List of epics in the Kannada language

This is a list of available epics in the Kannada language (also called "purana", in prose or poem), a South Indian Dravidian language. Based on his research, the Kannada scholar L.S. Sheshagiri Rao claims that starting with the earliest available epic "Adipurana" by Pampa (939 C.E), Kannada writers have created a rich and active epic tradition. S.S. Bhusanurematha's "Bhavyamanava" (1983) is the latest in that tradition. Based on medieval Kannada literary sources, the Indologist Anthony Warder claims there were Kannada versions of the "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" prior to 941 C.E., and "Kavya" (or "Mahakavya", epic poems) such as "Karnataka Kumarasambhava" by Asaga (c. 850). According to the Kannada scholar R. Narasimhacharya, "Chandraprabhapurana" by Sri Vijaya, (court poet of King Amoghavarsha I) dates to the early 9th century. This list is by no means exhaustive. In addition to the epics listed here, there are numerous epics written 'in part' (called "khanda" or "mahatmaya") starting with the part rendering of the "Skanda-purana" by Kumarapadmarasa in c. 1180. According to Rao,