Asaga
Asaga | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 800 CE |
| Occupation | poet |
| Period | Rashtrakuta literature |
| Genre | Jain literature |
| Notable works | Vardhaman Charitra(Sanskrit, c. 853); Karnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya(Kannada, about c.850) |
Asagawas a 9th-century[1]DigambaraJain poet who wrote inSanskritandKannada language.He is most known for hisextantwork in Sanskrit, theVardhamana Charitra(Life ofVardhamana). Thisepic poemwhich runs into eighteencantoswas written in 853 CE. It is the earliest available Sanskrit biography of the lasttirthankaraofJainism,Mahavira. In all, he authored at least eight works in Sanskrit.[2]In Kannada, none of his writings, including theKarnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya(an adaptation ofKalidas's epic poemKumārasambhava) that have been referenced by latter day poets (includingNagavarma IIwho seems to provide a few quotations from the epic poem in hisKavyavalokana[3]) have survived.[4][5][6][7][8]
His writings are known to have influenced Kannada poetSri Ponna,the famous court poet of Rashtrakuta KingKrishna III,and other writers who wrote on the lives of Jain Tirthankaras.[9]Kesiraja,(authoredShabdamanidarpanain c. 1260 CE), a Kannada grammarian cites Asaga as an authoritative writer of his time and places him along with other masters of early Kannada poetry.[10]
Biography
[edit]| Kannada poets and writers in the Rashtrakuta Empire (753–973 CE) | |
| Amoghavarsha | 850 |
| Srivijaya | 850 |
| Asaga | 850 |
| Shivakotiacharya | 900 |
| Ravinagabhatta | 930 |
| Adikavi Pampa | 941 |
| Jainachandra | 950 |
| Sri Ponna | 950 |
| Rudrabhatta | 9th-10th c. |
| Kavi Rajaraja | 9th-10th c. |
| Gajanakusha | 10th century |
| Earlier Kannada poets and writers praised inKavirajamarga | |
| Durvinita | 6th century |
| Vimala | Pre-850 |
| Nagarjuna | Pre-850 |
| Jayabodhi | Pre-850 |
| Udaya | Pre-850 |
| Kavisvara | Pre-850 |
| Pandita Chandra | Pre-850 |
| Lokapala | Pre-850 |
Asaga's name is considered anapbramshaform of the Sanskrit name Aśoka or Asanga.[7]A contemporary ofRashtrakutaKingAmoghavarsha I(800–878 CE), Asaga lived in modernKarnatakaand made important contributions to the corpus ofRashtrakuta literaturecreated during their rule in southern and central India between the 8th and 10th centuries.[11]Like Kannada writer Gunavarma, Asaga earned fame despite having received no direct royal patronage.[9]
In hisVardhamacharita,Asaga mentions writing eight classics though the only one other work has survived, theShanti puranain Sanskrit.[12]Asaga claims to have composed his writings in the city of Virala (Dharala), CodaVisaya( "Cola desa" or Coda lands), in the Kingdom of King Srinatha, who was perhaps a Rashtrakutavassal.InKaviprasastipradyani,the epilogue to theShanti purana,Asaga claims he was born toJainparents and names his three Jain teachers, including Bhavakirti.[5][7][13][14]
Much of what is known about Asaga has come down from references to his works made by later-day writers and poets. Kannada poetSri Ponna(c. 950), who used one of his narrative poems as a source, claims to be superior to Asaga.[15]Asaga's writings have been praised by later-day poets and writers, such as Kannada writer Jayakirti (Chchandanuphasana), who mentions Asaga'sKarnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya.[16]Several of its verses have been quoted by later authors of Kannada literature such asDurgasimha,Nayasena and Jayakirti (a Kannada language theorist of the early 11th century) who refer to Asaga as the best writer ofdesiKannada, which may be considered as "traditional" or "provincial" form of the language.[17]The IndologistA. K. Warderconsiders this unique because Asaga was also famous for classical Sanskrit. The 11th century Kannada grammarianNagavarma IIclaimed Asaga to be an equal to Sri Ponna, and 12th century Kannada writer Brahmashiva refers to Asaga asRajaka,a honorific that means "one among the greats" of Kannada literature. His writings appear to have been popular among later Kannada writers up to the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century.[15]Though his Kannada writings are deemed lost, his name is counted among noted poets ofKannada literaturefrom that period, along with the likes ofGajaga,Aggala, Manasija, Srivardhadheva and Gunanandi.[18]The 10th centuryApabhramshapoet Dhaval praised Asaga's writingHarivamsa-purana.[5]
Works
[edit]- Asaga; Pannalala Jaina (1974).Vardhamānacaritam: Hindi anuvada (Hindi translation), ālocanātmaka prastāvanā (Critical Review), ādi sahita.Jain Sanskriti Samraksha Sangha.
- Śāntipurāṇa[19]
See also
[edit]
Bibliography
[edit]- Asaga.Vardhamānacarita,ed. P. Jain, Sholapur, 1974.
References
[edit]- ^Singh, Nagendra Kr; Baruah, Bibhuti (2004),Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Pali Literature,Global Vision Publishing, p. 96,ISBN978-81-87746-67-6
- ^Dundas, Paul (2002).The Jains-Library of religious beliefs and practices.Routledge.ISBN0-415-26606-8.
- ^R S Hukkerikar (1955), p.88,Karnataka Darshana,Popular Book Depot, 1955
- ^Pollock, Sheldon I.(2006).The language of the gods in the world of men- Sanskrit, culture, and power in premodern India.University of CaliforniaPress. p. 341.ISBN0-520-24500-8.
- ^abcMukherjee, Sujit (1999).A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850.Orient Blackswan. p. 27.ISBN81-250-1453-5.
- ^Singh, Narendra (2001).Encyclopaedia of Jainism.Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 1516.ISBN81-261-0691-3.[permanent dead link]
- ^abcWarder, A.K.(1988).Indian Kavya Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 240–241.ISBN81-208-0450-3.
- ^Mugali, Ram Śri (1975).History of Kannada literature.Sahitya Akademi.p. 14.
- ^abNāyaka, Harōgadde Mānappa (1990).South Indian studies.Geetha Book House. p. 836.
- ^Kulli, Jayavant S. (1976).Kēśirāja's Śabdamanidarpana, Volume 25 of Rajata mahōtsavada prakataneh.Karnataka University.p. 17.
- ^Nāgarājayya, Hampa (2000).A history of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas of Malkhēḍ and Jainism.Ankita Pustaka. p. 139.ISBN81-87321-37-7.
- ^Datta, Amaresh (1987).Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. vol. 1, a-devo.New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 619.ISBN81-260-1803-8.
- ^Upadhye, Adinath Nemināth (1983).Upadhye papers.Prasārānga,University of Mysore.p. 292.
- ^Garg, Ganga Ram (1992).Encyclopaedia of the Hindu world, Volume 3.Concept Publishing Company. p. 670.ISBN81-7022-376-8.
- ^abWarder A.K. (1988), p. 248
- ^Datta, Amaresh (2006).The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Volume One (A To Devo), Volume 1.Sahitya Akademi.p. 619.ISBN81-260-1803-8.
- ^Garg, Gangā Ram (1987).International encyclopaedia of Indian literature, Volume 4.Mittal Publications. p. 10.ISBN978-81-7099-027-7.
- ^Warder, A.K.(1988).Indian Kavya Literature.Motilal Banarsidass.p. 161.ISBN81-208-0450-3.
- ^Singh, Nagendra Kr; Baruah, Bibhuti (2003).Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Pali Literature.Global Vision Publishing House. p. 96.ISBN978-81-87746-67-6.
