Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)
by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words
This page relates ‘Kohala and Nritya (2): Varieties of Tandava and Lasya� 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 Nṛtya (2): Varieties of Tāṇḍava and Lāsya
अञ्चितादिः करणविशेष� � � � वक्ष्यते � कोहलोक्त� नृत्तविशेष� डोम्भिका भाणिकादयस्तूक्ता एव � नारदसंहिताया� तु पुंनृत्य� ताण्डव� प्रोक्तं स्त्रीनृत्यं लास्यमुच्यते � इत� साधारण्येनोक्तम् � कि� � प्रेरणी बहुरूपत्वे� ताण्डवस्� द्वैविध्यम� � स्फुरितयौवतरूपतय� लास्यस्य द्वैविध्यं � भरतकोहलादिप्राचीनाचार्यैराधुनिकै� शार्ङ्गदेवादिभिरपि � लिखितम� �.....
añcitādi� 첹ṇaviśeṣa� | sa ca vakṣyate | kohaloktā ṛtٲviśeṣ� ḍombhikā ṇidayastūktā eva | nāradasaṃhitāyā� tu puṃnṛtya� ṇḍ� ǰٲ� strīnṛtya� ⲹmucyate | iti sādhāraṇyenoktam | ki� ca ṇ� bahurūpatvena ṇḍsya dvaividhyam | sphuritayauvatarūpatayā ⲹsya dvaividhya� ca bharatakohalādiprācīnācāryairādhunikai� śārṅgadevādibhirapi na likhitam |.....
�(ṅgīٲⲹṇa, Vol. II, p.418 & 420)
ʳܰṣoٳٲ Miśrā refers to Kohala when he defines the term ṛtٲ. He says:
नृत्तं चापि त्रिधा प्रोक्तं विषम� विकट� लघ� �
विषम� तत्समुद्दिष्टं यद्रज्जुभ्रमणादिकम� � ३१ �
विरूपवेषावयवव्यापारं विकट� मतम् �
उपेत� करणैरल्पैरञ्चिताद्यैरलघु स्मृतम� � ३२ �ṛtٲ� 辱 ٰ ǰٲ� ṣa� 첹ṭa� laghu |
ṣa� tatsamuddiṣṭa� yadrajjubhramaṇādikam || 31 ||
virūpaveṣāvayavavyāpāra� 첹ṭa� matam |
upeta� 첹ṇairalpairañcitādyairalaghu smṛtam || 32 ||(Trans: վṣa, 첹ṭa and laghu are again three varieties of ṛtٲ. That is known as ṣa which is marked by walking on ropes. վ첹ṭa is known to employ ludicrous form, dress and action. Laghu is presented with a few 첹ṇa such as ñٲ etc.)[1]
Here, the author explains that the term �ñٲ� refers to a particular variety of 첹ṇa which is to be explained. The variety of ṛtٲ called �laghu� is the same as the varieties of ṛtٲ such as ḍo, ṇi etc., which are spoken of by Kohala. These forms (ḍo, ṇi) are commonly known as minor forms of drama called ܱ貹ū貹첹. They are varieties of plays where the elements of music and dance are very dominant. Even though that be the case, it is not strange that these are being called �ṛtٲ-śṣa� (translated by Mandakranta Bose as ‘specific dances�). What is relevant here to Kohala is that ʳܰṣoٳٲ Miśrā mentions that he (Kohala) has explained forms such as ḍo, ṇi and others.
ʳܰṣoٳٲ Miśrā speaks of the classification of ṛtٲ that is found in 岹ṃh, where it has been said that the dance of a male is called ṇḍ and dance of a female is ⲹ. He points out that this classification is of a very general nature and goes on to explain that ṇḍ is again of two types�ṇ� and ܰū. Here he mentions that the two types of ⲹ, namely sphurita and yauvata have not been explained by ancient 峦ⲹ like Bharata and Kohala as well as by new (later) authorities like Śṅg𱹲.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
ṅgٲⲹṇa: 2009: Vol. II: p.419