Everything about Ranna totally explained
Ranna (
Kannada: ರನ್ನ) 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 (
Mudhol)
Bagalkot district,
Karnataka.
His ancenstors were from Balegara community (bangle sellers) of
Jains. He took up to learning Sanskrit, Prakrit and Kannada at a young age.
Literature
Ranna was perhaps the classmate of
Chavundaraya, the famous minister of the
Western Ganga Dynasty during his youth. Later he came to be patronised by Chavundaraya when he became a Ganga minister.
Ranna was later a poet in the court of Chakravarthi
Tailapa II and his successor
Satyasraya in the
Western Chalukya court. He was rewarded with the title of
Kavi Chakravarti (Emperor of Poets).
The entire literature written by Ranna were in Halegannada (old Kannada, older version of
Kannada language). There were four major literary works from Ranna.He is also attributed with writing the first extant Lexicons in kannada named Rannakanda. Three of his works are currently available.
Literary works
- Ajitanatha Purana Tilakam
- Parashuramacharitha (extinct)
- Saahasabheema Vijayam (also known as Gadaayuddha)
- Ranna-Kanda
- Chakresvaracharita (extinct)
Ajitanatha Purana Tilakam
Ajitha Purana is the shortest Jaina purana in Kannada and is written about Ajithanatha, the second Tirthankara. It is second only to Adhinatha purana written to Adikavi Pampa in greatness.
Given to emotional disturbances, Ranna was known to divert his emotional feelings into eloquent words of literature. The work describes in detail the life of the second
Tirthankara.
Saahasabheema Vijayam
This is said to be his greatest work, a great pocession of Kannada literature and describes the final fight between
Bhima and Duryodhana on the eighteenth day of the
Mahabharata war. The work is a eulogy of
Satyasraya, Ranna's patron king and the king is compared to Bhima. Though the work is in some ways influenced by Pampa work
Pampa Bharatha, historians feel the work in no way diminishes Ranna's brilliance as it raises to the level of originality of though and expression. Though the work praises Bhima and his dramatic victory in the setting moments of the evening, it in no way diminishes the valour of Duryodhana either.
Parashuramacharitha
This work is said to be a eulogy of
Chavundaraya, the Ganga minister who also patronised Ranna.
Ranna Kanda
This is the first extant lexicons in Kannada. Unfortunately only portions of his work Ranna Kanda are available today.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ranna'.
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