Adikavi (“First Poet”) Pampa was a Kannada language Jain poet who lived around the year 930 CE. While there exists a strong Kannada literary tradition before Pampa, he is regarded as the one who propelled this tradition forward.
It is believed that he was born in an orthodox Hindu Brahmin family, and the family later embraced Jainism. He was well versed in Sanskrit and Prakrit, apart from Kannada, and it is also believed by some that he hailed from a Telugu speaking family.
Adikavi Pampa’s contribution to Kannada literature is unparalleled and he is considered the fountainhead of future literary endevours. His works include the Adi Purana, a Kannada equivalent to the Sanskrit work by Jinasena. and describes the life of Rishabha, the first Tirthankara of Jainism. Another exemplary work of Adikavi Pampa is the Vikramarjuna Vijaya, based on the Mahabharata.
The Pampa Award, the highest literary award of the state of Karnataka is named in his honour.
