Kumara Vyasa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kumara Vyasa (Kannada: ಕುಮಾರವ್ಯಾಸ ) is the pen name of Gadhugina Naranappa ( Kannada: ಗದುಗಿನ ನಾರಣಪ್ಪ) who is one of the most famous poets in the Kannada language, spoken in the state of Karnataka, India. The name is meaningful, since his magnum opus is a translation of the Sanskrit Mahabharata, written by the famous poet Vyasa. Kumara Vyasa literally means Little Vyasa or Son of Vyasa.

A statue of Kumara Vyasa in Gadag

1 Place and Time
2 Works
3 Influence
4 References
5 See also
6 External link

[edit] Place and Time

The period of Kumara Vyasa's life has now been accurately determined. While earlier opinions of historians varied from the 12th century to the 16th century, consensus is that he lived sometime around the late 14th and early 15th centuries. His magnum opus was probably completed in 1430 during the rule of Vijayanagara empire king Deva Raya II, in whose court Kumara Vyasa earned high esteem. This dating is based on the fact that other poets in the 15th century, such as Kanaka Dasa and Timmanna Kavi, seem to have referred to Kumara Vyasa's works.

Kumara Vyasa's hometown was Gadag, in North Karnataka. Even now, there is a pillar in the Veera Narayana temple of Gadag, where Kumara Vyasa is said to have composed and sung his works. This pillar is commonly called Kumara Vyasa's pillar.

[edit] Works

Kumara Vyasa's most famous work is the Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari. His lifetime work, the Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari (also known as Gadugina Bharata) is a sublime adaptation of the first ten Parvas (chapters) of the Mahabharata. A devotee of Krishna, Kumara Vyasa ends his epic with the coronation of Udhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas. The work is easily the most celebrated in Kannada literature. Its fame arises out of the fact that it has appealed to people of all strata of education and intellect right up to the present day. The work is entirely composed in the Bhamini Shatpadi meter, a form of six lined stanza. The range of human emotions that Kumara Vyasa explores and the versatility of his vocabulary are extensive. The work is particularly known for its use of sophisticated metaphors, earning Kumara Vyasa the title Rupaka Samrajya Chakravarti (Emperor of the World of Metaphors).^{[citation needed]}

Kumara Vyasa is also known for his ability to depict human characters in crystal-clear clarity. Every one of his characters seem to have their own way to speak, to curse, to laugh and even to cry.

Another of Kumara Vyasa's works is Airavata, which is not as famous as Karnata Bharata KathaManjari.

[edit] Influence

Kumara Vyasa has been highly influential in the further development of Kannada literature. His magnum opus is still widely read, and a unique style of singing it, known as Gamaka, is quite famous to this day.

[edit] References

Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002)
Prof K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, History of South India, From Prehistoric times to fall of Vijayanagar, 1955, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).