CKN’s Research Works
Research is CKN’s favourite subject. When he was Secretary in Kannada Sahitya Parishat, his interest started to grow in research work. Due to his passion in research, he studied Astrology in depth. He also liked research work in the same way as he liked creative writing. As a result of this, he wrote on the books and articles he researched. Because of this, his name became well known and he received the same recognition as received by the scholarly researchers. His literary research writings have been drawn attention to the scholarly people. His interest was provoked by some of the things such as the lunar day, day of the week and the astrological stars that were given in Jaimini Bharata poems when his wife was singing them in her Bharata Vachana programs. He found some differences between the original research works and Lakshmeesha’s poems. He started to investigate the truth. His research continued. He got interested in finding the truth about Hoyasala Queen Shanthale’s children. He had the intuition to go and check the heroic deeds inscribed on the stones and other inscriptions of that period. The researcher went after them. Its reward returned in the form of Literature.
1969 – Mahaakavi Lakshmeeshana SthaLa and Kaala – Great Poet Lakshmeesha`s place and times
CKN’s major research work is ‘Mahaakavi Lakshmeeshana SthaLa and Kaala’. It was published in 1969. This research work received Karnataka State’s Sahithya Academy’s prestigious award. As the title itself indicates, this book determines with conclusion the birth place and the living period of the Great poet Lakshmeesha who wrote in Kannada the famous Jaimini Bharatha (story of Mahabharatha). It is in prose-poetry form. (The verses in Jaimini Bharata were sung in Gamaka style by many many famous Gamaka vachana singers including his wife on many occasions). CKN examined the original researched articles written in the past, studied them thoroughly and researched the new facts to write this book. CKN’s concerns for research was entirely meaningful and valid. Throughout this book, CKN’s hard work and the intensity in research work can be seen clearly.
The people who has taste for poetry, love only poems; A persone who would love research work, love to do only research. This book is a testimony to show how delighted a person would be to get to enjoy Kavya as much as like how a researcher would get enthused about doing research. Based on Astrology, historical inscriptions, use of language at that time, structure of the poem, the place in the past, tradition and other things, he expressed his opinion about the poet’s place and the period in which the poet lived. CKN stands by his inference that the “poet’s place is not Devapura which was nearby Surapura, but it was Devanooru in Kadur district” and there should not be any reason for anyone to doubt it. For this, he has provided enough evidence.
CKN has discussed the Poet’s composition and also the period in which he was living. In these discussions, CKN’s natural ability to do wholesome research can be seen. His conclusion about poet’s place and times is like this: “Kannada Jaimini Bharata was written between 1345 to 1347 AD which can be determined with certainty and the poet Lakshmeesha was born in Devanooru near Kadur in the early part of 14th century.” Perhaps, other scholars might present different discussions about this conclusion. But, CKN’s conclusion has worth its value.
Research is the scholar’s domain. It has its own place and reverence. Indepth thinking is part of the research field. CKN has captured the attention of researchers from this work. He has gifted his work to the research field. This work became a starting point in his research work. We can see his natural ability to do research which is displayed in his Magnum Opus novel “Pattamahadevi Shantaladevi”.
Saviyabbe Viragal – About Its Period In History:
[This was researched and written by CKN for Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol. LVIII-Nos 1 to 4 about Saviyabbe, an Historic lady’s brevity inscribed on a stone). C.K.Nagaraja Rao was the editor for the journal from 1967-68.]
This research article was written in English by CKN. The purpose of this article was to determine the period of Veeragallu (a heroic inscription on stone) installed about Saviyabbe. The reason for this research was due to the fact that Saviyabbe died in a place where the war was fought as inscribed on Veeragallu. CKN has tried to determine the correct period of the inscription by reevaluating the thinking of researchers, R. Narasimhachar, B.L. Rice and others, by showing their shortcomings. His final conclusion is like this: “Saviyabbe was the wife of Loka Vidyadhara. She was living at the time of Rajamalla II. She lived even before the famous poet Ranna.”
There are several research articles of CKN that have come to light in Kannada and English News Papers. Jinadharma NirmaLe, Shravana BeLagoLa-Shanthaladevi, Kumara BallaLadeva, ‘Chalukyan Queens’, ‘Children of Vishnuvardhana HoyisaLEshwara’ are the notable research articles.
