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Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)

by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words

This page relates ‘Kohala and Natya (2): Number of Angas of Natya� 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.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Kohala and Nāṭya (2): Number of Aṅgas of Nāṭya

सङ्ग्रहं दर्शयति—रसा भावा इत्यदिना � चशब्� इतिशब्दार्थे � अभिनयत्रयं गीतातोद्ये चेति पञ्चाङ्ग� नाट्यम� � नटस्� हि रसभावयोग� मरणादौ तत्त्वावेश� लयादिभङ्गश्च स्यात् � दृष्टस्त� तत्प्रत्यय� नट� भ्रम� � अनेन तु श्लोके� कोहलमतेनैकादशाङ्गत्वमुच्यत� � � तु भरते � तत्सङ्गृहीतस्याप� पुनरत्रोद्देशः � निर्देशे चैतत्क्रमव्यत्यसनादित्यौद्भटाः � नैतदित� भट्टलोल्लट� � रसभावानामप� वासनावेशवशेन नट� सम्भवादनुबन्धिबलाच्च लयाद्यनुसरणादन्तर्भूतस्याप� प्रयोजनवशे� पुनरुद्देशदर्शनात् क्रमस्� चाविवक्षितत्वादिति � वयन्त्वत्र तत्त्वमग्र� वितनिष्याम इत्यस्ता� तावत� �

ṅg� 岹śⲹپ ityadinā | caśabda itiśabdārthe | abhinayatraya� gītātodye ceti 貹ñṅg� ṭy | Բṭasya hi rasa屹yoge maraṇādau tattvāveśo layādibhṅgśca syāt | dṛṣṭastu tatpratyayo naṭe | anena tu ślokena kohalamatenaikādaśāṅgatvamucyate | na tu bharate | tatsaṅgṛhītasyāpi punaratroddeśa� | nirdeśe caitatkramavyatyasanādityaudbhaṭāḥ | naitaditi bhaṭṭalollaṭa� | rasa屹峾pi vāsanāveśavaśena naṭe sambhavādanubandhibalācca layādyanusaraṇādantarbhūtasyāpi prayojanavaśena punarܻśdarśanāt kramasya cāvivakṣitatvāditi | vayantvatra tattvamagre vitaniṣyāma ityastā� tāvat |

�(󾱲Բī, Commentary on 6.10, GOS Vol. I, p.258) 

This extract is a commentary on the following verse in ṭyśٰ:

रस� भावा ह्यभिनया धर्मीवृत्तिप्रवृत्तयः �
सिद्धिस्वरास्तथातोद्यं गानं रङ्गश्� संग्रह� � (न्स् �.१०)

屹 hyabhinayā 󲹰īṛtپpravṛttaya� |
siddhisvarāstathٴǻⲹ� Բ� ṅgśca saṃgraha� ||
(NS 6.10)

Abhinava explains that the term ṅg (which can also be called ܻś) includes the names of the subjects which are to be discussed in the work. According to the verse in ṭyśٰ mentioned above, these are as follows:

  1. rasa;
  2. ;
  3. abhinaya;
  4. 󲹰ī;
  5. ṛtپ;
  6. praṛtپ;
  7. siddhi;
  8. svara;
  9. ٴǻⲹ;
  10. Բ;
  11. ṅg;

In this context, Abhinava mentions the contradicting views of the ܻṭa (the followers of ṭa) and of ṭṭ Lollaṭa. The ܻṭa are of the opinion that only the three abhinayas (ṅg첹, 峦첹 and ٳٱ첹) along with īٲ and ٴǻⲹ can be called the ṅg of ṭy. They reason that if rasa, and such like are included as ṅg, it would imply that the actor personally experiences the different states such as ṇa. And further, such a situation would affect the tempo of the play. In actuality, our perception of the Բṭa and his emotional states is an illusion (bhrama). The ܻṭa say that this representation of ṭy as having eleven ṅg is the view of the school of Kohala but not of Bharata. Further they point out that the subjects mentioned herein are not enumerated in the future chapters of ṭyśٰ in this very same order. 

This view has been opposed by ṭṭ Lollaṭa, who reasons that a Բṭa can very well relish the rasas and 屹s due to practice, experience and other circumstantial forces, without impeding the flow and tempo of the play. Regarding the order of subjects, Lollaṭa feels that one subject can be enumerated at different places in the course of a grantha and also that the order mentioned in the ܻś and the order of subjects found in the grantha need not necessarily match. Abhinavagupta chooses to remain silent on this issue at this juncture but promises to elaborate on it at a later point. P. V. Kane however interprets this as a clear statement of Abhinavagupta’s disagreement with both the views of the ܻṭa and Lollaṭa.

On examination of the list of subjects, we find included terms such as rasa, etc. Rasa is the aim of ṭy and not an ṅg. It is interesting to note that while the term Բ, which would represent the whole gamut of music finds place in this list, the term svara has also been additionally used. Svara would normally be included as a part of Բ which might raise a question as to why it has been mentioned separately in this list. Perhaps in this context, the term svara connotes Բ and not the technical musical term meaning a note. When ṭy is looked at as a complete art form, īٲ, and abhinaya appear to be the logical elements or ṅg therein. Inclusion of the terms ṅg, ṛtپ etc. as ṅg appears to be unaesthetic. On this subject, V. Raghavan says that Kohala has only restated as eleven, the five ṅg of Bharata[1]. Manmohan Ghosh quotes ṭyśٰ 8.12 and refers to ṭy as having six ṅg. P. V. Kane refutes this theory on the ground that the reference in question i.e. ṭyśٰ 8.12 refers to ṅg󾱲Բⲹ and not to ṭy in general[2]

This verse found in ṭyśٰ is of vital importance in understanding the place and eminence enjoyed by Kohala. From this, it can be inferred that Kohala, even though was a contemporary of Bharata had independent views on the practice of ṭy. Furthermore his views have enjoyed much popularity, so much so that they have found their way into the ū text of ṭyśٰ itself, even before the time of Abhinavagupta (10th century C.E.).

V. Raghavan has mentioned the same thought when he says�

‘It appears also that the present text of ṭyśٰ of Bharata has incorporated into itself arts of earlier works and later works, chiefly Kohala’s among the latter. Evidences are not wanting to prove that part of Kohala’s text had entered and amplified the original of Bharata�[3]

The text of ṭyśٰ contains many Գܱṃśy śǰ첹 or verses of other eminent authors as part of its text and in the case of this particular verse i.e. ṭyśٰ 6.10, we come to know of its original author (i.e. Kohala) only through the commentary of Abhinavagupta. 

The presence of several Գܱṃśy śǰ첹 is proof enough to show that the text of ṭyśٰ contains interpolations of several authors. Even in the case of Kohala there is a considerable amount of textual material titled �pañcamodhyāya pariśiṣṭam� following the fifth chapter namely pūrvaṅg Բm

There is a colophon which clearly brings out the name of Kohala as the author

इत� भारतीये नाट्यशास्त्र� कौहलीयं पूर्वरङ्गविधान� ना� पञ्चमोऽध्याय—परिशिष्टम� �

iti bhāratīye ṭyśāstre kauhalīya� pūrvaṅgԲ� 貹ñ'ⲹpariśiṣṭam | [4]

However, there is some doubt regarding this section of text, due to which different editors of ṭyśٰ have chosen to either mention or omit the name of Kohala. As in this case, it is possible that there are other portions in the current text of ṭyśٰ which have been written by Kohala and not Bharata. But extent of the interpolations and the exact verses / passages in question can be ascertained only when the original work of Kohala comes to light.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Abhinavagupta and his Works: 1980: Chap.10: p.127

[2]:

History of Sanskrit Poetics: 1971: p.25

[3]:

Bhoja’s Śṛṅś: 1963: p. 519

[4]:

ṣṭⲹśٰ of Bharatamuni: 2006: Vol I: p. 217

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