View source for Indian epic poetry

{{Short description|Epic poetry of the Indian subcontinent}}
{{Buddhism}}
{{Hindu scriptures}}
{{Jainism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
'''Indian epic poetry''' is the [[epic poetry]] written in the [[Indian subcontinent]], traditionally called '''''Kavya''''' (IAST: ''Kāvyá''). The ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', which were originally composed in [[Sanskrit]] and later translated into many other Indian languages, and the [[Five Great Epics]] of [[Tamil literature]] and [[Sangam literature]] are some of the oldest surviving epic poems ever written.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1755 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: devraj to jyoti - Amaresh Datta - Google Books |access-date=2012-05-10|isbn=9788126011940 |last1=Datta |first1=Amaresh |year=1988 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi }}</ref>

== List of longest epics==
{{anchor|Longest Indian epics|Lengthiest Indian epics|Longest Indian poems|Lengthiest Indian poems|Largest Indian epics|Largest Indian poems}}
{|class="wikitable"
! Image(s) 
! Length (lines) 
! Original title(s)
! [[Romanization]]
! Literal meaning(s) 
! Original language(s) 
! Place(s) of origin
! Author
! Genre
! Note(s) 
|-
| [[File:Kurukshetra.jpg|thumb]]
| 1,00,000 couplets (2,00,000 lines)
| {{lang|sa|महाभारतम्}}
| [[Mahabharatam]]
| The Great Bharatam
| [[Sanskrit]]
| [[Indian subcontinent]]
| [[Vyasa]]
| [[Sanskrit literature]], [[Hinduism]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahabharata {{!}} Definition, Story, History, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mahabharata |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|
|51,820 lines (60,000 including ''Nanak Prakash)''
|ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਸੂਰਜ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ
|[[Suraj Prakash|Gur Pratap Suraj Granth]]<ref>{{Cite book |title=Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957): religious and literary modernities in colonial and post-colonial Indian Punjab |date=2023 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-003-29893-9 |editor-last=Malhotra |editor-first=Anshu |edition=First published |series=Routledge critical Sikh studies |location=London New York |editor-last2=Murphy |editor-first2=Anne}}</ref>
|The Sun-like eminence of the glory of the Guru
|[[Braj Bhasha]]
|[[Kaithal|The Sikh kingdom of Kaithal]]
|[[Kavi Santokh Singh|Mahakavi Santokh Singh]]
|[[Braj literature]], [[Sikh literature]]
|
|-
| [[File:Rama attacks Kabandha.jpg|thumb]]
| 24,000 couplets (48,000 lines) 
| {{lang|sa|रामायणम्}}
| [[Ramayanam]]
|Rama’s Journey or Rama's progress
| [[Sanskrit]]
| [[Indian subcontinent]]
| [[Valmiki]]
| [[Sanskrit literature]], [[Hinduism]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramayana {{!}} Summary, Characters, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramayana-Indian-epic |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Khamba and Thoibi (The Capture of the Wild Bull).jpg|thumb]]
| 39,000 lines
| {{lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ}}}}
| [[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng]]
| Poem on [[Khamba and Thoibi]]
| [[Meitei language]] (officially called "[[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]") 
| [[Manipur Kingdom]]
| [[:simple:Hijam Anganghal|Hijam Anganghal]]
| [[Epic cycles of incarnations in Moirang]], [[Meitei literature]]
| <ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref><ref name=":Datta">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":AIR">{{Cite book |last=Delhi |first=All India Radio (AIR), New |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ) |date=1975-08-31 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi |pages=1582 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Bazaar art print of Bhavadgita, c. mid-1900's.jpg|thumb]]
| 21,507
| {{lang|te|ఆంధ్ర మహాభారతం}}
| [[Andhra Mahabharatam]]
| The Telugu Great Bharatam
| [[Telugu language]]
| [[Eastern Chalukyas]]
| [[Kavitrayam]]
| [[Telugu literature]], [[Hinduism]]
|
|-
| [[File:Goddess Kannaki.jpg|thumb]]
| 5,730
| {{lang|ta|சிலப்பதிகாரம்}}
| [[Cilappatikaram]]
| The Tale of an Anklet
| [[Tamil language]]
| [[Tamilakam]]
| [[Ilango Adigal]]
| [[Sangam literature]]
|
|-
| 
| 4,861
| {{lang|ta|மணிமேகலை}}
| [[Manimekalai]]
| Jewelled Belt, Girdle of Gems
| [[Tamil language]]
| [[Tamilakam]]
| [[Chithalai Chathanar]]
| [[Sangam literature]], [[Buddhism]]
|
|-
| [[File:Civakacintamani 1887 title page.png|thumb]]
| 3,145
| {{lang|ta|சீவக சிந்தாமணி}}
| [[Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi]]
| Jivaka, the Fabulous Gem
| [[Tamil language]]
| [[Tamilakam]]
| Tiruttakkatēvar
| [[Sangam literature]], [[Jainism]]
|
|}

== Hindi epics ==
In modern Hindi literature, ''[[Kamayani]]'' by [[Jaishankar Prasad]] has attained the status of an epic. The narrative of Kamayani is based on a popular mythological story, first mentioned in [[Satapatha Brahmana]]. It is a story of the [[Deluge mythology#India|great flood]] and the central characters of the epic poem are [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]] (a male) and [[Śraddhā|Shraddha]] (a female). Manu is representative of the human psyche and Shradha represents love. Another female character is [[Ida (goddess)|Ida]], who represents rationality. Some critics surmise that the three lead characters of Kamayani symbolize a synthesis of knowledge, action and desires in human life. It inspires humans to live a life based on "karm" and not on fortunes.

Apart from ''Kamayani'', ''Saketa'' (1932) by [[Maithili Sharan Gupt]], ''[[Kurukshetra|Kurukshetra (Epic Poetry)]]'' (1946), ''[[Rashmirathi]]'' (1952) and ''[[Urvashi]]'' (1961) by [[Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar']] have attained the status of [[epic poetry]].

Likewise ''Lalita Ke Aansoo''<ref>* [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60419441 Book:Lalita Ke Ansoo on worldcat]</ref> by Krant M. L. Verma (1978)<ref>''Hindustan'' ([[Hindi]] daily) [[New Delhi]] 12 January 1978 (ललिता के आँसू का विमोचन)</ref> narrates the tragic story about the death of [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] through his wife [[Lalita Shastri]].<ref>[[Panchjanya (newspaper)]] A literary review 24 February 1980</ref>

== Kannada epics ==
{{main|Kannada literature}} 
[[Kannada language|Kannada]] epic poetry mainly consists of [[Jainism|Jain]] religious literature and [[Lingayatism|Lingayat]] literature. [[Asaga]] wrote ''Vardhaman Charitra'', an epic which runs in 18 [[canto]]s, in 853 CE,<ref>{{cite book |title=Lord Mahāvīra and his times, Lala S. L. Jain Research Series |last= Jain |first=Kailash Chand |year=1991 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=81-208-0805-3 |page= 25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-TxcO9dfrcC&q=asaga+9th+century&pg=PA25 }}</ref> the first [[Sanskrit]] biography of the 24th and last [[tirthankara]] of Jainism, [[Mahavira]], though his Kannada-language version of Kalidasa's epic poem, ''Kumārasambhava'', ''Karnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya'' is lost.<ref>{{cite book |title=Lord Mahāvīra and his times, Lala S. L. Jain Research Series |last= Jain |first=Kailash Chand |year=1991 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=81-208-0805-3 |page= 59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0UCh7r2TjQIC&q=asaga+9th+century+poet&pg=PA341 }}</ref> The most famous poet from this period is [[Pampa (Jain poet)|Pampa]] (902-975&nbsp;CE), one of the most famous writers in the [[Kannada language]]. His ''[[Vikramarjuna Vijaya]]'' (also called the ''Pampabharatha'') is hailed as a classic even to this day. With this and his other important work [[Ādi purāṇa]] he set a trend of poetic excellence for the Kannada poets of the future. The former work is an adaptation of the celebrated [[Mahabharata]], and is the first such adaptation in Kannada. Noted for the strong human bent and the dignified style in his writing, Pampa has been one of the most influential writers in Kannada. He is identified as ''Adikavi'' "first poet". It is only in Kannada that we have a [[Ramayana]] and a Mahabharata based on the Jain tradition in addition to those based on Brahmanical tradition.

[[Shivakotiacharya]] was the first writer in prose style. His work [[Vaddaradhane]] is dated to 900&nbsp;CE. [[Sri Ponna]] (939-966&nbsp;CE) is also an important writer from the same period, with ''[[Shanti Purana]]'' as his magnum opus. Another major writer of the period is ''[[Ranna (Kannada poet)|Ranna]]'' (949-?&nbsp;CE). His most famous works are the [[Jainism|Jain]] religious work ''[[Ajita Tirthankara Purana]]'' and the [[Gada Yuddha]], a birds' eye view of the ''Mahabharata'' set in the last day of the battle of [[Kurukshetra]] and relating the story of the Mahabharata through a series of flashbacks. Structurally, the poetry in this period is in the ''Champu'' style, essentially poetry interspersed with lyrical prose.

The ''[[Siribhoovalaya]]'' is a unique work of multilingual [[Kannada literature]] written by [[Kumudendu Muni]], a [[Jain monasticism|Jain monk]]. The work is unique in that it does not employ letters, but is composed entirely in [[Kannada alphabet#Numbers|Kannada numerals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pustakshakti.com/siribhoovalaya_news_item_-_17.htm|title=Introduction to ''Siribhoovalaya'', from Deccan Herald|access-date=2007-03-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065505/http://www.pustakshakti.com/siribhoovalaya_news_item_-_17.htm|archive-date=28 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The ''Saangathya'' [[metre (poetry)|metre]] of [[Kannada poetry]] is employed in the work. It uses numerals 1 through 64 and employs various patterns or ''bandhas'' in a frame of 729 (27×27) squares to represent letters in nearly 18 scripts and over 700 languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pustakshakti.com/siribhoovalaya_news_item_-_6.htm|title=Usage of ''Saangathya'' and frame of 729, from The Hindu newspaper|access-date=2007-03-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065432/http://www.pustakshakti.com/siribhoovalaya_news_item_-_6.htm|archive-date=28 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Some of the patterns used include the ''Chakrabandha'', ''Hamsabandha'', ''Varapadmabandha'', ''Sagarabandha'', ''Sarasabandha'', ''Kruanchabandha'', ''Mayurabandha'', ''Ramapadabandha'', and ''Nakhabandha''. As each of these patterns are identified and decoded, the contents can be read. The work is said to have around 600,000 verses, nearly six times as big as the ancient Indian epic ''Mahabharata''.

The ''[[Prabhulingaleele]]'', ''[[Basava purana]]'', ''[[Channabasavapurana]]'' and ''[[Basavarajavijaya]]'' are a few of the Lingayat epics.

== Meitei epics ==
{{Main|List of epics in Meitei language|Epic cycles of incarnations|Meitei Mahabharata|Meitei literature}}

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[[Meitei language]] (officially known as [[Manipuri language]]), an old [[Sino-Tibetan]] language, originated from [[Ancient Kangleipak]] (early [[Manipur]]) in [[North East India]], is a language with a rich granary of epic poetries, mostly written in archaic version of the [[Meitei script]] in [[PuYa|Puya]]s, the Meitei texts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |others=Original from:the [[University of Michigan]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=6 |language=en}}</ref>

The sagas of the seven [[epic cycles of incarnations]] of the two divine lovers were originated from the shoreline [[Moirang]] around the [[Loktak lake]] in [[Manipur]]. Their stories were composed in both prose and poetry, among which the ballad versions were usually sung by the minstrels, playing [[Pena (musical instrument)]] since ancient times.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Oinam |first1=Bhagat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X31aDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA236 |title=Northeast India: A Reader |last2=Sadokpam |first2=Dhiren A. |date=2018-05-11 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-0-429-95320-0 |pages=236, 237 |language=en |quote=The epics of the seven incarnations  Apart from several other works based on the theme of love, mention may be made of the literature coming from the Moirang region of Manipur. A civilization situated on the magnificent Loktak Lake, the culture of the Moirang clan has been noted. Numerous manuscripts of the Moirang region dwell on the theme of love. One of the most popular stories refers to the seven pairs of lovers who are regarded as incarnations of the same souls in different generations or ages. The seven cycles are Akongjamba (hero) and Phouoibi (heroine): Henjunaha (hero) and Leima Lairuklembi (heroine); Khuyol Haoba (hero) and Yaithing Konu (heroine); Kadeng Thangjahanba (hero) and Tonu Laijinglembi (heroine); Ura Naha Khongjomba (hero) and Pidonnu (heroine); Wanglen Pungdingheiba (hero) and Sappa Chanu Silheibi (heroine); Khamba (hero) and Thoibi (heroine).}}</ref>

The ''[[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng]]'' (based on the story of [[Khamba and Thoibi]]) is regarded as the greatest of all the Meitei epics. It is regarded as the [[national epic]] of the [[Manipuris]].<ref name=":George">{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}</ref><ref name=":Amaresh">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1186 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1186 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref> It consists of approximately 39,000 [[Verse (poetry)|verses]].<ref name=":Datta">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir" /><ref name=":AIR">{{Cite book |last=Delhi |first=All India Radio (AIR), New |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ) |date=1975-08-31 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR), New Delhi |pages=1582 |language=en}}</ref> The epic poetry has fifteen chapters ({{langx|mni|Pandup}}) and ninety two sections ({{langx|mni|Taangkak}}). It is based on the legendary love story of [[Khuman Khamba]], an orphan man, and [[Khamba Thoibi|Thoibi]], the then princess of [[Moirang]]. Though the legend existed in the immortal songs of the Meitei balladeers, it was composed in a proper poetic version by Hijam Anganghal in 1940.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |others=Original from:the [[University of Michigan]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=226, 227 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg|thumb|300px|The [[Numit Kappa]], a [[:en:wikibooks:Classical Meitei|Classical Meitei]] epic text written during the 1st century, based on ancient [[Meitei mythology]] and religion ([[Sanamahism]])]]

The ''[[Numit Kappa]]'', literally meaning "Shooting at the Sun" in [[Meitei language|Meitei]], is a 1st-century BC Meitei epic, based on the story of a hero named ''Khwai Nungjeng Piba'', who shoots one of the two shining [[sun]]s in the sky, to create the [[night]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |others=Original from:the [[University of Michigan]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=26–29 |language=en}}</ref>

The ''Ougri'' is the collection of musical epic poetries, associated with religious themes, originated during the reign of King [[Nongda Lairen Pakhangba]] in 33 AD.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |others=Original from:the [[University of Michigan]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=13, 14 |language=en}}</ref> Other epics include ''Shingel Indu'' by Hijam Anganghal, ''Khongjom Tirtha'' by Nilabir Sharma, ''Chingoi Baruni'' by Gokul Shastri, ''Kansa Vadha'' by A. Dorendrajit, and ''Vasudeva Mahakavya'' by Chingangbam Kalachand.
However, the [[Sanskrit]] epics such as the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Ramayana]] were also translated into [[Meitei language]] in the medieval times.
Other translated epic works include the ''[[Meghnad Badh Kavya]]'', the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'', and the ''[[Ashtakam]]''.

== Assamese epics ==
{{Main|Assamese literature}}
In 14th century Madhav Kandali dubbed the epic Ramayana as [[Saptakanda Ramayana]].  In chronology, among vernacular translations of the original Sanskrit, Kandali's Ramayana comes after [[Kambar (poet)|Kamban]]'s ([[Ramavataram|Tamil]], 12th century)and [[Ranganatha Ramayanamu|Gona Budda Reddy's]] ( [[Telugu language|Telugu]]: [[Ranganatha Ramayanamu|Ranganath Ramayanamu]])  and ahead of [[Krittibas Ojha|Kirttivas]]' ([[Krittivasi Ramayan|Bengali]], 15th century), [[Tulsidas]]' ([[Ramacharitamanasa|Awadhi]], 16th century), Balaram Das' (Oriya) etc. Thus it becomes the first rendition of the [[Ramayana]] into an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan language]] in the Indian subcontinent.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Goswāmī, Māmaṇi Raẏachama, 1942-2011.|title=Rāmāyaṇa from Gangā to Brahmaputra|publisher=B.R. Pub. Corp|year=1996|isbn=817018858X|location=Delhi|pages=47208217}}</ref>

== Sanskrit epics ==
The ancient Sanskrit epics the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and ''[[Mahabharata]]'' comprise together the [[Itihāsa]] ({{Literal translation|writer has himself witnessed the story}}) or [[Mahākāvya]] ("Great Compositions"), a [[wiktionary:canon|canon]] of [[Hindu scripture]]. The epic form prevailed and verse remained, until very recently, the preferred form of Hindu literary works. [[Indian culture]] readily lent itself to a literary tradition that abounded in epic poetry and literature. The [[Puranas]], a massive collection of verse-form histories of India's many Hindu gods and goddesses, followed in this tradition. [[Itihāsa]] and [[Puranas]] are mentioned in the [[Atharva Veda]]<ref>Atharva Veda 11.7.24, 15.6.4</ref> and referred to as the ''fifth Veda''.<ref>Chāndogya Upaniṣad 7.1.2,4</ref>

The language of these texts, termed ''Epic Sanskrit'', constitutes the earliest phase of [[Classical Sanskrit]], following the latest stage of [[Vedic Sanskrit]] found in the [[Shrauta Sutras]]. The ''[[Suparṇākhyāna]]'', a late Vedic poem considered to be among the "earliest traces of epic poetry in India," is an older, shorter precursor to the expanded legend of [[Garuda]] that is included within the ''Mahābhārata''.<ref name="Winternitz1996">{{cite book|author=Moriz Winternitz|title=A History of Indian Literature, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JRfuJFRV_O8C&pg=PA292|year=1996|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0264-3|pages=291–292}}</ref><ref name="Vogel1995">{{cite book|author=Jean Philippe Vogel|title=Indian Serpent-lore: Or, The Nāgas in Hindu Legend and Art|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=caskYEbIQDoC&pg=PA53|year=1995|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-1071-2|pages=53–54}}</ref>

The Buddhist kavi [[Aśvaghoṣa]] wrote two epics and one drama. He lived in the 1st-2nd century. He wrote a biography of the Buddha, titled Buddhacarita. His second epic is called Saundarananda and tells the story of the conversion of Nanda, the younger brother of the Buddha. The play he wrote is called Śariputraprakaraṇa, but of this play only a few fragments remained.

The famous poet and playwright [[Kālidāsa]] also wrote two epics: ''[[Raghuvamsha]]'' (''The Dynasty of Raghu'') and ''[[Kumarasambhava]]'' (''The Birth of Kumar Kartikeya''). Other classical Sanskrit epics are the ''Slaying of Śiśupāla'' ''[[Śiśupālavadha]]'' of [[Māgha]], ''Arjuna and the Mountain Man'' ''[[Kirātārjunīya]]'' of [[Bhāravi]], the ''Adventures of the Prince of Nishadha'' ''[[Naiṣadhacarita]]'' of [[Śrīharṣa]] and ''Bhaṭṭi's Poem'' ''[[Bhaṭṭikāvya]]'' of [[Bhaṭṭi]].

== Tamil epics ==
{{main|Five Great Epics}}
The post-[[sangam period]] (2nd century-6th century) saw many great [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] epics being written, including ''[[Cilappatikaram]]'' (or ''[[Silappadhikaram]]''), ''[[Manimegalai]]'', ''[[Civaka Cintamani]]'', ''[[Valayapathi]]'' and ''[[Kundalakesi]]''. Out of the five, ''Manimegalai'' and ''Kundalakesi'' are Buddhist religious works, ''Civaka Cintamani'' and ''Valayapathi'' are [[Tamil Jain]] works and ''Silappatikaram'' has a neutral religious view.  They were written over a period of 1st century CE to 10th century CE and act as the historical evidence of social, religious, cultural and academic life of people during the era they were created.  ''Civaka Cintamani'' introduced long verses called ''virutha pa'' in Tamil literature,<ref name="Dat">Datta 2004, p. 720</ref> while ''Silappatikaram'' used ''akaval'' meter (monologue), a style adopted from Sangam literature.

Later, during the [[Chola]] period, [[Kambar (poet)|Kamban]] (12th century) wrote what is considered one of the greatest Tamil epics &mdash; the [[Kambaramayanam|''Kamba Ramayanam'']] of [[Kambar (poet)|Kamban]], based on the Valmiki Ramayana. The Thiruthondat Puranam (or [[Periya Puranam]]) of Chekkizhar is the great Tamil epic of the Shaiva Bhakti saints and is part of the religious scripture of Tamil Nadu's majority Shaivites.

== Telugu epics ==
Most of the Telugu epics are about [[Hinduism]].

The first known Telugu epic was the [[Andhra Mahabharatam]] written by the [[Kavitrayam]] (11th-14th centuries)

Other main Telugu epics are the [[Ranganatha Ramayanamu]], [[Basava Purana]], and the [[Amuktamalyada]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book| title=A History of Sanskrit Literature |author=Arthur Anthony Macdonell |year=1900 |location=New York |publisher=D. Appleton and company |chapter=[[s:A History of Sanskrit Literature/Chapter 10|The epics]]|author-link=Arthur Anthony Macdonell }}
* {{cite book| title=Bhatti's Poem: The Death of Rávana (Bhaṭṭikāvya) |author=Oliver Fallon |year=2009 |location=New York |publisher=New York University Press, Clay Sanskrit Library |chapter=Introduction|author-link= }}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://mahabharata.manipal.edu/ MAHE Mahabharata Digital Concordance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525142303/http://mahabharata.manipal.edu/ |date=25 May 2020 }} by i Department of Philosophy - Manipal]

{{Poetry of different cultures and languages}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Epic Poetry}}
[[Category:Classical literature]]
[[Category:Indian poetics]]
[[Category:History of literature in India]]
[[Category:Kannada literature]]
[[Category:Meitei poetry]]
[[Category:Sanskrit literature]]
[[Category:Tamil-language literature]]
[[Category:Telugu-language literature]]
[[Category:Epic poetry]]
[[Category:Indian poetry|E]]