Mohanatarangini (River of delight) is the first work of Kanakadasa (1509–1609), a prominent literary figure in Kannada literature whose works are mostly in the Sangatya (composition meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument),[1] Shatpadi (Six line poems) and Shataka (hundred verse) metres.
A forlorn Rathi (Manmatha's lover) wanders for many years and eventually comes to Shambasura's kingdom and joins the kitchen as a maid.
Aniruddha falls in love with Ushe and wishes to marry her, but this results in a war between Krishna and Banasura.
The work uses a simple Kannada style and describes the romances of the three pairs that appear in the story.
Though a kavya written in the classical style, with the conventional eighteen descriptions,[4] the work delves into aspects of eroticism in its treatment of the romances.
The book also contains some historical accounts which has helped scholars in reconstructing chronologies of Kannada literature and history.
The author also heaps praise on contemporary kavIshvaras (poets) who were engaged in translating many of the Vaishnava puraNas into Kannada.
The descriptions of Dwaravati(Dwaraka) that the work provides are in ways very similar to those of Vijayanagara under Krishnadevaraya as seen in the accounts of Portuguese travelers.