Naraharitirtha

Naraharitirtha
Born Shyama Sastry
13th century CE
Died 14th century CE
Occupation Saint-Poet
Noted Kannada poets and writers in Hoysala Empire
(1100-1343 CE)
Nagachandra 1105
Kanti 1108
Rajaditya 12th. c
Harihara 11601200
Udayaditya 1150
Vritta Vilasa 1160
Kereya Padmarasa 1165
Nemichandra 1170
Sumanobana 1175
Rudrabhatta 1180
Aggala 1189
Palkuriki Somanatha 1195
Sujanottamsa(Boppana) 1180
Kavi Kama 12th c.
Devakavi 1200
Raghavanka 12001225
Bhanduvarma 1200
Balachandra Kavi 1204
Parsva Pandita 1205
Maghanandycharya 1209
Janna 12091230
Puligere Somanatha 13th c.
Hastimalla 13th c.
Chandrama 13th c.
Somaraja 1222
Gunavarma II 1235
Polalvadandanatha 1224
Andayya 12171235
Sisumayana 1232
Mallikarjuna 1245
Naraharitirtha 1281
Kumara Padmarasa 13th c.
Mahabala Kavi 1254
Kesiraja 1260
Kumudendu 1275
Nachiraja 1300
Ratta Kavi 1300
Nagaraja 1331
Noted Kannada poets and writers in the Seuna Yadava Kingdom
Kamalabhava 1180
Achanna 1198
Amugideva 1220
Chaundarasa 1300

Naraharitirtha (1324-1333 CE).[1] was a disciple of 13th Century Indian saint Madhvacharya and is considered the founder of the Haridasa (a Hindu Vaishnava) movement n India. He was not only a noted saint but also a pontiff to the ruling Vijayanagara royal as evidenced by some inscriptions. The pre-pontification name of Naraharitirtha was Shyama Sastry.[2]

Early years

No clear picture appears regarding his early years except that he was the minister of the King of Kalinga (modern Odisha, a state of Eastern India) described in a work called Narahariyatistotra which says he was a minister for twelve years. Hence it is assumed that he was a native of either Andhra Pradesh or Odisha. Inscriptions from the Srikurmam and Simhacalam temples also attest to his ministry in Kalinga.

Literature

Though presumably not of Kannada origin, many of his works were in that language, although only three compositions in Kannada have been recovered. They are:

Naraharitirtha was responsible for the conversion of many princely and aristocratic families of Kalinga and Andhra regions to the Madhva fold. The descedants of these families still flourish in the coastal Andhra and adjoining states. Though some allude to the belief that Naraharitirtha was indeed the founder of the Haridasa movement, based on the strength internal evidence of songs confirm that it was Sripadaraya who pioneered the haridasa movement, almost a century later.

Naraharitirtha is also attributed to be the founder of The Yakshagana and Bayalata dance and cultural art forms which still flourishes in parts of Karnataka and Kasargod in Kerela and is gaining widespread attention outside this region. He is also the founder of the Kuchipudi dance form when he was the "mathadhipathi"(high-priest) of his monastery in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.

References

  1. "Sri Narahari Tirtha". Online Webpage of Haridasa (dvaita.org). Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  2. Sri Narahari Tirtha

NARAHARI TIRTHARU - HAMPI - by Sumadhwaseva.com

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