Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)
by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words
This page relates ‘Introduction and Source of the Kauhaliyashiksha� 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.
Part 6.1 - Introduction and Source of the Kauhalīaśṣ�
The Vedas are a comprehensive body of sacred literature that have guided the Indian way of life for millennia. These texts have been preserved in their pristine form over time, by the study and application of many special techniques. The vedas have six auxiliary śٰ, also called the ṣaḍaṅg (six limbs) which a student has to master before he is said to be a proficient. These are Śṣ� (phonetics), ղ첹ṇa (grammar), Nirukta (Etymology), Chandas (Meter) and dzپṣa (Astronomy), Kalpa (Ritual). Of these, śṣ� enjoys the pride of place, due to the paramount importance that ancient Indians placed on phonetics and phonology. It can be said that it is because of the level of perfection that has been achieved in śṣ� that Vedic recitation has been preserved intact, over such a long period of time, in a country of such vast geographical proportions, and a people of such diversity.
Mantras, when broken down into their basic elements, are made up of letters and sounds. Śṣ� is the technical study of these letters, their sounds, accents, pronunciations and intonations, ٰ- of the alphabets and such like. They also deal with the way the Vedas are to be taught and learnt. Each of the Vedas has its own set of śṣ� texts which prescribe rules relating to the study of its contents.
There also exists a body of literature called the ʰپś. There is a very thin line that separates śṣ� and پś texts. While śṣās are texts on general phonetics, پśs are believed to be more in the order of applied phonetics. Though پś texts contain most of the information available in śṣ�, there are still some aspects such as accents, relations between vowels and consonants and such like which are rarely seen in پśs. In fact, many commentators on پśs have relied on śṣ� texts for minute knowledge of phonetic principles.
There are several śṣ� texts that belong to the four Vedas. Some of the prominent ones are, Pāṇinīa Śṣ�, ṣṭī Śṣ�, Māṇḍūkī Śṣ�, Kātyāyanī Śṣ�, Pārāśarī Śṣ�, Nāradīā Śṣ� etc. Some like Nāradīā Śṣ�, due to their association with the 峾 Veda, speak of musical aspects in great detail. There exists one Śṣ� text titled Kauhalīaśṣ� which belongs to the Yajur Veda that claims an association with Kohala.
1 Source of the Text
The text of Kauhalīaśṣ� has been edited (based on Manuscript -MD 893) by Sadhu Ram and has been published in the ‘Journal of Vedic Studies�, edited by Dr. Raghuvira. It has also been reprinted in the book titled ‘Vedic Studies—A collection of Research Papers of Dr. Raghuvira�, edited by Mrs. Sharada Rani.
2 Contents of Kauhalīaśṣ�
Kauhalīaśṣ� is a small work consisting of eighty one Գṣṭܱ verses. Unlike some Śṣ� texts like Vyāsa Śṣ�, this work has not been divided into chapters.
It is a common practice for Śṣ� texts to begin with the statement—�atha śṣāṃ ṣy峾.........�
Kauhalīaśṣ� too begins the same way:
अथ शिक्षा� प्रवक्ष्यामि कौहलीयमतानुगाम्
atha śṣāṃ ṣy峾 kauhalīamatānugām
This is followed by the definitions and the different qualities (ṛḍ, ṛdܳ, sthaulyam, etc.) associated with the four svaras (accents) namely ܻٳٲ, anܻٳٲ, svarita and pracaya. Subsequently, the names of the ‘seven varieties of the svarita svaras� and their definitions are given.
The names of the svaritas mentioned are�
It is interesting to note that these varieties of svarita are also found in Nāradīā Śṣ�. However, there are some minor differences.
For instance, the note called nitya is called ٲⲹ and the note called pratihata is called پDZ峾 in the Nāradīā Śṣ�.
जात्यः क्षैप्रोभिनिहितस्तैरव्यञ्ज� एव � � तिरोविरामः प्रश्लिष्ट� पादवृत्तश्� सप्तमः � �.�.१० �
ٲⲹ� kṣaiprobhinihitastairavyañjana eva ca | پDZ峾� śṣṭ� 岹ṛtٲś ٲ� || 1.8.10 ||
—Nāradīā Śṣ�: 1986: p. 50
Apart from the Vedic svaras Prathama, ٱīⲹ, ṛtīⲹ, Caturtha, Mandra, ṣṭ and پ, the Nāradīā Śṣ� also names of the seven svaras used in music£ Ṣaḍj, Ṛṣ, Ի, Madhyama, ʲñ, Dhaivata and ṣād which can also be found in the second 첹ṇḍ. But it must be borne in mind that the Nāradīā Śṣ� belongs to the 峾 veda and therefore music/ singing related topics become part and parcel of its content. ܳīⲹśṣa however, belongs to the Yajur veda and hence does not need to deal with subjects relating to predominantly musical practices.
The enumeration of the svaras is followed by an explanation of the seven varieites of the svarita svara, kampa, vikrama svara, nine types of svara-combinations in words (padānām svaralakṣṇam), hasta-svara-Բ and ٰlakṣṇam.
3 Significance of Kauhalīaśṣ�
The Kauhalīaśṣ� is recognized as an important work on Śṣ�. In the Siddhānta-śṣ�-, ŚīԾ places this work fifth while delineating the nine important Śṣ� texts.
भारद्वाज-व्या�-पारि-शम्भ�-कौहल-हारी�-बोधायन-वासिष्�-वाल्मीकि
Raguvira also quotes three verses listing the most important works on Śṣ� and which mention the work of Kauhali in the eighth place therein.
प्रथमं व्यासशिक्ष� तु लक्ष्मीशिक्षा द्वितीयकम् �
भारद्वाजी तृतीया तु शिक्षारण्य तुरीयकम् �
पञ्चमं शम्भुशिक्ष� षष्ठ� चापिशल� तथ� �
सप्तमं पाणिणेश्शिक्षा अष्टमं कौहलेस्तथा �
वासिष्ठशिक्ष� नवमी नवशिक्षा� प्रकीर्तिता� �ٳ� śṣ� tu lakṣmīśṣ� dvitīakam |
屹ī ṛtī tu śṣārṇya turīakam ||
貹ñ� śśṣ� ṣaṣṭ� cāpiśala� tathā |
ٲ� pāṇiṇeśśṣ� ṣṭ� kauhalestathā ||
ṣṭśṣ� Բī navaśṣāḥ īپ� |
Kauhalīaśṣ� has been quoted by later authors in their works. For instance, in a commentary on ղٳپīⲹ-پś titled Vaidikābharṇa, V. 57 and 75 have been quoted.
The latter quotation has been introduced with the words�
अनुवाकादीना� समाप्तिष� विरामकाल� शिक्षाया� स्मर्यते �.
anuvākādīnā� samāptiṣu virāma� śṣāyā� smaryate |. [1]
Dr. Raghuvira mentions another commentary on the ղٳپīⲹ-پś titled հṣyٲԲ which refers to the views of Kauhaleya.
एवमे� कौहलेय आह—द्वयो� पूर्वो अणुमात्रिकास्त्रिष� पूर्वावणुमात्रिकावुत्तरः प्रकृत्येत�
evameva kauhaleya āha�dvayo� pūrvo ṇumātrikāstriṣu pūrvāvṇumātrikāvuttara� prakṛtyeti
The same work also has another reference:
तथ� कोहलीये हस्तविन्याससमयेऽपि
स्वरितप्रचययोरन्तरावृत्तिरुपदिश्यते�
उदात्तमाख्याति वृषो अङ्गुलीना� प्रदेशिनीमूलनिविष्टमूर्धा �
उपान्तमध्य� स्वरित� धृतं � कनिष्ठठिकायामनुदात्तमे� �
शिक्षावचनमपि चै� वक्ष्यते�
कनिष्ठकानामिका � मध्यमा � प्रदेशिनी �
नीचस्वराधृतोदात्तानङ्गुष्ठाग्र� निर्दिशेत् �tathā kohalīe hastaԲsamaye'pi
ٲⲹǰԳٲ屹ṛtپܱ貹徱śⲹٱ�
ܻٳٲmākhyāti vṛṣo aṅgulīnā� śīmūlaniviṣṭamūrdhā |
ܱԳٲ ٲ� ṛt� ca kaniṣṭhaṭhikāyāmanܻٳٲmeva ||
śṣāvacanamapi caiva vakṣyate�
kaniṣṭhakānāmikā ca ⲹ ca śī |
nīcasvarādhṛtodāttānaṅguṣṭhāgre nirdiśet ||[2]
It is interesting to note that the latter verse is found verbatim in the text of Kauhalīaśṣ� as verse no.37, and the former is not.
4 Kohala as the author of Kauhalīaśṣ�
Regarding the true name of the author of this work, there seems to be some uncertainty. Some possible names that arise are Kohala, Kauhala, Kauhalīa, Kauhaleya and Kauhaliputra. At the outset it must be understood that this work (i.e. Kauhalīaśṣ�) has not directly been composed by any of these authorities. This work represents the versified presentation of his views.[3] Here an attempt is made to determine whether this work is connected to Kohala.
The title of this work Kauhalīaśṣ� can be interpreted as �Kauhalīasya Śṣā�(The Śṣ� of Kauhalīa). Some possible grammatical derivations for the name ‘Kauhalīa� are given below. These are based on the ūٰ from ṇiԾ’s ṣṭī.
i. If the word that is to be derived should mean a book/work composed by the subject (), the following derivation is to be used.
Step No. | ūٰ | Meaning | Derivation |
i. | kṛte granthe (4.3.116) | � pratyaya along with 徱 ṛd is added to the base | kauhala +a(�) |
ii. | yasyeti ca (6.4.148) | The first is elided | kauhal + a |
iii. | ḍyāp prātipadikāt | Addition of sup | |
Ჹ�..... | 첹ܳ� |
The compound word that means ‘a work of Kohala� would have the form �ܳ��.
ii. If the word that is to be derived should mean ‘spoken by� (views of) the subject, the following derivation is to be used.
Step No. | ūٰ | Meaning | Derivation |
i. | tena ǰٲ��(4.3.101) | cha pratyaya is to be added | kohala + cha |
ii. | āyaneyīnīiya� pha-ḍh-kha-cha-ghā� pratyayādīnām (7.1.2) | cha pratyaya is replaced by ī | kohala + ī |
iii. | yasyeti ca (6.4.148) | The first is elided | kohal + ī |
iv. | Ჹ�..... | Addition of sup | kohalīa� |
The taddhita word that means ‘the opinions spoken of by� Kohala would have the form �Kohalīa��.
If Kohala is assumed to be the author of this work, then neither of the first two mentioned formations would give us the required form�kauhalīa�. �kohalena ṛt� Գٳ�� would result in the form �첹ܳ�� and kohalena ǰٲ� would result in the form �kohalīa�� and not kauhalīa�. Therefore on the basis of the grammatical derivations of the words in the title, it can be said that Kohala is not the author of this work. That being the case, a question arises as to whether there is at least an indirect connection between Kauhalīaśṣ� and Kohala. To answer this, the taddhita forms in 貹ٲٳ are being examined.
iii. If the word that is to be derived should mean ‘offspring of� the subject (), the following derivations are to be used.
Step No. | ūٰ | Meaning | Derivation |
i. | ٲ貹ٲⲹ (4.1.92) | Addition of � pratyaya after the base word | kohala + a(�) |
ii. | ٲٱṣv峾� (7.2.117) | 徱 ṛd | kauhala + a |
iii. | yasyeti ca (6.4.148) | The first is elided | kauhal + a |
iv. | Ჹ�..... | Addition of sup | 첹ܳ� |
If the 貹ٲٳ is taken into consideration, then the form that will arise as a result of combining the words kohalasya 貹ٲⲹ� will be 첹ܳ�.
There is another taddhita form which can be obtained in the 貹ٲٳ. The derivation is as follows:
Step No. | ūٰ | Meaning | Derivation |
i. | ata iñ (4.1.95) | iñ pratyaya is to be added after the base word | kohala +i(ñ) |
ii. | ٲٱṣv峾� (7.2.117) | 徱 ṛd | kauhala + i |
iii. | yasyeti ca (6.4.148) | The first is elided | kauhal + i |
iv. | Ჹ�..... | Addition of sup | 첹ܳ� |
Thus a second possible form if the 貹ٲٳ taddhita is performed is �ܳ��.&Բ;
Yet another taddhita form in 貹ٲٳ is derived thus:
Step No. | ūٰ | Meaning | Derivation |
i. | śubhr徱bhyaśca (4.1.123) | ḍhk pratyaya is to be added after the base word | kohala +ḍh(k) |
ii. | kiti ca (7.2.118) | 徱 ṛd | kauhala + ḍh |
iii. | āyaneyīnīiya� pha-ḍh-kha-cha-ghā� pratyayādīnām (7.1.2) | ḍh pratyaya is replaced by ey | kauhala + ey |
iv. | yasyeti ca (6.4.148) | The first is elided | kauhal + ey |
v. | Ჹ�..... | Addition of sup | 첹ܳⲹ� |
�kohalasya 貹ٲⲹ�� would result in one of three forms namely—ܳḥ, ܳ� or 첹ܳⲹ� (son of Kohala). If the forms ܳ� or ܳ� (meaning ‘offspring of Kohala) are subjected to the ūٰ ‘Tena proktam� (Ref. Para 2), then the taddhita form kauhalīa� (Meaning-that which is spoken by the son of Kohala) can be obtained. If the title of this work �Kauhalīaśṣ�� is treated as a ⲹ—�Kauhalīā ca asau śṣ� ca� then grammatically, this work can be interpreted as being that of ‘the son of Kohala�. Therefore it can be said that from the vyākarṇa perspective, there does not seem to be much of a connection between the name Kohala and Kauhalīaśṣ�.
V. Raghavan refers to a Kauhalīa, as one of the 18 sages who wrote Śṣ� granthas. He also states that this Kauhalīa is probably the son of Kohala the ṭy峦ⲹ.[4] (In that case a simple ٲٱܰṣa —�Kauhalīasya śṣ�� would suffice to explain the title of this work.) R. Satyanarayana also opines that the author of Kauhalīaśṣ� is different from that of Kohala. It is interesting to note that there is a set of about 40 verses that appear after the 5th chapter (ūṅg Բ), which bear a colophon attributing these verses to Kohala.
Here, the form ‘Kauhalīa� seems to have been used:
इत� भारतीये नाट्यशास्त्र� कौहलीयं पूर्वरङगविधानं ना� पञ्चमोध्या�-परिशिष्टम् �
iti bhāratīe nāṭyaśāstre kauhalīa� pūrvaraṅagaԲ� 峾 貹ñǻⲹ-pariśiṣṭam ||
�ṭyśٰ of Bharatamuni: 2006: Vol. I: 217
Raghuvira mentions an opinion found in the ղٳپīⲹ-پś which refers to the views of a phonetician called ܳīٰܳ�
तीव्रतरमानुनासिक्यमनुस्वारोत्तमेष्विति शैत्ययनः � सम� सर्वत्रेति कौहलीपुत्रः � (१७.�.�)
tīvrataramānunāsikyamanusvārottameṣviti śaityayana� | � sarvatreti 첹ܳīٰܳ� | (17.1.2)
It is noteworthy that the opinions mentioned there do not match with the present work of Kauhalīaśṣ�. The New Catalogus Catalogorum mentions ‘ܳīٰܳ�-s� as being a Vedic school mentioned in the ղٳپīⲹ Prātiśākhyā (17.2)[5]. The Śatapatha Brāhmṇa refers to a name�Kahola (2.4.3.1), the ṻ첹 mentions a Aryala� Kāholi�, 辱ṣṭ-첹ṻ- mentions a Ayala� Kāphoḍi� (39.5:218.5) and the Śiv徱gṇa of ṇiԾ mentions a ḍa and a Kohaḍa together.[6]
The different variant names are as follows:
- Kohala;
- dzḍa;
- Kahola;
- ḍa;
- DZ�;
- ḍi�;
- Kauhalīa;
- Kauhaleya;
- ܳīٰܳ;
It is noteworthy that such differences in the names are found only in works dealing with phonetics, grammar and other linguistic aspects. Works on ṭy seem to uniformly use the name—Kohala to refer to the ٲ峦ⲹ.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Vedic Studies-A collection of Research papers: 1981
[2]:
Vedic Studies-A collection of Research papers: 1981.
[3]:
The work begins with the statement—�atha śṣāṃ ṣy峾 kauhalīamatānugām�
[4]:
Collected Writings on Indian Music: 2007: p.122
[5]:
New Catalogus Catalogorum: 1969: Vol. I: p.98
[6]:
Vedic Studies-A collection of Research papers: 1981: p.390