Muddana

thumb|Muddana on a 2017 stamp of India Nandalike Lakshminaranappa, known by his pseudonym Muddana (24 January 1870 – 15 February 1901), was a Kannada writer and a Yakshagana poet. He was also known as Mahakavi ("Great Poet") or Mahakavi Muddana. His best known works include Ratnavati Kalyaana(Yakshagana), Sri Rama Pattaabhisheka, Adbhuta Ramayana and Sri Ramashwamedha. He coined the word Kannadam Kasthuriyanthe, where he heartily compares his beloved language Kannada to Kasthuri.

Suffering poverty and poor health, Muddana died at the age of 31. His literary works have been used extensively in Kannada literary educational books.