Mysuru: ‘Parampare,’  a popular organisation in Mysuru striving to propagate the rich cultural heritage of the land, has organised a special lecture series on ‘Mudra Manjusha’ of Kempu Narayana from Nov.4 to 7 and a musical feature on Purandaradasa’s Yashoda – Krishna on Nov.8 at Mysore K. Vasudevacharya Bhavana (Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha) on JLB Road in city from  6 pm to 8 pm.

About ‘Mudra Manjusha’: The first historical novel in Kannada (1823), Kempu Narayana’s ‘Mudra Manjusha’ is an important literary work at the time of transition from old Kannada to modern Kannada. Written during the reign of Mummadi Krishna Raja Wadiyar, literary prose ‘Mudra Manjusha’ throws light on social life with the language typical of the period. It is the first literary work of modern Kannada prose.

The theme of the story mainly is about Chanakya’s ventures in destroying Navanandas and coronating Chandra Gupta, a well-known story in Indian literature.

Programme details

Nov.4: Dr K. Shankaranarayana Udupa, a retired Hindi lecturer from Subrahmanya, will introduce historical and literary background of Mudra Manjusha. His thesis ‘a study on Mudra Manjsha’ was awarded Ph.D by Mangalore University.

Nov.5: Vid. Dr H.V. Nagaraja Rao, a well-known Sanskrit scholar, will deliver lecture covering the story of Nandotpatti to destruction  of Navanandas.

Nagaraja Rao is also a President’s award winner with research experience of more than 33 years in Oriental Research Institute (ORI) and is also a resource person for lectures on Sanskrit literature on international forums.

Nov.6: Vidushi Dr. Jyothi Shankar will cover the story from entry of Vishakanya to disgrace to Kshapanaka. Asst. Professor of Kannada in KSOU, Dr. Jyothi Shankar, a well-known scholar, famous for her lectures on Indian culture and vyaakhyaana of classical Kannada literary works.

Nov.7: Kashyap Nayak will cover the story till coronation of Chandra Gupta and will give social and political analysis of the period based on Mudra Manjusha. Kashyap Nayak is an advocate from Bengaluru specialising in civil, commerce and constitutional fields. Economics, theology and history of Dharmasastra are his fields of interest.

Nov.8: A musical feature on ‘Purandara Dasa’s Yashoda – Krishna’ is written and being presented by Vidu. Dr. T.N. Nagaratna, a well-known scholar of Haridasa Sahitya. 

Students of famous Vidushis Dr. R.N. Srilatha and Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar are singing the compositions of Purandaradasa.