Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)
by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words
This page relates 鈥楢uthor and Date of Kohalarahasyam鈥� of the thesis dealing with Kohala鈥檚 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鈥檚 original works have not been found, numerous references to him across Lakshana-Granthas (treatises) and works by modern scholars indicate his significance.
Part 1(b).3 - Author and Date of Kohalarahasyam
In the case of Kohalarahasya [Kohalarahasyam], there is a clear colophon indicating the title Kohalarahasyam and the concerned material being the thirteenth chapter of this work. To further support this argument, even the manuscripts of Kohalamatam contain a reference to the work Kohalarahasyam鈥斺赌�iti p奴rvakohalarahasyam鈥�. However, since the entire work is unavailable, and that Kohalarahasyam completely matches the material in Kohalamatam it is unclear as to the authenticity of the work Kohalarahasyam.
In addition to this, the name Kohala-rahasya [Kohalarahasyam] also appears in the commentary of 碍耻峁弓补苍墨尘补迟补尘 of 顿腻尘辞诲补谤补 Gupta where Kohala is said to be the author of this work (Kohalarahasyam).
啶曕啶灌げ啶ぐ啶む 啶ㄠぞ啶熰啶ぞ啶氞ぞ啶班啶, 啶むい啷嵿ぐ 啶曕啶灌げ啶� 啶ぐ啶むお啷佮い啷嵿ぐ啶� 啶曕啶灌げ啶班す啶膏啶啶班啶むぞ 啷� 啶むう啷佮啷嵿い啶� 啶むい啷嵿ぐ啷堗さ鈥�
啶膏啶栢啶さ啶苦し啷嵿啶� 啶掂ぐ啶︵ 啶曕啶灌げ啶� 啶ぐ啶むぞ啶む啶啶 啷�
啶曕啶むぞ啶炧啶溹げ啶苦お啷佮啷� 啶啶む啶掂ぞ 啶い啶權啶椸 啶ぐ啶苦お啷冟啷嵿啶むた 啷� - 啶囙い啶�kohalabharatau n膩峁瓂膩c膩ryau, tatra 办辞丑补濒补岣� 产丑补谤补迟补辫耻迟谤补岣� kohalarahasyakart膩 | tadukta峁� tatraiva鈥�
蝉耻办丑辞辫补惫颈峁ａ弓补峁� 惫补谤补诲补峁� 办辞丑补濒补峁� bharat膩tmajam |
k峁泃膩帽jalipu峁璷 bh奴tv膩 mata峁単a岣� parip峁沜chati || - iti鈥敯茚弓峁共阅静钩俨钩� of 顿腻尘辞诲补谤补gupta: 1991: p.16
Kohala being the author of this work, is arguable. Firstly, the Kohala-惭补迟补峁単补-蝉补峁僾腻诲补, as discussed above, points towards the possibility of Kohala 鈥榥ot鈥� being the author of this work. This is because it appears unlikely that Kohala would write a book where he makes himself a party to the converstion, by means of which his work is being presented. Secondly, the subjects that are being dealt with here (i.e. classification of 谤腻驳补蝉鈥�into 蝉奴谤测腻峁兣沘 and 肠补苍诲谤补尘腻峁兣沘 etc.), is a medieval one and finally, verses from works such as 厂补峁単墨迟补尘补办补谤补苍诲补 and 厂补峁単墨迟补蝉补尘补测补蝉腻谤补 which belong to the 12th -16th century C.E. contain common text with Kohalararahasyam.
Based on the above facts, it can be said that the Kohala, who is known to have been a contemporary of Bharata and who lived somewhere between 2nd century B.C.E. and 2nd century C.E. is not the author of either Kohalamatam or Kohalarahasyam. However, it is possible that this work was written by another person who had the name / title-Kohala. Further the concepts being dealt with are medieval ones.