Sarvaja (Kannada: ) was a Kannada poet, pragmatist and philosopher of the 16th century.

The word
"Sarvajna" in Sanskrit literally means "the all knowing". He is famous for his pithy three-lined poems
called tripadi (written in the native three-line verse metre, "with three padas, a form of Vachana). He is also referred
as Sarvagna in modern translation.
Contents
[hide]

1Early life

2Tripadis

3Some examples

4See also

5References

6External links

Early life[edit]
The period of Sarvaja's life[1] has not been determined accurately, and very little is known about his personal life.
Based on studies of his literary style and the references by 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 Pushpadatta Sarvaja appears to have been hispseudonym. From information gleaned from his poems, historians believe that his
father, a Shaivaite Brahmin, met his mother, aShudra woman named Mali in present day Haveri district (formerly part
of Dharwad district) of Karnataka state on his way to Benareswhile on a pilgrimage. Sarvajna upheld the wisdom of
pastoral life in rural areas in his poems and tried to persuade villagers to give up superstition, meaningless customs
and traditions.

Tripadis[edit]
Sarvagna grew up as a wandering monk creating Tripadis, the famous three liners. In all, about 2000 three-liners are
attributed to him. Popular because of their alliterativestructure 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.[2]

Some examples[edit]

Being a monk, he says how he became an omniscient in one of his tripadi. [3]
?

.

Sarvajnanembuvanu garvadindaadavane?
Sarvarolu ondondu nudigalitu
Vidhyeya parvatave aada Sarvajna
Translation : Sarvagna did not become an omniscient by his pride. However, by learning one word of wisdom
from each, he became a mountain of knowledge.

Moorkhange budhiyanu noorkaala helidaru

Gorkallamele malegaredare
aakallu neerukudivude Sarvajna
Translation : Giving advice to a fool for hundred years is as useless as a heavy rain pouring on a stone. The
stone never drinks the water.

Saalavanu kombaaga haalogarundante

Saaligaru kondu elevaga
Kibbadiya keelu muridante Sarvajna
Translation : While borrowing loan it feels like eating desserts. When the loan is due for payment, it feels as
painful as a broken rib cage.

."

Elu kotiye koti, elu lakshave laksha

Elu saaviradha eppatthu vachanagala
Helidanu kela Sarvajna
Translation : Saravajna has preached 7,07,07,070 vachanas (Tripadi) overall"

Majjige illada oota

Majjanava kaanida lajjegetta
Hennanthe Sarvajna
Translation : Dinner without butter milk (yogurt) is like a dirty woman without bath.

See
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