CHANDOMBUDHI
- Chandombudhi
(ಛಂದೋಂಬುಧಿ)
- CandOmbuDHi
- Nagavarma-1
(Dr L. Basavaraju contends that there is yet another Nagavarma-3 who wrote Chandombudhi)
- 10th
Century
- Prosody
- Chandombudhi
is the first and the most important among the ancient Kannada texts on prosody.
This is so because the author has succeeded eminently in giving an unbiased portrayal
of the dynamics between Kannada and Sanskrit in the context of prosody. He provides
a detailed description of the indigenous metrical forms of Kannada owing their origin
to the Dravidian roots of the language. They are essentially dependent on melody
generated by ‘Amshagana’ patterns and are most suitable for the oral tradition.
Forms such as ELe, piriyakkara, madanavati, tripadi, shatpadi in its original form
etc are delineated with proper illustrations. However he is aware the changing times
and dwells at length on the phenomenon of ‘matrAgaNa chandassu’ taking the place
of amshagaNa. He is fully aware of the presence of the Sanskrit prosodic forms in
the Champu epics of Kannada and presents the salient features of those forms. His
recognition and description of the ‘khyAta karnATaka vruttAs’ (The famous six Sanskrit
vruttas which are extensively used in Kannada is of particular interest.
‘Chandombudhi’ contains six chapters. (adhikaranas) It is composed as though
it is narrated by the author to his wife. This lends a touch of romance to the narration.
The basic elements of prosody are dealt with in a succinct manner before venturing
in to a description of the three modes of Kannada prosody namely akshara gana, matragana
and amsha gana from which are derived all the prosodic forms of Kannada. The fifth
chapter which deals with ‘Karnataka Vishaya Jathi’ viz the indigenous metrical forms
of Kannada is virtually the nucleus of Chandombudhi.
Hence Chandombudhi is a foundational text that has laid a firm foundation
for a meaningful study of Kannada prosody.
.
-
1. ‘Chandombudhi’,
Ed. by Basavalingayya Madivalayya Kundagola, Savanur, 1862 (stone etched print of
the same edition was brought out in 1865 from Dharwar)
2. Chandombudhi
Ed. Rev. F. Kittel, 1874
3. Chandombudhi Ed. M.A.Ramanuja Iyyengar and S.G.Narasimhachar, Karnataka Kavya Kalanidhi series,
Mysore
.
4. Kannada Chandassamputa,
L. Basavaraju, Geetha Book House,
Mysore
- References:
References: 1. The introductions by various scholars who have edited Chandombudhi
2.
Kannada Chandassina Charitre, Ed. By C.P.Krishnakumar Institute of Kannada Studies,
Mysore
University
,
Mysore
3. Kannada Chandassu
T.V.Venkatachala Shastry
- The
Ocean
of
Prosody
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