CHAPTER v

1 . COMPARATIVE ESTIMATE OF T H E THREE WORKS

Having t r e a t e d each work i n a d e t a i l e d manner i n sepa-

r a t e c h a p t e r s , we a r e i n a p o s i t i o n t o make a compara t ive

e s t i m a t e o f t h e t h r e e works.

1 .I, Common P o i n t s

A t t h e out:set we must s e t f o r t h , i n b r i e f , t h e a s p e c t s

common t o a l l t h e t h r e e a u t h o r e s s e s and t h e i r works.

1 .I .1 . A u t h o r e s s e s and t h e i r Approach

A s a l r e a d y noted t h e h e r o e s o f t h e works happen t o be

c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t h e i r composers. A l l t h e t h r o e works a d o r e

t h e i r h e r o e s . Love and a d m i r a t i o n f o r t h e h e r o e s a r a prominen-

t l y d i s c e r n i b l e , a s t h e two m o t i v a t i n g f a c t o r s , i n t h e compo-

s i t i o n of t h e uorks. f e e l i n g s o f Joy and s a t i s f a c t i o n i n d i v e r -

t i n g t h e i r t a l e n t s t o s i n g t h e g l o r i e s of t h e i r loved ones

permeate t h e t e x t u r e of t h e works, A s e n s e of g r a t i t u d e t o -

wards t h e h e r o e s a l s o f i n d s a t r o n g e x p r e s s i o n , because o? t h e - c o n d u s i v e a tmosphere c r e a t e d by t h e l a t t e r , f o r t h e Ploworing

1 of t h e i r t a l e n t s . 1 .I .2. L i f e i n s i d e t h e P a l a c e

e The; t h r e e uorka t o g e t h e r p v e n t a lmost a comple te p i c t u r e

o f t h e l/fe i n s i d e t h e p a l a c e . The account may be c o n s i d e r e d

q u i t e a c c u r a t e f o r two r e a s o n s . F i r s t l y , t h e composers

t h e m s e l v e s be longed t o e i t h e r r o y a l h o u s e h o l d s o r had

P u l l access t o t h e p a l a a e . S e c o n d l y , t h e works t r e a t t h e

p r i n c e s f o r t h e i r p r i n c i p a l c h a r a t e c s . T h i s a l s o e n a b l e

t h e works t o draw a r e a l i s t i c a c c c o u n t o f t h e l i f e s t y l e

o f t h e p r i n c e s o? t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p e r i o d s .

One o f t h e s p e c i a l f e a t u r e s oP t h e a l a c e was, t h a t i t P was dominated by women. A l l t h e c h o r e s o f t h e p a l a a e f rom

k i t c h e n work t o s e c u r i t y of t h e main g a t e , were looked a f t e r

by wulnun. Thuy hulpud t h e k i n g e and quuuno i n t h e i r r u u t i n o

work. The f o r e i g n t r a v e l l e r s have n o t e d t h i s a s p e c t w i t h 2

g r e a t s e n s e of s u r p r i s e . T h i s P a c t i s b o r n o u t by t h e works.

~ i r u m a l i m b i m e n t i o n s t h a t t h e k i n g moved f rom one p l a c e t o 3

a n o t h e r i n s i d e t h e p a l a c e h o l d i n g t h e hands o f t h q a i d s - I ~ s m a b h a d r a n ~ b a g i v e s a s p l e n d i d d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e e l a b o r a t e

p r e p a r a t i o n and h e l p r e n d e r e d by a bevy o f b e a u t i e s , f o r t h u

4 l u n c h i n ~ a g h u n i t h a ' s p a l a c e . She a l s o m e n t i o n s t h a t n o t o n l y

t h e p e r f o r m a n c e O P ~ a t ~ a b u t t h e m a i t e n a n c e o f t h e ~ i t ~ ~ O ; i i 5

uas a l s o u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f uomen . - T h e s e l a d i e s accompanied t h e k i n g s i n t h e i r f a v o u r b k e

p a s t i k e s . They en joyed w a t e r - s p o r t s q u i t e o f t e n . ~ i r u m a l & - =

b; g i v e s z v e r y e l a b o r a t e d e s c b i p t i o n o f t h e w a t e r t a n k i n s i d e 6

t h e p a l a c e w a l l s and t h e women s p o r t i n g t h e r e i n She 6U.n

m e n t i o n s t h e d r e s s worn by women w h i l e 5 4 p l a y i n g i n w a t e r s , 7

S h e s a y s t h a t t h e l i zd ios donned s h o r t s e x p o s i n g t h e i r b o d i e s .

~ ; a n ~ ; d e v T d d v o t e s abou t t u e n t y v e r s e s f o r t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f 0

u a t e r - s p o r t s , The l a d i e s accompanied by t h e p r i n c e indu lged

i n t h e p l e a s a n t s p o r t o t roamimg i n uoodkands, c o l l e c t i n g

f l o w e r s t h o r e i n . T h i s f a v o u r i t e p a s t i m e known a 8 ~usum6va-

cayalI1; , yhLCh f i n d s r e f e r n c e i n al-st a l l l i t e r a r y u o r k s .

The l a d i e s k e p t &he p r i n o e ) oompany i n c o o l r e s o r t s d u r i n q

summer, s a n g and d a n c e d f o r h i e sake,

The P r i n c e s , who were s c h 3 d r l y themse lves , p a t r o n i s e d

p o e t s and s c h o l o r s and a r t i s t e s * They s p e n t t h e i r s p a r e t ime

i n p o ~ t i c and s c h Q l a r l y a s s e m b l i e s , t a k i n g a c t i v e p a r t i n t h e

p r o c e e d i n g s , A l l t h e t h r e e works r e f e r t o the c o u r t s of t h e i r 9 h e r o e s r e s p l e n d e n t w i t h l d a n e d s c h o l a r s and g i f t e d p o e t s .

Regarding t h e k i n g s 1 p h y s i c a l d i v e r s i o n s , VPC spvaks o f equ-

e s t r i a n s p o r t s i . a , h ~ v a k r ~ d ~ a s a most loved p a s t i m e o f empa-

Tho l a d i a s who were i n huge numbers, e q u u l l y i n t i m a t e l y

r e l a t e d t o t h e p r i n c e s , a r e spoken of as b e i n g f r i a ~ ~ d l y t o one

a n o t h e r . The works r e f e r t o t h e i r mutual c o r d i a l i t y o f r e l a - 11

t i o n s and comrnon purpose o f p l e a s i n g t h e p r i n c e s . . P e r h a p s , t h e o n l y t h i n g m i s s i n g i n t h o i n f o r m a t i o n provi-

ded i n t h i s r e g a r d , i s a r e f e r s n c o t o t h e p r a s e n c e of eunuch8

i n t h e p a l a c e . The f o r e i g n t r a v e l l e r s o b s o r v o t h a t eunuchs

were i n t h e s e r v i c e oP k i n g s , a s g u a r d s i n l a r g o numbers, and 12

t h e y were v e r y much t r u s t e d by t h e i r m a s t e r s .

1.1.3. D e s c r i p t i o n o f P h y s i c a l Beauty o f P r i n c e s

A l l t h e t h r e o works c a r r y v e r y d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n s o r

t h e p h y s i c a l cha rms o f men, g i v e n by women, Theeo d e s c r i p t i o n s

i n s u c h d e t a i l , a r e t h e f i r s t o f t h e i r k i n d , found i n S a n s k l f t

l i t e r a t u r e . An a s p e c t t h a t comple t ed a p r i n c e ' s t o i l e t , i n t h e

m e d i e v a l t imestis t h e g a r l a n d o f f l o w e r 3 h e wore on h i s l o n g

t r e s s e s . A l l t h e t h r o e works n o t e t h o lonq h a i r s of t h e i r r e -

a p e c t i v e h e r o o s and d e s c r i b e them a s e o c h a n t i n g w i t h v a r i o u s 13

f r a g r a n t l 'lowers . O t h e r works of t h e p e r i o d a l s o t e s t i l 1 4 t o t h i s p r a c t i c e .

T h d ~ i m p o r t a n t p a r t p l a y e d by t h o c o u r t e s a n women i n t h e

m e d i e v a l s o c i e t y i s b o r n e o u t by t h e r e f e r e n c e made t o h e r i n

t h e works . Her p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n any f u n c t i o n c o n n e c t e d w i t h

t h e r o y a l house , b o t h a t t i m e s o f p e a c a and war, was a myst.

C o u r t a s a n s were o f f i c i a l l y i n c h a r g e o f p r o v i d i n g e n t e r t a i n m e n t

t o t h a r o y a l f a ~ n i l i e s ' ~ . ~;mabhadr;nb;, m u n t i o n s t h a t a t r a i n

o f p u b l i c women '8ccompaniad t h e marching army and k e p t c o n s t a n t

company, t o t h e u a r r i n g s o l d i e r s 1 6 . The r o s p e c t a b l l i l y , a c o u r -

t e s a n commanded, d u r i n g t h o s e times becomes c l a a r by t h e Pact

t h a t s h e t o o k p a r t i n t h e a n o i n t i n g c e r e m m y a l s o . She poured

h o l y water o v e r t h e head o f t h e p r i n c e , a f t e r t h e Brahmins and 1 7

o t h e r s .

,&tar was a ma jo r e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e p e r i o d o f V i j a y a n a g a r a .

A l l t h e t h r e e works b e i n g s k e t c h e s o f h u r o i z men, t h e p o e t e s s e s

were compel led t o d e v o t e enough s p a c e f o r t h e p o r t r a y a l o f war

i n t h e i r works . War p r o p a r a t i o n s were hugo and o l a b o r a t e . The

t b works g i v e a g r a p h i c d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e e r m i e e , a b o u t ~ s e t f o o t

i n t h u w a r f i e l d , A l l s t a g e s o f p r e p a r a t i o n and accompl ishment ,

s t a r t i n g f rom t h e march o f t h e army u p t o t o t h e v i c t o r y o v e r t h e

enemy, a r e m O 3 t d e l i g e n t l y r e c o r d e d . D e t a i l s o f methods o f war-

f a r e , s u c h a s l a y i n g s o i g u t o d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of P o r t s , a r e a v a i -

l a b l e i n t h e s e works. I n P a c t , i t is Pound t h a t t h e a r t and

s c i e n c e of' c a p t u r i n g P o r t s a r e expounded i n t h i e r minu te d e t a i l e 1 8 o n l y i n l i t e r a r y works, b o t h i n S a n s k r i t and o t h e r l a n g u a g e s .

Thus , t h e s e works ara c o n s i d e r e d o u r p r e c i o u s s o u r c o s o f medie-

v a l w a r f a r e . tiangzdovT g i v e s t h e method of c a p t u r i n g a h i l l

P o r t ( l i i r i d u r g a ) l and ~;mabhadr;rnb; g i v e s a s p e l n d i d a c c o u n t

of t h e t r o o p s o f ~ a g h u n z t h a ~ i ~ a k a c a p t u r i n g t h e w a t e r f o r t 20 ( ~ ~ l ~ d u r ~ a ) , u ~ i n g a number o f b o a t s t o s u r r o u n d t h e f o r t .

~ i r u m a l & b i d e s c r i b e e t h e manner i n which t h e i s l a n d c i t y o f - 8 r l r a n g a p a t t a n a m u a s c a p t u r e d by b r i d g i n g t h e r i v e r ~ z v e r ? ,

2 1 which was i n s p a t e . The b a t t l e p i c t u r e s drawn by o u r p o e t e -

sses c a n b e compared t o t h e most r e a l i s t i c and p o w e r f u l o n e s ,

i n any o t h e r g r e a t p i e c e o f l i t e r a t u r e .

1.1.6. The Boom of War Drums

Tne V i j a y a n a q a r a Porcor had a vu ry apucinl p r a c L i c o o f

s o u n d i n g as many i n s t r u m e n t s as p o s s i b l e t o c r e a t e a d i n b e f o r e

* r i I t h e march o f l h t ~ army t o any w a r f i e l d , which,parhaps,was

supposed t o en thuse t h e a p r t i c i p a n t s .

~irurna1;mb; d e v o t e s some t h r o e l o n g passages i n h e r camp;

t o t h e d e s a r i p t i o n o f t h e war music. ~ a n ~ ~ d o v ~ d e v o t e s abou t

h ~ l f u d u r u n v u r t i u r l u d u ~ c r l b t r Lnu L I I I I I ~ ~ ~ I J U : ~ n o i t l u c~.uutud

b y t h e drums. The d i n c r o a t e d b y t h e war drums and o t h e r

i n t r u m e n t s m i n q l e d with t h e twangs of t h e bows ( o f t h e bou-man),

t h e n e i g h i n g n o i s e o f horses, r o a r i n g rumble o f t h e e lophmtm,

t h e w a r - c r i e e o f s o l d i e r s and t h e s i n g i n g oP ba rds , i s a p t l y

compared t o t h e thunderous r o a r o f t h e m i l k y ocuan churned b y

t h e mount Randara and t h o damaru sound of t h e God o f a n n i h i l a - he *c 2 2

t i o n w h i l e l i s engaged i n v i o l a n t danco a t l t i m e o f d i s s o l u t i o n . Thu poutt~:i,;us a l s o q i v u t h o namuu o f a v u r i o t y of' i n s t r u -

ments used f o r t h e purpose of c r e a t i n g t h i s thundarous d i n .

1 irumal;~,~b; i ~ ~ e n t i u n r AJ o u t L u o l v e i t ~ r u n l u n t s i n w h i c h pa rcuss -

i on , s t r i n g e d and wind i n s t r u m e n t s u e i n c l u d e d .

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t N u n i z a l s o r e c o r d s t h i s

p e c u l i a r p r a c t i c e o f t h e V i j a y a n a g a r a Porcos. A f t e r g i v i n g a

d o s c r i p t i o n o f t h e d e a f e n i n g n o i s o , h e says, ' I shou ld coase . 2 3

t o speak more o f t h i s because I s h o u l d n e v e r f i n i s h ' . The t h r e e works r e c o r d t h e names o f a v a r i e t y o f weapons

used i n t h e w a r f a r e . tiang5devT men t ions some s i x wvaponv usod

b y khu foot, ~ o l d i a r s ~ ~ . ~ i ruma1 ;mb says t h a t i nnumerab la wea-

pons such as M a l l e t s , Nooses, Oiscussos, J a v e l i n e e , Arrows and

2 5 Swords were used .

~znabhadr;mbG r ~ e n t i o n s t h e u s e o r gun-poudor end match- 2 6

l o c k s , i n p l e 3 n t y Use oP i n t o x i c a t i n g d r i n k s among t h o 2 8

w a r r i o r s was 8190 common

1.1.7. R e f e r e n c e t o fiohamrnadan S o l d i e r s

A l l t h e p o e t e s s e s r e f e r ; t o t h e wars of t h e i r h e r o e s

w i t h Mohammadans. Hol~ever :, LiangkJev? and R~nabhadr imb; g i v e . some d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e Nohammadan s o l d i e r s ; t h e i r appearance,

and o b i L i t i a s . Both p o i n t o u t a t t h e r e d d i s h e y e s of t h e

s o l d i e r s . I2angEdev? r e f e r s t o t h e i r long b e a r d s and ve ry

c u r v a d eye brows2'. R;mabhadr;mb ment ions t h a t t h e flohamiao-

d a n s o l d i e r s were v a r y proud and wore vopy t e r r i f y i n g i n t l i u i r 2 9

a p p o a r a n c e . Both t h e p o o t e s s o s aqroo i n n o t i n g t h a t t h e y

wero f o r m i d a b l o w n r r i o r a .

1 .1 .a. S o c i a l Practices

Some of' t h e s o c i a l p r a c t i c c ~ s p r e v a i l i n g i n t t i i e r t l m o s

a r e Found rnentionod i n t h o works. 1;an93duvT r e f u r s t o t h e

p r a c t i c e of' t a k i n g b a t h an& wear ing w h i t e r o b e s when t h e k i n g

went t o sea t h u nou burn f o r t h e f i r s t time3'. The cus tom o r

making l i b e r a l g i f t s t o t h e Brahmins and o t h e r s on t h e happy

o c c a s i o n of t h e b i r t h of' a s o n , i s a l l u d e d t o by a l l t h e poe-

t o ~ s o s ~ ~ . ~ i r u m a l z m b ; r a p e r s t o Lhe e p o c i a l Hindu cus tom of

d r;lwinal ' ~ ~ ; m ~ i . i v s l l I ' as wr euspfhiue mitru3\ R : ~ I I ~ I ~ I ~ ~ ~ I I I ~ ~

makes nrehtion OF a r e g i o n a l cus tom, when s h e s a y s t h a t t h e

women b e l o n g i n g t o Lhe r e s p e c t e d f a m i l i e s d i d n o t c o v e r t h e i r

3 3 bosoms . W i t h s o many p o i n t s i n common, i t is c l e a r t h a t t h e t h r e e

u o r k s t o q e t h e r , i n a d d i t i o n t o g i v i n g a f a i r l y good i d e a o f t h e

h i s t o r i c a l and p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n , a l s o th row va luab l r r l i i j h t

on t h e s o c i a l a n 3 c u l t u r a l a t m o s p h e r e of t h e u p p e r s t r a t a o f

s o c i u t y o f t h e i r times,

2. H i s t o r i c a l S e n s e O i s p l e y e d i n t h e Works

Though t i a n g i d u v i g i v v s v a r y v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n o f h e r

p e r i o d , h e r p o e t i c s e n s i b i l i t i e s t a k e an odge o v e r h e r h i s t o - 'd

r i c C s e n s a e Whi le s h e g i v e s v a r y v i v i d d ~ s c r i p t i o n s of s i t u a -

t i o n s , s h e w i t h h o l d s t h e most p f e c i o u s i n f o r m a t i o n f o r a h i e - e

t o r i a n , Her a t t a n t i o n i s compl&ely c e n t r e d round Kampana, t h e

h e r o , t h u s l e a v i n g a s i d e b o t h h i s f r i e n d s and f o e s , R e c o r d i n g

t h e names o f o n l y ~ u k k a r z ~ a and OevGyT, Kamgana's p a r e n t s end

t h e two Sangarnas, h i s you,nger b r o t h e r s , t h e p o e t e s s r u n s t h e

r i s k o f b e i n g t o o n a r r o w i n h e r h i s t o r i c a l o u t l o o k . I n t h i s

r e s p e c t ~ ' j r n a b h a d r ~ u b ; d e s e r v e s a s p e c i a l m e n t i o n . She r e c o r d s

t h e names o f a l l note$ p e r s o n a l i t i e s , who p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e - wnru wtrrjud by H o c ~ h u n , ~ t t i u ~ ~ i ~ a k t l , A l l Lhu i~ l lpur lu r i t nilrauu o f

b o t h t h e a l l i e s and e n e m i e s o f ~ a g h u n z t h a a r e found m e n t i o n e d

i n RNBN. S h e m e n t i o n s a b o u t e i g h t e e n p e t s o n 8 by nanu . T h i s

o b v i o u s l y , h a s enhanced t h e h i s t o r i c a l V a l u e p f t h e work by

l e a p s and b o u n d s , Her f a c t u a l p o r t r a y a l of t h e h i a t o r i c a l e v e n t s

QP t h e t i y e , h a s made h e r u o r k a v a l r l a b l e s o u r c e book of t h e

ti1 4 h i s t o r y o f t h e p e r i o d . t?~mabhadr&nb;'e n a r r a t i o n is cone i -

d e r e d t o b e 'more h i s t o r i c a l l y a c c u r a t e s e q u e n t i g l l y proba- 34 b l e ' . Her a c c o u n t o f t h e Toppur War and ~ a ~ h ~ n z t h a ' s r o l e

t h e r s i n is a l s o h a i l o d as f u l l by h i s t o r i a n s 3 S . N e v s r t h e l e a s ,

~ a n ~ h e v r ~ s work h a s a u n i q u e p l a c e among h i s t o r i c a l k i v y a s

w r i t t e n d u r i n g t h e V i j a y a n a g a r a p u r i o d , f o r two r e a s o n s . I t

is t h e e a r l i e s t work on V i j a y a n a g a r a h i s t o r y , i s t h e f i r s t one .

Second one is t h a t i t is t h e o n l y p o e t i c c o m p o s i t i o n which t r e - Oc.

a t s t h e e v e n t f u l f l a d h u r i War, s o i m p o r t a n t L m i l e s t o n e i n t h e e s -

t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e empi ru .

R ~ r n a b h a d r ~ m b ~ a p a r t Prom b e i n g a h i s t o r i c a l l y s e n s i t i v e

l a d y , had a keen e y e f o r m i n u t e d e t a i l s o f h e r s u r r o u n d i n g e .

D e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e ~ a n i o r e P a l a c e and i t s v a r i o u s a p a r t m e n t s

come a l i v a t h r o u g h t h e pen o f Rirnabhadrimbi.

Somo s c h o l a r s a r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t UPC o f T i r u m a l h b ;

i s more i m p o r t a n t a s a s o u r c e book o f h i s t o r y t h a n a p o e t i c

work o f l i t e r a r y m e r i t s , b e c a u s e , ' t h e a u t h o r e s s a p p e a r s t o 3 6

n a r r a t e t h e e v e n t s o f which s h e h e r s e l ? was an e y e w i t n e s s t . Not many works ere a v a i l a b l e on t h e r e i g n o f ~ c ~ u t a r ; ~ a . Yet - - - T i r u m a l i m b i t s VPC and R a j a n a t h a ' s menumental work A c ~ ~ u t a r ~ ~ ~ -

bhyudayam t o g e t h e r P i 1 1 t h e g a p , Whi l e naming t h e pe r so r rg , l i -

r u m a l ~ m b i a l s o l i k e ~ a n a ~ z d e v 1 , r e s t r i c t s h e r s e l f t o t h e h e r o

and h i s p a r e n t s . O the r members o f , t h e f a m i l y d o n o t f i n d a

menticin, Even t h e name o f ~ g g g a d e v a r ~ ~ a t h e g r e a t , i s i g n o r e d .

However, t h i s migh t s e r v e as a c l u e t o t h e k i n d o f r e l a t i o n

< ; 1 5

t h a t e x i s t e d b e t u e e n ~ c ~ u t a r i ~ a and ~ ~ s ~ a d e v a r a ~ a , Tiruma-

lzmbi , aappeara t o be d i P f e r e n t from o t h e r s i n a s ouch ea s h e

g i v e s t h e names o f t h e mothers o f t h e c h i e f women c h a r a c t e r s

of t h e camp;. ~bamgrnb;, ~ c ~ u t a r i y a ~ s mother i s i n t r o d u c e d a s 3 7 t h e d a u g h t e r o f ~irn&nbikH and ~ z c i r i j a . ~ a r a d z m b i k i ' s mother1 s

-38 name i s g i v e n as ~ r a ~ i m b i k a . T h i s is a p i e c e of i n f o r m a t i o n

a v a i l a b l e o n l y i n VPC.

I n c o n c l u s i o n , i t may be obse rved t h a t , ~ ~ r n a b h a d r ~ n b ~ ' s

h i s t o r i c a l s e n s e is more p o i n t e d and p rominen t , Except ing on

o n l y ons o c c a s i o n , where ~ a ~ h u n z t h a ~ S y a k d d F a t h e r Acyutappa

~ Z y a k a is d e p i c t e d a s d o i n g penance and Lord ~ a n g a n G t h a ap,,ea-

r i n g i n pe r son i n answer t o h i s s i n c e r i t y , t h o a u t h o r e s s h a s

n o t been c a r r i e d away by P l i g h t s o f fancy . A l l t h e f a c t s men-

t i o n e d by h e r a r e bovne o u t by o t h e r r e c o r d s . R N B M h a s a l l

t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e s of be ing a b i o g r a p h i c a l r o c o r d ,

So f a r a s p o e t i c d i c t i o n i s concurned tiangzdevT, scores

o v s r h d r S U C C B S S O ~ S . The g r a c o of h e r s t y l e and t h e sponto-

n e i t y of h e r v e r s e s s t a n d u n p a r a l l e d , She h a s bean a b l e t o

uuppresv h u r s c h o l a r s h i p i n o r d e r t o p r o j o c t h u r p o e t i c t ~ l a n t ,

The s e n s e of judgement, s h e d i s p l a y s aa a c o n n o i s s e u r of poe-

t r y is a l s o v e r y s a t i s f y i n g . I n o r d e r t o a p p r e c i a t e h e r sound

a e s t h e t i c s e n s e i t is b a n e f i c i a l t o compare h e r remarks abou t

p o e t r y w i t h t h a t o f . o t h e r s . ~ G d h a v a , a p o e t oP t h e c o u r t o f

,I 1 f-i k i n g ~ir;p;k$a, son o f 8ukkarEya h a s u r i t t e n a work by

name ' ~ a r a k i s u r a V i jayam' , I n t h e i n t r o d u c t o r y v e r s e s o f t h e

k i v y a , h e r e f e r s t o $ r ' l h a r g a b s t y l e a e t d r i p p i n g w i t h r a s a ' and 3 9

t h a t of 811iravi a s ' o o z i n g o u t hontjy' . However, w h i l o V L H - pvcvci li 7

wing Prom t h e c r i t i c a l s t a n d a r d s ~ i n t h e f i e l d of S a n s k r i t poe-

t r y , n e i t h e r S r i h a r g a ' s k i v y a c o u l d be c o n s i d e t o d ' r e a a v a t

k i v y a t , n o r ~ h ~ r a v i ' e d i c t i o n would be swea t a s honey. On t h e

c o n t r a r y , t h e formexi- is r e f e r r e d t o as an e r u d i t e s c h o l a r and

t h e l a t t e r i s known f o r h i s ' d e p t h o f nlaaninq' i . e . a r t h a gim-

b h l r y a, tiangsdevT, ve ry p r u d e n t l y compared 0h;ravit s p o o t r y

t o t h e 8akul: f l o w e r whioh c o n t i n u e s t o g i v e i t s f r a g r a n c e 4 0

evan when c rushed . While comparing MV w i t h VPC, Dr.Venkataramanaioh obsorvea

I . . ..As an a r t i s t , i i r u n ~ a l i v b a i s f a% i n f e r i o r t o ~ a n ~ i d e v i

whusu I'IV, though Prag~~iurtary nust bu roqarded as a p u r f e c t l i t e -

4 1 c3if.i tics r a r y gumt , ~ e n r j ~ d e v T ' s l i t e r a r y 1 have won u n i v e r s a l acclama-

ruk 4 1 Lion a s poFntud(.earlier ,

~ i r u r n a l ~ f l b ; ' ~ s t y l e is c o n s i d e r e d as ' u l e g a n t ' by some

8 c h 0 1 a r s ~ ~ . T h i s may be a c c e p t e d w i t h a s l i g h t m o d i f i c a t i o n

v i z , , , 'not t h r o u g h o u t ' . ~ i r u m a l i m b i ' s work b e i n g t h e f i r s t I

a v a i l a b l e camp; work by a l a d y h a s en i m p o r t a n c e o f i t s own,

She h a s t r i e d h e r hand b o t h a t p r o s e and p o e t r y , Tnough s h e

d o e s n o t d i s p l a y l u n i f o r m i t y i n t h e e l e g a n c e o f s t y l e , some

p o r t i o n s crfe v e r y a t t r a c t i v e and beaba t e s t i m o n y t o h e r p o e t i c

t a l e n t s . Over d o i n g t h e d e s c r i p t i o n s i s o n e of t h e major

e r r o r s of ~ r i u m a l & - n b ~ ' s c o m p o s i t i o n , Both ~ a b g i d e v f and ~ k a - bun

h a v e l a b l e t o ovcr:come t h i s e r r o r , is a t r i b u t e t o

t h e i r a r t i s t i c a b i l t y and p o e t i c s e n u e b i l t i e s . T'irumal&i1b3's

claim t o b e a p o e t e s s is o n l y n e x t t o lianqGdevl.

C h r o n o l o g i c a l l y occupy ing t h e l a s t p l a c e among t h e t h r o o b

p o e t c s s o s , ~Zmabhadr&b& r e f u s e s t o be p u s h e d l l a s t , s o Par

p o e t i c a b i l i t y is c o n c e r e n d . As an a r t i s t , though n o t s u p a r i o r

t o ~ a n ~ i d e v x , s h e h a s a charm o f h e r own. She h e s d i s p l a y e d

much i n g e n u i t y i n h e r n a r r a t i o n , h a s i n t r o d u c e d q u i t e a few

nova1 items a s t h e d a n c e r e c i t a l e t c . , making h e r work more

o r i g i n a l i n execution. Hur v e r s i f i c a t i o n i s a l s o q u i t e s i m p l e

w i t h i n t e r n a l rhyme marking i ts d i c t i o n . With a l l t h e s o ~ i m a -

bhadrznb; may b e p l a o e d a l o n g w i t h ~ i r u m a l i n i b i b e s i d e s l;ang;devI

4 , The P o e t e s s e s and t h e S o c i a l C o n d i t i o n o f t h e P e r i o d

Polqgamy was t h e o r d e r o f t h e day , when o u r p o o t e s s o s

w r o t e , Women had a c c e p t e d polygamy a b s o l u t e l y , p o e t e s s a s b e i n g

no e x c e p t i o n . A women lovud and r e s p e c t e d h e r husband, d e s -

p i t e h i s s h i f t i n g l o y a l t i e s . She b a l i e v e d t h a t h e loved h e r - d e e p l y though s h e saw him i n t h e company of numerous women.

A l l t h e t h r e e p o e t e s s e s u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n , d o s c r i b c

t h e l o v e - s p o r t s o f t h e i r h e r o e s , a l l t h e time w i t h a word o f

a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r him who is s o a d e p t i n e n t e r t a i n i n g s o many

women. Ciang2devi g i v e s a d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t o f t h e l o v e - s p o r t s

of k i n g Kampana w i t h a bevy o f b a a u t i e s and s t i l l c o n s i d e r s

h e r s e l f t o b e h i s beloved44. ~iruma1;mb; g l o r i f i e s t he Love

and marr iage o f ~ c y u t a r ~ y e and ~eradzmbika , and ye t h o l d t h a t

4 5 she h e r s e l f is t h e 'end a l l and aim a l l o f ~ o y u t a r ~ y a ' s love ' . R; mebhadrimb;, t ime and aga in d r w a a p a r a l l e l between Raghu- - n d t l l ~ N S ~ L ~ ~ u t r u i ~ n d u d 'by h i s quuuns illd i d , ij,ld g r i K g y y a

i n t h e company of h i s numerods spouses. The poetess, who,simp-

4 6 l y adorod the ~ i ~ a k a , d u c l a r e u t h a t he i s hu r l o r d - ~ z t h u . Our poetesses l i v e d and w ro te a t a t ime when t h o i dea o f

i d u a l l o v e 'wh ich b i n d s a man permanent ly t o a s i n g l e woman

and v i c e varsa' was t o t a l l y f o rgo t t en . Ins tead , what e x i s t e d

was ' cnu man should l o v a suvo ra l wotnen and s e v e r a l women on0

4 7 man' . Comrnonting on t h i s sad s t a t e o f a f f a i r s p r e v a i l i n g

i n h i s times, t h e author o f Manucar i ta observes 'I b e l i e v e

t h a t he has no l o v e f o r them n o r they for him'. He despised

those women 'who dare n o t even g e t angry with t h e i r husband,

a l t hough he has int<coursa w i th o t h e r uomen i n t h a i r ve ry

4 8 presence\ . The p e r i o d i n which our poetesses l i v e d d i d n o t

a l l o t any indopundun1 a t o l u o t o worlun. Thuy woru conl i idurod

as o b j e a t s o f enjoyment i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h t i r educa t ion and

accomplishment. The uomen themselves ecquiescdd t o t h e view

h e l d by men. The man t o whom they were wedded r u l e d t h b i r

thouqh ts and imag ina t ion . No wonder our pootossus chose t h o

h e r o i c deeds o f t h e i r husbands f o r t h e i r p o e t i c themes.

The women bo)onging t o t h e n o b l e c lasoos, i t i s undusstood

never worked, b u t spent most o f t h e i r t ime i n ' l u x u r i o u e s l o t h '

and ' d i v e r t e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h i n t r i g u e s a g a i n a t t h e i r co-wives

t o s e c u r e t h e Q l e e t i n g a f f e c t i o n of t h e i r i n c o n s t a n t husbandst ,

I f , t h i s i s one vieuP8, a P o r o i g n e r Oomingo Pous, o b s e r v e s u l t h

r e g a r d t o t h e t h r e e p r i n c i p a l u i v e s of ~ ~ g g a d o v a r G y a , t h a t they

had . . equa l s t a t u s and ' a l l of them ware g r o a t f r i e n d s and e a c h

one l i v e s by h e r s e l Q 1 s O , One ha* t o assume t h e kind of c o r d i a - o u r

l i t y ewpressed i n t h e second view, f o r / p o e t e s s e s , I n s t e a d of

w a s t i n g t h e i r t i m e i n l u x u r i o u s :: s l o t h , t h e s e l a d i e s devo ted

t h e i r t ime t o l i t e r n a r y p u r s u i t s ; i n s t e a d of diverting them-

s e l v e s w i t h i n t r i g u e s a g a i n s t t h e i r co-wives, they a t t r a c t e d

t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e i r husbands by t h e i r t a l e n t s , A l l t h e Y t

poutussos d i s p l a y a r a r e magnanimity of h e k w h i c h i a a s s u r -

p r i s i n g a s i t is s o o t h i n g , When polygwny was doep roo ted

i n s o c i e t y , women had t o b e magnanimous, Cxamples i b t h i s i n

d i r e c t i o n are, no t /wan l ing , To q u o t e an i n s t a n c e , ~ o k s n r a h i -

devz , w i f e oP ~ i k r a n ~ i d i t ~ a I1 of t h e c;lukya d y n a s t y (740 A.D),

i t is s a i d , p e r m i t t e d h e r husband t o marry a g a i n on h e r f a i l i n g 5 1

t o g i v e b i r t h t o a h e i r ,

5, Our P o e t e s s a s and t h e i r F o r e i g n Counter p a r t s

Now we can a t t e m p t t o s e e around t h e world t o know, how

t h e c o u n t e r p a r t s of o u r p o e t e s s e s o u t s i d e t h e c o u n t r y f a r e d

a s i t would e n a b l e u s t o p l a c e them p r o p e r l y on t h e l i t e r a r y

map of women p o e t s ,

The European l i t e r a r y p roduc t ion o r Uowen, perhaps,

h a s its b e g i n i n g i n Sapho ' t h e p o e t e s s o t ~ e s b o s , whose

p a s s i o n a t e l o v e poems have been admired end i m i t a t e d i n 52 a l l ague' T h i s Creek P o e t e s s i e ass igned t h e d a t e

C,tiOll U , C , AYhr Sapho, not tnuny wttturr took duuy

i n t o r e s t i n l i t q r a r y a c t i v i t i e s u n t i l . t h e medieval egos*

f rom t h e 1 4 t h c e n t u r y onwards names of woman s t a r t d o t t i n g

t h e l i t e r a r y nap of Europe, though a p a r e s l y . The r e c o r d s

g i v e names of about hundred women who a r e remembered f o r

t h e i r o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b u t j o n o . Tnooe poe t e saee )avo l o ~ r t

p r aco ,beau ty and v a r i e t y t o 1 i f r . t u r ~ by t n s i r p roduct lono . 4

In Cnri!lLi~,n, t h o F rensh l y r i c a l ~ U U C U Y ~ ~ ~ (I 3b3-1429)~

we f i n d a contemporary of t i a n y ~ d o v r . m o t h e r Lady C n r i e t i n a

(1 629-1 bd9), queett of 3ueudon, has c e r t a i n q u a l i t i e s common 6

w i t h ~ i r u m a l ~ m b ~ , queen o? Achyutarye , I t i s s a i d t h a t her 4

accomplishments and gifts aiade btockholm f o r the t ime be ing

t i e Athens o f t h e ~ o r t h " ~ . I n Fladeloins ( 1 6 ~ 8 - 1 7 0 1 ~ . Lhu 5 5

French n o v e l i s t a contemporary of ~ z m a b t i a d r i m b ~ , t h e r e is e

W O I I ~ W who is proud of women's educa t ion liko ~&nabhadrsmbz

herself ' . IrF Lucy Hutchineon (born 1620), t h e Enq l i sh bio- 56

g r a p h e r , who wrotu the ' L i f e ' of h e r husband John Hutchl-

n ron , a l l t h o t h r a u poa tuseos haw. & comnsn p o i n t , as i t h a s

boen a l r e a d y . po in t ed o u t t h a t , a l l l h o t h r e e wrotv about

t h e i r husbands*

T h e r e q o r e q u i t e a e e u uomen uho e x h i b i t e d t h e i r

t a l e n t s d u r i n g t h u 1 6 t h and 1 7 t h c e n t u r i e s , as n o v e l i s t s

l y r i c i s t s , l i t o c e r y h o s t e s s o s , f a i r y t a l u t e l l u r u , mumoi-

rists, b i o g r a p h e r s etc, , i n F r e n c h , E n g l t s h , Carman and

s u c h o t h e r European l a n g u a g e s , t ' Houever , b a r r i n q t h e

i n s t a n c e s o f Anne-aePelvre D a c i e r (1654 - 1 7 5 0 ) ~ t h e F r e n c h

s c h o l a r f 7 w h o t r a n s l a t e d Homer, and C o l a n n a V i t t o r i a ( I 490- 5 t3

154'/), a La1; in iu t , thurrr i s no ot l lur i r lsLancv o f a l a d y

b e l o n g i n g t o t h e m e d i e v a l p e r i o d , who a t t a i n e d a c h o l a r -

s h i p i n a c l a s i c a l l a n g u a g e . Vieudt as a y n i n s t t h i s back-

gound, t i ~ o a c h i e v a m e n t s of' ~ a n ~ ~ d e u ' i , T i r r rmalaGbi and ~Grna-

bhadrzmbz a p p e a r b r i l l i a n t b e c a u s e t h e y , n o t o n l y m a s t e r e d

t h e l a n g u a g e but a l s o r o s e t o t h e l e v e l o f p r o d u c i n g l i t e -

r a v y works o f l a s t i n g v a l u e i n i t .