Poetess Jakkalamba

Summary

Jakkalambā also known as Śrīmatī Jakkalambi is perhaps the earliest known Jain woman poet of Karnataka; Born around the twelfth century she belonged to the noble Cikka Māgadi dynasty; Contemporary poets hailed her as an ornament of both literature and religion; She is credited with works such as the campū poem Guṇāñkamalē carite and riddling verses; Her poems often praised Jain Tirthankaras and expounded ethics; The article describes her wide reputation; she was mentioned with respect in later compositions such as Nemanna’s Lobhadatta carite and Raghavanka’s Somanātha charite; Jakkalambā led a disciplined life; She observed vows and eventually embraced sallekhana; A stone record narrates that when holy sites were desecrated by invaders she led resistance with words and actions; Facing persecution she chose to perform ritual death by fasting; She wrote her own memorial which contains poetic descriptions of her renunciation and ascent to heaven; Hampana emphasises that Jakkalambā wrote in both Sanskrit and Kannada and that her work bridged literary and religious domains; Her story illustrates the intellectual agency of Jain women and their ability to survive in turbulent times; The author argues that her creative output and spiritual resolve render her a symbol of courage and piety