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The Kingdom of Mysore (Template:Lang-kn, 1399-1947) was founded by Yaduraya in 1399 as a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire and became an independent kingdom in the early 17th century after the decline of the Empire. Though many scholars and musicians may have existed in the Mysore court from the beginning of its establishment, references to records of scholars, writers and their writings only exist from the time of Raja Wodeyar (1578), while the writings themselves are only available from the time of King Ranadheera Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638). The reign of the Mysore kingdom is considered a golden age in Kannada literature, especially in the fields of musical treatises, compositions and drama. Not only were the kingdom's courts adorned with famous writers and composers, but many of the kings themselves were accomplished in the fine arts and have made important contributions.

During this period, though traditional literature in philosophy and religion continued to be popular, a wave of writings in such new genres as chronicles (vamshavali), biographies, histories, encyclopedias, novels, dramas, and treatises on music and musical compositions gained prominence. Yakshagana, a unique and native form of poetic literature with dramatic representation, gained popularity in the 18th century. Musical and devotional compositions were written in dvipadi (couplets), tripadi (three line form)choupadi (four line form) shatpadi (six line form), saptapadi (seven line form), Vachana, sangatya (verses rendered musically and rhythmically to the accompaniment of an instrument) and champu (mixed prose-verse) metres. A light and lyrical style of Carnatic compositions in Kannada called javali or javadi was introduced by King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III.

The Haridasa movement, which began in the 14th century with the saints of the Madhva order of Udupi, continued to flourish, with latter-day saints writing many dasara padagalu (devotional songs of dasas). Literature by Brahmin and Shaivite writers was numerous, with some well-known Jain writers also making important contributions. Among royalty, Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1672-1704) and Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1799-1868) are well known for their literary proficiency, though other kings and queens also made notable contributions. Other major influences on Kannada literature, particularly in the last two centuries, include English literature, classical Sanskrit literature, the changing political situation in India (including Indians' struggle for freedom), the rise of Kannada nationalism and the arrival of the printing press.

Overview

Yakshagana (lit, "Songs of the demi-gods") is a popular form of rustic "folk-dance-drama" of southern India, the best-known of which is from the South Kanara region of modern Karnataka state. There are a variety of art forms collectively termed as Yakshagana; the "Yakshagana Tenkutittu" (lit, "Yakshagana of the southern style") and simply "Yakshagana", popular primarily in the Mangalore region, the "Yakshagana Badagatittu Bayalaata" (lit "Yakshagana of northern style performed outdoors"), popular field plays primarily in the Udupi and sourrounding regions of modern Karnataka, "Yakshagana Kuchipudi" of modern Andhra Pradesh, and the "Yakshagana Kauvanji" and "Yakshagana Bhagavata Mela" of modern Tamil Nadu. Other art forms grouped under this category are the "Nagamandalam", a dance meant to appease Naga, the snake god, and a vareity of spirit (bhuta) dances. There are some similarities in the dance steps, the costumes worn and the music played in these dance-dramas.

Noted modern Kannada writer Shivarama Karanth suggested that the earliest forms of dance-drama were called the Gandharagrama and are mentioned in the work Narada Siska date between 600–200 BCE. This developed into an intermediate form called the Ekkalagana which finds mention in 12th century Kannada writings Mallinathapurana (c. 1105, by Nagachandra) and the Chandraprabha Purana (c. 1189, by Aggala). According to M.M. Bhat, a scholar from the Institude of traditional cultures, the Chattana native compositions, written in various interspersed metres and mentioned in the Kavirajamarga (850) could be considered the earliest forerunners of the Kannada language Yakshaganas'. According to R.R. Diwakar, chief editor of the book Karnataka through the ages, there are references in literature to a vibrant Kannada theatre as early as the 12th century. These dramas were field-plays based on the Hindu epics and historical themes, containing music, dialogue and dance. For example, the Kannada writing Abhinava Dasakumara Charitre (c. 1300 Chavundarasa) refers to a Dasavatara aata ("Dasavatara play").

According to Martha Bush Ashton, the Yakshagana of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh may have reached a mature stage during the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire. The earliest epigraphal evidence of the existance a dance-drama is from a c. 1565 inscription from Bellary which mentions a grant made to a troupe of Tala-Maddale peformers. Around this time, the earliest available manuscripts containg Yakshagana plays were written; the Virata Parva (c. 1565) by Vishnu of Ajapura, modern Brahmavara in South Canara, and the Sugriva Vijaya (mid-16th century) by Kandukuru Rudrakavi. The earliest available edition of Yakshagana plays, called the Sabhaparva, is dated to c. 1621. According to Shivarama Karanth, the region between Udupi and Ikkeri (also known as Malnad) could be the region where Kannada Yakshanagas originated. He based this conclusion on certian findings; the earliest known Yakshagana writers and available manuscripts are from this region. Also, the forerunners of the Yakshagana, referred to as the Bhagavata aata and Dasavatara aata, are based on the life of the god Vishnu and in particular, the god Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. He notes that the Udupi region from where these plays originate is the location of the monastery established by the Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya, where worship of the god Krishna has been popular since the 13th century.

17th-century literature

Template:Kannada poets in Mysore Kingdom References made to literature from the time of Raja Wodeyar (1578-1617) provide ample evidence of the patronage given by the king to writers. In his court, Tirumala Iyengar or Tirumalarya (1600) composed the Karna Vrittanta Kathe in Kannada in sangatya metre. According to tradition, Tirumalarya was a descendant of Anantaraya, an acharya (teacher) nominated by the 11th century philosopher Ramanujacharya. King Chamaraja Wodeyar (1617-1637) translated the Valmiki Ramayana from Sanskrit into Kannada, calling it Chamarajokti Vilasa. Other notable works of this time were Ashwashastra, Hayasara Samucchaya and Brahmottra Kanda.

King Ranadheera Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638-1659) was honoured with the title of Sangeeta Sahitya Shastra Visharada, indicating his expertise in music and literature. Famous Kannada writers in his court included Govinda Vaidya (1620), Shantaveera Deshika (1650) and others. Govinda Vaidya, a native of Srirangapatna (in modern Mandya district), wrote a book called Kanteerava Narasaraja Vijaya in sangatya metre, describing the lifestyle, the king's court, the music and the types of musical compositions of that time in twenty-six chapters (sandhis). Shantaveera Deshika's contribution was the Shivaganga Charitra, also in sangatya metre. Bhaskara wrote a work on mathematics called Beharaganita and Timmarasa wrote the Markandeyaramayana. In 1700, Chamaiah wrote a eulogy for King Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar called the Devarajendra Sangatya.

The reign of Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1673-1704) produced prolific writers, not least the king himself - he was an accomplished scholar in Kannada and a musician. He is known to be the earliest composer of the dynasty and held the title of Sahitya Vidyanikasha Prastharam. The famous treatise on music in Kannada called Geetha Gopala is credited to him. Though inspired by Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda, the work, which was written in saptapadi metre, still had an originality of its own. This is the first writing that attempted to propagate the Vaishnava faith in the Kannada language. The work consists of two parts of seven sections each, with each section having seven songs. It is considered an extraordinary effort and an asset to students of music and literature. The king also composed twenty-seven songs in the raga (mood) Kambhoji. The king's writing Chikkadevarajabinnapam was a poem in praise of Lord Cheluvanarayanaswamy, the residing deity at Melkote.

Among well known scholars, Tirumalarya (son of the earlier Tirumalarya in the court of Raja Wodeyar), a native of Srirangapatna and a childhood friend of the king, was the court poet. He was also a minister in the court of the Queen of Madurai. Well known among his writings in Kannada are Chikka Devaraja Saptapadi (1698), a musical treatise and a eulogy for his patron king rendered in seven sections with fifty-two songs. In this work, the poet exalts the king to the level of "God on Earth". It is, along with Geetha Gopala, considered one of the more important 17th century treatises on music. Tirumalarya's other well known contributions in Kannada are Apratimavira Charite, a eulogy for his patron king, Chikkadevaraja Vijaya, an account of the king's conquests in sixteen chapters and Chikkadevaraja Vamshavali, the earliest available Kannada prose historical writing, describing the king's ancestry. In addition, he composed in tripadi, sangatya, kirtanas and other devotional songs in Kannada and Telugu.

Chikkupadhyaya, also known as Lakshmipathi, was born in 1650 in Terakanambi (in modern Mysore district), and was the most prolific Kannada writer of the time with over thirty writings to his credit. His best known works are Vishnupurana (1691), Kamalachala Mahatmya (1681), Hastigiri Mahatmya (1679), Rukmangada Charite (1681), Satvikabrahma-Vidya-Vilasa on Visishtadvaita philosophy, Yadugiri Mahatmya in praise of Kadambi Srirangacharya and Yadavagiri Mahatmya in praise of Kadambi Lakshmanacharya, numerous compositions in the champu, sangatya, and gadya metres, seventy songs in praise of his patron king (under the pen name of Chikkadevaraja), a composition called Shringarada Hadugalu and several commentaries.

Chidananda (1675), a Jain Kannada poet, wrote philosophical compositions - known as Tatwada Kirtanegalu - and other compositions, including Neeti Nrimaya and Munivamsha Bhyudaya - in sangatya metre.

Singaraya, a brother of Tirumalarya, wrote the earliest known drama in Kannada called Mitravinda Govinda in 1680, a work inspired by the Sanskrit drama Ratnavali by Sriharsha. Saint Vaikunta Dasa (1680), a Haridasa and a native of Belur, composed many kirtanas (devotional compositions) on Vishnu in Kannada. Under the pen name Vaikunta, he also composed a song called Kapatamata and many suladis. Timmakavi (1677) wrote Hari Vilasa in sangatya metre and Yadavagiri Mahatmya, while Mallarasa authored Dasavatara Charite. Among female Kannada writers, Srirangamma and Sanchi Honnamma were the most recognised. Srirangamma (1685) wrote a Padmini Kalyana, and Sanchi Honnamma, a Vokkaliga native of Yelandur (in modern Bangalore district), won accolades from her patron king for writing a unique book called Hadibadeya Dharma. The work intended to reveal the struggles of women in society, and their need to fulfil their daily roles as wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, sister and sister-in-law.

Lakshmisa's Jaimini Bharata, written in shatpadi metre is the poets Kannada version of the epic Mahabharata and is one of the most popular poems of the late medieval period. A superb story-teller and a dramatist, the author was a native of Devanur in Kadur taluk and writing is dated to the middle of 16th or late 17th century. A collection of stories, the poem contains the famous tale of the Sita Parityaga ("Repudiation of Sita"). The author has succeeded in converting a religious story into a very human tale, making it popular even in modern times.

Other important writings in Kannada by brahmins are the Asrasastra by Ramachandra, Uttara Ramayana by Tirumalevaidya, Bhagavadgite by Nagarasa and a writing on geometry called Kshetraganita by Timmarasa. Among Jain writers, Bhattakalanka Deva stands out as a grammarian of extraordinary talent. He was the last of the three notables who wrote comprehensively on old Kannada grammar (Nagavarma II and Keshiraja being the other two). A native of South Canara, he was an expert in Sanskrit grammar as well. Though his writing, Karnataka Sabdanusasanam, is modelled on the lines of Sanskrit grammar, it is an exhaustive work. His emphasis on the importance of Kannada language and its rich literary history is evident. Padmana Pandita authored the Hayasara samuchchaya and Chandrashekara wrote the Ramachandra charitra, his Jain version of the story of the Hindu god Rama.

A mendicant poet and moralist whose origin is shrouded in mystery, Sarvajna, (literally "The all knowing") has left his mark on Kannada literature and the Kannada speaking people. Some clues in the first fourteen of a series of poems written by him ("Reminiscences of Birth") give an indication about his birth, parentage and his reasons for leaving home at an early age. It is believed he was born in Ambalur (Abbalur in modern Haveri district) to an illicit relationship between a Brahmin man called Basavarasa and Mali, the wife of a potter named Mala. Davasale Sarvajna as he calls himself in one of these poems, grew up to be a candid and outspoken boy. Alarmed that he may someday reveal her exra-marital relationship to her husband, his mother may have sent Sarvajna out of the house. Unable to bear the taunts of society, he may have become a drifter. His poems after the 14th focus on his spiritual quest.

Scholars place him between the 15th and 18th centuries based on other literary evidence. A few of his poems give more hints about his adulthood, his Guru and a possible unsuccessful marriage. After the deah of his guru, Sarvajna may have taken to ascetism, acquiring knowledge from the world, rather than from formal education, writing poems about the nature of people and places. His witty poems, numbering more about 2000, are his observations on the art of living, the purpose of life and the ways of the world written in a simple tripadi metre popular in folk literature. A tomb in Hirekerur (modern Haveri district) it is said, is his final resting place. Neither was he patronized by royalty nor did he write for fame, his main aim was to instruct people about morality. All his poems end with his name "Sarvajna".

Shadaksharadeva wrote the Vrishabhendra Vijaya, Sabarasankara Vilasa and the Rajashekara Vilasa in 1655. The latter work contains poems rivalling Lakshmisa's Jaimimi Bharata in popular Kannada poetry. Other well known writers were Harisvara, who wrote Prabhudeva Purana, Siddhananjesa, the author of Raghavanka Charitra and Gururaja Charitra, Prasabhushana (or Pemmisetti), author of Gurubhaktandara Charitre and Mummadi Tamma, the author of Sankara Samhita.

Age of Yakshagana and rebirth of Haridasa literature

Template:Kannada poets in 18th century Mysore Kingdom

Yakshagana, the rustic form open air dance-drama, which draws its themes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata has an established history in the Karnataka region of over 400 years. In its rudimentary form, the script of the play contains poetic songs (Prasanga) sung by the musician (Bhagavata), to which improvised dialogue (matu) are added. Musical instruments include drums (maddale and Chende) and a harminoum like instrument(sruti). The Sugriva Vijaya (mid-16th century) by Kandukuru Rudrakavi is one of the earliest available manuscripts. The play draws its theme from the story of the monkey-king Sugriva who overthrew his powerful brother Vali to regain his kingdom, in the Hindu epic Ramayana. While historians and scholars have proposed various theories about the early origin and the forerunners of Yakshagana, according to the musicologist Meera Rajaram Pranesh, the credit of writing the earliest available Yakshagana plays that include sangita (music), nataka (drama) and natya (dance) goes to the polyglot King Kanteerava Narasaraja Wodeyar II (1704–1714). The king, who is also known as "Mookarasu" ("dumb king") was proficient in Kannada, Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil and Prakrit. His fourteen Yakshagana compositions, written in various languages but in the Kannada script were discovered at the Government manuscripts library in Chennai.

With the passing of the Vijayanagara era, creation of Haridasa literature seemed to slow down for about a century despite attempts of two dasa (devotee) poets, Mahapati Rao (1611–1681, 600 compositions) and his son Krishna Rao. The tradition however recovered momentum towards the end of the 17th century under the able guidance of Vijaya Dasa, a native of Ceekalaparavi in Raichur district. An desciple of Purandara Dasa, Vijaya Dasa was inspired by the establishment of the monastery of saint Raghavendra Swamy (of the Madhva order) at Mantralayam. Apart from enriching the literary genre with 25,000 lyrical and moving compositions written with the pen-name "Vijaya Vittala", Vijaya Dasa is credited with popularising and forwarding the teachings of the philosopher Madhvacharya of Udupi. Most well-known among his able desciples are Gopala Dasa (pen-name "Gopala Vittala"), Kallur Subbanna Dasa ("Vyasa Vittala"), Mohana Dasa ("Mohana Vittala"), Sheshagiri Dasa ("Guru Vijaya Vittala"), Prasanna Venkata Dasa (Prasanna Venkata), Igi Venkatacharya (Casndeva Vittala"). Later, Gopala Dasa inspired Jagannatha Dasa to take to the Haridasa fold.

Cheluvambe, a queen of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar I (1714–1732), was an accomplished Kannada writer. Her notable works include Varanandi Kalyana written in the sangatya metre, a composition meant to the accompaniment of a musical instrument. The story narrates the wedding of Varanandi, the daughter of the Badshah of Delhi and the god Cheluvaraya Swamy of Melkote. In the writing, the author envisioned Varanandi to be a reincarnation of Satyabhama, the consort of the Hindu god Krishna. Her other compositions include Venkatachala Mahatmyam, a lullaby song written in choupadi (four line verse) metre in devotion to the Hindu god Venkateshwara residing on the Vrishabha hill, songs centred on Alamelu Mangamma, the consort of the Hindu god Venkateshwara of Tirupati, and songs in praise of the god Cheluvanarayana. Shalyada Krishnaraja, a poet and member from the royal family was proficient writer in Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit. His contributions include devotional songs, Vachanas (free verse) and sangatya compositions (Nija Dipika Ratna), Gadya compositions (Anubhava Rasayana), and Kirthanes (Bhakti Marga Sarovara, Gnana Sarovara and Shalyada Arasinavara Tikina Kirtane).

Other well-known among Vaishnava writers were Lakshmakavi (Bharata, Rukmangada Charite), Venkatesha (Halasya Mahatmya, champu metre), Konayya (Krishnarjuna Sangara), Timmamatya (Ramabhyudaya Kathakusumamanjari, the poets version of the epic Ramayana) and Balavaidya Cheluva (Lilavati and encyclopedia of precious stones called Ratnasastra).

Kalale Nanjaraja was the most noted Shaiva writers in the court of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar II (1734–1766). He earned the honorific Nutan Bhojaraja (a comparison to King Bhoja) for his literary pursuits. A native of Kalale town near Nanjangud, Nanjaraja came from a influential family of warriors, statesman and scholars. He was politically active too and is known to have created a power centre, holding court parallel to the King Krishnaraja Wodeyar II. He was proficient in multiple languages and is known to have authored more than twenty writings in Kannada, Sanskrit and Telugu. Among his Kannada musical compositions, the Aravattu muvara trivadhi, narrating the life of 63 ancient devotees of the god Shiva is well known. Other well-known Shaiva writers were Chenniah who worte in the sangatya metre (Padmini Parinaya, 1720), Nuronda who eulogised his patron King Krishnaraja Wodeyar II in Soundarya Kavya (c. 1740) in sangatya metre, and Sankara Kavi (Chorabasava Charitre, 18th century). Notable Jain writers of the period were Payanna (Ahimsacharitre), Padmaraja (Pujyapada Charitre, 1792), Padmanabha (Ramachandra Charitre), Surala (Padmavati Charitre), and Jayendra (Karnataka Kuvalayananda).

19th/20th-century literature

King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1799-1868) is called the "Morning Star of the Renaissance in Karnataka". He gave munificient grants to scholars of all kinds while being a prolific writer in Kannada himself. Over forty notable writings are attributed to him of which a poetic romance called Saugandhika Parinaya is best known. There are two versions of this - one is a sangatya and the other a drama. In this writing, the author imaginatively narrates the story of the sage Durvasa, who curses Devendra (Hindu god Indra) to be born as Sucharitra, the son of Sugandharaya, the king of Ratnapuri. Devendra's wife Shachidevi takes birth as Sougandhika and marries Sucharitra. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III also wrote three important treatises. They are the Sri Tatwanidhi and Swara Chudamani on music and the Sara Sangraha Bharata on dance. For the first time in South India, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III incorporated musical iconography into writings on music in his Sri Tatwanidhi. This work is considered a beautiful combination of literature, music and painting. The language used is Sanskrit and is written in the Kannada script and is essentially an encyclopedia of Purana, Agama, Jyothishya (astrology), music, history (Itihasa), Tantra and Shilpa (art). It was written on 1500 royal sized sheets in nine chapters containing one thousand pictures. After 1799, the British completely took over the administration of the kingdom and the king devoted all his time to developing the fine arts, earning the title "Abhinava Bhoja".

In the court of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Aliya Lingaraja Urs, a native of Heggadadevanakote (in modern Mysore district), became the foremost writer in Kannada and Sanskrit. His name, Aliya, means "son-in-law" in Kannada as he was married to two of the king's daughters. To the credit of Lingaraja Urs are over fifty works spanning such forms as literature, songs, Javalis, Yakshagana and drama. For his contributions to the fine arts, he earned the title Ubhaya Kavita Visharada (master of poetry in two languages) and Sarasa Kavi Kula Tilaka. His compositions are written with many pen names all starting with the term "linga", such as "lingaraja" and "Linganripa". Famous among his Kannada writings is the well known poem Prabhavati Parinaya and the Yakshagana called Girija Kalyana in sangatya metre containing six chapters. In this work the author narrates the birth of Girija the daughter of Himavanta, her youthful days, her penance and finally her marriage to the Hindu god Shiva.

Eager to spread their gospel in Kannada, Christian missionaries were responsible for printing the earliest books in that language (1817). The first Kannada Bible was printed in 1820, the Rev. Reeve compiled the earliest English-Kannada dictionary in 1824 and the Rev. Carrey published a Kannada grammar in 1817. Modern Kannada prose was born in 1823 when Mudra Manjusha, a translation of the Sanskrit play by Vishakadatta, was written by Kempu Narayana in the court of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. The influence of English literature and poetry on Kannada was evident from the numerous songs of prayer composed by the missionaries.

The rise of Devalapurada Nanjunda to the stature of court poet under King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III came under unusual circumstances. A native of Nagarle village in Nanjangud (modern Mysore district), he received his education at Devalapura and was initially employed as a mere attendant in the king's palace. When an important seer (saint) from the Sringeri Advaita order visited the king's court, the king ordered his staff to contribute one month's salary as a token of respect for the seer. Unable to come up with this amount, Nanjunda composed a poem for the seer. Impressed by his poetic ability, the seer advised that king to make Nanjunda his court poet. For his scholarship in Kannada and Sanskrit, he received the title "Ubhaya Bhasha Kavi". Among his famous compositions in Kannada are Sougandhika Parinaya in sangatya metre, Samudra Mathana Kathe as a Yakshagana, Sri Krishna Sarvabhoumara Charitre in sangatya metre and Krishnendra Gite in choupadi metre. In Sanskrit, he composed the Pattabhisheka Mahotsava Varnanam.

A luminary in the court of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar III and Chamaraja Wodeya IX (1868-1901) was Basavappa Shastry, a native of Mysore. Known as Kannada Nataka Pitamaha, Shastri composed the first state anthem of the Mysore kingdom, Kayou Sri Gowri, for the coronation of Chamaraja Wodeyar IX. Because of his proficiency in Kannada and Sanskrit and his knowledge of the fine arts, especially drama, he was appointed the head of Chamaraja Nataka Sabha (a drama college) in 1882. Basavappa Shastry authored many dramas in Kannada and translated Shakespeare's "Othello" into its Kannada version called Shurasena Charite with the help of D.C. Subba Rao. His translations from Sanskrit to Kannada are many and include Kalidasa, Abhignyana Shakuntala, Vikramorvasheeya, Malavikagnimitra, Uttara Rama Charite, Chanda Koushika Nataka, Malathi Madhava and Ratnavali. In addition to translating or writing original dramas, Basavappa Shastry incorporated hundreds of musical compositions into the script of the drama.

Mysore Karigiri Rao, a native of Tumkur and an expert in Sanskrit with a knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of music, wanted to write in simple Kannada about music that could appeal to all musicians. As a result, he wrote two treatises called the Gana Vidya Rahasya Prakashini and Sangita Subhodhini focusing on the "lakshya" and "lakshana" aspects of music. He was a court poet and musician during the rule of King Chamaraja Wodeyar IX and held such titles as Sangeeta Vidya Kanteerava. Other well known Kannada writers in the court of Chamaraja Wodeyar IX were S.G. Narasimhacharya, Nandalige Lakshminaranappa, Dhondo Narasimha Mulabaglu, Santa Kavi and B. Ventakacharya.

Mysore Vasudevacharya, a child prodigy, was born in Mysore in 1865 to Subramanyacharya (of Chevur, modern Tamil Nadu) and Krishna Bai. From the age of five, the talented lad was patronised by the King Chamaraja Wodeyar IX. In his early years he learnt Sanskrit at the Maharaj's College and veena from Veena Padmanabiah, and eventually was sent by the king to learn music from Patnam Subramanya Iyer of Tiruvayyur (in modern Tamil Nadu). The pinnacle of his musical career came when he performed at the National Congress Convention in 1926 at Belagavi before an audience made up of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders. Apart from a vast array of compositions in Sanskrit and Telugu, he wrote two books in Kannada, one of them an autobiography called Nenapugalu ("Memories") and Nha Kanda Kalavidaru ("The Musicians I Have Met") in which he wrote the biographies of many well-known musicians.

Modern Kannada literature gained momentum under the patronage of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1902-1940). The earliest modern novels in the Kannada language are the Suryakantha by Lakshmi Gadagkar (1892) and the Indrabayi (1899) by Gulvadi Venkata Rao. Translations of novels from Marathi and Bengali were also popular. The rise of a national consciousness from the freedom struggle, the birth of Kannada nationalism and pride in the history of ancient Karnataka had a direct impact on the literature of this age. Dr. J.F. Fleet wrote the Dynasties of Canarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency in 1894. Under the patronage of Mysore Kingdom, Dr. Louis Rice compiled an exhaustive history of Karnataka in his Epigraphia Carnatica (1886), and Mysore and Coorg from Inscriptions (1909). Dr. Bhandarkar published the Early History of the Dekhan (1884) and Robert Sewell wrote the A Forgotten Empire (1901). Soon after, Alur Venkata Rao consolidated all these histories into Kannada in his book Karnataka Gatavaibhava in 1917.

Belakawadi Srinivasa Iyengar (born as Kuppaswamy Iyengar), who was born in Srigiripura (near Shivagange in Karnataka state), became a court musician during the rule of King Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in 1916. He authored an important treatise on music in Kannada called Ganamrita in twelve chapters to help students of music understand its theoretical and practical aspects easily. The book was published by his son in 1936. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar, the last king of Mysore, was a noted writer in Kannada and English and wrote the classics Dattatreya - The Way and the Goal and Gita and the Indian culture in English and the Dharma mattu manava in Kannada.

Notes

1. ^ Pranesh (2003), preface chapter p(i)
2. Narasimhacharya (1988), p23-26
3. Narasimhacharya (1988), p25
4. Kamath (2001), p281
5. Pranesh (2003), p54
6. ^ Narasimhacharya (1988), p25 Cite error: The named reference "kan8" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
7. Kamath (2001), p230, p250
8. Narasimhacharya (1988), p23, p26
9. ^ Ashton (2003), p. 17–18
10. ^ Brandon and Banham (1993), p. 115
11. Ashton (2003), p. 17
12. Karanth in Ashton (2003), p. 20
13. Narasimhacharya (1988), p. 12
14. Ashton (2003), p. 21
15. Ashton (2003), p. 19
16. ^ Ashton (2003), p. 20 Cite error: The named reference "dasa" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
17. Ashton (2003), p. 21
18. Ashton (2003), p. 22
19. Brandon and Banham (1993), p.115
20. Karanth in Ashton (2003), p. 22–23
21. Pranesh (2003), p6
22. Pranesh (2003), p7
23. Pranesh (2003), p10
24. Pranesh (2003), p11
25. Kamath (2001), p228
26. Pranesh (2003), p16-17
27. Pranesh (2003), p20
28. Pranesh (2003), p21
29. Pranesh (2003), p25, p27
30. Kamath (2001), p230
31. Pranesh (2003), p29-30
32. Narasimhacharya (1988), p23-24
33. Pranesh (2003), p31
34. Narasimhacharya (1988), p24
35. Pranesh (2003), p31-32
36. Pranesh (2003), p32
37. Narasimhacharya (1988), p62
38. Pranesh (2003), p33
39. Pranesh (2003), p34
40. Narasimhacharya (1988), p24
41. Narasimhacharya (1988), p 24
42. Narasimhacharya (1988), p 59
43. Sahitya Akademi (1988), p 1182
44. ^ Narasimhacharya (1988), p24
45. Sahitya Akademi (1987), p 476
46. Prasad (1987), p 7
47. Prasad (1987), pp 9-10
48. Narasimhacharya (1988), p 24
49. Prasad (1987), p 16
50. Shiva Prakash in Ayyappapanicker (1997), p 191
51. Prasad (1987), p 15
52. Prasad (1987), pp 5-6
53. Brandan and Banham (1993), pp. 115–116
54. Ashton (2003), pp. 17&ndash23
55. Pranesh (2003), p. 37
56. Pranesh (2003), p37–38
57. ^ Sahitya Akademi (1987), p. 883
58. Pranesh (2003), pp. 42–43
59. Pranesh (2003), pp. 49–50
60. Narasimhacharya (1988), p. 25
61. Pranesh (2003), p. 45
62. Pranesh (2003), p. 49
63. Pranesh (2003), p. 43
64. Narasimhacharya (1988), p. 25; Pranesh (2003), p. 49
65. Narasimhacharya (1988), p. 25
66. Narasimhacharya (1988), p26
67. Pranesh (2003), p55
68. ^ Pranesh (2003), p55
69. Pranesh (2003), p53
70. Pranesh (2003), p78
71. Pranesh (2003), p80
72. Narasimhacharya (2003), p26
73. Kamath (2001), p279
74. Kamath (2001), p280
75. Kamath (2001), p281
76. Pranesh (2003), p87
77. Pranesh (2003), p87-88
78. Pranesh (2003), p81
79. Pranesh (2003), p82
80. Pranesh (2003), p124, p127
81. Narasimhacharya (1988), p26
82. Pranesh (2003), pp135-137
83. Pranesh (2003), p147
84. Kamath (2001), p281
85. Kamath (2001), p281
86. Pranesh (2003), p205
87. Pranesh (2003), p225

References

• Pranesh, Meera Rajaram (2003), Musical Composers during Wodeyar Dynasty (1638-1947 A.D.), Vee Emm Publications, Bangalore EBK 94056
• R. Narasimhacharya, History of Kannada Literature, 1988, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, Madras,1988 ISBN 81-206-0303-6.
• Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041
• Prasad, K.B. Prabhu (1987) . Sarvajna. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 817201404X.
• Shiva Prakash, H.S. (1997). "Kannada". In Ayyappapanicker (ed.). Medieval Indian Literature:An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126003650.
• Various (1988) . Encyclopaedia of Indian literature - vol 2. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126011947.
• Various (1987) . Encyclopaedia of Indian literature - vol 1. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126018038.
• Ashton, Martha Bush (2003) . "History of Yakshagana". Yakshagana. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 8170170478.
• Brandon and Banham, James and Martin (1993) . The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521588227.

v t e State of Karnataka
Capital: Bengaluru
State symbols	Emblem: Emblem of Karnataka Song: Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate Animal: Asian elephant Bird: Indian roller Flower: Lotus Tree: Sandalwood Fruit: Mango Fish: Carnatic carp Insect: Southern birdwing
Overviews	Architecture Cinema Climate Cuisine Demography Economy Education Folk arts Geography History Media People Sports Transportation Wildlife
History	Aihole Alupa dynasty Amoghavarsha Badami Banavasi Balligavi Belur Chalukya dynasty Chitradurga Nayakas Deva Raya II Durvinita Halebidu Kingdom of Coorg Halmidi Hampi Hoysala Empire Kadamba dynasty Kalyani Chalukyas Keladi Nayakas Shivappa Nayaka Kittur Chennamma Kingdom of Mysore Mayurasharma Pattadakal Pulakeshin II Rashtrakuta dynasty Sringeri Srirangapatna Tipu Sultan Unification of Karnataka Vijayanagara Empire Vijayanagara Vishnuvardhana Veera Ballala II Vikramaditya II Vikramaditya VI Western Ganga dynasty
Districts and divisions	Bangalore division Bangalore Urban Bangalore Rural Chitradurga Davanagere Kolar Shimoga Tumakuru Ramanagara Chikkaballapura Belagavi division Bagalkot Belagavi Bijapur Dharwad Haveri Gadag Uttara Kannada Kalaburagi division Ballari Bidar Kalaburagi Koppal Raichur Vijayanagara Yadgir Mysore division Chamarajanagar Chikmagalur Dakshina Kannada Hassan Kodagu Mandya Mysore Udupi
Geography	Cities and towns Districts Rivers Dams and reservoirs Taluks Villages Highest point Bayalu Seeme Malenadu Kanara Western Ghats
Culture	Bharatanatyam Buta Kola Bidriware Channapatna toys Chitrakala Parishat Gaarudi Gombe Ilkal sari Kamsale Kannada Karnatik music Kasuti Khedda Mysore Dasara Togalu gombeyaata Udupi cuisine Veeragase Yakshagana Mysore musicians
Literature	Kannada Milestones Epics Medieval Rashtrakuta Western Ganga Western Chalukya Hoysala Vijayanagara Vachana Haridasa Mysore Play Modern Kannada Sahitya Parishat Kannada Sahitya Sammelana Karnataka
Noted poets	Asaga Gunavarma I Adikavi Pampa Sri Ponna Ranna Devar Dasimayya Basava Akka Mahadevi Allama Prabhu Siddharama Harihara Raghavanka Rudrabhatta Janna Kumara Vyasa Chamarasa Nijaguna Shivayogi Ratnakaravarni Purandara Dasa Kanaka Dasa Vijaya Dasa Gopala Dasa Jagannatha Dasa Lakshmisa Sarvajna Shishunala Sharif Krishnaraja Wadiyar III D. R. Bendre Gopalakrishna Adiga V. Seetharamaiah K. S. Narasimhaswamy M. Govinda Pai Kuvempu D. V. Gundappa G. S. Shivarudrappa
People and society	Karnataka ethnic groups List of people from Karnataka
Tourism	Beaches Dams Forts National parks Hindu temples Jain temples Waterfalls
Awards	Karnataka Ratna Pampa Award Nrupatunga Award Basava Puraskara Rajyotsava Prashasti Jakanachari Award Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award Kempegowda Award
Media	Cinema Newspapers Magazines Television Radio

• Kannada literature
• Literature of Karnataka
• Indian literature
• Early Modern literature