Karnataka literature denotes to the wealth of literature created in the region of Karnataka in South India

South India

South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

 roughly corresponding to the modern state of Karnataka

Karnataka

Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

. This literature includes works in Sanskrit

Sanskrit literature

Literature in Sanskrit begins with the Vedas, and continues with the Sanskrit Epics of Iron Age India; the golden age of Classical Sanskrit literature dates to late Antiquity . Literary production saw a late bloom in the 11th century before declining after 1100 AD...

 and Kannada

Kannada literature

Kannada literature is the corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script....

.

Western Ganga Dynasty (350-999)

• Pujyapada (Sarvathasiddi , Jinendra Vyakarana, KalayanaKaraka in Sanskrit)
• Jinasena II (Adipurana - Sanskrit)
• Ajitasena
• Bharavi
• Akalanka or Nemichandrasiddanta
• King Madhava II (370-390 AD) (Dattaka Sutrain Sanskrit)
• King Durvinita
  Durvinita
  Durvinita is seen as the most successful ruler of the Western Ganga Dynasty. Son of the previous ruler, Avinita, Durvinita's assession to the throne was disputed by his brother, who had gained the support of the Pallavas and Kadambas. There are Nallala and Kadagattur inscriptions that refer to...
  
  (495-535 AD) (Reference to his Kannada work in Kavirajamarga, Vaddakatha Sanskrit translation,Sabdavatara a work on Sanskrit grammar, commentary on the 15th sarga of Bharavi's Kiratarjuniya in Sanskrit)
• Sripurusha (Gajasastra)
• King Shivamara II (788-816 AD) (Gajashtaka, a Kannada work on elephant management, and Sethubandha in Prakrit).
• Hemasena or Vidya Dhananjaya (Raghavpandaviya)
• Vidhibhasimha (Gadyachintamani and Kshatrachudamani)
• Guru Nemichandra (Gommatasara book on jain philosophy, his title was Siddhant-Chakravarti and was guru of Chavundaraya)
• Chavundaraya (978 AD) (Chavundarayapurana, Charitrasara, Trishashti LaksanPurana -Kannada)
• Gunavarma (Kannada Grammar)
• Nagavarma (Chandombhudhi)
• Jinasena I (738 AD) (Harivamsha - Sanskrit)

Rashtrakutas (753-973)

• Trivikrama (Nalachampu in Sanskrit)
• Halayudha (Kavirahasya and Mritasanjivini)
• Somadevasuri (Nitikavyamrita)
• Mahaviracharya (Ganita-sara-samgraha)
• Padma pada
• Visvarupa
• Virasenacharya (Jayadhavala-tika)
• Jinasenacharya (Parsvabhyudaya Mahapurana , Dhavala)
• Gunabhadra (Uttarapurana - Sanskrit)
• Pushpadanta
• Akalanka
• Asaga
  Asaga
  Asaga was a mid-9th century Digambara Jain poet who wrote in Sanskrit and Kannada language. He is most known for his extant work in Sanskrit, the Vardhaman Charitra . This epic poem which runs into 18 cantos was written in 853 CE. It is the earliest available Sanskrit biography of 24th and last...
  
   (Vardhamana Purana-Kannada)
• King Amoghavarsha
  Amoghavarsha
  Amoghavarsha I was a Rashtrakuta emperor, the greatest ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, and one of the great emperors of India. His nominal reign of 64 years is the longest precisely dated monarchical reign on record in India and one of the longest documented reigns of all monarchy since...
  
   I Nripatunga, (Prashottara Ratnamakike, Kavirajamarga, a treatise on Kannada poetics, 850 A.D.)
• Sri Ponna
  Sri Ponna
  Sri Ponna was a Kannada poet in the court of Rashtrakuta Dynasty king Krishna III . The emperor honoured Ponna with the title "emperor among poets" for his domination of the Kannada literary circles of the time, and the title "imperial poet of two languages" for his command over Sanskrit as well...
  
   (950 AD) (title, Kavichakravarthi wrote Bhuvanaika- Ramabhyudaya, Santipurana and Jinaksaramale - Kannada)
• Adikavi Pampa
  Adikavi Pampa
  Pampa , called by the honorific Ādikavi is one of the greatest Kannada poets of all time.He is very famous even today for his philosophical beliefs...
  
   (902-975 AD) (called Adhikavi wrote Adipurana
  Adipurana
  Adipurana is a 10th century Kannada text written in Champu style, a mix of prose and verse, dealing with the ten lives of the first tirthankara, Adinatha, also known as Rishabhanatha . This work is known to be the first work of Kannada poet Adikavi Pampa . It is based on the story narrated by...
  
  and Vikramarjuna Vijaya
  Vikramarjuna Vijaya
  Vikramarjuna Vijaya , also known as Pampa Bharatha is a classic work of the 10th century Jain poet Pampa . It is an Kannada version of the great epic, the Mahabharata of Vyasa. Pampa choose the Arjuna, the central figure of the Pandava Clan, as the hero of his epic...
  
  in Kannada)
• Shivakotiacharya
  Shivakotiacharya
  Shivakotiacharya , a writer of the 9th-10th century, is considered the author of didactic Kannada language Jain text Vaddaradhane . A prose narrative written in pre-Old-Kannada , Vaddaradhane is considered the earliest extant work in the prose genre in the Kannada language...
  
   (Vaddaradhane 900 CE earliest prose in Kannada borrowed from Sanskrit work Brihatkathakosha of Harishena)
• Sri Vijaya
• Rudrabhatta of Banahatti
  Banahatti
  Banahatti is a medium sized town located very close to the Krishna river in northern Karnataka, India. It forms twin town along with Rabakavi Rampur & Hosur. It is the hub of the textile business for the surrounding districts...
  
   - Kannada
• Ravinagabhatta who wrote a record for Govinda IV - Kannada
• Kavi Rajaraja wrote the Kalasa record, minister of Krishna II - Kannada
• Gajankusha who wrote on erotics - Kannada

Western Chalukyas

Western Chalukyas

The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today's Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical...

 (973-1189)

• Ranna
  Ranna
  Ranna was one of the earliest poets of Kannada language.Ranna, Adikavi Pampa and Sri Ponna together are called "three gems of Kannada literature".-Early days:Ranna was born on 949 C.E. in Muduvolalu Bagalkot district, Karnataka....
  
   (949 AD) (Ajitapurana, Sahasabhimavijaya, Gadayuddha, and Rannakanda - Kannada)
• Chavundaraya II (Lokopakara,An important literary source in Kannada dealing with variety of subjects useful for mankind such as Veterinary Science, Aeromatics,Horticulture,Medicine, Astrology, Water resource,Cookery,etc belonging to 11 C AD - Kannada)
• Chandraraja (Madanatilaka, a work on erotics - Kannada)
• Shridharacharya (Jatakatilaka is a work on astrology - Kannada)
• Kirtivarma (1125 AD) (Govaidya on veterinary science - Kannada)
• Durgasimha (panchatantra - Kannada)
• Nagavarma (Kavyavalokana - Kannada)
• Brahmashiva (Samayaparikshe - Kannada)
• Devara Dasimayya (Vachanakara belonged to this period - Kannada)
• Vadiraja ( Yashodharacharitam and Parshvanatha Charitam - Sanskrit)
• Bilhana (Vikramankadeva Charitha, The Kashmiri poet immortalized the name of his patron Vikramaditya VI through this work - Sanskrit)
• Vijananeshvara (Mitakshara, a commentary on Yajnavalkya Smriti - Sanskrit)
• Someshwara III (Abhilashithartha Chinthamani or Manasollasa, an encyclopedia of all arts and sciences and Chandraprabhacharite - Sanskrit)
• Jagadekamalla (Sangithachudamani in Sanskrit)
• Jagaddala Somanatha (Karnataka Kalyanakaraka) Kannada work on Ayurvedic medicine (1150 AD)
• Karnaparya (1140 AD) (Neminatha purana- Kannada)
• Nayasena (1112 AD) (Dharmamrita- Kannada)
• Brahmasiva (1150 AD) (Samayaparikshe- Kannada)
• Naga Chandra (Jain Ramayana- Kannada)
• Kanti (Jain poetess - Kannada),
• Shantiraja (Sukumaracharita - Kannada)
• Nagavarma II (Kavyavalokana, Karnataka Bhashabhushana and Abhidana Vastukosha, Kirtti Varman and Vritta Vilasa-Kannada).

Hoysala Empire

Hoysala Empire

The Hoysala Empire was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga empire that ruled most of the modern day state of Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu....

 (1000-1346)

• Madhvacharya
  Madhvacharya
  Madhvācārya was the chief proponent of Tattvavāda "Philosophy of Reality", popularly known as the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. It is one of the three most influential Vedānta philosophies. Madhvācārya was one of the important philosophers during the Bhakti movement. He was a pioneer in...
  
  (1238-1317 AD) wrote Rigbhashya in Sanskrit - propounded Dvaita
  Dvaita
  Dvaita is a school of Vedanta founded by Shri Madhvacharya....
  
   Philosophy
• Vidyatirtha (Rudraprashnabhashya - Sanskrit)
• Nagachandra (Ramachandra Charita Purana, and Mallinathapurana - Kannada. He known as Abhinava Pampa).
• Kanti (poetess)
• Vishnudandadipa
• Santa Mahanta
• Harihara (Girija Kalyana, BasavarajadevaraRagale - Kannada)
• Raghavanka (established Shatpadi, , Harischandra Kavya, Siddhara Chanitra, Veeresha Charite,Sharabha Charitre, somanathacharita and Harihara Mahatwa - Kannada)
• Janna
  Janna
  Janna was one of the well-known Kannada poets of the early 13th century who also served in the capacity of a minister and a builder of temples. He graced the court of Hoysala empire king Veera Ballala II and earned the title Kavichakravarthi...
  
   (1191-1230 AD) (Yashodhara Charite and Ananthanatha Purana- Kannada. Obtained title Kavichakravarti)
• Nemichandra (1170 AD) ( (Leelavati, Neminatha Purana - Kannada)
• Achanna (1195 AD) (Vardhamana Purana)
• Rudra Bhatta (Jagannatha Vijaya - Kannada)
• Mallikarjuna (Sukti & Sudharnava- Kannada)
• Kesiraja
  Kesiraja
  Kēśirāja, also spelled Keshiraja, was a 13th century Kannada grammarian and a poet. He is particularly known for authoring Shabdamanidarpana, an authoritative work on Kannada grammar. Because of this work, he is considered to be the "greatest theorist of Kannada grammar"...
  
   (Shabdamanidarpana
  Shabdamanidarpana
  Shabhamanidarpana , also spelled Śabdamaṇidarpaṇa, is a comprehensive and authoritative work on Kannada grammar authored by Kesiraja in 1260 CE. This work, which literally means "Jewel-mirror of Grammar", remains till now as the comprehensive and early authoritative work on Kannada grammar...
  
  - Kannada grammar)
• Hastimalla (1290 AD) (Adipurana- Kannada)
• Andayya (1235 AD) - (Vardhamana Purana, Kabbigarakava - Kannada)
• Choundarasa (1300 AD) (Abhinava-DashaKumara Charitha and Nala Champu - Kannada)
• Rajaditya (1191 AD) (Kshetraganita, Vyavaharaganita, and Lilavati on mathematics-Kannada)
• Ratta Kavi (1300 AD) (Rata-Mata work on meteorological topics - Kannada)
• Bandhuvarma (1200 AD) (Neminatha Purana, Harivamsha - Kannada)
• Mahabalakavi (1254 AD) (Neminatha Purana - Kannada)
• Sumanobana - Kannada poet
• Padmarasa (Dikshabodhe - Kannada)
• Hastimalla (1290 AD) (Adipurana)
• Trivikrama (Ushaharana, Dvaita philosohpy - Sanskrit)
• Narayana Pandita (Madhwavijaya, Manimanjari and Parijataharana - Sanskrit)
• Anandabodha - Advaitha Philosophy - Sanskrit
• Vidyacharkarvartin II (Rukminikalyana - Sanskrit)

The Kalachuri

Kalachuri

Kalachuri Empire is this the name used by two kingdoms who had a succession of dynasties from the 10th-12th centuries, one ruling over areas in Central India and were called Chedi or Haihaya and the other southern Kalachuri who ruled over parts of Karnataka...

 kingdom (1130-1184), Virashaiva Saints and Vachanakaras

• Basavanna (known as Basaveshvara wrote the spiritual lyrics vachanas- Kannada)
• Renukacharya
• Darukacharya
• Ekoramacharya
• Panditaradhyacharya
• Vishwaradhyacharya
• Akkamahadevi
• Nilambike
• Gangambike
• Allama Prabhu
• Siddarama
• Chennabasava
• Madivala Machayya (vachanakara- Kannada)
• Madara Channayya (vachanakara -Kannada)
• Sakalesha Madarasa (vachanakara-Kannada)
• Ramanna (vachanakara-Kannada)
• Sujikayakada Ramitande (vachanakara-Kannada)
• Medara Ketayya (vachanakara-Kannada)
• Kayakada Basappa (vachanakara-Kannada)
• Virupaksha Pandita - (Chennabasavapurana- Kannada)
• Dharani Pandita - (Bijjalarayacharite - Kannada)
• Chandrasagara Varni (Bijjalarayapurana- Kannada)

Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri(850-1315)

• Kamalabhava (Santhishwarapurana - Kannada)
• Achanna (Varadhamanapurana - Kannada)
• Amugudevi - Vachanakara
• Chundarasa of Pandharapura (DashakumaraCharite - Kannada)

Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire

The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...

 (1335-1565), Kannada Haridasa Sahitya

• Kumara Vyasa
  Kumara Vyasa
  Kumara Vyasa is the pen name of Gadhugina Veera Naranappa , a classical poet of Kannada. His pen name is a tribute to his magnum opus, a rendering of the Mahabharatha in Kannada. Kumara Vyasa literally means Little Vyasa or Son of Vyasa....
  
   (1430 AD) (Gadugina Bharata or Karnataka Bharata KathaManjari a Kannada adaptation of Mahabharata and Airavata. His title was Rupaka Samrajya Chakravarti (Emperor of the World of Metaphors).)
• Narahri or Kumara Valmiki (1500 AD) (Torave Ramayana in Kannada & Smriti Kaustubha in Sanskrit)
• Vittalanatha (Bhagavatha)-Kannada
• Ratnakarvarni (16th century) (Bharatesha Vaibhava, Triloka Sataka,Someswara Sataka) - Kannada
• Nanjunda -Kumara Rama Charita (16th century) - Kannada
• BhimaKavi - Basavapurana(1369 AD) - Kannada
• Padmanaka - Kannada
• Kereya Padmarasa - Padmaraja Purana (1385 AD) - Kannada
• Lakkana Dandesa Shivatatwa Chintamani (1428 AD) - -Kannada
• Gubbi Mallanacharya - Veerasaivamrita (1513 AD) - Kannada
• Singiraja - Kannada
• Chamarasa
  Chamarasa
  Chamarasa was an eminent Virashaiva poet unsurpassed in the Kannada literature, during the Vijayanagar Empire, a powerful empire in Southern India of the 13th and 14th centuries...
  
   (Prabhulinga Leele) -Kannada
• Akalanka (16th century), Jain scholar - Kannada
• Bhattakalaka (16th century) -Kannada grammrian
• Mangaraja (1360 AD) (Khagendra-Mani-Darpana, work on poisons and antidotes) -Kannada
• Sayana (Vedartha Prakasha, Yajnatantra Sudhanidhi, Prayaschitra Sudhanidhi and Purushartha Sudhanidhi) -Sanskrit
• Madhava
  Madhava
  Mādhava may be*a Sanskrit patronymic, "descendant of Madhu ".** especially of Krishna or Parashurama as incarnations of Vishnu, see Madhava *** an icon of Krishna...
  
   Vidyaranya
  Vidyaranya
  ' is variously known as being a kingmaker, patron saint and high priest to Harihara Raya I and Bukka Raya I, the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire. He was the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1380 to 1386 A.D. He was born to and in in 1268 CE. Another account has it that he...
  
    (Parasara – Madhaviya, Sarva-darshana-samgraha) -Sanskrit
• Devanna Bhatta (Smriti Chandrika) - Sanskrit
• Gangadevi
  Gangadevi
  Gangadevi, also known as Gangambika, was a poet in the Vijayanagara Empire during the 14th century and chronicled the story of the victory of her husband, Kumara Kampana, son of Bukka Raya I over the Muslims in Madhura in the form of a poem. The title of the eight chapter poem was Madhura...
  
   (Poetess, Madhura Vijayam) - Sanskrit
• Tirumalamba
  Tirumalamba
  Tirumalamba, a poet of the Vijayanagara Empire , wrote "Varadambica Parinayam", the story of marriage of King Achyuta Deva Raya, in Sanskrit....
  
   Devi (Poetess, Varadambika Parinayam) - Sanskrit
• Krishnadevaraya
  Krishnadevaraya
  Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
  
   (Madalasa Charita, Satyavadu Parinaya, Rasamanjari, Nyayamritam, Tarkatandava, Tatparya Chandrika - Sanskrit
• Ramaraja (Bakhair - Battle of Talikota - Persian??)
• Timmanna Kavi, patronised by king Krishnadevaraya, Kannada
• Kereya Padmarasa, Padmaraja Purana - Kannada
• Linganna, Keladinripavijayam - Kannada
• Unknown author, Krishnadevarayana Dinachari is a recent discovery in Kannada.
• Chatu Vithalanatha, Kannada
• Madhura, Kannada
• Salva
• Mallanarya, Veerasaivamrita- Kannada
• Lakkana Dandesa, Shivatatwa Chintamani - Kannada
• Shivagna Prasadi Mahadevayya and Halageyadeva ,Shunya Sampadane- Kannada
• Kallumathada Prabhuva - Kannada
• Jakkanna - Kannada
• Maggeya Mayideva - Kannada
• Tontada Siddalingayati - Kannada

Haridasa

Haridasa

The Haridasa devotional movement is considered as one of the turning points in the cultural history of India. Over a span of nearly six centuries, several saints and mystics helped shape the culture, philosophy and art of South India and Karnataka in particular by exerting considerable spiritual...

• Narahari Thirtha
• Padmanabha Thirtha
• Akshobhya Thirtha
• Jayatirtha
  Jayatirtha
  Seer Jayateertharu was the sixth pontiff of Sri Madhvacharya Peetha. He is one of the most important seers in the Dvaita philosophy on account of his elucidations of Sri Ananda Teertha's masterpieces...
  
   - Nyaya sudha, Tattva prakashika, Prameya deepika, Nyaya deepika Important works
• Sripadaraya
  Sripadaraya
  Sripadaraya, a haridasa, is also known as Sripadaraja or Lakshminarayana Tirtha .Sripadaraya was born in Abburu in Chennapattana taluk of Karnataka state. It is believed that he was the incarnation of dhruva...
  
   of Mulbagal (1500 AD)
• Vyasatirtha
  Vyasatirtha
  Vyasatirtha , also called Vyasaraja or Vyasaraya or Vyasraja swamin, was acclaimed as one of the three spiritual lights or munitrayam of dvaita Vedanta, i.e., Sri Madhvacharya, Sri Jayatirtha and Sri Vyasatirtha. He was a scholar of very high order with a judicious defence of the Dvaita Vedanta...
  
   (1447 – 1539 AD) - Guru of Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa and Krishnadevaraya
  Krishnadevaraya
  Śrī Kriṣhṇa Devarāya , , , and also known as Krishna Devarayulu in some inscriptions was the famed Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509–1529 CE.He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians...
  
   wrote Nyayamritam, Tarkatandava, Tatparya Chandrika Important Works
• Sri Vadirajaswami
• Purandaradasa (1484 – 1564 AD) (Father of Carnatic music. Composed 475,000 songs in Kannada. His titles wereDasaShreshta Purandaropanishat, Sangitapitamaha)
• Kanakadasa (1509 - 1607 AD) (Padas and Keertans

RamadhyanaCharite, Haribhakthisara,Kalacharithre,
Mohana Tarangini, Nalacharitre - Kannada)

Later Haridasa

• Guru Raghavendra Swami
  Raghavendra Swami
  Raghavendra Theertha was a Hindu saint and philosopher who served as the head of the Sri Mutt in Kumbakonam from 1624 to 1636. He wrote a commentary Sudha Parimala on the Nyaya Sudha, an exposition of Dvaita philosophy...
  
   (1600-1671 AD) the great Sage of Manthralaya.Important works
• Vijaya Dasa (1687–1755 AD)
• Mohana Dasa
• Gopala Dasa (1721–1762 AD)
• Helavanakatte Giriyamma
• Jagannatha Dasa (1728–1809 AD) (Harikathamrithasara, Uga Bhogas, Keerthanas and Tathva Suvalis- Kannada)

Kannada literature from Mysore Kingdom, Keladi Nayaka

Keladi Nayaka

Keladi Nayaka Kingdom were an important ruling dynasty of post-medieval Karnataka, India. They initially started to rule as a feudatory of the Vijayanagar Empire...

 kingdom

• Basappanayaka (Shivatatwa Ratnakara - History Keladi Kings)
• Linganna (Keladi Napra Vijaya- History of Keladi Kings)
• Chikkupadhyaya
  Chikkupadhyaya
  Chikkupadhyaya was born to Sri RangAcharya and Srimathi NAchiyAramma in TerakanAmbi in Mysore district of Karnataka. His actual name at birth was Lakshmipathi....
  
  , Minister and teacher of His Highness Sri Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar
  Wodeyar
  The Wodeyar dynasty was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947, until the independence of India from British rule and the subsequent unification of the Indian dominion and princely states into the Republic of India.The spelling Wodeyar/Wadiyar is found in most...
  
  , (1670 AD) - more than 30 works in Kannada
• Tirumalaraya (1680 CE) (Chikkadevaraja Vijayam, Chikkadevaraja Vamshaavali - History of Mysore Kings)
• Govinda Vaidya (1648 CE) (Narasaraja Vijaya - History of Mysore Kings)
• Bhattakalanka Deva (1604 AD) (Karnataka Shabdaushasana on grammar)
• Sakdakshara Deva (1657 AD) (Rajshekhara Vilasa- romantic champu)
• Noorondayya (1740 AD) (Soundara Kavya)
• Nijaguna Yogi (1650 AD) (Viveka Chintamani- Shaiva work)
• Nanja Raja (1760 AD) (Shiva Bhakti Mahatmya and Hari Vamsa - Puranic works)
• Brahma Kavi (Samaya Pariksha)
• Sarvajna
  Sarvajna
  Sarvajña was a poet in the Kannada language. He is famous for his pithy three-lined poems which are called tripadis, "with three padas, three-liners", a form of Vachanas. He is also referred as Sarvagna in modern translation.The period of Sarvajña's life has not been determined accurately, and...
  
   (1650 AD) (tripadis or vachanas pithy three lined poems in Kannada)

Kannada Literature From Old Bangalore (18th - 21st century AD)

18th Century Kannada

• Guru Nanjesh (Jayastuti)
• Ekambara Dikshit (Veerabhdra Vijaya)
• Jayaram Pande (Radha Madhava Vilasa)
• Mudduveeraswamy (1700 AD) (Vachanakara)
• Sarpabhooshana Shivayogi (1795-1839 AD) (Vachanakara)
• Mahant Desika (Vachanakara)
• Jeerage Basavalingacharya (Vachanakara)

19th Century Kannada (topics-grammar, linguistics, Jain and Virashaiva philosophy, geology, agriculture, politics)

• Siddhanti Velanada
• Subramanya Shastri
• Siddhanti Shivakumara Shastri
• Srinivasa
• Nagasharma
• Dakshinamurthy Shastri
• Padmaraja Bhramasuri
• Ramanathapuram Raguraya
• S.N. Narasimhaiah
• Doddabele Narayana Shastri - commentary on Jaimini Bharatha, Sundarakhanda, translations of Kalidasa works

20th century Kannada

• Bidare Ashwatha Narayana shastri (Dhammapada)
• B. Puttiah (priniting technology)
• Panyam Sudarashastri (a translation of Bhasa Dharma)
• S.K. Nasasimhaiya (biography of Magadi Kempe Gowda)
• Toppulu Raghavacharya (translation of commentary on Gita)
• Mahant desika (Yakshagana composition)
• Balasaraswati (first detective novel)
• Mahadevaswamy (nicknamed Abhinava Allama)
• Pt. Shivakumar Swamy
• Siddalingaswamy of Beli Matha
• Nanjundaswamy of Guruvanna Matha
• Pt. B. Shivamurty Shastri

20th century Sanskrit Keerthanakaras

• Singeri NarasimhaShastri
• M. Lakshminarasimha Shastri
• Varada Desikachar
• Jaggu Vakulabhushana
• Rariapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma
• Motaganahalli Subramanya Shastri

20th century harikathe dasaru

• Gururajulu Naidu
  Gururajulu naidu
  Shri Gururajulu Naidu was one of the greatest proponents of the art of Harikathe story telling. He is known as Harikathe pitamaha of Karnataka. Along with Achyuta Dasa and Keshava Dasa he formed the trinity of Harikatha Vidwans. Gururajulu Naidu popularised Harikathe in Karnataka by bringing out...
  
  
• Sant Keshava Das
• Bhadragiri Achuth Das
• Malur Sonnappa
• Muiratnam Mudaliar

Modern Kannada Poets, Scholars & Writers (Navya, Navodaya or Bandaya Style)

Jnanpitha Awardees

• Kuvempu
  Kuvempu
  Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa was a Kannada writer and poet, widely regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his literary works using the pen name Kuvempu...
  
  
• D. R. Bendre
  D. R. Bendre
  Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre was amongst the most famous of Kannada poets of the Navodaya Period. Praised as varakavi, literally 'gifted poet', he was the second person among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada, the highest literary honour conferred in India...
  
  
• Shivaram Karanth
• Maasti Venkatesh Ayengar
• V. K. Gokak
  V. K. Gokak
  Vinayaka Krishna Gokak was a major writer in Kannada language and a scholar of English and Kannada literatures. He was fifth among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada language for his epic Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi...
  
  
• U. R. Ananthamurthy
  U. R. Ananthamurthy
  Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy is a contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language and is considered as one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. He is well known among Indian authors. He is the sixth person among eight recipients of the Jnanpith Award for the Kannada language, the...
  
  
• Girish Karnad
  Girish Karnad
  Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
  
  

Sahitya Academy Awardees

• 1955 'Kuvempu
  Kuvempu
  Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa was a Kannada writer and poet, widely regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his literary works using the pen name Kuvempu...
  
  ' (K. V. Puttappa) Sri Ramayana Darsanam (Epic)
• 1956 R.S. Mugali Kannada Sahitya Charitre (History of Literature)
• 1958 D. R. Bendre Aralu-Maralu (Poetry)
• 1959 K.S. Karanth Yakshagana Bayalata (A treatise on folk-drama)
• 1960 'Vinayaka' (V. K. Gokak
  V. K. Gokak
  Vinayaka Krishna Gokak was a major writer in Kannada language and a scholar of English and Kannada literatures. He was fifth among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada language for his epic Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi...
  
  ) Dyava-Prithvi (Poetry)
• 1961 A.R. Krishna Sastri Bengali Kadambarikara Bankim Chandra (A critical study)
• 1962 Devudu Narasimha Sastri Mahakshatriya (Novel)
• 1964 B. Puttaswamayya Kranti-Kalyana (Novel)
• 1965 S.V. Ranganna Ranga Binnapa (Philosophical reflections)
• 1966 P.T. Narasimhachar Hamsa Damayanti Mattu Itara Rupakagalu (Musical plays)
• 1967 D.V. Gundappa Shrimad Bhagavadgita Tatparya Athava Jivanandharmayoga (Philosophical expositions)
• 1968 'Srinivasa' (Masti Venkatesa Iyengar) Sannakathegalu (12-13) (Short stories)
• 1969 H. Tipperudraswamy Karnataka Samskriti Sameekshe (Cultural study)
• 1970 S.B. Joshi Karnataka Samskritiya Poorva Peethike (Cultural study)
• 1971 Adya Rangacharya Kalidasa (Literary criticism)
• 1972 S.S. Bhoosnurmath Shoonyasampadaneya Paramarshe (Commentary)
• 1973 V. Sitaramiah Aralu Baralu (Poetry)
• 1974 Gopalakshrishna Adiga Vardhamaana (Poetry)
• 1975 S.L. Bhyrappa Daatu (Novel)
• 1975 L. Gundappa
  L. Gundappa
  Giving one’s all for the revival of the Kannada language and establishing a firm foundation for its growth in the coming century, and yet remaining an unassuming humble person – this was Professor L. Gundappa.-Sources:...
  
   Translations from Tamil, Sanskrit to Kannada
• 1976 M. Shivaram Mana Manthana (Psychiatric studies)
• 1977 K.S. Narasimhaswamy Tereda Baagilu (Poetry)
• 1978 B.G.L. Swamy Hasuru Honnu (Travelogue)
• 1979 A.N. Moorthy Rao Chitragalu Patragalu
• 1980 Goruru Ramaswami Iyengar Americadalli Goruru (Travelogue)
• 1981 Chennaveera Kanavi Jeewa Dhwani (Poetry)
• 1982 Chanduranga Vyshakha (Novel)
• 1983 Yashwant Chittal Katheyaadalu Hudugi (Short stories)
• 1984 G.S. Sivarudrappa Kavyartha Chintana (Literary criticism)
• 1985 T.R. Subba Rao Durgaasthamaana (Novel)
• 1986 Vyasaraya Ballal Bandaaya (Novel)
• 1987 K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi Chidambara Rahasya (Novel)
• 1988 Shankar Mokashi Punekar Avadheshwari (novel)
• 1989 H.M. Nayak Samprati (Belles Lettres)
• 1990 Devanur Mahadeva Kusuma Bale (Novel)
• 1991 Chandrashekhara Kambara
  Chandrashekhara Kambara
  Chandrashekhara Kambara is a prominent poet, playwright, folklorist, film director in Kannada language and the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi. He is known for his effective usage of North Karnataka dialect of Kannada language in his plays and poems and is often compared...
  
   Sirisampige (Play)
• 1992 Subbanna Ekkundi
  Subbanna Ekkundi
  Subbanna R. Ekkundi was a recipient of Sahitya Akademi award, Nation award for teacher and Soviet Land award.Ekkundi was born in Ranebennur of Haveri district in the year 1923. At Willingdon college, Sangli, he was a student of literature. At Willingdon, V. K. Gokak and R. S. Mugali were...
  
   Bakulada Hoovugalu (Poetry)
• 1993 P. Lankesh
  P. Lankesh
  Palegar Lankeshappa was a major Indian writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language. He is probably the only writer who can be credited with bringing magical realism to Kannada literature apart from innovative use of the language...
  
   Kallu Karaguva Samaya (Short stories)
• 1994 Girish Raghunath Karnad Tale Danda (play)
• 1995 Kirtinath Kurtkoti Uriya Nalage (Criticism)
• 1996 G.S. Amur Bhuvanada Bhagya (Literary Criticism)
• 1997 M. Chidananda Murthy
  M. Chidananda Murthy
  M. Chidananda Murthy is a Kannada writer, researcher and historian. movement. He is a wellknown scholar in Karnataka specializing in the history of Kannada language and ancient Karnataka. He is also known for his campaign to conserve the monuments Hampi and to secure classical language status...
  
   Hosatu Hosatu (Criticism)
• 1998 B.C. Ramchandra Sharma Sapthapadi (Poetry)
• 1999 D. R. Nagaraj Sahitya Kathana (Essays)
• 2000 Shantinath Kuberappa Desai Om Namo (Novel)
• 2001 L. S. Seshagiri Rao English Sahitya Charitre (Literary history)
• 2002 Sujana (S. Narayana Shetty) Yugasandhya (Epic)
• 2003 K.V. Subbanna Kaviraja Marga Mattu Kannada, Jagattu (Essays)
• 2004 Geetha Nagabhushana Baduku (Novel)
• 2005 Raghavendra Patil Teru (Novel)

Kendra Sahitya Academy Awardees (Translation)

• 2005 Dr. Panchakshari Hiremath, Urdu to Kannada

Other Eminent Writers

• De. Javare Gowda
• Annadanayya Puranik - Vachanas, Law, Shiva Sharana Literature
• Siddayya Puranik - Vachanas, Shiva Sharana Literature
• Chandrika Puranik - Shiva Sharana Literature
• Udaya Shankar Puranik - Science and Technology, Columnist
• Haldoderi Sudhindra - Columnist
• Pandit Kallinath Shastri Puranik - 12 Puranas and Ayurveda
• Basavaraj Puranik - Shiva Sharana Literature
• Samethanahalli Rama Rao
  Samethanahalli Rama Rao
  Samethanahalli Rama Rao was a noted Kannada author. He was born in the village of Samethanahalli which is an hour east of Bangalore near Whitefield...
  
   (Raasa)
• Anupama Niranjana
• B M Srikanthaiah (B M Sri)
• Dr. A. N. Krishna Rao (Anakru)
• G P Rajarathnam
• G.B.Joshi (JadaBharata)
• M Govinda Pai
• M.V.Seetaramiah
• Nisar Ahmed K.S.
• P Lankesh
• Dr.Panchakshari Hiremath
• SAADHANE-RajguruGuruswamiKalikeri (Poetry,Research,Legends,Biographies and Lyrics)
• Panje Mangesh Rao
• S.V.Parameshwara Bhatta
• T. P. Kailasam - drama
• Tha. Ra. Subbarao
• Thee. Nam. Shree
• R.K. Narayan, Noted Indian Author
• R.K. Laxman, Famous Indian Cartoonist & Humorist
• Kamala Markhandaya
• Triveni (Sharapanjara)Novelist
• G.P.Rajaratnam (Ratnana Padagalu)
• Beechi
  Beechi
  BeeChi was a well-known humorist in the Kannada language. His real name was Rayasam Bheemasena Rao. He preferred to write his pen name bilingually as ಬೀchi. He was also known as Karnataka's George Bernard Shaw.-Early life and career:...
  
   - humorist
• Dr M.Shivaram, Rashi - humorist
• T. Sunandamma - humorist
• H.L. Nage Gowda - folklorist
• Anakaru - Novelist
• M. Ramamurthy
• K.V Iyer
• Devudu
• Niranjana
• Na. Kasturi
• Navaratna RamaRao
  Navaratna RamaRao
  Rajasevaprasakta Navaratna Rama Rao was born to the Navaratna family in the city of Mysore. The family title “Navaratna”, which means Nine Gems, was conferred by the then revered seer of Uttaradi Mutt for the scholarly services rendered to the orthodox Madhwa Brahmin Society by the nine...
  
  
• T.T Sharma - Journalism
• VeeraKesari
• Siddavanahalli Krishna Sharma
• Hariharapriya
• R.Kalyanamma
• Tirumale Rajamma
• Ambabai
• H.V. Savitramma
• H.S. Parvathi
• Chi. Na. Mangala
• H.R. Indira
• M.K. Indira
• M.V. Kanakamma
• Nirupama
• N. Pankaja
• Usha Navaratna Ram
• Kakolu Saroja Rao
• Anupama Niranjana
• Vi. Seetharamiah . - Poet, Critic
• Basavaraja Kattimani
• Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba (authoress)
• Sundar V. Nadkarni Fiction writer and Poet
• Ta. Raa.Subba Rao Novelist
• Veenaa Shantheshvara Short Story Writer
• Vaidehi
  Vaidehi (Kannada writer)
  Janaki Srinivasa Murthy , popularly known by her pen name as Vaidehi is a well-known writer of modern Kannada language fiction. Vaidehi is one of the most successful woman writer in Kannada and winner of many prestigious national and state level literary awards...
  
   Short Story Writer
• Sumangala Short Story Writer
• Dr K R Sandhya Reddy Poet, Story Writer, Folk Literature
• Prathibha Nandakumar Poetess
• D.R.Nagraj Critic
• K.V.Narayana Literary Critic and Linguist
• B.C.Ramachandra Sharma Poet and Fictionist
• Shanhinatha Desai Novelist, Story Writer
• Kum. Veerabhadrappa Novelist, Story Writer
• Gowri Lankesh, Columnist
• Vishweswara Bhat, Columnist
• Ravi Hanj, Columnist
• B.V Veerabhadrappa, Columnist
• N.Narasimhaiah - Detective Novelist
• A N Murthy Rao
  A N Murthy Rao
  A N Murthy Rao was an eminent Kannada author. Bearing a rather long name of Akkihebbalu Narasimha Murthy Rao, he indeed lived to a ripe old age....
  
  
• Shivarudraprasad, shimoga. poet and story writer

won prize for his story from Samyuktha Karnataka News daily,2007, he is also columnist of Shrusthi Raj Times, news daily published from Shimoga, his column " Angai nenapu is a reflection of Karnataka Socio political conditions of today. His column deals with various aspects of current affairs in the light and experience of past of Karnataka. He has portraited his memories of Sri. S.Chandrashekar, Ex- prime Minister of India, and events of Indian Parliament between 1989-1991.

Christian Missionaries Literature

• Rev. John Garet (translated Bible, Bhagavadgita, Panchatantra, Shabda Manidarpana to Kannada)
• Daniel Sanderson
• Ellis Robert
• Rev. B.L Rice
• Edward Peter Rice

External links

• History of Karnataka, Arthikaje
• History of Kannada Literature, Dr. Jyotsna Kamat
• Literature from old Bangalore
• Dvaita saints