Sarvajna

Sarvajña (Sanskrit for "all-knowing", Kannada: _kn. ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ), was a poet in the Kannada language. He is famous for his pithy three-lined poems which are called "tripadis", "with three padas, three-liners", a form of Vachanas. He is also referred as Sarvagna in modern translation.

The period of Sarvajña's life has not been determined accurately, and very little is known about him. Based on studies of his literary style and the references of later writers, historians estimate that he may have lived during the first half of the 16th century. Some references in his works indicate that his real name was Puṣpadatta - Sarvajña appears to have been his pseudonym. His father was a Shaivaite Brahmin and his mother was a Shudra widow named Mali. His father met his mother at a place in present day Dharwar district in Karnataka on his way to Benares on a pilgrimage. Sarvagna grew up as a wandering monk

In all, about 2000 three-liners are attributed to Sarvajna. It is possible that some of these were written by later authors. Popular because of their alliterative structure and simplicity, they deal mainly with social, ethical and religious issues. A number of riddles are also attributed to Sarvajna.

Channappa Uttangi was awarded the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana prize in 1949 for his groundbreaking work on Sarvajna.

Some examples

Being a monk, he says how he became an "all-knower" in one of his tripadi.

* "Sarvajna-nembuvanu garvadind-adanvane": "Sarvarolagondu nudi-galitu vidyeya-": "parvatave aad noda Sarvajna "

:"All-knower has not become All-knower merely out of vanity:he learnt one bit of information from everyone: and became a veritable mountain of knowledge"

* "Elu kotiye koti, Elu lakshave laksha" _kn. ಏಳು ಕೋಟಿಯೆ ಕೋಟಿ, ಏಳು ಲಕ್ಷವೆ ಲಕ್ಷ: "Elu savirada Eppattu vachanagala" _kn. ಏಳು ಸಾವಿರದ ಎಪ್ಪತ್ತು ವಚನಗಳ: "Helidanu kela Sarvajna" _kn. ಹೇಳಿದನು ಕೇಳ ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ

:" Over all meaning is Saravajna has said 7070 vachanas (Tripadi)"

* "Majjige illada oota " _kn. ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಊಟ : "lajjegetta hennanthe Sarvajna" _kn. ಲಜ್ಜೆಗೆಟ್ಟ ಹೆಣ್ಣಂತೆ ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ

:" Dinner without butter milk is like a lady without shy".

* "saalavanu koMbaaga haalOgaruMDaMte," - _kn. ಸಾಲವನು ಕೊಂಬಾಗ ಹಾಲೋಗರುಂಡಂತೆ: "saaliganu baMdu eLevaaga" - _kn. ಸಾಲಿಗನು ಬಂದು ಎಳೆವಾಗ: "kibbadiya keelu muridaMte sarvjna - _kn. ಕಿಬ್ಬದಿಯ ಕೀಲು ಮುರಿದಂತೆ ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ

:"Sweet as milk and nectar it is to get a loan:..but when the creditor comes after you,:..its painful as a broken ribcage"
* "A drunkard is like a pig. : The poor pig, however, is helpful. : The drunk is worse and useless."

* "Wearing marks of ash, : if one goes to heaven, : a donkey (that rolls in ash) sure goes."

* "Circling around the temple: without dedication is useless,: like an ox circling around mill."

References

*Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology By K. Ayyappapanicker, Sahitya Akademi
*Gandham Appa Rao, "Vemana and Sarvajña", Progressive Literature (1982).
*"Anthology of Sarvajna's sayings", Kannada Sahitya Parishat (1978).
*K. B Prabhu Prasad, "Sarvajna", Sahitya Akademi (1987), reprint 1994 ISBN 817201404X.

ee also

*Thiruvalluvar
*Vemana

External links

* [http://www.vicharamantapa.net/vachana/sarvajna/sarvajna1.html#sarvajna Sarvajna's three-liners (Kannada page)]
* [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/kannada/SARVAGNA/sarvagna.html Sarvajna's three-liners (with English translations)]
* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/kar/7326.htm Picture of Sarvjna's Manuscript]
* [http://www.lingayathism.net/vachanavani/index.php?album=Sarvgna Sarvajna's vachana in Kannada]