Snippets of Information
Sanskrit (Samskritam) Literature
* 21 Nov 2022
Asvaghosa's Buddhacaritais the life history of Gautama Buddha - a
detailed study of the life and the acts of the Buddha from his birth to
his demise is recorded and a reflection of the Indian society of that
period. Asvaghosa the Buddhist poet-philosopher is supposed to
have been a contemporary of King Kaniska of the early 2nd century A.D.
The Buddhacarita has two parts and each part is divided into 14 cantos.
In the first part, the life of Buddha since his enlightenment is dealt
with and the part two is devoted to the description of his return to
Kapilavastu. Unfortunately out of a total of 28 cantos, the Sanskrit
text of this invaluable work comprises 17 cantos only. E.H.Johnston has
composed the remaining cantos from English translations of Buddhacarita
based on Chinese and Tibetan sources.
It is generally supposed in the Chinese, Tibetan and other traditions
that Asvaghosa was a Brahmin by birth and a Saiva by faith. Later on
after converted into Buddhism he tried to establish a faith with the
noble and peaceful Laws of Buddha and this difficult task was done by
him with his writings. As he was a Brahmin by birth, he had an intimate
knowledge of the Vedas, Brahmanical tenants, Hindu scriptures, Epics
etc.
Source: Buddhacarita of Asvaghosa: A Critical Study, Parananda Nath, academia.edu
Ashvaghosha was a Sarvastivada Buddhist philosopher and poet.
He was born is Saketa in Northern India.
Though Pali language literature was popular in Buddhism, Ashvaghosha wrote in Classical Sanskrit.
He also wrote Saundarananda, with the theme of conversion of Nanda, Buddha's half brother, so that he might reach salvation.
He is also thought to the the author of the Sutralankara.
Source: testbook.com
* 21 Nov 2022
Kavya
The term Kavya means literature as a form of art. Kavya is
composed by Kavis, so the word Kavya in its widest sense connotes all
that is the work of a poet. In that sense Kavya or poetry is the subject
of classical Sanskrit literature and it not only means metrical
compositions but signifies any literary peace which is highly
sentimental. The science of poetics is known as Alamkara-sastra in Sanskrit which shows the importance laid by the rhetoricians on the Alamkaras or figures of speech.
* 31 Oct 2022
Nataraja's Damaru, a fascinating symbol is a small double-sided
drum played with one hand, believed to be the source of the sound that
creates-and recreates-the universe. It is also the source of the cosmic
rhythm which influences the movement of energy in the universe. Shiva is
said to have played the damaru twice; the first time nine sounds
emerged while the second time five emerged, making a total of fourteen.
Each one of these sounds was developed into a sutra upon which Sanskrit
grammar is based, leading to the whole magnificent edifice of Sanskrit
language and literature.
Source: The dancing lord: Nataraja, lord of the cosmic dance -
Excerpted from Shiva: Lord of the Cosmic Dance, An Anthology edited by
Karan Singh, newindianexpress.com, 3 Jul 2022
* 18 Oct 2022
Ashtadhyayi and Amarakosha are extremely useful tools for
those who wish to gain a mastery of Sanskrit language and the shastras.
In olden times, it was a common practice to teach children to memorise
these two texts at a very young age, even before formal learning began.
Equipped with these fixed in memory, as they studied the language and
shastras, the children learnt to apply the sutras easily, and had a
phenomenal vocabulary.
Amarakosha, the Sanskrit thesaurus developed by Amarasinha in 4th CE is also called as Namalinganushasanam.
It contains 3 kandas with 26 vargas and over 3000 lines. Amarakosha
collects words with similar meanings, along with providing information
about their linga, which is very important for using them in the
language. Knowing the Amarakosha is a huge advantage in the study of
literature and in enhancing Sanskrit vocabulary.
Source: sanskritfromhome.org
Amarakosa, Amarasinha's Sanskrit thesaurus well-known to every
Sanskrit student, is the oldest work of the kind now extant. According
to tradition Amarasimha was one of the nine distinguished men (nava
ratna) of the court of King Vikramaditya (4th Century CE).
The Amarakosha consists of verses that can be easily memorized. It is
divided into three khandas or chapters. The first, svargadi-khanda
(“heaven and others”) has words pertaining to gods and heavens. The
second, bhuvargadi-khanda (“earth and others”) deals with words about
earth, towns, animals and humans. The third, samanyadi-khanda (“common”)
has words related to grammar and other miscellaneous words.
It is of great interest to note that, though the production of a
Buddhist, it has been universally accepted as an authority by the
Brahmans and the Jainas alike. The fact that it has been commented upon
by Buddhists like Subhutichandra, by Jainas like Asadharapandita and
Nachiraja,and by Brahmans like Kshirasvamin, Mallinatha and
Appayyadikshita testifies to its usefulness to every class of Sanskrit
students. It is a well-known fact that translations of the Amarakosha
into Chinese and Thibetan have been recently discovered.
Source: sanskritebooks.org
* 18 Oct 2022
Ashtadhyayi, a Sanskrit treatise on grammar was written in the 6th to 5th century bce by the Indian grammarian Panini.
Panini was an ancient Sanskrit philologist, grammarian, and a revered
scholar in ancient India, considered "the father of linguistics".
It contains 4,000 sutras - the science of phonetics and grammar
that had evolved in the Vedic religion.
Source: toppr.com
* 6 Sep 2022
In Samskṛta language, sandeśa means 'message' and kāvya means 'poem' or 'poetry'. Sandeśa Kāvya
deals with the sending of a message through the agency of a messenger.
The idea of sending of a message, through a messenger, from one person
to another was taken up as an independent theme for a poem first by
Ghatakarpara and later on by Kālidāsa, Dhoyī, Udaya, Bhavabhūti and
many other poets of note. There are about fifty five Sandeśa
Kāvya-s (also known as Dūta Kāvya-s). Sandeśa Kāvya
belongs to the category of Khanḍa Kāvya. (Kāvya consisting one
section or Khaṇda is called a Khaṇda Kāvya. It is different from
a series of stanzas, or what is called as a Samghata. Khaṇda can
employ themes much more freely and it usually narrates a story; or it
might sometimes provide a background to the narrative. The classic
examples are: Kālidāsa's Méghadútam having about just over one hundred
stanzas and Bilhaṇa's Chauri-surata-pañcāshikā.
The fore-runner of Sandeśa Kāvya-s is a small poem bearing the title
'Poem of the broken jug' which is a poem by Ghatakarpara on the message
sent to the husband by a wife who was in grief on account of separation.
It deals with the lamentation of the abandoned wife who does not
address her lamentation to one person alone but to the monsoon clouds,
her confidante, her distant husband and some trees but none of them
entrusted with the task of carrying her message. The poem is of twenty
four stanzas in five different metres.
Source: Sandeśa Kāvya by Seema KS, narthaki.com
* 5 Sep 2021
The Mānasollāsa, also known as Abhilashitartha Chintamani, is an early
12th-century Sanskrit text composed by the Kalyani Chalukya king
Someshvara III, who ruled in present-day South India. It is an
encyclopedic work covering topics such as polity, governance, ethics,
economics, astronomy, astrology, rhetoric, veterinary medicine,
horticulture, perfumes, food, architecture, games, painting, poetry and
music. The text is a valuable source of socio-cultural information on
11th- and 12th-century India.
Source: wikipedia.org
Abhilashitartha Chintamani dedicated a complete chapter to the
techniques and making of mural paintings (bhitti chitra).
Source: newindianexpress.com
It is said Someshvara commenced compiling the Manasollasa, while he was a
Prince; and completed it during 1129 (1051 Saka Samvatsara), which is
about two-three years after he ascended the throne. The
Manasollasa covering a wide variety of subjects ranging from the
means of acquiring a kingdom, methods of establishing it, to medicine,
magic, veterinary science, valuation of precious stones ,
fortifications, painting , art, games , amusements , culinary art ,
dance , music and so on , is a monumental work of encyclopedic nature.
The text, in general, provides valuable information on the life of those
times. It is also of historical importance as it gives the geographical
description of Karnataka of 12th century; as also of the contemporary
socio-cultural and economic conditions; and of the varied occupations of
its people.
The entire work of the Manasollasa extends to about 8000 Granthas or
verse-stanzas; and, it is composed in the Anustubh Chhandas (metre),
with few prose passages interspersed in between. Its Sanskrit is simple
and graceful; making it one among the elegant works of Sanskrit
literature that reflect the life and culture of medieval India.
Manasollasa defines chaste Music as that which educates (Shikshartham),
entertains (Vinodartham), delights (Moda-Sadanam) and liberates (Moksha
Sadanam).
Source: The texts of the Indian Dance traditions - Part Sixteen - Lakshana Granthas - 11. Sangita-ratnakara of Sarangadeva, sreenivasarao's blogs
* 4 Aug 2021
Classical Sanskrit literature
Works by
Kalidasa (Meghaduta, Abhijnanashakuntalam, Kumrasambhava, Raghuvamsa)
Jayadeva (Gita Govinda, Madala Panji)
Chanakya (Arthashastra)
Banabhatta (Kadambari, Harshacharitra)
Bhavabhuti (Uttar Ramayana, Mahaviracharita, Malatimadhava)
Reference: opinionez.com
Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four
secular heads. The six orthodox sections form the authoritative
scriptures of the Hindus. The four secular sections embody the later
developments in classical Sanskrit literature.
The six scriptures are: (i) Srutis, (ii) Smritis, (iii) Itihasas, (iv) Puranas, (v) Agamas and (vi) Darsanas.
The four secular writings are: (i) Subhashitas, (ii) Kavyas, (iii) Natakas and (iv) Alankaras.
References: Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda, experiencefestival.com
* Jul 2021
Abhigyana Shakuntalam
abhijnana means an identifying token; a keep sake ; an identity card ; a letter of introduction.
Source: bengali.indianlanguages.org
The story of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta appears in the Aadi Parva of
The Indian Great epic Mahabharata. Kalidas adapted the story for his
play Abhigyana Shakuntalam.
Mahakavi Kalidasa, India's greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist, has
authored severalmaster pieces including Raghuvamsham, Meghasandesham
(Meghdhootam), Kumarasambhavam, Ritu Samaharam, Malavikaagnimitram and
others.
Source: scribd.com
* Jul 2021
Kalidasa (Kaalidhaasaa)
Mahakavi Kalidasa, India's greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist, has
authored severalmaster pieces - The plays Maalavikaagnimitram,
Abhijnaanashaakuntalam, Vikramoervasiyam, the epic poems Raghuvamsam,
Kumarasambhavam, and the Khanda Kayvas Ritusamhaara, Meghadootha or
Meghasandesa.
The play was the first Indian drama to be translated into a Western
language, by Sir William Jones in 1789. In the next 100 years, there
were at least 46 translations in twelve European languages.
English translations include:
Sacontalá or The Fatal Ring: an Indian drama (1789) by Sir William Jones
Śakoontalá or The Lost Ring: an Indian drama (1855) by Sir Monier Monier-Williams
Translations of Shakuntala and Other Works (1914) by Arthur W. Ryder
Bengali translations include:
Shakuntala (1854) by Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar
Shakuntala (1895) by Abanindranath Tagore
References: Translations of Shakuntala, and Other Works by Arthur W. Ryder
(1914), sacred-texts.com ; en.wikipedia.org ;
kalidasaakademi.nic.in
Image courtesy: indian-heritage.org
* Jul 2021
Sanskrit
Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the world. Among the current
languages which possess a hoary antiquity like Latin or Greek, Sanskrit
is the only language which has retained its pristine purity. It has
maintained its structure and vocabulary even today as it was in the
past.
Sanskrit is a language for humanity and not merely a means for
communication within a society. The oldest surviving literature of the
world, viz. the Vedas, encompass knowledge in virtually every sphere of
human activity.
The grammar of Sanskrit has attracted scholars world over. It is very
precise and upto date and remains well defined even today. Of late,
several persons have expressed the opinion that Sanskrit is the best
language for use with computers. Sanskrit, the vocabulary of which is
derived from root syllables, is ideal for coining new scientific and
technological terms. The need to borrow words or special scientific
terms does not arise.
Sanskrit comprises fifty one letters or aksharas. In other languages, we
refer to the letters of the alphabet of the language. We know that the
word alphabet is derived from the names of the first two letters of
Greek. The term alphabet has no other meaning except to denote the set
of letters in the language. In contrast, the word "akshara" in Sanskrit
denotes something fundamental and significant. One of the direct
meanings of the word is that it denotes the set of letters of Sanskrit
from the first to the last. The word also means that the sound of the
letter does not ever get destroyed and thus signifies the eternal
quality of the sound of the letters. The consequence of this meaning is
that the sound of a word is essentially the sounds of the aksharas in
the word, a concept which will help simplify text to speech applications
with computers.
Source: Learn Sanskrit through self study, acharya.iitm.ac.in
|
