Adikavi Pampa
Adikavi Pampa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 902 |
| Died | 955 (aged 52–53) |
| Occupation | Jain Poet |
| Works | Ādipurāṇa Vikramārjuna Vijaya also known as Pampa Bhārata |
Pampa (902–955), also referred to by the honorific Ādikavi (Poet of Adinath purana), was a Kannada-language Jain poet whose works reflected his philosophical beliefs. He was a court poet of Vemulavada Chalukya king Arikesari II, who was a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III. Pampa is best known for his epics Vikramārjuna Vijaya or Pampa Bharata, and the "Ādi purāṇa", both written in the champu style around c. 939. These works served as the model for all future champu works in Kannada.
The works of Jain writers Pampa celebrated as one of the “three gems” (Ratnatraya) of classical "Kannada literature" alongside Sri Ponna (poet) and Ranna (Kannada poet). heralded the 10th century era of medieval Kannada literature.