Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study)
by Debabrata Barai | 2014 | 105,667 words
This page relates ‘Rajashekhara’s Discussion on Daily Routine� of the English study on the Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara: a poetical encyclopedia from the 9th century dealing with the ancient Indian science of poetics and rhetoric (also know as alankara-shastra). The Kavya-mimamsa is written in eighteen chapters representing an educational framework for the poet (kavi) and instructs him in the science of applied poetics for the sake of making literature and poetry (kavya).
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 5 - Ჹś’s Discussion on Daily Routine
[Full title: Ჹś’s Discussion on daily routine and duties of a poet and a king (Introduction)]
屹īⲹ Ჹś elaborately discusses about the matter of Kavi- and Ჹ- (Deliberation and duties of a poet and a king) in the tenth chapter of his Kāvyamīmāṃsā In this portion he basically followed the instruction of Vātsyāyaṇa’s 峾ūٰ and ṭiⲹ’s ٳśٰ. Ჹś seems the first ṃk첹 who has to introduce the topic of Kavi- and Ჹ- (daily routine and duties of a poet and a king) in the connection of Sanskrit poetics. In this part of Ჹś’s Kāvyamīmāṃsā, we have also seen the reflection and influences of ٲⲹԲ’s 峾ūٰ and ṭiⲹ’s ٳśٰ.
By the study of Ჹś’s poetical works Kāvyamīmāṃsā; we can be imagining some of the matter of ancient Indian history, basically in this time when he was lived. In this period, the whole country was under the rule of different royal dynasties and the kavi (poets) and ṛdⲹ (literary critics) had to depend on their patronage king. Some of the cases kavi (poets) were demonstrated by king to write their 屹ⲹ (poetry) with highlighting elucidating or eulogizing the valour and virtue of their patronage kings. However, Ჹś also think that, a kavi (poet) should be always free in his thought, imagination and activities, though kavi (poet) is somehow or other bound all purposes with their patronage king’s. Because, a kavi (poet) who avail all the facilities in this world and get honour in a royal court, thus he may be inclined to write their works for the pleasing to his patronage king. We are also the witness in the Indian tradition of this kinds of literary work, where many of the works are gives the description of patronage kings i.e. Harṣacarita of Bāṇabhatta.
About the matter of personality of a kavi (poet) given by Ჹś , which may be derived from the description of 岵첹’s daily routine and duties which is found in the 峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ and the personality of kings which is elucidate in the ṭiⲹ’s Artaśāstra.
There Ჹś says that, an aspirant poet or students of poetics should be always well-equipped and study the վ (important branches of knowledge) and 貹- (subsidiary branches of knowledge) should devote energy for the art of poetic composition.
C.f.
‘gṛhītavidyopavidya� 屹ⲹkriyāyai prayateta| 峾ٳpārāyaṇe, Բś�,
chandoviciti�, ṅkٲԳٰ� ca 屹ⲹḥ| 첹stu catuḥṣaṣṭirupaḥ�- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Ჹś: Ch-X, Pp- 49
Ჹś’s this type of concepts similar with the instruction of a person in the Vatsayana’s 峾ūٰ. Where ٲⲹԲ says, a person be well-versed in all types of knowledge, after getting married, he should enter into the family life.[1] To Ჹś, means, the study of �峾ٳ�. (Grammar), �Բś� (lexicon), �chandoviciti� (prosody) and �ṅkٲԳٰ� (poetics) etc. There he also included the sixty-four branches of fine arts of interest to the kavi (poet). [see notes below] In this matter mentioned in ancient ṃk첹s, while they are describing the different aspects of Vyutpatti. Sixty-four 첹’s (arts) are mention ٲⲹԲ in his 峾ūٰ uses here as the Upa- (subsidiary branches of knowledge)[2]. However, 峦ⲹ 峾Բ define 첹’s (arts) among the principal s.
In the �峾Գ� commentary of 峾Բ’s Kāvyālaṃkārasūṭra-ṛtپ, Pandit ҴDZԻپ貹ܱ incorporated another set of sixty-four 첹’s (art) and one hundred-four Upa-첹s (subsidiary-arts).
C.f.
‘첹ḥ nṛtyagītādayaścatuḥṣaṣṭiḥ| upa첹ścatuḥśatam |
첹nāmudś� kṛto bhāmahena � ṛtⲹ� īٲ� tathā vādyamālekhya� maṇibhūmikāḥ�- Kāvyālaṃkārasūṭra-ṛtپ of 峾Բs (峾Գ commentary): Ch -I/3/7
In addition to these well-acquaintance with poet who is patronized by good men (ś-vartta), knowledge of geographical regions (vidagdha-岹), social incidents, social and economical condition of country, assemblies of scholars, works of ancient writers (purātan kavi nibandha) and popular local beliefs (loka-ٰ) are the another subsequence aids to making poetry.
C.f.
‘sujanopajīvyakavisannidhi�, śvārtā, vidagdhavādo,
lokaٰ, vidvadgoṣṭh yaśca 屹ⲹmātara� purātanakavinibandhāśca �- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Ჹś: Ch-X, Pp- 49
Therefore, Ჹś also says about the eight ‘屹ⲹmātara� (mother of poesy). This is:
‘svāsthya� پ'bhyāso bhaktirvidvatkathā bahuśrutatā |
smṛtidārḍh yamanirvedaśca mātaro'ṣṭau kavitvasya || �- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Ჹś: Ch-X, Pp- 49
Means:
“Good health, پ (poetic genius), (practice), bhakti (devotion), 屹 (advice of scholar), commerce with the learned knowledge of various subjects, retentive memory and enthusiasm is the ‘屹ⲹmātara� (eight mother of poesy).�
It is Ჹś’s deep پ (poetic genius) insight for the creative poet.
After giving those types of necessities for the kavi (poet), Ჹś passes on his concentration to the daily routine and duties of a kavi (poet). Here we are notice that, Ჹś’s in this description also based on the description of the concepts 첹ṛtٲ and Ჹvṛtta, which have been described in the 峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ[_1_] and ٳśٰ of ṭiⲹ[_2_] respectively.
There first of all the kavi (poet) must be maintain three types of purity.
C.f.
�api ca Ծٲⲹ� śܳ� ٴ ٰ ca śܳ� vākśܳ� manaḥśܳṃ, ⲹśܳ� ca �
- Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Ჹś: Ch-X, Pp- 49
This purity of three types:�
The first two types of purities can be acquired through learning of the various Śٰ. The another purity of body can be gain through neatly dressed and good bearing of clipped-nailed hands and feet, betel-red lips, paste-painted and perfumed body, fine dress and adorning head with the garlands of sweet flowers. In one sentences, a pure body and holy character are the magic of the Goddess of learning. In a 屹ⲹ (poetry) always highlighting to the character and behavior of its creator, 첹’s (poets). As like as an artist, who creates things, what who is like. It is really depend on his maximum of likeness. Talking with smile, witty and weighty speech, deep sense of humor and observation, indifference to accuse other’s works and due appreciation of good works are always is the secret of his achievements.
Here it is notable that, these types of concepts presented by Ჹś has great relevance in the newly developed branch of Sanskrit literary criticism. It gives us an idea that the 屹ⲹ (poetry) or the creation of the kavi (poet) is not only influenced by his social circumstance but it also depended on his behavior, character and inner faculty.
Notes regarding the sixty-four arts:
The sixty-four 첹s (arts) are:
- īٲ (music),
- ⲹ (instrumental music),
- ṛtⲹ (dance),
- ṭy (histrionics),
- Citra (painting),
- Āṇiṇa (making of types),
- ʳṣpԾṇa (flowergardening),
- ūٳٲ- (artistic flower lying),
- ٱṃkṇa (dressing),
- ṛhṃkṇa (furnishing of houses),
- ŚԾṇa (making of beds),
- ٲṅg (music with water),
- ⲹ (music on water),
- Vividha ṣaṇa (wearing different kinds of dresses),
- Ծṇa (making of flower garland),
- śṃk (hair-dressing),
- ղٰṇa (wearing of dress),
- Karṇābhūṣaṇa Ծṇa (making of ear-ornaments),
- Sugandha ṣpñⲹԲ (collection of sweet smelling flowers),
- ṃkṛt (decorating food articles),
- Ի (magic),
- ṅg첹ṇa (beautification),
- śܳī첹ṇa (cleaning of the hands),
- Ѵǻ岹첹Ծṇa (making of sweet-meats),
- īⲹ Ծṇa (making of drinks),
- Tellaring,
- JālaԾṇa (making of nest),
- Riddle,
- ṣaśǰ첹 (competition in recting of poems with rules),
- ٳṣādī첹ṇa (clarification of meaning),
- ҰԳٳⲹṇa (reading of books),
- ṭa첹岹śԲ (enseting of plays),
- ܰṇa (part of verse),
- ṇa (making of cost of cane),
- Carpentry,
- Logic,
- Vāstu (science of building homes),
- Svarṇaratna pariśodhana (connoisseurship of gold and dimonds),
- ٳٳܲṃs첹ṇa (purification of metals),
- Skill in distinguishing the colour of diamonds,
- Ծ貹īṣaṇa (finding out of mines),
- ṛkṣҳܰ岹Dz (understanding trees and their values),
- Cockfight,
- Understanding of languages,
- Massaging,
- śṣālṇa,
- ṣaṣṭ첹ٳԲ,
- Viśbhāṣāpāṭhana (learning of foregine languages),
- ٱśṣ�-ñԲ (knowledge of language of ones own country),
- 屹첹貹Բ (fortune telling),
- YantraԾṇa (making of machines),
- ṇaśپṣaṇa (incressing memory power),
- Śṇaṻ (studying by hearing),
- ṣa첹Բ (instant poetry-making),
- 屹貹,
- 貹ṭa屹 (false poses),
- ChandoñԲ (knowledge of the different matres),
- Vastragopana,
- Game of dice,
- Gambling game,
- ī (children times entertainment),
- վԲ峦 (atiquette),
- VaitālikavaidyāuñԲ (panegyrice) and
- ⲹ-ṇa (comprehension of facts).
Cf. Vettam Mani, Purāṇic Encyclopaedia, Pp- 367
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ: I/ 4/1
[2]:
峾ūٰ of ٲⲹԲ: I/3/16