regarded that it was translated into Marathi language in 1604 and Sanskrit language in 1652 and again in the 18th century. The writing categorises 1,500 topics based on subject and covers a wide array such as poetics, dance and drama, musicology and erotics. His translation of the from Sanskrit was done to elucidate the Shaiva philosophy and benefit those ignorant of the original language. In the post-Vijayanagara era, the tradition branched three ways. The first consisted of followers of the Nijaguna Shivayogi school, the second was more elitist and brahminical in nature and followed the writings of Mahalingaranga (1675), while the third was the branch that kept the tradition alive. Well-known poet-saints from this tradition were Shivayogi's contemporary Muppina Sadakshari, whose collection of songs are called the ; Chidananda Avadhuta of the 17th century; and Sarpabhushana Shivayogi of the 18th century. So vast is this body of literature that much of it still needs to be studied. Notes References External links Kannada literature Literature of Karnataka History of literature in India Art and culture of Vijayanagar Empire