Raghavanka (Kannada: ರಾಘವಾಂಕ) was a noted Kannada writer and a poet in the Hoysala court who flourished in the late 12th to early 13th century. Raghavanka is credited for popularizing the use of the native shatpadi metre (hexa metre, 6 line verse) in Kannada literature.[1]Harishchandra Kavya, in shatpadi metre, is known to have been written with an interpretation unlike any other on the life of King Harishchandra is well known and is considered one of the important classics of Kannada language. He was a nephew and protégé of the noted Early 12-century Kannada poet Harihara.[2][3] Although the shatpadi metre tradition existed in Kannada literature prior to Raghavanka, Raghavanka inspired the usage of the flexible metre for generations of poets, both Shaiva (devotees of God Shiva) and Vaishnava (devotees of God Vishnu) to come.[4]
Although Harishchandra Kavya (c. 1200 or c. 1225) is Raghavanka's magnum opus, it was rejected by his guru, poet Harihara (or Harisvara). In some ways, Raghavanka's writing surpasses his guru's talent, especially in describing characters in his story.[5] Legend has it that his guru was aghast at Raghavanka Pandita, a devotee of Hindu God Shiva, for writing about ordinary mortals (such as King Harishchandra) instead of writing about Veerashaiva saints. According to the same legend, five of Raghavanka's teeth "fell off instantly" for going against his guru's wishes. In order to expiate his sin, he authored five writings eulogising Veerashaiva saints, one writing for each fallen tooth, and the teeth "returned one by one".[6] According to another source, Raghavanka's guru physically abused him, punishing him for wasting his poetic talent in eulogising a mere mortal.[7] These five writings are the Siddharama charitra (or Siddharama Purana), a eulogy of the dynamic and compassionate 12th century Veerashiava saint Siddharama of Sonnalige which brings out a larger-than-life image of the saint in a simple yet stylistic narrative;[8] the Somanatha charitra, a propagandist work which describes the life of saint Somayya (or Adaiah) of Puligere, his humiliation after being lured by the charms of a Jain girl, and his achievement of successfully converting a Jain temple into a Shiva temple; the Viresvara charita, a dramatic story of the blind wrath of a Shaiva warrior Virabhadra; the Hariharamahatva, a eulogy of Harisvara of Hampi, and Sarabha charitra, the last two works now considered lost.[1][5]
Magnum opus
In the Harishchandra Kavya, Raghavanka brings out the clash of personalities with lively dialogues; between sage Vishvamitra and sage Vashishta, between Harishchandra and Vishvamitra and between Harishchandra and the "unreal" girls ("dancing girls"). Also narrated is Harishchandra's fidelity to truth against all odds and the redemption of Harishchandra after being rescued by an untouchable he had once rejected.[5] According to professor L. S. Sheshagiri Rao of the Sahitya Akademi, in no other language has the story of King Harishchandra been dealt with this interpretation. The writing is original both in tradition and inspiration fully utilizing the potential of the shatpadi metre.[8] One piece of elegiac verse, written in the mandanila ragele metre (rhymed couplets) is the mourning of Chandramati over the death of her young son Lohitashva from snake bite, while gathering firewood for his Brahmin taskmaster.[9] The poem has remained popular for centuries and is recited by Gamakis (narration of story accompanied by music).[9]
Sastri, K.A. Nilakanta (2002) [1955]. A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. New Delhi: Indian Branch, Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-560686-8.
Shiva Prakash, H.S. (1997). "Kannada". In Ayyappapanicker (ed.). Medieval Indian Literature:An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN81-260-0365-0.
Various (1988) [1988]. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature - vol 2. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN81-260-1194-7.
Nagaraj, D.R. (2003) [2003]. "Critical Tensions in the History of Kannada Literary Culture". In Sheldon I. Pollock (ed.). Literary Cultures in History: Reconstructions from South Asia. Berkeley and London: University of California Press. Pp. 1066. pp. 323–383. ISBN0-520-22821-9.
Kamath, Suryanath U. (2001) [1980]. A concise history of Karnataka : from pre-historic times to the present. Bangalore: Jupiter books. LCCN 80905179. OCLC 7796041.
raghavanka, kannada, ಘವ, noted, kannada, writer, poet, hoysala, court, flourished, late, 12th, early, 13th, century, credited, popularizing, native, shatpadi, metre, hexa, metre, line, verse, kannada, literature, harishchandra, kavya, shatpadi, metre, known, h. Raghavanka Kannada ರ ಘವ ಕ was a noted Kannada writer and a poet in the Hoysala court who flourished in the late 12th to early 13th century Raghavanka is credited for popularizing the use of the native shatpadi metre hexa metre 6 line verse in Kannada literature 1 Harishchandra Kavya in shatpadi metre is known to have been written with an interpretation unlike any other on the life of King Harishchandra is well known and is considered one of the important classics of Kannada language He was a nephew and protege of the noted Early 12 century Kannada poet Harihara 2 3 Although the shatpadi metre tradition existed in Kannada literature prior to Raghavanka Raghavanka inspired the usage of the flexible metre for generations of poets both Shaiva devotees of God Shiva and Vaishnava devotees of God Vishnu to come 4 RaghavankaBornLate 12th centuryHampiDiedEarly 13th centuryOccupation s Poet writerWorksHarishchandra Kavya magnum opus Contents 1 Epic Writings 2 Magnum opus 3 Notes 4 ReferencesEpic Writings EditHarishchandra Kavya Siddharama charitra Somanatha charitra Viresvara charita Hariharamahatva Sarabha charitraAlthough Harishchandra Kavya c 1200 or c 1225 is Raghavanka s magnum opus it was rejected by his guru poet Harihara or Harisvara In some ways Raghavanka s writing surpasses his guru s talent especially in describing characters in his story 5 Legend has it that his guru was aghast at Raghavanka Pandita a devotee of Hindu God Shiva for writing about ordinary mortals such as King Harishchandra instead of writing about Veerashaiva saints According to the same legend five of Raghavanka s teeth fell off instantly for going against his guru s wishes In order to expiate his sin he authored five writings eulogising Veerashaiva saints one writing for each fallen tooth and the teeth returned one by one 6 According to another source Raghavanka s guru physically abused him punishing him for wasting his poetic talent in eulogising a mere mortal 7 These five writings are the Siddharama charitra or Siddharama Purana a eulogy of the dynamic and compassionate 12th century Veerashiava saint Siddharama of Sonnalige which brings out a larger than life image of the saint in a simple yet stylistic narrative 8 the Somanatha charitra a propagandist work which describes the life of saint Somayya or Adaiah of Puligere his humiliation after being lured by the charms of a Jain girl and his achievement of successfully converting a Jain temple into a Shiva temple the Viresvara charita a dramatic story of the blind wrath of a Shaiva warrior Virabhadra the Hariharamahatva a eulogy of Harisvara of Hampi and Sarabha charitra the last two works now considered lost 1 5 Magnum opus EditIn the Harishchandra Kavya Raghavanka brings out the clash of personalities with lively dialogues between sage Vishvamitra and sage Vashishta between Harishchandra and Vishvamitra and between Harishchandra and the unreal girls dancing girls Also narrated is Harishchandra s fidelity to truth against all odds and the redemption of Harishchandra after being rescued by an untouchable he had once rejected 5 According to professor L S Sheshagiri Rao of the Sahitya Akademi in no other language has the story of King Harishchandra been dealt with this interpretation The writing is original both in tradition and inspiration fully utilizing the potential of the shatpadi metre 8 One piece of elegiac verse written in the mandanila ragele metre rhymed couplets is the mourning of Chandramati over the death of her young son Lohitashva from snake bite while gathering firewood for his Brahmin taskmaster 9 The poem has remained popular for centuries and is recited by Gamakis narration of story accompanied by music 9 Notes Edit a b Sastri 1955 p 362 Narasimhacharya 1988 p 20 Kamath 2001 p 134 Shiva Prakash in K Ayyappapanicker 1997 p 208 a b c Shiva Prakash 1997 p 207 Shiva Prakash 1997 p 206 Nagaraj in Pollock 2003 p 364 a b Rao in Datta Sahitya Akademi 1988 pp 1181 a b Sahitya Akademi 1988 p 1149References EditSastri K A Nilakanta 2002 1955 A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar New Delhi Indian Branch Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 560686 8 Shiva Prakash H S 1997 Kannada In Ayyappapanicker ed Medieval Indian Literature An Anthology Sahitya Akademi ISBN 81 260 0365 0 Various 1988 1988 Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol 2 Sahitya Akademi ISBN 81 260 1194 7 Nagaraj D R 2003 2003 Critical Tensions in the History of Kannada Literary Culture In Sheldon I Pollock ed Literary Cultures in History Reconstructions from South Asia Berkeley and London University of California Press Pp 1066 pp 323 383 ISBN 0 520 22821 9 Kamath Suryanath U 2001 1980 A concise history of Karnataka from pre historic times to the present Bangalore Jupiter books LCCN 80905179 OCLC 7796041 Shanthaveeraiah Hi Chi 2009 Siddarama Charithre Bangalore Sachin Publishers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raghavanka amp oldid 1049662609, wikipedia, 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