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MAHA PURANA
We have now an excellent account of the Rastr akutas and their Times by Dr. A. S. Astekar (Poona, 1934). We find that a few pages ( 115-123 ) are devoted there to the political events of Kțşņa III ( 939–968 A. D. ). We also have there a section dealing with education and literature (Chapter xiv) of the period. And yet, we do not find any reference in the book to Bharata, the minister of Krşpa III, nor do we find any reference to the Poet. On the contrary we read on page 412 a remark to the effect that there is hardly any output of Prakrit Literature during the period. Pușpadanta, under the patronage of Bharata and his son Nanna, composed three works in Apabhramśa, which covering as they do over 2000 pages of the size of the present volume, cannot be easily ignored, nor can Bharata, the patron of learning, be neglected, who constantly urged on the poet to make the best use of his gifts. It will not there fore be out of place to construct the story of the life of Bharata, the forgotten patron of Prakrit Literature, from out of the material like the references in the works of Pușpadanta and the praśasti stanzas.
Krşpa III is known in Puşpadanta's works by three names : Tudiga, Suhatuïgarāya ( Sk, Subhatungarāja ) Euro and Vallabhanộpa, He came to the throne in 939 A. D., and ruled up to 968 A. D. In this year he was succeeded by his younger brother Khottigadeva. It was during the reign of Khottigadeva, in 972 A. D., that Mānya kheta, the capital of the later Rastrakūtas, was plundered by the king of Dhārā. Bharata was the minister of Krşpa Ill. Nanna, Bharata's son, also, is mentioned as a minister of Suhatungarāya, i e., Krşņa III. Bharata however was still living when Puşpadanta's Mahapurāņa was completed, i. e., upto 965 A, D. As Kțsna III died in 968 A, D., we have to suppose that Bharata must have died between 965 and 968 A. D., so that his son, Nanna, could succeed his father by 968 A. D. After the death of Bharata, Nanna extended his patronage to Puşpadanta and induced him to write Jasa haracariu and Nayakumăracariu.
Bharata seems to have come from the family of Kondella gotra (Sk. Kaupdinya ). This was a rich family and held the office of ministers ( 179: at, 46 ), but had become poor. There are references which indicate that Bharata regained the lost wealth of his family by devoted service to his master ( sarannat marfa fa Tar SET TH1: dat ). His grandfather's name was Annafya or Annayya. His father's name was Aiyana or Airana and his mother was called Devi Bharata had no brother or near relative (ayreda, 15). He was married to Kundavvá and had seven son's, viz., Devalla, Bhogalla, Ņappa, Sohana, Gunavamma, Dangaiya and Santaiya. Nappa is mentioned as the son of Kundayvă and it is not unlikely that Bharata had more wives
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