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 464 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
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444
with the Buddhist and the Mauryan age points to a
proximate period for our poet. There were different
carriages for different occasions. Gentlemen used covered
cars. Pravahanas were used for the procession of the
bridegroom as also for high class ladies and prostitutes;
they had cushions within them. Sibik膩s or palanquins
borne by servants were for the use of princesses royal.
Vadh奴yanas were the carriages used for marriage
ceremonies and the pusyaratha was requisitioned for
pompous royal procession on the occasion of Coronation.
Horses used to be ridden for long journeys. Bullocks
also used to draw carts and they were used as beasts of
burden. No mention is made of camels nor of roads,
their condition, etc. There are also no particulars given
about maritime trade and navigation. Ships are
mentioned only in some similes.
POPULAR BELIEFS AND SUPERSTITIONS.
Belief in magic, amulets, omens, etc., is found among
the Vedic Indians also, in common with all the ancient
people of the world. Amulets are to be seen among the
finds at Mohenjo-Daro also.
We have already referred to the belief in magic of
the people of the period of our plays. People believed
that through the power of magic one could disappear, or
assume various forms or change one's countenance, or
produce water from the mountains, etc. Kautilya has
mentioned devices enabling persons to cause sleep,
blindness or delusion to others, to be invisible, to open
doors, etc. Avim膩raka in the Avim膩raka and Sajjalaka
in the Carudatta achieved their objects through practising
the precepts of ancient writers on such sciences. There
was belief in the infallibility and certainty of the curses
pronounced by sages, and even kings tried to bring the
fulfilment of the curses. Curse sometimes was believed
to assume human form. Not only curses, but hints and
advice of revered sages were implicitly obeyed and their
propriety, wisdom or religiosity was not questioned.'
Amulets were prepared to ward off danger.
5 It was
5 Cf. Sauvirar膩ja in
7 Avi, pp. 103, 107-
8 Pratij帽膩, pp. 4, 16-
1 Cf. Vatsaraja in Pratij帽膩 Act I. 2 Car, pp. 39, 70. 3 Arthas茫stra,
Adhikarana XIV in general. 4 Avi, p. 46; Car, pp. 74-77.
the Avi, and Kaikeyi in the Prat. 6 Bal, pp. 22-23.
啶ㄠた啶粪啶啶班い啶苦さ啶氞え啶啶粪た啶掂啶ㄠぎ啷� ( [ni峁rativacanam峁涐梗ivacanam (] p. 103 ) 啶ぁ啶苦啷嵿啶灌た啶︵ 啶囙じ啶苦さ啶｀ ( [pa岣峣ggahida峁� isiva峁嘺峁� (] p. 107)
:
'啶啶班い啶苦じ啶班ぞ [辫谤补迟颈蝉补谤腻] ' 啷�
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