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,