Manku Thimmana Kagga
| Author | D. V. Gundappa |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
| Publisher | Parijatha Publications |
|
Publication date
|
1943 |
| Pages | 191 pp |
Mankuthimmana Kagga, written by D. V. Gundappa and published in 1943, is one of the best known of the major literary works in Kannada. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Kannada literature and is referred to as the Bhagavad Gita in Kannada. The title of the work can be translated as "Dull Thimma's Rigmarole". Kagga is a collection of 945 poems, each being four lines in length. Some of these poems are written in old Kannada. Kagga poems are profound as well as poetic. Most of them can be sung. Though the author calls it an 'a foggy fools farrago', it is a book giving expression to a noble personality's rich experiences. The poet politely that if the word Mankuthimma is crude and below standard it can be substituted by either Venka or Kanka or Shankararya as they please.
Kagga explores deeper questions of life, contemplates on the meaning of the Ultimate Truth (reality) and advises us to lead a balanced life in this complex and ever-changing world. Thus, Kagga advises us to follow the middle path while extending one hand towards the Ultimate Truth and the other hand to the phenomenal world. The message of many of the verses from Kagga is "samatwa".
Kagga is very popular in Kannada literature, and most native Kannada speakers are familiar with at least a few of the poems from this important work. The following are but a few of the poems that are quite well known to people familiar with Kannada literature:
Kannada Version:
Meaning:
One of the popular poems from this work, "Hullagu bettadadi", translated below, conveys the spirit of Kagga.
be a (gentle) blade of grass at the foot of the mountain; and jasmine flower at home
Be (strong) like a rock when fate pours (torrential) rains of difficulties on you
Be sweet like sugar and jaggery to the poor and weak
Be one with all, Mankuthimma.
This short and beautiful poem holds the key for leading a balanced life. It advises us to be humble and gentle yet strong. The song says, be humble like a blade of grass at the foot of the mountain and spread your fragrance like a gentle jasmine flower. The metaphor of gentle blade of grass at the foot of the mountain is very profound. When the rain pours over the mountains, when the mighty winds blow, the tall trees on the mountains may fall down, but the gentle blade of grass will bend and survive. The tall trees are "too proud" to bend and surrender to the winds, whereas the humble blade of grass will bend and surrender to the mighty wind. Thus this song imparts to us one of the secrets of life, which lies in learning how to survive by understanding the humbleness of the gentle blade of grass. This poem says, do not always stand firm like a proud, tall tree, but bend like a gentle blade of grass when the winds blow. But, when fate brings its share of difficulties, be ready to face them like a rock. Become a solid rock and face all the difficulties in life. Be gentle and send your fragrance in all directions like the jasmine flower, but also learn to face the difficulties like a rock. Be strong, yet be compassionate to the poor, weak and down-trodden. Do all you can to help the poor and the needy. In the last line, this poem tells us to lead a harmonious life by becoming one with all people.
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