Panditaraja Jagannatha - Makers of Indian Literature

Panditaraja Jagannatha (1600 A.D.), a Sanskrit poet-critic and musician, and a court poet of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, is regarded as the last of the giants of Indian poetry and poetics. In him, all that is best, original and brilliant in the art and science of poetics is gathered and held in perfect equilibrium. But what is striking is that in Sanskrit, there is no instance where poetic genius and critical acumen have flourished and fructified in a more abundant measure than in the case of Panditaraja Jagannatha.

Though a follower of the Dhwani school of poetics he was bold enough to leave the beaten track carved by the ancient rhetoricians and expounded new principles of criticism.

His style is distinctive and charming, and an exquisite and harmonious blend of sound and sense. In depicting Sringara or love Jagannatha, never crosses the bounds of good taste.

His keen observation of the society, his insight into human psychology, and his capacity to laugh away the human weakness are fully revealed in his anyoktis.

It may honestly be claimed that in the world of Sanskrit poetics we shall not perhaps look upon his like again.

Prof. P. Ramachanrudu (b.1927) currently Professor of Sanskrit at Osmania University, Hyderabad, is a distinguished teacher, author, translator and critic and has several publications to his credit. Recipient of a number of prestigious awards, Prof. Ramachandruduhas been closely associated with a number of academic associations. In this monograph, Prof. Ramachandrudu has discussed the life and works of Panditaraja Jagannatha for the non-Sanskrit readers.