Nakar


Nakar was a 16th-century Gujarati poet from Gujarat. He has written several Akhyanas.

Life

Very little is known about his life as his verses are the only source regarding his life. His lived in sixteenth century, though it was initially believed that he lived in seventeenth century. He belonged to Disaval Bania caste and lived in Vadodara. He wrote several Akhyana which were recited in public by Manabhatt as only Brahmins were allowed to do so.

Works

He wrote several poems but only seven are published. Most of them are in Akhyana form to be recited by professional story tellers. He did not wrote poems in metres but in local tunes like Ramagri, Ashavari ane Sameri. He wrote Harishchandrakhyan based on story of Harishchandra in Umreth. His other works include Shiva-vivah, Chandrahasakhyan, Lavkushakhyan, Dhruvakhyan, Mrigalisamvad, Bhiladi na Bar Mas. Shiva-vivah and Dhruvakhyan were written earlier than 1544 but a Brahmin for whom he wrote was not pleased with its short form so he rewrote and expanded them in 1544. Bhaktamal is about saints of Gujarat which resemble Sadhu Charita of Vasto.

Studies

has published a Ph. D. thesis Kavi Nakar - Ek Adhyayan on him and his published and unpublished works. The followups to this work is included in included in Nakar of Gujarati Granthkar series as well as in Gujarati Sahityano Itihas - Volume 2.