For a brief period following the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the devotional movement seemed to lose momentum, only to become active again in the 17th century, producing an estimated 300 poets in this genre; famous among them are Vijaya Dasa (1682-1755), Gopala Dasa (1721-1769), Jagannatha Dasa (1728-1809), Mahipathi Dasa (1750), Helavanakatte Giriamma and others. Over time, their devotional songs inspired a form of religious and didactic performing art of the Vaishnava people called the Harikatha (Stories of Hari). Similar developments were seen among the followers of the Veerashaiva faith, who popularised the Shivakatha (Stories of Shiva).