Contents:
Kumaravyasa's most famous work, the Karnata Bharata
Kathamanjari (the Mahabharata
of Karnataka) is popularly known as Gadugina Bharata and Kumaravyasa Bharata.
It is an adaptation of the first ten parvas (chapters) of the Mahabharata. A
devotee of Krishna,
Kumaravyasa ends his epic with the coronation of Yudhishthira,
the eldest of the Pandavas.
The work is celebrated in Kannada literature due to its universal appeal.
Gadugina Bharata is composed in the Bhamini Shatpadi metre,
a form of six lined stanzas. Kumaravyasa explores a wide range of human
emotions, examines values, and displays extensive mastery over vocabulary. The
work is particularly known for its use of sophisticated metaphors.
Kumaravyasa is also renowned for his characterization. Karnata Bharata
Kathamanjari is also known as Dasha Parva
Bharata because it originally had only ten parvas as opposed to the eighteen in
the original Mahabharata.
Kumara's Kathamanjari covers only up to the Gadayuddha, the
battle between Duryodhana
and Bheema, and the killing of Duryodhana. The subsequent parts of the original
Mahabharata like the Yudhishthira Pattabhishekha, Ashwa Medha Yaaga, and the Swargaarohana Parva are not included.
It may be noted that Lakshmeesha, another great poet who was
born a few decades after Kumara's death, took up and completed Ashwa Medha
Yaaga parva alone in his work Jaimini Bharata in Kannada. This spiritual work
was considered equal to Kathamanjari for its narration.
Belief:
There is a strong belief among locals that Kumara was a
blessed poet of Sri Veera Narayana, another name for Lord Vishnu.
The poet sat in front of the sanctum sanctorum in the temple and Narayana
himself narrated the story of the ancient Mahabharatha from behind the statue.
The poet transformed the story excellent poetry. However, Narayana laid down a
condition that Kumara was to only listen to this voice without attempting to
see the source or the spirit narrating the story. When the tenth parva of his
work was complete, Kumara was deeply curious to see the narrator. Much to his
surprise, he saw Narayana himself narrating the story. He also saw a scene of
the Kurukshetra War as if it were happening in front of him. However, Kumara
had violated the condition that he should not search for the source of the
voice. At that point, the lord disappeared and the narration of the Mahabharata
stopped forever.
Supremacy:
The poet Kumara has shown an exemplary writing style in the
introduction. He proudly claims that his poetry is matchless and that it caters
to the taste of all kinds of readers. He writes that in his poetry "A king
enjoys the valor, A brahmin the essence of all vedas, philosopher the ultimate
philosophy, ministers and state administrators the tact of rule and Lovers the
romantic notes." In addition, he proudly acclaims that this work of his is
the "Master of the works of all other great scholars." However, his
selflessness may be noted when he says he merely noted all that was narrated by
his lord, the actual poet.
Kumaravyasa's other, lesser-known work is Airavata.
His magnum opus, Karnata Bharata
Kathamanjari, was completed in 1430 when Deva Raya II
was ruling the Vijayanagara empire. Kumaravyasa earned high esteem as a poet in his court. Kumaravyasa
was mentioned by other prominent 15th century poets, such as Kanaka Dasa
and Timmanna Kavi.
Kumaravyasa lived in Koliwad,
a village 35 km (22 miles) from Gadag in North Karnataka. According to popular legend, Kumaravyasa is said to have
composed his work at the Veeranarayana temple in Gadag. A pillar known as Kumaravyasa's pillar stands in
the temple to this day.
Influence on Kannada literature:
Kumaravyasa's works belong to the Nadugannada (Middle-age Kannada) period of Kannada literature. His influence on later Kannada literature is significant. Gadugina Bharata is still widely read. It is popularly sung in a unique style known as Gamaka.