Kesiraja

Kēśirāja, also spelled Keshiraja, was a 13th-century Kannada grammarian, Jain poet and writer. and nephew of the famous Janna. Kēśirāja is particularly known for composing Shabdamanidarpana, an authoritative work on Kannada grammar. According to the Sanskritist Sheldon Pollock, because of this work he is considered the "greatest theorist of Kannada grammar". He was also a scholar in Sanskrit as well and a court poet (Aasthaana kavi) in the Hoysala Court.

Early life Kēśirāja was born in a literary Jain family, comprising several well-known Kannada writers. His father, Mallikarjuna (C. 1245 CE), was a Kannada poet. His maternal uncle was the epic writer Janna. Kesiraja's maternal grandfather was another noted poet,Sumanōbana (Śankara), who was a priest of the Yadava capital and poet laureate to Hoysala King Narasimha I. In some of his works, Kesiraja has referred to himself as Keśava. Shabdamanidarpana

Shabdamanidarpana , ("Jewel-mirror of Grammar") was authored by Kēśirāja in 1260 CE. This work remains a comprehensive, authoritative work on Kannada grammar. The rules mentioned therein were penned in kanda metre and followed a vrutti style (illustrative commentary by the author himself). Though Kēśirāja followed the model of Sanskrit grammar of the Katantra school, and that of earlier writings on Kannada grammar, his work has an originality of its own.

The text of Shabdamanidarpana begins with poetry ehalting earlier generations of writer who are cited by Kēśirāja as authoritative examples:

An attempt at vocabulary building is provided in several parts of the work. There is a list of verbal roots and words containing ḷ and ḹ sounds. There is also a chapter called "PrayŌgasāra" where Kesiraja has quoted a number of rare words along with their meanings.

Passion for grammar Kēśirāja had a passion for grammar, which is evident from his writings through his work Shabdamanidarpana.

Literary works Apart from his extant grammar Shabdamanidarpana, Kesiraja authored several other writings in Kannada, though they are deemed lost: Prabodhachandra (ಪ್ರಬೋಧಚಂದ್ರ) Chorapalaka Charitam (ಚೋರಪಾಲಕ ಚರಿತ) Kiratam (or Kiratarjuniyam) (ಕಿರಾತ) Shubhadraharana (ಸುಭದ್ರಾ ಹರಣ) Sri Chitramale (ಶ್ರೀ ಚಿತ್ರಮಾಲೆ)