Narasimha (Nrisimha-rishi) - The Prolific Kakatiya Court Poet

Narasimha (also known as Nrisimha-rishi or Narasimhamaharshi) was a prolific 13th‑century Sanskrit poet, scholar, and ascetic who served in the court of the Kakatiya king Prataparudra II (r. 1291–1330 CE). Recognised as a “high calibre” poet, he left a remarkable literary and epigraphical legacy in the Warangal region. His works – many preserved as “lithic kavyas” (poems inscribed on stone) – include commentaries on the Rigveda, historical chronicles, prose romances, plays, and treatises on yoga. He is particularly celebrated for his mastery of niroshthya (labial‑free) poetry – verses composed entirely without using labial consonants (p, ph, b, bh, m).

• Father: Visvesvara Pandita (also called Visesvara) served as the Rajaguru (royal preceptor) to Queen Rudramadevi (r. 1262–1289 CE) and King Ganapatideva (r. 1199–1262 CE). This placed the family at the very centre of Kakatiya religious and political life for over two generations.
• Title: Narasimha is consistently referred to as Rishi or Maharshi in several inscriptions, reflecting his ascetic status and spiritual attainment.
• Relationship to Royalty: He was a favoured poet of King Prataparudra II, whom he describes in his verses as his patron and as the “lion of the Kakatiya race.”

Narasimha’s mastery spanned Vedic exegesis, historical epic, ornate prose, poetic drama, and philosophical treatises. The works mentioned in inscriptions include:

• Rikchchaya – A significant commentary on the Rigveda.
• Kakatiya Charitra – A historical work in eight sargas (chapters). He composed this entire work in a single day.
• Malayavali (or Malayavati) – A prose work (gadya kavya).
• Siddhodvaha – 62 Sanskrit verses (mostly sardulavikridita metre) on a Siddha couple.
• Ten Rupakas – He authored ten different plays.
• Yogasastra – A treatise on yoga philosophy.
• Nrisimhokta ghana – A work on Vedic recitation.

• Location: Hanumakonda (Siddhesvara Gutta). The engraver prepared a panel of about 20 ft × 3.5 ft, but only one-third (approx. 6'8") was used – the rest left blank, indicating the work was interrupted.
• Content: Lyrical description of the Andhra country and the capital Ekasilanagari (Warangal). Contains 37¼ verses, all in the Anushtubh metre.
• Literary Merit: Verse 28 is an outstanding example of sabdalamkara (wordplay), intertwining meanings to describe lovers and beloveds.
• Significance: Composing a coherent poem without using five common consonants demonstrates extraordinary command over phonetics, vocabulary, and prosody.

The following eight inscriptions are discussed in the sources. The first seven are attributed to or mention Narasimha; the eighth is a contemporary donative record from Inugurthy (dated 1300 CE) that provides a firm chronological anchor.

1. 1. Hanumakonda (Siddhesvara Gutta)
   Script: Telugu / Lang: Sanskrit | c. 13th CE (undated)
   Niroshthya Kavya – Incomplete description of Andhra country & Ekasilanagari. Only ⅓ of the prepared panel is engraved.
2. 2. Warangal Fort (Southern Torana Gate)
   Script: Telugu / Lang: Sanskrit | c. late 13th CE
   Lists Narasimha's works: Rikchchaya, Kakatiya-charitra (8 sargas), and a treatise on Śāstra.
3. 3. Warangal Fort (Eastern Torana Gate)
   Script: Telugu / Lang: Sanskrit | c. late 13th CE
   Mentions his ten Rupakas (dramas) and the prose work Malayavati.
4. 4. Urusugutta (Siddhodvaha rock)
   Script: Telugu & Nagari / Lang: Sanskrit | c. late 13th CE
   Poem Siddhodvaha – 62 Sanskrit verses (mostly Sardulavikridita) narrating the love and marriage of a Siddha couple.
5. 5. Urusugutta (Yogasastra rock)
   Script: Nagari / Lang: Sanskrit | c. late 13th CE
   His treatise Yogasastra – explicitly identifies him as the son of Rajaguru Visvesvara.
6. 6. Ekasila (Warangal Fort hillock)
   Script: Telugu / Lang: Sanskrit | c. late 13th CE
   A Sanskrit verse extolling King Virarudra’s (Prataparudra II) war elephants, comparing them to legendary mountains.
7. 7. Potanagutta
   Script: Telugu / Lang: Sanskrit | c. late 13th CE
   Another rock inscription containing his verses (details fragmentary).
8. 8. Inugurthy (Warangal) dated
   Script: Telugu / Lang: Telugu | 21st February 1300 CE (cyclic year Vikari)
   Donative record – records a gift of money (padika) and land by the Deradi-praja and Sena-praja for the deity Virabhadradeva. Not authored by Narasimha, but provides a solid chronological anchor for the period.

Note: One engraver’s note reveals that the scribe had to abandon Nagari script and resort to Telugu characters to complete the poet’s work – a glimpse into the practical challenges of inscribing Sanskrit poetry on stone.

Narasimha (Nrisimha-rishi) stands as one of the most versatile and technically accomplished poets of the Kakatiya age. His literary output – covering Vedic commentary, history, prose, drama, and yoga – reflects the comprehensive intellectual culture of the Warangal court. The Kakatiya Charitra (composed in a single day) would have been a vital source for later historians. His niroshthya inscription remains a unique epigraphical curiosity, demonstrating the heights of verbal artistry possible in Sanskrit. Moreover, his works, engraved on stone at major religious and political sites, helped legitimise Kakatiya rule by associating the dynasty with classical learning and ascetic power. As the son of a royal preceptor and himself a rishi, Narasimha embodied the fusion of brahminical scholarship, royal service, and spiritual authority – a model that defined the intellectual elite of medieval South India.