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Kannada language originated with the onset of Christian era and Dravidian members of Karnataka state dealt with Kannada script. Ancient Kannada literary works were classified into three faiths such as Jain, Veerashaiva and Vaishnava that offered classical language expressions. Popular Kannada literature that was listed among early creations includes Kavirajamarga, a work of King Nripatunga in 850 AD, Vaddaaradhana by Jain Sivakotyacharya in 920 AD. A great Kannada Poet, Pampa, who garlanded the court of Chalukya King Aikeshan produced great literature works Aadi Purana that narrated the story of Jain Vrishaba. His second work includes Pampa Bharata or Vikramarjuna Vijaya, which is a translation of great Mahabharata in Kannada language.
Another well known poet who excelled in Kannada literature in 950 AD is Ponna who authored Shanti Purana, Jinaksaramale and Bhuvanaika Ramabhyudaya. In 930 AD, another famous writer named Ranna gave birth to his classic literature works in Kannada namely Ajita Purana and Sahasa Bhima Vijayam also known as Gada Yuddha. Chamundaraya Purana is another great translation of Jinasena and Gunabhadra Mahapurana in Sanskrit, created by Chamundaraya. The Kannada translation of Banabhatta’s Kadambari by Nagavarman is another great epic of Kannada literature. The famous Panchathantra tales was developed into new Kannada version by Durgasimha in the era 1031 AD.
During 1150 AD, Sage Basaveshwara initiated an innovative religious propagation, which marked a remarkable impact on this regional Indian literature. This also led to the evolution of Vachanas, which acted as a means to carry messages and convictions to people. Vachanas, therefore, turned to be an ordinary man’s literature in the twelfth century. Harihara in thirteenth century introduced regale meter and brought about new changes in Kannada literature. His literatures Basavarajadevarara regale, Pushpa regale and Nambiyannana regale was created by inducing this principle meter. Satpadi meter created by Raghavanka helped to develop classic works such as Harishchandrakavya, Siddharama charita and
Somanatha charita. Other remarkable works in that period include Lilabati prabandham and Neminatha charita of Nemichandra and Jagannatha vijaya of Rudra Bhatta. The era that witnessed the rule of Vijayangara Empire was the most remarkable period for Kannada literature. The great vaishanava poet, Kumara Vyasa renowned as Rupaka Samrajya Chakravarti (emporer in the arena of metaphors) had put forward wonderful creativity such as Kumaravyasa Bharata at that period.
The Modern Karnataka literature started with the beginning of nineteenth century with Kempu Narayana’s creation of Mudramanjusha. The father of Kannada literature in modern times is B.M. Srikantaiah, who ordered the writers to adopt the original methods of creating their literature. His popular literature works include Gitegalu, Asvathaman, Parasikarand Honganasuglu. Other famous writers and poets of the era include Manjeswar Govinda Pai, Dattatreya Reamachandra Bendre, K.V.Puttappa known as Kovempu, D.V.Gundappa and Govinda Pai. The evolution of innovative navodaya along with the start of 20th century popularized the Karnataka literature among other languages. The pressure of western literature and culture gave Kannada writers inspirational and imaginative urge.
The novels had a great place in kannada literature and the famous works includes Sivarama Karanta’s Marrali Mannige, Srinivasa’s epic of Cennabasava Nayaka, Nisarga of Mirji Arjun Rao, Vamsavriksha of Bhyrappa and Ananthamurthy’s Samskara. The pioneer of short stories in Karnataka literatue was Masti Srinivasa Venkatesa Iyengar. His popular workds include The Last Days of Sariputra, Vasumati, Mosarina Mangamma and The Rani of Nijagal. Other renowed writers include Gorur Ramaswamy, U.R.Anantamurthy, G.Krishna Rao and Purnachandra Tejaswi.
Kannada literature has a special place in international as well as national arena of literature. Kannada writers have won the Bharatiya Jnapith award 7 times, which depicts the creativity and excellence of Kannada literature.
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