95px|Old-Kannada inscription, 1114 CE at Doddagaddavalli

Hoysala literature is the large body of literature in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages produced by the Hoysala Empire (1025–1343) in what is now southern India. Kannada literature during this period consisted of writings relating to the socio-religious developments of the Jain and Veerashaiva faiths, and to a lesser extent that of the Vaishnava faith. The earliest well-known brahmin writers in Kannada were from the Hoysala court. While most of the courtly textual production was in Kannada, an important corpus of monastic Vaishnava literature relating to Dvaita (dualistic) philosophy was written by the renowned philosopher Madhvacharya in Sanskrit. Writing Kannada literature in native metres was first popularised by the court poets. These metres were the sangatya, compositions sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument; shatpadi, six-line verses; ragale, lyrical compositions in blank verse; and tripadi, three-line verses. However, Jain writers continued to use the traditional champu, composed of prose and verse. Important literary contributions in Kannada were made not only by court poets but also by noblemen, commanders, ministers, ascetics and saints associated with monasteries. (more...)

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1517:

In the Pearl River Delta, Portuguese diplomat Fernão Pires de Andrade met with Ming Dynasty officials, marking the resumption of direct European contact with China. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern%C3%A3o_Pires_de_Andrade

1534:

Ignatius of Loyola and six others at Montmartre near Paris took the vows that led to the establishment of the Society of Jesus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus

1843:

Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, today the most popular amusement park in Scandinavia, opened. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivoli_Gardens

1945:

The Gyokuon-hōsō was broadcast in Japan, announcing the unconditional surrender of the Japanese army and naval forces, bringing World War II to a close. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan

1948:

The Republic of Korea was established with Syngman Rhee as its first president. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_Korea

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___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

If the art of war were nothing but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become the prey of mediocre minds. I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest. --Napoleon I of France http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France