Literature of Karnataka | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Overview of Kannada Literature

Kannada literature encompasses the body of written works in the Kannada language, a key member of the Dravidian language family. It is primarily spoken in the Indian state of Karnataka and is written in the Kannada script. Kannada literature has a rich history, with inscriptions dating back approximately one and a half millennia. Some of the earliest unambiguous literary works have been preserved in manuscript traditions from the 9th century to the present.

Linguistic Phases of Kannada Literature

Kannada literature is typically divided into three distinct linguistic phases:

• Old Kannada (850 - 1200 CE)
• Middle Kannada (1200 - 1700 CE)
• Modern Kannada (1700 - present)

Literary Characteristics and Religious Influences

• The literary characteristics of Kannada are closely tied to three major religious traditions: Jainism, Veerashaivism, and Vaishnavism. These faiths played a significant role in shaping the classical idiom of the language until the modern era. 
• While much of Kannada literature before the 18th century had a religious focus, there were also works of a secular nature.

Early Kannada Literature and Jain Influence

• Kannada literature is nearly as ancient as Tamil literature, which is considered the most authentic of the Dravidian languages. The earliest period of Kannada literature, from the composition of Kavirajamarga (c. 850) until the mid-12th century, was predominantly influenced by Jain writers. 
• These authors found enthusiastic patrons among the Chalukya, Ganga, Rashtrakuta, and Hoysala kings. Kavirajamarga, written during the reign of King Amoghavarsha, is the oldest surviving literary work in Kannada.

Debates on the Origins of Kannada Literary Tradition

• There is debate among scholars regarding the origins of Kannada literary tradition. Some argue that prose, poetry, and grammatical traditions existed before Kavirajamarga. However, another group of scholars believes that the literary tradition began with 
• Kavirajamarga itself, pointing to the absence of references to earlier literature in works like Kesiraja's Sabdamanidarpanam. Additionally, metrical inscriptions dating back to the 5th century suggest the existence of a contemporaneous folk literary practice known as "deshi," or local, popular literature, in Kannada.

The Veerashaiva Movement and the Rise of Kannada Literature

• The 12th century Veerashaiva Movement marked the beginning of a new phase in Kannada literature, which flourished alongside Jain works. 
• As Jain influence began to decline during the 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire, a new wave of Vaishnava literature emerged in the 15th century. 
• This era was notably characterized by the devotional movement led by the wandering Haridasa saints, marking a high point in Kannada literary history.

Post-Vijayanagara Empire and the Influence of the Wodeyars

• After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, Kannada literature received strong support from the Wodeyar rulers of Mysore. In the 19th century, English literature began to exert a significant influence on Kannada, leading to the development of new literary forms such as the prose narrative, novel, and short story. 
• Modern Kannada literature has since gained widespread recognition, with Kannada authors receiving seven Jnanpith awards and 51 Sahitya Akademi awards in India over the last half-century.

Early and Medieval Kannada Literature: Jain and Veerashaiva Influence

• During the early and medieval periods of Kannada literature, from the 9th to the 13th centuries, most writers were affiliated with the Jain and Veerashaiva faiths. Jains are acknowledged as the earliest cultivators of Kannada literature, dominating it until the 12th century. Jain authors primarily wrote about Jain Tirthankars and other aspects of Jainism. 
• On the other hand, Veerashaiva authors focused on the Hindu god Shiva, his 25 manifestations, and the teachings of Shaivism. Veerashaiva poets, particularly those from the Vachana tradition, played a key role in promoting the philosophy of Basavanna starting in the 12th century.

Shift from Jain to Veerashaiva and Vaishnava Literature

• Between the 13th and 15th centuries, there was a decline in Jain writings and a corresponding increase in works from the Veerashaiva tradition. Vaishnava contributions also began to become more prevalent during this time. From this period onward, Kannada literature was dominated by Veerashaiva and Vaishnava writers. 
• Vaishnava authors primarily focused on the Hindu epics—the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Bhagavata—as well as Vedanta and other topics from Hindu Puranic traditions. The 15th century also saw the emergence of devotional songs by Haridasa poets, which were often accompanied by music. Throughout this period, compositions on secular subjects continued to be popular in Kannada literature.

Transformation During the Bhakti Period in Kannada Literature

• The Bhakti period, starting from the 12th century, brought a significant shift in Kannada literature. This era saw a decline in courtly literature that glorified kings, commanders, and spiritual heroes, and a rise in the popularity of shorter, more accessible genres like vachana and kirthane. 
• These forms were closely connected to the spoken language and folk traditions, with musicality becoming a distinctive feature of Kannada literature. Despite these changes, a group of poets continued to use the ancient champu form of writing, even as late as the 17th century.

The Decline of Champu and the Rise of Native Metres

• The champu metre, a Sanskritic form that combines verses of various metres with paragraphs of prose (known as champu-kavya), was the most popular written form in Kannada literature from the 9th century. However, it began to decline during the 12th century. 
• Other Sanskritic metres used during this time included the saptapadi (seven-line verse), the ashtaka (eight-line verse), and the shataka (hundred-line verse). 
• The medieval period also saw numerous translations and adaptations of Sanskrit works into Kannada, and to a lesser extent, Kannada works into Sanskrit.

Evolution of Native Kannada Literary Metres

The medieval period witnessed the development of several literary metres that were native to the Kannada language. These included:

• Tripadi: A three-line verse that dates back to the 7th century, making it one of the oldest native metres.
• Shatpadi: A six-line verse first mentioned by Nagavarma I in Chhandombudhi around 984, and widely used from 1165 onward. Six types of shatpadi exist today.
• Ragale: A lyrical narrative form that emerged around 1160.
• Sangatya: A form intended to be sung with musical accompaniment, which became popular from 1232.
• Akkara: A metre that was later adopted in some Telugu compositions.

Interaction with Tamil Literature

There were also instances of interaction between Kannada and Tamil literature during this period, with influences and adaptations seen in both languages.

Diversity in Kannada Literature

• Although religious literature dominated Kannada literature, other genres such as romance, fiction, erotica, satire, folk songs, fables, parables, musical writings, and compositions were also popular. 
• Kannada literature covered a wide range of topics including grammar, philosophy, prosody, rhetoric, chronicles, biography, history, drama, and cuisine, and even extended to dictionaries and encyclopedias. 
• Critics have identified more than 50 works on scientific subjects like medicine, mathematics, and astrology written in Kannada.

Preservation and Inscriptions in Kannada Literature

• During this period, Kannada literature was primarily documented on palm leaves. However, over 30,000 enduring inscriptions on stone (known as shilashasana) and copper plates (known as tamrashasana) have survived, providing invaluable insights into the historical evolution of Kannada literature. 
• Notable examples include the Kappe Arabhatta inscription (c. 700) and the Hummacha and Soraba inscriptions (c. 800), which are classic instances of poetry in the tripadi metre. The Jura (present-day Jabalpur) inscription of King Krishna III (964) is considered an epigraphical landmark of classical Kannada literature, featuring poetic expression in the kanda metre, a form that consists of clusters of stanzas or chapters. 
• Elegiac poetry, inscribed on numerous veeragallu and maastigallu (hero stones), was written by anonymous poets in the kanda and vritta metres, mourning the death of heroes and the bravery of women who practiced sati.

Transition to Modern Literary Styles

• The transition towards more modern literary styles gained momentum in Kannada literature during the early 19th century. Kannada writers were initially influenced by the modern literature of other languages, particularly English. 
• Modern English education and democratic values brought about social changes, intertwining with a desire to preserve traditional ways. This period saw the emergence of new literary genres, including short stories, novels, literary criticism, and essays, as Kannada prose moved towards modernization.

Classification of Kannada Literature Periods

Considering these various elements and facets, Kannada literature can be divided not only into the three basic periods of Old, Middle, and Modern, but also into specific periods such as:

• Classical Period
• Hoysala Period
• Vijayanagara Period
• Mystic Period
• Mysore and Keladi Period
• Modern Period
• Post-modern Trends

Each of these periods reflects the unique characteristics and evolution of Kannada literature through time.