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Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)

by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words

This page relates ‘Citations of Kohala in the Sangitaraja� 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.

Part 16 - Citations of Kohala in the ṅgīٲᲹ

SangītaᲹ (1456 C.E.) of Mahārāṇa Kumbha contains a number of references to Kohala. While discussing the 屹岹ś-svara ū󲹲 (ref.para 2.1.4.2), Kumbha says that he does not agree with Kohala in this context and goes to explain that Kohala has followed Ѳٲṅg in this instance. In fact, it is quite the other way around. It is Ѳٲṅg who cites the authority of Kohala while explaining the 屹岹ś-svara ū󲹲, thereby making these particular entries on Kohala contradictory and confusing. Subsequently, Kohala’s opinion that 峾īī ṣ� is ܱṅg as opposed to Dattila who holds it to be ṣāṅga is mentioned (ref.para 2.1.8). 峾īī has been listed under the ṣaṅg by Śṅg𱹲 and has been explained by Kallinātha. The mention of Dattila and Kohala together in this instance is worthy of mention. Dattila is well established as an author who confined his work to the field of Ի󲹰. The concepts of 岵ṅg, ṅg, ṣāṅga and ܱṅg belong unmistakably to the śī tradition. This again is a confusing reference. Then the alternate names of the śܳپ namely śܳپ, īپ, , and ū are listed. 

The ṛtⲹٲԲś contains the list of nine breathing techniques mentioned in ṅgīٲٲ첹 along with their explanations (ref.para 2.2.7). There are also long quotations from Ծ of Kallinātha. Kumbha cites quotations on madhupa cārīs and kara ٲ from ṅgīٲ of Kohala while acknowledging the fact that he has drawn his material from Kallinātha’s work. As seen above, a delineation of these subjects (ܱ貹ī and ٲ) and the nine breathing techniques is also found in Aśokamalla’s ṛtⲹ

Though there is common material to be found between ṃgīٲ- and ṛtⲹ with respect to the nine techniques of breathing. The names of the varieties match exactly except for one which is called prabaddha in ṅgīٲraja and ṛd in ṛtⲹ. Further, the verses explaining these are also different. The list of the nine varieties beyond doubt was spoken of by Kohala as it is seen repeatedly in three works namely, ṅgīٲٲ첹, ṛtⲹ and ṅgīٲ-Ჹ. But the same cannot be said of the śǰ첹 explaining these. First of all the explanations are not to be found in ṅgīٲٲ첹. Secondly those in ṛtⲹ and ṅgīٲᲹ are different. Therefore it is probable that the explanations for the nine types of breathing techniques were supplied by the respective authors of these works and was not a contribution of Kohala. The Kohala perceived by Kumbha seems to bear strong links to ṅgīٲٲ첹 and Ծ. Except the reference to 屹岹ś-svara-ū󲹲 and the names of śܳپ, all citations lead to either of these works. The significant aspect about this work is that it is one of the few books that represent a strain that is found repeated in other ṣaṇaԳٳ󲹲.

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