NAGACHANDRA
Nagachandra (ನಾಗಚಂದ್ರ) is an important poet who continued in the foot steps
of
Nagachandra lived in the first half of the
twelfth century in Vijayapura which is currently known as Bijapura. However
another Vijayapura near Talakadu in Mandya
district has also staked its claims for him. He is supposed to be under the
patronage of Veera Ballala-1 a king belonging to Hoysala dynasty.
He has composed two epics in Kannada.
Mallinatha Purana is the story of Mallinatha, the nineteenth teerthankara. Ramachandra Charita Purana or
Pampa Ramayana is better known for its poetic beauty and the thematic changes
introduced by him. His delineation of Ravana as a tragic hero who was temporarily
lead astray due to human weakness is truly memorable. The poet takes the side
of Ravana and goes on defending him incessantly. His character is portrayed as
noble and the blame for his fall is attributed to Seetaa’s beauty. He has made
a number of changes in the story line to cater to the tenets of Jainism and
create in Rama a noble and non violent hero.
Nagachandra is adept in using effective
figures of speech and melodious language. He is second to none in the musical
quality of his diction. Nagachandra is to be appreciated for his understanding
of human psychology and his ability to make use of it in the portrayal of his
characters.
References:
1. Nagachandra - Prasaranga,
2. Kannada sahityda naalku naayaka ratnagalu,
D.R. Bendre,
3.
Nagachandra-
Ondu adhyayana, by Vijaya Dabbe, Prasaranga,
4.
Nagachandra
(Selections from) Vijaya Dabbe,
5.
Ramachandracharitapurana
(Selections from) Tr. by Pradhana Gurudatta and C.K.Sukumar. (Ancient Kannada
Literature, Ed. by T.R.S.Sharma,