This is a list of available epics in the Kannada language (also called ''purana'', in prose or poem), a South Indian language. Based on his research, the Kannada scholar L.S. Sheshagiri Rao claims that starting with the earliest available epic ''Adipurana'' by Pampa (939 C.E), Kannada writers have created a rich and active epic tradition. S.S. Bhusanurematha's ''Bhavyamanava'' (1983) is the latest in that tradition.
[Rao in Datta (1988), pp1180-1183, chapter-Epic(Kannada)] Based on medieval Kannada literary sources, the Indologist A. K. Warder, Anthony Warder claims there were Kannada versions of the ''Ramayana'' and ''Mahabharata'' prior to 941 C.E., and ''Kavya'' (or ''Mahakavya'', epic poems) such as ''Karnataka Kumarasambhava'' by Asaga (c. 850).
[Warder (1988), p240, pp247-248] According to the Kannada scholar R. Narasimhacharya, ''Chandraprabhapurana'' by Sri Vijaya, (court poet of King Amoghavarsha I) dates to the early 9th century.
This list is by no means exhaustive. In addition to the epics listed here, there are numerous epics written 'in part' (called ''khanda'' or ''mahatmaya'') starting with the part rendering of the ''Skanda-purana'' by Kumarapadmarasa in c. 1180.
[Parameshwaranand (2001), vol 4 (M-R), pp1059-1074, p1061] According to Rao,
The list
See also
* List of epics in Meitei language, Lists of Manipuri epics
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kannada Literature
Kannada literature,
Indian literature-related lists
Literature of Karnataka
Literature by language