Asaga
Encyclopedia
Asaga was a mid-9th century Digambara
Jain poet who wrote in Sanskrit
and Kannada language
. He is most known for his extant
work in Sanskrit, the Vardhaman Charitra (Life of Vardhman Mahavir). This epic poem which runs into 18 canto
s was written in 853 CE. It is the earliest available Sanskrit biography of 24th and last Thirthankara of Jainism
, Mahavira. In all, he authored at least eight works in Sanskrit. In Kannada, none of his writings, including the Karnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya, a version of Kalidas's epic poem Kumārasambhava
that have been referenced by later day poets have survived.
His writings are known to have influenced Kannada poet Sri Ponna
, the famous court poet of Rashtrakuta King Krishna III
, and other writers who wrote on the lives of Jain Tirthankaras (Jain saints). Kesiraja
, (authored Shabdamanidarpana
in c.1260 C.E), a Kannada grammarian cites Asaga as an authoritative writer of his time and places him along with other masters of early Kannada poetry.
form of the Sanskrit name Aśoka or Asanga. A contemporary of Rashtrakuta
King Amoghavarsha I (800–878) C.E, Asaga lived in Karnataka
and made important contributions to the corpus of Rashtrakuta literature
created during their rule in southern and central India between the 8th and 10th centuries. Like Kannada writer Gunavarma, Asaga earned fame despite having received no direct royal patronage.
In his Vardhamacharita, Asaga mentions writing eight classics though the only other work has survivied, the Shanti purana in Sanskrit. Asaga claims to have composed his writings in the city of Virala (Dharala), Coda Visaya ("Cola desa" or Coda lands), in the Kingdom of King Srinatha, who was perhaps a Rashtrakuta vassal
. In Kaviprasastipradyani, the epilogue to the Shanti purana, Asaga claims he was born to Jain parents and names his three Jain teachers, including Bhavakirti.
Much of what is known about Asaga has come down to us from references to his works made by later day writers and poets. Interestingly, Kannada poet Sri Ponna
(c. 950) who used one of his narrative poems as a source claims to be superior to Asaga. Asaga's writings have been praised by later day poets and writers, such as Kannada writer Jayakirthi (Chchandanuphasana), who mentions Asaga's Kumarasambhava Kavya. Several of its verses have been quoted by later authors of Kannada literature as well. The 10th century Apabhramsha
poet Dhaval praised Asaga's writing Harivamsa-purana. Though his Kannada writings are deemed lost, his name is counted among noted poets of Kannada literature
from that period along with the likes of Gajaga, Aggala, Manasija, Srivardhadheva and Gunanandi.
Digambara
Digambara "sky-clad" is one of the two main sects of Jainism. "Sky-clad" has many different meaning and associations throughout Indian religions. Many representations of deities within these traditions are depicted as sky-clad, e.g. Samantabhadra/Samantabhadrī in Yab-Yum...
Jain poet who wrote in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Kannada language
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
. He is most known for his extant
Extant literature
Extant literature refers to texts that have survived from the past to the present time. Extant literature can be divided into extant original manuscripts, copies of original manuscripts, quotations and paraphrases of passages of non-extant texts contained in other works, translations of non-extant...
work in Sanskrit, the Vardhaman Charitra (Life of Vardhman Mahavir). This epic poem which runs into 18 canto
Canto
The canto is a principal form of division in a long poem, especially the epic. The word comes from Italian, meaning "song" or singing. Famous examples of epic poetry which employ the canto division are Lord Byron's Don Juan, Valmiki's Ramayana , Dante's The Divine Comedy , and Ezra Pound's The...
s was written in 853 CE. It is the earliest available Sanskrit biography of 24th and last Thirthankara of Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, Mahavira. In all, he authored at least eight works in Sanskrit. In Kannada, none of his writings, including the Karnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya, a version of Kalidas's epic poem Kumārasambhava
Kumarasambhava
Kumārasambhava is a Sanskrit epic poem by Kālidāsa; the first eight cantos are accepted as his authorship...
that have been referenced by later day poets have survived.
His writings are known to have influenced Kannada poet Sri Ponna
Sri Ponna
Sri Ponna was a Kannada poet in the court of Rashtrakuta Dynasty king Krishna III . The emperor honoured Ponna with the title "emperor among poets" for his domination of the Kannada literary circles of the time, and the title "imperial poet of two languages" for his command over Sanskrit as well...
, the famous court poet of Rashtrakuta King Krishna III
Krishna III
Krishna III, whose Kannada name was Kannara , was the last great warrior and able monarch of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty of Manyakheta. He was a shrewd administrator and skillful military campaigner. He waged many wars to bring back the glory of the Rashtrakutas and played an important role in...
, and other writers who wrote on the lives of Jain Tirthankaras (Jain saints). Kesiraja
Kesiraja
Kēśirāja, also spelled Keshiraja, was a 13th century Kannada grammarian and a poet. He is particularly known for authoring Shabdamanidarpana, an authoritative work on Kannada grammar. Because of this work, he is considered to be the "greatest theorist of Kannada grammar"...
, (authored Shabdamanidarpana
Shabdamanidarpana
Shabhamanidarpana , also spelled Śabdamaṇidarpaṇa, is a comprehensive and authoritative work on Kannada grammar authored by Kesiraja in 1260 CE. This work, which literally means "Jewel-mirror of Grammar", remains till now as the comprehensive and early authoritative work on Kannada grammar...
in c.1260 C.E), a Kannada grammarian cites Asaga as an authoritative writer of his time and places him along with other masters of early Kannada poetry.
Biography
Asaga's name is considered an apbramshaApabhramsha
Apabhraṃśa is a term used by Sanskrit grammarians since Patañjali to refer to dialects that deviate from the norm of Sanskrit grammar. The term in Sanskrit literally means "corrupt" or "non-grammatical language". It is used as a cover term for the dialects forming the transition between the late...
form of the Sanskrit name Aśoka or Asanga. A contemporary of Rashtrakuta
Rashtrakuta
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
King Amoghavarsha I (800–878) C.E, Asaga lived in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and made important contributions to the corpus of Rashtrakuta literature
Rashtrakuta literature
Rashtrakuta literature is the body of work created during the rule of the Rastrakutas of Manyakheta, a dynasty that ruled the southern and central parts of the Deccan, India between the 8th and 10th centuries...
created during their rule in southern and central India between the 8th and 10th centuries. Like Kannada writer Gunavarma, Asaga earned fame despite having received no direct royal patronage.
In his Vardhamacharita, Asaga mentions writing eight classics though the only other work has survivied, the Shanti purana in Sanskrit. Asaga claims to have composed his writings in the city of Virala (Dharala), Coda Visaya ("Cola desa" or Coda lands), in the Kingdom of King Srinatha, who was perhaps a Rashtrakuta vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
. In Kaviprasastipradyani, the epilogue to the Shanti purana, Asaga claims he was born to Jain parents and names his three Jain teachers, including Bhavakirti.
Much of what is known about Asaga has come down to us from references to his works made by later day writers and poets. Interestingly, Kannada poet Sri Ponna
Sri Ponna
Sri Ponna was a Kannada poet in the court of Rashtrakuta Dynasty king Krishna III . The emperor honoured Ponna with the title "emperor among poets" for his domination of the Kannada literary circles of the time, and the title "imperial poet of two languages" for his command over Sanskrit as well...
(c. 950) who used one of his narrative poems as a source claims to be superior to Asaga. Asaga's writings have been praised by later day poets and writers, such as Kannada writer Jayakirthi (Chchandanuphasana), who mentions Asaga's Kumarasambhava Kavya. Several of its verses have been quoted by later authors of Kannada literature as well. The 10th century Apabhramsha
Apabhramsha
Apabhraṃśa is a term used by Sanskrit grammarians since Patañjali to refer to dialects that deviate from the norm of Sanskrit grammar. The term in Sanskrit literally means "corrupt" or "non-grammatical language". It is used as a cover term for the dialects forming the transition between the late...
poet Dhaval praised Asaga's writing Harivamsa-purana. Though his Kannada writings are deemed lost, his name is counted among noted poets of Kannada literature
Kannada literature
Kannada literature is the corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script....
from that period along with the likes of Gajaga, Aggala, Manasija, Srivardhadheva and Gunanandi.