Sarvajna
Encyclopedia
Sarvajña was a poet in the Kannada language. He is famous for his pithy three-lined poems which are called tripadis, "with three pada
s, 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 very little is known about him. Based on studies of his literary style and the references of later writers, historians estimate that he may have lived during the first half of the 16th century. Some references in his works indicate that his real name was Pushpadatta - Sarvajña appears to have been his pseudonym
.
His father was a Shaivaite Brahmin and his mother was a Shudra widow named Mali. His father met his mother at a place in present day Dharwar district in Karnataka on his way to Benares on a pilgrimage. Sarvagna grew up as a wandering monk
In all, about 2000 three-liners are attributed to Sarvajna. It is possible that some of these were written by later authors. Popular because of their alliterative
structure and simplicity, they deal mainly with social, ethical
and religious issues. A number of riddle
s are also attributed to Sarvajna.
Channappa Uttangi
was awarded the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana prize in 1949 for his groundbreaking work on Sarvajna.
Pada
Pada may refer to:*Pada , in Sanskrit grammar, and Hindu and Buddhist tradition*Sri Pada or Adam's Peak, a mountain in Sri Lanka*Pada, Estonia, village in Viru-Nigula Parish, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia*Pada River, see List of rivers of Estonia...
s, 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 very little is known about him. Based on studies of his literary style and the references of later writers, historians estimate that he may have lived during the first half of the 16th century. Some references in his works indicate that his real name was Pushpadatta - Sarvajña appears to have been his pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
.
His father was a Shaivaite Brahmin and his mother was a Shudra widow named Mali. His father met his mother at a place in present day Dharwar district in Karnataka on his way to Benares on a pilgrimage. Sarvagna grew up as a wandering monk
In all, about 2000 three-liners are attributed to Sarvajna. It is possible that some of these were written by later authors. Popular because of their alliterative
Alliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
structure and simplicity, they deal mainly with social, ethical
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and religious issues. A number of riddle
Riddle
A riddle is a statement or question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: enigmas, which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that require ingenuity and careful thinking for their solution, and...
s are also attributed to Sarvajna.
Channappa Uttangi
Channappa Uttangi
Channappa D. Uttangi, was born October 28, 1881 in Uttangi what is now the Karnataka State in South India. He died in 1962 at the age of 82.Channappa Uttangi began his Theological studies at the age of twenty at the Basel Seminary. Upon completing his studies Uttangi joined Basel Mission as an...
was awarded the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana prize in 1949 for his groundbreaking work on Sarvajna.
Some examples
Being a monk, he says how he became an "all-knower" in one of his tripadi.- Sarvajna-nembuvanu garvadind-adanvane
- Sarvarolagondu nudi-galitu vidyeya-
- parvatave aad noda Sarvajna
- "All-knower has not become All-knower merely out of vanity
- he learnt one bit of information from everyone
- and became a veritable mountain of knowledge"
- chittavillade guDiya suttidare falavEnu? : ಚಿತ್ತವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಗುಡಿಯ ಸುತ್ತಿದರೆ ಫಲವೇನು?
- ettu gANavanu hottu tA nityadali : ಎತ್ತು ಗಾಣವ ಹೊತ್ತು ನಿತ್ಯದಲಿ
- sutti baNdaNte sarvajna : ಸುತ್ತಿ ಬಂದಂತೆ ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ
- Meaning : Circling around the temple without devotion without dedication is as useless as an ox circling around a mill.
- Elu kotiye koti, Elu lakshave laksha
- Elu savirada Eppattu vachanagala
- Helidanu kela Sarvajna
- " Over all meaning is Saravajna has said 7070 vachanas (Tripadi)"
- Majjige illada oota
- lajjegetta hennanthe Sarvajna
- " Dinner without butter milk is like a woman without finesse".
- saalavanu koMbaaga haalOgaruM UnDante, -
- saaliganu baMdu keLuvaaga -
- kibbadiya keelu muridante sarvgjna -
- "Sweet as milk and nectar it is to get a loan
- ..but when the creditor comes after you,
- ..its painful as a broken ribcage"
- "A drunkard is like a pig.
- The poor pig, however, is helpful.
- The drunk is worse and useless."
- "Wearing marks of ash,
- if one goes to heaven,
- a donkey (that rolls in ash) sure goes."