Shatpadi is a type of meter in Kannada prosody

Kannada meter (poetry)

Kannada prosody is the study of metres used in Kannada poetry, describing the rhythmic structure of a verse. The metres used include some metres borrowed from other traditions, and indigenous metres. Kannada literature, especially Old Kannada poetry, clearly exhibits the importance poets placed on...

 that is used in Kannada poetry

Kannada poetry

Kannada poetry is poetry written in the Kannada language spoken in Karnataka. Karnataka is the land that gave birth to eight Jnanapeeth award winners, the highest honour bestowed for Indian literature...

.

This meter can usually have six pada

Pada

Pada may refer to:*Pada , in Sanskrit grammar, and Hindu and Buddhist tradition*Sri Pada or Adam's Peak, a mountain in Sri Lanka*Pada, Estonia, village in Viru-Nigula Parish, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia*Pada River, see List of rivers of Estonia...

s of syllables divided into groups of various fixed number of matra

Matra

Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...

 in each line

Pada

Pada may refer to:*Pada , in Sanskrit grammar, and Hindu and Buddhist tradition*Sri Pada or Adam's Peak, a mountain in Sri Lanka*Pada, Estonia, village in Viru-Nigula Parish, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia*Pada River, see List of rivers of Estonia...

. It is the most prevalent meter of the Middle Kannada poets Raghavanka

Raghavanka

Raghavanka was a noted Kannada writer and a poet in the Hoysala court which flourished in the late 12th to early 13th century. Raghavanka is credited for popularising the use of the native shatpadi metre in Kannada literature...

, Kumaravyasa and Lakshmisha.

There are variations in the use of Shatpadi meter. The following is a list of
different variations in Shatpadi and epics composed in them.

1. Shara Shatpadi: None
2. Kusuma Shatpadi: None
3. Bhoga Shatpadi: a) Tirukana Kanasu – Muppina Shadakshari
4. Bhamini Shatpadi

1. Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari – Kumaravyasa
2. Prabhulingleele -- Chamarasa
3. Toraveya Ramayana -- Kumara Valmeeki
4. Nalacharite -- Kanakadasa
   1. Parivardhini Shatpadi:
   2. Vardhaka Shatpadi:
5. Harishchandra Kavya- Raghavanka
6. Siddarama Charite – Raghavanka
7. Somanathacharite - Raghavanka
8. Jaimini Bharata - Lakshmeesha
9. Bhavachintaratna - Gubbiya Mallanarya