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MAY, 1928)
DEVA RAYA II
one coin Nandi is represented with the Vaishnava symbols--bankha and chakra on either side at proof of the king's eclecticism. One coin has the figure of Nandi and the legend Nilakantha 37
This period was one of great literary activity. Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada scholars of every sect-Vaishnavas, Smartas, Vira-Saivas and Jains, produced a vast literature, secular as well as religious. Among them we may mention Lakkanna, Jakkanna, Bhaskara, Dharanoja, Mahalinga, Kumara Bankanátha and Srinatha. It is probable that Mahdndjaka Sudhanidhi is not the work of Deva Raya II, but of his son Immadi Deva Raya Mallikarjuna, who was a great scholar. Nuniz says that Pina Rao " was a great scholar and made many books.... He was a very wise man.” In Kannala there is a work by one Kallarasa called Jana Vasya, which treats of erotics.38 There the author says " qa 3, es de
o Widododonos, os nenos e dood sododds 089345." "Mallikar juna, the son of Déva Nripa, first wrote the work on erotics in Sanskrit, addressed to his wife; Kallarasa translated it into Kannada with the king's permission, and gave it another title "Mallikarjuna Vijaya" or "Madana Tilaka." There is a work in Sanskrit on erotics called Rati Ratna Pradipika, the colophon of which runs as follows! " Ili Sri Rája Paramêávara Praudha Dava Raya Virachitayam Rati Ratna Pradipika yam."38 The author. ship, I venture to state, has been erroneously attributed to a Mysore sovereign. I think the author was Mallikarjuna himself, whose book was translated into Kannada by his court poet Kallarasa. Whether this Kallarasa is identical with Kallinâtha (A.D. 1453), who was the court-musician of Immadi Déva and wrote a monumental commentary on the Sangila-Ratnd. kara of Saranga Deva, it is difficult to say.
We have already referred to the dispute between Mukunda Peddi and Chámarasa. Literary history presents us with two more illustrations of such a contest. Srinatha completed his Sivaratri Mahatmyamu about the year 1420, and went on a pilgrimage to Sri Sailam. Thence he went to the Karnața country with the help of Vinukonda Vallabha Raya. In spite of this help Srinatha was not received graciously at Court, where the poet-laureate Dindima zealously excluded every dangerous rival. Srinatha, a pleasure-loving man, to whom the good things of the world mattered much, describes his wretched condition and besought "Kannada Rajya Lakshmi" to take pity on him.
కుల్లా యుంచితిఁ గోకు సుట్పితి మహాకూపా సమున్ దొడ్డితిన్ |
వెల్లుల్లిన్ దిలపిషమున్ మెసవితిన్ విశ్వస్థ వడ్డించ గాన్ | జల్లాయంబలి ద్రావితిన్ రుచులదో సంబంచు బోనాడితిన్ |
దల్లీ కన్నడ రాజ్యలక్ష్మి దయలేదా నేను శ్రీ నామఁడన్ | Aruņagirinâtha Dindima was no mean scholar. He is the author of Yogananda Prahasana, a commentary on Sankara's Saundarya Lahari, and of Vibhaga Ratna Mala 40 In 86mavalli Praha sana he calls himself Sri Dindima Kavi-Sarva-Bhauma iti prathita biru. danka ndmadheyah Sarasvati prasáda labdha Kavitasandthah Sriman Arunagiri Nathah tena kriténa yogananda namnd prahasanêna, Sabha niyôgamanutishthami. He was a native of Mullandram, which was granted to him and several others, after changing its name to
Praudhadevarayapuram, after the king. Dindims had also the titles Abhinava Bhavabhali. Ashtabhasha paraméfura, Chera-Chola-Pandya Prathamdradhya, and Kavi Malla Galla Tadana patuprobably referring to the author of Uddra Raghava or to the Kan. nada poet of the same name, who calls himself a Lakshana Kavi, disciple of Puttanánk& Pandita, and wrote Madana Tilaka in Kannada The Kannada poet Chandra Kavi, who wrote“ Virûpaksha Sthana" at the Court of Deva Raya, also calls himself, like Dindima, Ashta bhashakavita Pravina (proficient in writing poetry in eight languages). 37 1.A., 1891.
39 Karnitaka Kavi Charitre, vol. II-Kallara sa. 39 Rati Ratna Pradipika. (Mysore Oriental Library Edition for Private Circulation). 40 1.A., 1918, p. 97.
