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Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)

by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words

This page relates ‘Number of Kohalas and summary� of the thesis dealing with Kohala’s contribution to the Sanskrit textual tradition of ancient Indian performing arts. The study focuses specifically on music (Gita), dance (Nritya), and drama (Natya). Although Kohala’s original works have not been found, numerous references to him across Lakshana-Granthas (treatises) and works by modern scholars indicate his significance.

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Part 8-9 - Number of Kohalas and summary

As seen in the above para (1.7), there are several works that have been attributed to Kohala. These range over a period of nearly 2000 years. In addition, references in later ṣaṇaԳٳ󲹲 also provide valuable information on Kohala and his thoughts on various topics related to īٲ, ṛtⲹ and ṭy. When this entire picture is considered, it would raise a question as to whether all this information that is available, pertains to a single person, or is it possible that there existed more than one person with the name Kohala. Some modern scholars like R. Sathyanarayana have used phrases like ‘the earliest Kohala� which clearly indicates the latter[1]. A detailed study of the references and citations of Kohala that are seen in ṣaṇaԳٳ󲹲 (which are dealt with in detail in chapters 2&3) would help to establish a concrete theory. This discussion will be taken up later.

ṭyśٰ is not the only ṣaṇaԳٳ that speaks of Kohala. Several other works through time, like ṛhśī of Ѳٲṅg, Saṅīٲratnākara of Śṅg𱹲, Saṅīٲrāja of Mahārāṇa Kumbha, Saṅīٲnārāyaṇa of ʳܰṣoٳٲ Ѿś, Saṅīٲsārāmṛta of Tulaja and others have made references and quoted citations from Kohala. The subjects spoken of in these works also display characteristics of the practices that were current in their times. This coupled with other factors raise doubts as to whether Kohala seen through time was a single entity, or many different hands created different Kohala-s who appear in different ṣaṇaԳٳ󲹲. A detailed study of the references to Kohala and consequently the issues raised above, has been made in chapters 2 and 3. 

As mentioned earlier, Kohala has been referred to both in primary and secondary sources (for details refer table on p.17). The secondary sources point to a Kohala who was earlier in time. Therefore, the secondary sources are taken up first for discussion in the 2nd and 3rd chapters. Kohala in the primary sources will be taken up in the fourth chapter. Appendix 1 contains all the references and citations of Kohala that are found in standard ṣaṇaԳٳ󲹲 in roman script. These have been presented in the chronological order of works in which these references appear. Appendix 2 contains the direct quotations of Kohala found in these works. These quotations have been classified under heads like ‘the earliest Kohala�, ‘later Kohala� and so on. Through this appendix one can get a glimpse of the ‘words of Kohala� as shown to us by later ṣaṇa. In the next chapter, the individual references/ citations of Kohala have been taken up and studied in detail.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

󾱲Բ󲹰ٲṅg:1960: Intro: p.LVII

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