Indian Antiquary Vol 55

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 84

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[APRIL, 1926
KANNADA POETS.
BY S. M. EDWARDES, C.S.L., C.v.o. L» 1924 the Government Press, Madras, published Memoir No. 13 of the Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India, entitled “Kannada Poets mentioned in the Inscriptions". The author of the Memoir is Mr. Tirumala Tat&charya Sharman, and the Editor is Rao Babador H. Krishna Shastri, Government Epigraphist. The memoir is intended to form a supplement to the two important volumes of Lives of Kannada Poets, by the late S. G. Narasimhacharya and Rao Bahadur R. Narasimhacharya, by rescuing from oblivion the names of some other Kannada poets who are mentioned in South Indian inscriptions. The work, which is based upon epigraphical reports and literature and on Kanarese inscriptions, is decidedly important for students of Indian history and Indian literature : but as it is published, except for the author's preface, entirely in the Kanarese language, it is practically of little value to any studenta, except those who happen to have learnt Kanarese, or are fortunate enough to own that language as their mother tongue. In the belief that others besides the true Kannadigas may be interested in Mr. Sharman's excellent work, I propose to give in this article a précis of the information contained in the Memoir, omitting the quota. tions which are included by the author in his notice of each poet, and curtailing the several accounts as far as is possible without harming the meaning of the original. I trust that I have not been guilty of mistranslation of any passage ; but if I have, I can only ask pardon of Mr. T. T. Sharman, whose own conciseness and clarity of style embolden me to think that I have succeeded in correctly interpreting his statements. Mr. Sharman's work is well documented; but as this article does not claim to be a literal translation, I have omitted his many footnotes and references. The following are the Kannada poets discussed in the Memoir -
1. Divákara. circa A.D. 734. The name of this post is mentioned, as writer or composer, in an inscription discovered At Dharmapur in Salem District, which oulogises a very learned Shaiva Guru named Vidy
Ashi. Incidentally the inscription proves that the original name of Dharmapur was Tagadur, town, which as early as the epoch of the Tamil Sangham was famous for its wealth, Its fortifications, its palaces, pleasure-gardens and temples, and which gave shelter to both Jains and Shaiva Hindus.
The inscription bears no date ; but this can be determined with the help of another inscription found at Kodum bai or Kodumbalur in Pudukota State, which contains a dynastic list of the rulers of that place. Mr. Sharman is not disposed to accept the opinion of Rao Bahadur Venkayyans that this Kodumbalur inscription belongs to the tenth century A.D. He points out that the dynastic list includes a ruler named Bhutivikrama kesari, who is stated in the inscription to have built a math for a chief Guru, Mallikarjuna of Madura, who was a disciple of the Gurus VidyArAshi and TaporAshi; and he reasonably assumes that the Vidyarashi, who was Mallikarjuna's spiritual preceptor, is identical with the Shaiva Guru Vidy Ardshi eulogised in the Tagadur (Dharmapur) inscription.
The dynastic list also shows that Bhutivikramakesari's grandfather, Paradurggamardana, conquered Vatapi and bore the title (biruda) of Vat Apinagaradvarsa.' He must, therefore, have been a contemporary of the Chalukya Pulakesi II and the Pallava Narasimh ha varma I; for it is an established fact that Narasimha varma, the Pallava, led an army against VAtapi and destroyed it. Two of his generals on this occasion were MAnavamma, the Ceylonese prince, and Shiruttondandyanår; & third was Paradurggamardana, who probably assumed the above-mentioned title to oommemorate the attack upon the Chalukyas.
Paradurggamardana's son was SamarAbhirama, who bore the title of 'Yaduvansakotu," and, like his father, was hostile to the Chalukyus. He actually killed Chalukys king near Adhirajamangale. After the fall of Vat&pi the Chalukya power certainly declined, and
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