The centre undertakes translations of important Classical Kannada texts into English and modern Kannada. It will also publish monographs and coffee table books related to Kannada literary and architectural heritage. Here is our list of planned initial publications:

a.  Art Books

Śaiva Monuments at Paṭṭadakal

Paṭṭadakal is one of the richest and most magnificent seats of art and civilisation in India. It is a well-known and celebrated archaeological site recognized in the World Heritage list of UNESCO, and yet, it has not been exhaustively documented. After years of writing and research, this exhaustive and richly illustrated monograph with detailed architectural drawings is planned to be published by the centre as a coffee table book in multiple volumes.

Authors: Pierre-Sylvain and Vasundhara Filliozat

 

b.  English Translations

-  Śabdamaṇidarpaṇaṃ, 1260 CE

Kēśirāja’s Śabdamaṇidarpaṇaṃ is a systematic grammar for old Kannada. It deals with the components of Kannada language elaborately like a comprehensive textbook. It is written in sūtra form and each sūtra is elaborated in the form of vṛtti by the author himself. It is interesting to note that the author has listed in this work about one thousand Kannada verbal roots prevalent in his time.

Translator: S. Kedilaya, Department of Kannada, University of Madras

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-  Karṇāṭakabhāṣābhūṣaṇaṃ, 1150 CE

Nāgavarma’s Karṇāṭakabhāṣābhūṣaṇam is a Kannada grammar composed in Sanskrit following the grammatical procedures of Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī and other grammars in Sanskrit and Prakrit. It consists of ten chapters dealing with different components of the Kannada language such as metalinguistic terminology, sandhi, vibhakti, nominal bases, and others.

Translators: RVS Sundaram, former director of the Institute of Kannada Studies at the University of Mysore, and HV Nagaraja Rao, senior Sanskrit scholar  

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-  Pampā Śataka and Rakṣā Śataka, 1180 CE

Hampeya Harihara’s Pampā Śataka and Rakṣā Śataka occupy a prominent place in śataka literature. Śataka is a popular literary style containing one hundred muktakas (bounded verses). Bhakti, vairāgya, and nīti are common themes dealt in this style, often reflecting the emotions of and personal observations by the poet. Harihara’s Śatakas are literary exemplars for the exploration of a devotee’s inner feelings towards Shiva.

Translator: Gil Ben-Herut, associate professor, University of South Florida

 

c.  Kannada Commentaries

The centre also plans to publish critical commentaries and translations along with padaccheda of important Kannada texts.

-  Cūḍāratna Śataka

This is a didactic Śataka by an unknown author. The date of this popular text is also not known. It survived through ages through oral tradition. It is written in kanda metre suitable for such Nīti Śatakas.

Commentator: Akkamahadevi, former assistant professor of Kannada at the Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies, Mysore University. 

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-  Rāmadhānya Carite, 1550 CE 

Kanakadasa’s Rāmadhānya Carite is a satirical poem by the great composer in which a debate takes place between rāgi millet and rice. Rama gives his final word supporting rāgi millet.

Commentator: Nagarathnamma, Kannada scholar

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-  Girijākalyāṇaṃ, 1180 CE

Harihara’s Girijākalyāṇaṃ is one of the important epics written in Champu style. It resembles the story of Kumārasambhava of Kalidasa. This was written by Harihara to prove his ability to create different forms of poetry such as the Ragaḷe, Śataka and Prabandha.

Commentator: Geetha Naval, former professor and principal of government college in Karnataka.

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-  Pampā Śataka, 1180 CE 

Harihara’s Pampā Śataka occupies a prominent place in Śataka literature. Śataka is a popular literary form containing one hundred muktakas (bounded verses). 

Commentator: B.P. Ashakumari, professor of Kannada, Maharaja's College, Mysuru

 

These initial projects are a precursor to our more ambitious plans and broader effort aimed at highlighting the Kannada literary heritage.