Essay name: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
Author: A. D. Pusalker
This book studies Bhasa, the author of thirteen plays ascribed found in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series. These works largely adhere to the rules of traditional Indian theatrics known as Natya-Shastra.
Page 461 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
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441
cowherds used to offer oblations of food to Indra on the
occasion. Another special sport in which the herdsmen
took part was the Hallisaka. It was a circular dance
performed by women under the direction of one man or in
which the circle consisted of males and females alternately
arranged.
5 Wrestling was a favourite pastime and even princes
were fond of it." There were also tournaments in which
charming and accomplished maidens were the prize of the
victorious athlete. They appear to have been popular in
cities ruled by semi-republican governments like the
S膩kyakula. Garden parties were held in parks which
were, as already observed, the feature of cities in ancient
India, and youths of both sexes participated in them. Young
princesses also occasionally visited the parks with their
maids. The Kamadev膩nuyana or Kamadevamahotsava
was a festival connected with cupid in which young persons
mixed freely with maidens and these were the occasions
of many a love marriage. Maidens also participated
in the gosthis or social gatherings in which various
competitions connected with literature, versification, fine
arts, singing, painting, etc. were held; boisterous laughter,
humour, merriment and sports were what one met with in
these assemblies. Gos峁環ijanas, as already indicated,
appear to be different from these gosthis. The
Kamasutra mentions also 膩p膩nakas, i. e. drinking parties,
sam膩jas, i. e. regular festivals in temples on a fixed day
every fortnight when the permanent musicians, dancers,
and artistes employed by the temple gave performances
of their art in honour of the deity, etc.' Fights of an
unarmed individual with an elephant, something of the
gladiator, are only incidentally referred to; possibly the
royalty occasionally enjoyed such a sight. There was
also a festival in honour of the sage Agastya which was
celebrated on mount Malaya in which the Vidy膩dharas
took part.鈸�
CONVEYANCES.
In the Vedic age, horses, bullocks, camels and
chariots seem to have been the means of conveyance.
No
1 Bal, pp. 12, 55, Act V. 2 Bal, pp. 38-41; Pa帽c, pp. 49-50. 3 Of.
Pratij帽a, II. 13. 4 Chakladar, Social Life, p. 187; Cf. Avi, I. 9- 啶げ啷嵿げ啶� 啶い啶距啶距ぎ啶苦さ 啷�
[malla岣� pat膩k膩miva |
] 5 Cf. Car, pp. 23, 38, 45. 6 Cf. Chakladar, Social Life, pp. 164-167. 7 Of..
Social Life, pp. 162-163. 8 Cf. the fight of Damodara with an elephant in the Bal
and that of Avim膩raka in the Avi.
W
Avi, p. 63.
