Kesiraja

Kēśirāja, also spelled Keshiraja (Kannada: ಕೇಶಿರಾಜ), was a 13th-century Kannada grammarian, poet and writer. He is particularly known for authoring Shabdamanidarpana, an authoritative work on Kannada grammar. According to Dravidian scholar Sheldon Pollock, because of this work he is considered the "greatest theorist of Kannada grammar".[1] He was also a scholar in Sanskrit as well and a court poet (Aasthaana kavi) in the Hoysala Court.

Kesiraja
Born13th century CE
Died13th or 14th century CE
OccupationKannada grammarian, poet and writer
Works
Shabdamanidarpana
Parent(s)
  • Mallikarjuna (father)
Noted Kannada poets and writers in Hoysala Empire
(1100-1343 CE)
Nagachandra 1105
Kanti 1108
Rajaditya 12th. c
Harihara 1160–1200
Udayaditya 1150
Vritta Vilasa 1160
Kereya Padmarasa 1165
Nemichandra 1170
Sumanobana 1175
Rudrabhatta 1180
Aggala 1189
Palkuriki Somanatha 1195
Sujanottamsa(Boppana) 1180
Kavi Kama 12th c.
Devakavi 1200
Raghavanka 1200–1225
Bhanduvarma 1200
Balachandra Kavi 1204
Parsva Pandita 1205
Maghanandycharya 1209
Janna 1209–1230
Puligere Somanatha 13th c.
Hastimalla 13th c.
Chandrama 13th c.
Somaraja 1222
Gunavarma II 1235
Polalvadandanatha 1224
Andayya 1217–1235
Sisumayana 1232
Mallikarjuna 1245
Naraharitirtha 1281
Kumara Padmarasa 13th c.
Mahabala Kavi 1254
Kesiraja 1260
Kumudendu 1275
Nachiraja 1300
Ratta Kavi 1300
Nagaraja 1331
Noted Kannada poets and writers in the Seuna Yadava Kingdom
Kamalabhava 1180
Achanna 1198
Amugideva 1220
Chaundarasa 1300

Early life

Kesiraja was born in a literary family, comprising several well-known Kannada writers. His father, Mallikarjuna (C. 1245 CE), was a Kannada poet and brother-in-law of the epic writer Janna.[2] Kesiraja was also the grandson on his mother's side of another noted poet, Śankara (Sumanōbana), who was priest of the Yadava capital and poet laureate to Hoysala King Narasimha I. In some of his works, Kesiraja has referred to himself as Kesava.[3]

Shabdamanidarpana
Main article: Shabdamanidarpana

Shabdamanidarpana (Kannada: ಶಬ್ದಮಣಿದರ್ಪಣ), ("Jewel-mirror of Grammar") was authored by Kesiraja in 1260 CE. This work remains a comprehensive, authoritative work on Kannada grammar.[4][5] The rules mentioned therein were penned in kanda metre and followed a vrutti style (illustrative commentary by the author himself).[5][6] Though Kesiraja followed the model of Sanskrit grammar of the Katantra school, and that of earlier writings on Kannada grammar, his work has an originality of its own.[7]

The text of Shabdamanidarpana begins with poetry ehalting earlier generations of writer who are cited by Kesiraja as authoritative examples:

The expert way (sumārgam) of Gajaga, Gunanandi, Manasija, Asaga, Candrabhatta, Gunavarma, Srivijaya, Honna (Ponna), Hampa (Pampa), Sujanōttamsa – these provide the illustrative instances (lakshya) in this work. In Shabdamanidarpana, about twenty poets and thirty different works are cited, and almost every rule is explained with quotations. This work points out the Kannada language development through the preceding three centuries.

— Kesiraja (translated)

An attempt at vocabulary building is provided in several parts of the work. There is a list of verbal roots and words containing ḷ and ḹ sounds. There is also a chapter called "PrayŌgasāra" where Kesiraja has quoted a number of rare words along with their meanings.[8]

Passion for grammar

Kesiraja had a passion for grammar, which is evident from his writings through his work Shabdamanidarpana.

Through grammar (correct) words originate; through the words of that grammar, meaning (originates); through meaning the beholding of truth; through the beholding of truth, the desired final beatitude; this (final beatitude) is the fruit for the learned.

— sūtra 10 of the Preface, Shabdamanidarpana – Kesiraja[9]

Literary works

Apart from his extant grammar Shabdamanidarpana, Kesiraja authored several other writings in Kannada, though they are deemed lost:[7]

  • Prabodhachandra (ಪ್ರಬೋಧಚಂದ್ರ)
  • Chorapalaka Charitam (ಚೋರಪಾಲಕ ಚರಿತ)
  • Kiratam (or Kiratarjuniyam) (ಕಿರಾತ)
  • Shubhadraharana (ಸುಭದ್ರಾ ಹರಣ)
  • Sri Chitramale (ಶ್ರೀ ಚಿತ್ರಮಾಲೆ)

Notes
  1. Pollock 2003, p. 364.
  2. Rice 1982, p. 44–45.
  3. "Chapter 6: Chalukyas of Badami" (PDF). Maharashtra State Gazetteer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2011.
  4. Kamat, Jyotsna. "History of the Kannada Literature -III". Kamat's Potpourri. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  5. Rice 1982, p. 111.
  6. Sastri 2002, p. 359.
  7. Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. 2. Sahitya Akademi. 1988. p. 1476. ISBN 81-260-1194-7.
  8. Bal Govind Misra. Lexicography in India : Proceedings of the First National Conference on Dictionary Making in Indian Languages. p. 82.
  9. Kittel 1903, p. 4.
gollark: PotatOS is an acronym, of course.
gollark: "Unde" is, actually.
gollark: ↑
gollark: ↑
gollark: I can grep for you in my message archives if you give me a nice regex for acronym lookups somehow?

References
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