| Intro | Indian writer and scholar |
| Was |
Writer Scholar |
| From | India |
| Type |
Academia Literature |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 10 July 1922, Galagali, Karnataka, India |
| Death |
29 August 2015 (aged 93 years) |
Pandit Pandhareenathachar Galagali (10 July 1922 — 29 August 2015) was a Vedic scholar, author, poet, journalist, and orator.
He has authored over 50 books in Kannada and Sanskrit, among which are Shri Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu (Sanksrit), Raaga Viraga (Kannada), Bharata Swatantraya Sangramasya Etihasaha (Sanskrit), and Mahabharatada Mahileyaru (Kannada). He was also the editor of five Kannada and Sanskrit newspapers for over four decades.
He is the recipient of various awards and honours, including the Rashtrapati Award (Presidential Award of India) and Dalmia Award. He is also notable for being the first person from the state of Karnataka to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for contributions in Sanskrit.
Early life
Pandhareenathachar Galagali was born on July 10, 1922 to Kurmachar Galagali in a small village named Galagali. His formal education was stopped in the first grade, and he began his study of Vedic literature under his father Kurmachar Galagali and uncle Ramachar Galagali.
Adulthood
From 1944 to 1960, he worked as a Sanskrit teacher at Shankrappa Sakri High School in Bagalkot. In 1961, he moved to Gadag, where he started a Sanskrit school called Veera Narayana Pathashala.
In 1971, Galagali achar established the Veda Purana Sahitya Mala to translate and publish the 18 Mahapuranas into Kannada (14 have been translated into 18 volumes so far).
For over forty years, Galagali achar served as the editor for the following newspapers:
- Shri Sudha (Kannada)
- Madhura Vani (Sanskrit)
- Panchamrutha (Kannada)
- Vaijayanti (Sanskrit)
- Tatvavada (Kannada) – Published by Akhila Bharat Madhwa Mahamandala.
Style of Writing
Pandit Galagali’s predominant prose style follows that of Banabhatta, whereas his poetic technique resembles that of Kalidasa.
“He excels in the usage of alankāras like Parisamkhyā, Ullekha, Upamā, Ílesa, Mālopamā and Anuprāsa. Galagali is a versatile author and has covered a vast spectrum of various genres in his writings. He is in fact an epitome of creativity and learning in Sanskrit, and being an excellent orator, has [revived] Sanskrit culture through his speeches also.”
Publications
Over the course of a lifetime, Pandit Galagali has published 22 original Sanskrit works, 21 original Kannada works, and 23 translated works.
Original Sanskrit Works
| No. | English name | Kannada name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vetanda Thunda Sthvaha | ವೇತ೦ಡತು೦ಡಸ್ತವಃ |
| 2 | Khollapura Mahalakshmi Shathakam | ಕೊಲ್ಹಾಪುರ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಶತಕ೦ |
| 3 | Shree Krishnaveni Vaibhavam | ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣವೇಣೀ ವೈಭವ೦ |
| 4 | Ramarasayanam (Maha Kavyam) | ರಾಮರಸಾಯನ೦ ( ಮಹಾಕಾವ್ಯ೦) |
| 5 | Janaki Natha Nathanam | ಜಾನಕೀ ನಾಥನಾಥನ೦ |
| 6 | Pavana Pavana Champu | ಪವನ ಪಾವನ ಚ೦ಪೂ |
| 7 | Shree Krishna kantha bharana (Maha Kavyam) | ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಕ೦ಠಾಭರಣ೦ (ಮಹಾಕಾವ್ಯ೦) |
| 8 | Shree Satyadhyana Champu | ಶ್ರೀ ಸತ್ಯಧ್ಯಾನ ಚ೦ಪೂ |
| 9 | Shree Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu | ಶ್ರೀ ಶ೦ಭುಲಿ೦ಗವಿಜಯ ಚ೦ಪೂ |
| 10 | Shree Panduranga Vithala Champu | ಶ್ರೀ ಪಾ೦ಡುರ೦ಗ ವಿಠ್ಠಲ ಚ೦ಪೂ |
| 11 | Laghu Kathayaha Gurukatha | ಲಘುಕಥಾಯಾಃ ಗುರುಕಥಾ |
| 12 | Shree Sushameendra Vijaya Vaibhavam | ಶ್ರೀ ಸುಶಮೀ೦ದ್ರ ವಿಜಯ ವೈಭವ೦ |
| 13 | Shree Raghavendra Nakshatramala | ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇ೦ದ್ರ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಮಾಲಾ |
| 14 | Shree Raghavendra Ashvadhati | ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇ೦ದ್ರ ಅಶ್ವಧಾಟಿ |
| 15 | Shree Raghavendra Karunalahari | ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇ೦ದ್ರ ಕರುಣಾಲಹರೀ |
| 16 | Shree Raghavendra Ashtakam | ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇ೦ದ್ರ ಅಷ್ಟಕ೦ |
| 17 | Shree Raghavendra Suprabhatam | ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇ೦ದ್ರ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾತ೦ |
| 18 | Shree Raghavendra Karavalambana Stotram | ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೇ೦ದ್ರ ಕರಾವಲ೦ಬನ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರ೦ |
| 19 | Bharata Swatantrya Sangramasya Itihasaha | ಭಾರತ ಸ್ವಾತ೦ತ್ರ್ಯ ಸ೦ಗ್ರಾಮಸ್ಯ ಇತಿಹಾಸಃ |
| 20 | Tatya Topitaha Gandhi Topi Paryantam | ತಾತ್ಯಾಟೋಪೀತಃ ಗಾ೦ಧೀ ಟೋಪೀ ಪರ್ಯ೦ತ೦ |
| 21 | Lokamanya Tilak Charitam | ಲೋಕಮಾನ್ಯ ತಿಲಕ ಚರಿತ೦ |
| 22 | Kranti Sphulingaha (Krantikari Subhash Chandra Mahodayaha) | ಕ್ರಾ೦ತಿಸ್ಪುಲಿ೦ಗಾಃ(ಕ್ರಾ೦ತಿಕಾರಿ ಸುಭಾಷ ಚ೦ದ್ರ ಮಹೋದಯಾಃ) |
Original Kannada Works
| No. | English name | Kannada name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahabharata Kosha | ಮಹಾಭಾರತ ಕೋಶ |
| 2 | Madhwavagmaya Tapaswigalu | ಮಾಧ್ವವಾಙ್ಮಯ ತಪಸ್ವಿಗಳು |
| 3 | Raga-Viraga | ರಾಗ-ವಿರಾಗ |
| 4 | Mahabharatada Mahileyaru – 1 | ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು – ಭಾಗ ೧ |
| 5 | Mahabharatada Mahileyaru – 2 | ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು – ಭಾಗ ೨ |
| 6 | Mahabharatada Mahileyaru – 3 | ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು – ಭಾಗ ೩ |
| 7 | Aelu Chiranjeevigalu | ಏಳು ಚಿರ೦ಜೀವಿಗಳು |
| 8 | Pancha Kanyeyaru | ಪ೦ಚ ಕನ್ಯೆಯರು |
| 9 | Bhamathi | ಭಾಮತೀ |
| 10 | Alakh Niranjan | ಅಲಖ್ ನಿರ೦ಜನ್ |
| 11 | Vidyaranyaru | ವಿದ್ಯಾರಣ್ಯರು |
| 12 | Mahabharathada Pashu Pakshigalu | ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಪಶುಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು |
| 13 | Mahabharatada Maharajaru | ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಮಹಾರಾಜರು |
| 14 | Mahabharathada Maharshigalu | ಮಹಾಭಾರತದ ಮಹರ್ಷಿಗಳು |
| 15 | Karnatakada Samskrita Kavigalu | ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಸ೦ಸ್ಕೃತ ಕವಿಗಳು |
| 16 | Karnatakada Koshakararu | ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಕೋಶಕಾರರು |
| 17 | Karnatakada Jyotishigalu | ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷಿಗಳು |
| 18 | Karnatakada Natakakararu | ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ನಾಟಕಕಾರರು |
| 19 | Karnatakada Vyakaranigalu | ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ವೈಯಾಕರಣಿಗಳು |
| 20 | Karnatakada Nyayikaru | ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ನೈಯಾಯಿಕರು |
| 21 | Kalhanana Raja Tarangini (Kashmeerada Samagra Itihasa) | ಕಲ್ಹಣನ ರಾಜತರ೦ಗಿಣೀ ( ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರದ ಸಮಗ್ರ ಇತಿಹಾಸ) |
Translated Kannada Works
| No. | English Name | Kannada Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harivamsha | ಹರಿವ೦ಶ |
| 2 | Vishnu Purana | ವಿಷ್ಣು ಪುರಾಣ |
| 3 | Varaha Purana | ವರಾಹ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 4 | Vamana Purana | ವಾಮನ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 5 | Matsya Purana | ಮತ್ಸ್ಯ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 6 | Kurma Purana | ಕೂರ್ಮ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 7 | Skanda Purana | ಸ್ಕ೦ದ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 8 | Shiva Purana | ಶಿವ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 9 | Narada Purana | ನಾರದ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 10 | Bramha Purana | ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 11 | Bramhanda Purana | ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾ೦ಡ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 12 | Bramha Vyvarta Purana | ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವೈವರ್ತ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 13 | Padma Purana | ಪದ್ಮ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 14 | Linga Purana | ಲಿ೦ಗ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 15 | Ganesha Purana | ಗಣೇಶ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 16 | Bhavishyottara Purana | ಭವಿಷ್ಯೋತ್ತರ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 17 | Agni Purana | ಅಗ್ನಿ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 18 | Markandeya Purana | ಮಾರ್ಕ೦ಡೇಯ ಪುರಾಣ |
| 19 | Vayu Purana | ವಾಯು ಪುರಾಣ |
| 20 | Bhagavatha | ಭಾಗವತ |
| 21 | Hadimooru Puranagalalli Shri Venkateshwara Mahatme | ಹದಿಮೂರು ಪುರಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ವೆ೦ಕಟೇಶ್ವರ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ್ಯ |
| 22 | Gangalahari | ಗ೦ಗಾಲಹರೀ |
| 23 | Gangashtaka | ಗ೦ಗಾಷ್ಟಕ |
| 24 | Geetha Bhagavatha (Sangeetha Shree Krishna):10,000 Kannada Poems | ಗೀತಭಾಗವತ ( ಸ೦ಗೀತ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ): ೧೦,೦೦೦ ಕನ್ನಡ ಪದ್ಯಗಳು |
Awards and Recognition
- “National Award” by Sahitya Akademi for Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu, a masterpiece in Sanskrit Champu (a genre consisting of a combination of prose and poetry) – 1983
- Ramakrishna Dalmia’s “Sri Vanee Nyaasa” award—Considered the Sanskrit equivalent of a Jnanpith Award. – July 21, 2003
- Rashtrapati Award from the first president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad – 1994
- Kannada Kalidasa title conferred by Samyukta Karnataka.
- Vice President of Bijapur’s Sanskrit Sahitya Sammelan
- Rajya Prashasti from the state of Karnataka.
- Mahamahopadhyaya honorary degree of Sri Venkateswara University awarded by Rashtriya Samskrita Vidyapeetha of Tirupathi
- Gold medal from Shringeri and Kanchi Kamkoti Math
- Dhyana Pramoda title conferred by Shri Satyatma Tirtha of Uttaradi Math
- Raghavendra Anugraha from Raghavendra Swami Math in Mantralayam.
- Vidvatkula Tilaka by Bangalore Nagarikaru
- Vishwesha Tirtha Prashasti awarded by Pejavara Math – 2003
- Kavi Kula Tilaka title conferred by Admar Math
- Sahitya Ratna title conferred by Vibhudesha Tirtha of Admar Math
- Sachastra Pravachana Vichakshana title conferred by Palimaru Math
- Sanskriti vahaka title conferred by Dharma Sanskriti Prathisthana
- Shastra Pravanchana Ratna and Purana Teertha titles conferred by Bhandarkere Swamiji
- Vidyadhi Raja title conferred by Mulubagilu Math