Antiquity of Kannada Language

Kannada is among more than 20 languages of the Dravidian group. It is one of the oldest Dravidian languages . The name Isila found in one of the Ashokan inscriptions in Karnataka has been described as a Kannada word by Prof. D.L. Narasimhachar.  According to scholars, Kannada was a spoken language during the 3rd century B.C. itself. The next important document that helps us to prove the antiquity of Kannada is The Geography written by Ptolemy, a scholar from Alexandria, during the first half of the second century A.D. Ptolemy speaks of many places in Karnataka such as Kalgeris (identified as Kalkeri), Modogoulla (Mudugal), Badamios (Badami) and so on. All these are not only places in Karnataka, but are also names of Kannada origin.

The famous Halmidi Record of the Kadambas which is an inscription of the 5th century AD, is the oldest available evidence of Kannada language written in the pre Old Kannada script. We have a Badami Record of Mangalesha dated 578 A.D. in Kannada. Kappe Arabhatta’s Record at Badami (700 A.D.) has the first Kannada poem in ತ್ರಿಪದಿ tripadi metre. Oldest available literary work in Kannada is  ಕವಿರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗ  – Kavirajamarga, a book on poetics belonging to 9th century. This work speaks of some earlier poets in Kannada. Hence, Kannada must have been a fully developed language by the 5th or the 6th century A.D and must have been a spoken language for at least a few centuries earlier.

The science of character in script writings is called Paleography. To read a record, knowledge of the script in which it is written will always help. Kannada has undergone many stages during its development through centuries.

The Kannada language in inscriptions is identified as PreOld and Old Kannada.

Records written in Old Kannada format correspond to the period 800 to 1000 AD.
Records written in PreOld Kannada format correspond to the period 450 to 800 AD.

The tables show the evolution of Kannada letters and numerals:

Kadamba Script

The script used by Kadambas (5th century AD), the first dynastic rule of Karnataka is recognized as Kadamba script and can be seen in the scripts of 5th century AD. Buhler, the famous epigraphist says that the Kadamba script is the earliest form of the present day Kannada script.

Adi Ganga

The script used by the Gangas during 4th AD to 6th AD has been classified as Adi Ganga script. It almost resembles Kadamba Script.

Badami Chalukya

The script used by the Badami Chalukya is called Badami Chalukya script. It can be seen in the records of 6-7 century AD.

Rashtrakuta Script

The script used by the Rashtrakuta rulers is called Rashtrakuta script. It can be seen in the records of 8-10 century AD.

Kalyana Chalukya Script

The script used by the Kalyana Chalukya rulers is called Kalyana Chalukya script. It can be seen in the records of 10-12 century AD.

Hoysala Script

One of the most decorative form of ancient Kannada script. The Hoysala Kings used the Kalyana chaluyka script in a more decorative and cursive manner. The present day Kannada script almost resembles scripts used in Kalyana Chalukya and Hoysala Script. Soap stones were used during this period which is also one of the reasons of the cursive nature of these scripts.

Above pictures show a beautiful Hoysala inscription at Akkana Basadi at Shravana Belagola constructed by Aciyakka, wife of minister Chandramouli of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II in 1181 AD.

Vijayanagara Script

The Vijayanagara rulers seem to have given less importance to the writing material of their records during their rule between 14-16 centuries as most of the records are written on rough granite. Hence the script is not decorative or uniform.

Modi Script

The script used by Mysore kings is almost similar to the present day script and can be read easily. It is called Modi script or ಮೋಡಿ  ಬರಹ  Modi baraha.  Most of the pubic records were written during Mysore kings are in Modi script. No inscriptions were written in Modi script as this style is difficult to inscribe on a stone.