prose piece of
Chavundaraya
Chavundraya or Chamundaraya (Kannada ''Cāmuṇḍarāya, Cāvuṇḍarāya'', 940–989) was an Indian military commander, architect, poet and minister. He served in the court of the Western Ganga dynasty of Talakad (in modern Karnataka, In ...
, who was a famous Ganga minister and army commander, known as ''Chavundaraya Purana'' (or ''Trishashtilakshana mahapurana'') written in 978 CE, is an early existing work in the genre in Kannada and is a summary of the Sanskrit writings, ''Adipurana'' and ''Uttarapurana'', written by Jinasena and Gunabhadra during the rule of Rashtrakuta
Amoghavarsha I
Amoghavarsha I (also known as Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga I) (r.814–878 CE) was the greatest emperor of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, and one of the most notable rulers of Ancient India. His reign of 64 years is one of the longest precisely dated mo ...
.
[Narasimhacharya (1988), p18][Kamath (2001), p45][Chopra, Ravindran, Subrahmanian 2003, p160] The prose, composed in lucid Kannada, was meant mainly for the common man and avoided any reference to complicated elements of Jain doctrines and philosophy. In his writing, the influences of his predecessor
Adikavi Pampa and contemporary Ranna are seen. The work narrates the legends of twenty-four Jain
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...
s, twelve ''Chakravarti's'', nine ''Balabhadra's'', nine ''Narayana's'' and nine ''Pratinarayana's'' – narrations on 63 Jain proponents in all.
[Sastri (1955), p357][Kulkarni (1975) in Adiga (2006), p256]
This writing states that along with the Tirthankaras, their mothers were also worshipped, particularly by women. The worship of Vaishravana, the keeper of celestial treasure was for acquiring moral and religious merit (''punya''), the worship of
Dharnendra
Dharanendra is the ''Yaksha'' (attendant deity) of Parshvanatha, twenty-third ''Tirthankara'' in Jainism. He enjoys an independent religious life and is very popular amongst Jains. According to the Jain tradition, when Lord Parshvanatha was a ...
was for acquiring sons and of Shridevi for warding off influences of evil deities (''vairi devategal'').
[Adiga 2006, p264] The author eulogises his preceptor Ajitasena Munindra thus :"He removes the stain of
karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
and awakens the spirit of those close to him (''aptavarga''), he astonishes rival disputants and secures the goddess of liberation (''mokshalakshmi'') to those desiring it. O Bhavya, worship the lotus feet of Ajitasena Munindra with a pure mind".
[Adiga (2006), p273]
The earliest known Kannada writer from this dynasty is King
Durvinita
Durvinita () is seen as the most successful ruler of the Western Ganga dynasty. Son of the previous ruler, Avinita, Durvinita's accession to the throne was disputed by his brother, who had gained the support of the Pallavas and Kadambas. There ...
of the 6th century.
Kavirajamarga
''Kavirajamarga'' ( kn, ಕವಿರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗ) (850 C.E.) is the earliest available work on rhetoric, poetics and grammar in the Kannada language.Kamath (2001), p 90Narasimhacharya (1988), p 2 It was inspired by or written in part by ...
of 850 CE, refers to him as an early writer in Kannada prose.
[Sastri (1955), p355][Kamath (2001), p40] It is claimed that the name Durvinita is found only in Kavirajamarga and Western Ganga inscriptions prior to the Magadi inscription of 966. This according to historians is proof enough that the Durvinita mentioned in Kavirajamarga is the Western Ganga king.
[Narasimhacharya (1988), p2]
Gunavarma I, the Kannada epic writer authored ''Shudraka'' and ''Harivamsha'' (also known as ''Neminatha Purana''), the earliest known
purana
Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...
in Kannada,
[Doniger (1993), p 281] around 900 CE. His works are considered extinct but are found referenced in later years. He is known to have been patronised by King Ereganga Neetimarga II in late 9th century - early 10th century. In his writing ''Shudraka'', the author has favourably compared his patron to King Shudraka of ancient times.
[kamath (2001), p50] The great Kannada poet
Ranna Ranna may refer to:
*Ranna, a subdivision of the town Auerbach in der Oberpfalz in Bavaria, Germany
* Ranna, Estonia, a village in the former municipality Pala Parish, Estonia
* Ranna (Danube), a river of Bavaria, Germany and of Upper Austria, trib ...
(who was also a soldier by training),
[Adiga (2006), p2] who along with
Sri Ponna
Ponna ( kn, ಪೊನ್ನ) (c. 945) was a noted Kannada poet in the court of Rashtrakuta Dynasty king Krishna III (r.939–968 CE). The emperor honoured Ponna with the title "emperor among poets" (''Kavichakravarthi'') for his ...
and
Adikavi Pampa are considered the "three gems of Kannada literature"
[Sastri (1955), p356] was patronised by Chavundaraya, the Ganga minister in his early literary days. Ranna's classic ''Parashurama charite'' which is considered extinct may have been a eulogy of his patron who held such titles as ''Samara Parashurama''. Ranna later went on to become the poet laureate of Western Chalukya Kings
Tailapa II
Tailapa II (r. c. 973-997), also known as Taila II and by his title ''Ahavamalla'', was the founder of the Western Chalukya dynasty in southern India. Tailapa claimed descent from the earlier Chalukyas of Vatapi, and initially ruled as a Rashtr ...
and
Satyashraya
Satyashraya (; ), also known as Sattiga or Irivabedanga, was a king of the Western Chalukya Empire. During a time of consolidation of the empire in the early 11th century, Satyashraya was involved in several battles with the Chola dynasty of Th ...
.
Nagavarma I, a Brahmin scholar who came from
Vengi
Vengi (or Venginadu) is a delta region spread over the Krishna and Godavari River, (also called Godavari and Krishna districts), the region is also known as Godavari Delta, that used to house world famous diamond mines in the Medieval period ...
in modern Andhra Pradesh (late 10th century) was also patronised by Chavundaraya. He wrote ''Chandombudhi'' (ocean of prosody) addressed to his wife. This is considered the earliest available Kannada writing in prosody.
His other existing writing, ''Karnataka Kadambari'' written in sweet and flowing ''champu'' style (a composition written in a mixed prose-verse style) has found popularity with critics and is based on an earlier romance in Sanskrit by poet Bana.
[Narasimhacharya (1988), p12] ''Gajashtaka'' (a hundred verses) a work on elephant management, known to have been written by King
Shivamara II
Shivamara II was the son of Sripurusha and ruled the Western Ganga Dynasty from 788 – 816 C.E. He was also a noted scholar in Kannada, Sanskrit and Prakrit. He succeeded to the Ganga throne during a time when the Rashtrakuta were the empir ...
around 800 CE, is now considered
extinct.
[Kamath (2001), p50] Other writers from the close of the 10th century whose names are known are Manasiga and Chandrabhatta.
[Narasimhacharya (1988), p19]
Sanskrit writings
This was the age of classical
Sanskrit literature. From the earliest times, Western Ganga kings showed a strong inclination towards the fine arts. King Madhava II (brother of King Vishnugopa) wrote a treatise ''Dattaka Sutravritti'' on an earlier work on erotics by a writer called Dattaka. To King Durvinita is ascribed the Sanskrit version of ''Vaddakatha'', a commentary on
Pāṇini's grammar called ''Sabdavathara'' and a commentary on the 15th chapter of a Sanskrit work called ''Kiratarjunneya'' by poet Bharavi (who was in King Durvinita's court).
[Kamath (2001), p49] King
Sripurusha
Sripurusha was a Western Ganga Dynasty king who ruled from 726 - 788 CE. According to the Javali inscription Sripurusha ruled for 62 years. He had marital relations with the Badami Chalukyas and used titles such as ''Muttarasa'', ''Rajakesari'', ...
wrote a treatise on elephants called ''Gajashastra'' and King Shivamara II is known to have written ''Gajamata Kalpana''.
Hemasena, also known as Vidya Dhananjaya authored ''Raghavapandaviya'', a narration of the stories of
Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
and the
Pandava
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledge ...
s simultaneously through puns.
[Venkatasubbiah in Kamath (2001), p50] His pupil Vadeebhasimha wrote in prose ''Gayachintamani'' and ''Kshatrachudamini'' based on poet Banas ''Kadambari''
and minister Chavundaraya wrote ''Charitarasara''.
Notes
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{{Karnataka topics
Kannada literature
Literature of Karnataka
Indian literature
Western Ganga dynasty
Kannada inscriptions