Adikavi Pampa

Who is Adikavi Pampa?

Pampa, called by the honorific Ādikavi was a Kannada poet. He is known even today for his philosophical beliefs. A court poet of Chalukya King Arikesari II, a feudatory of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, he is most known for his epics, Vikramārjuna Vijaya or Pampa Bharata and the Ādi purāṇa, both written in the champu style, which he created and served as the model for all future works in Kannada.

The works of Jain writers Pampa, Sri Ponna and Ranna, collectively called the "three gems of Kannada literature", heralded the 10th century era of medieval Kannada literature.

Pampa was born either in Annigeri or Banavasi in modern Karnataka.