User:Krayon95/sandbox/Charan/Ancient Era

In mythological texts including Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Puranas. Charanas refer to a class of celestial poets. Aside from these, their earliest historical references are found in Harṣacarita by Bāṇabhaṭṭa (7th century), Anargharāghava by Murari Kavi (9th century) and Prabandhacintāmaṇi by Merutungacharya (1304).

Epic literature
Ancient Sanskrit epics depict Charanas as celestial poets reciting hymns eulogising the gods (devās) along with Siddhas and Gandharvas.

Harṣacarita
The 7th-century text authored by Bāṇabhaṭṭa, court poet of Harshavardhana, gives a detailed and vivid descriptions of North India during Harsha's rule. It provides a biographical account of Harsha's ancestry and his early years of rule divided in eight chapters (ucchvāsas). In the third ucchvāsa, Harṣacarita describes the Charanas walking in groups surrounding the emperor while reciting verses. In another instance, it mentions Charanas of various branches from arriving from far off places on the occasion of marriage of Harsha's sister. It also shows them assembling to worship in the temple of the goddess Indrāṇī.

Anargharāghava
The text subhāṣitahārāvali cites a shloka (verse) of the 9th-century text Anargharāghava, authored by the poet Murāri, reproaching the rulers for giving preference to the Charanas. The verse not only underlines the friction between the brāhmaṇa and chāraṇa litterati but also reports the prevalence of gīta and khyāta, the two prominent genres of medieval chāraṇa literature.

Prabandhacintāmaṇi
Compiled in 1304 CE by Merutungacharya, a Jain scholar from Gujarat, it is composed of prabandhas (semi-historical biographical narratives) and divided into five prakashas (parts). It narrates earlier historical incidents ranging from 940 CE to 1250 CE. One such narrative from the 12th century involves two Charanas who arrive at Anhilavad-Patan at the court of Kumarapala of Chalukya dynasty. Competing with each other over their knowledge in dūhā-vidyā (Apabhraṃśa poetry), they decide to resolve their dispute with Acharya Hemachandra as the judge. The text also includes some of the verses composed during this competion and highlights Charanas as proficient poets.