Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study)
by R. Laxmi | 1998 | 94,004 words
This is an English study of the Sankalpa Suryodaya—an allegorical Sanskrit drama by Venkatanatha, a distinguished philosopher-poet and dramatist of the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta tradition. This work of Venkata-natha (or, Vedanta Deshika). stands out for integrating allegory to convey moral and philosophical truths. The thesis examines its place in Sa...
Delineation of Adbhutarasa or Marvellous Sentiment
Vismaya is Sthayibhava of Adbhutarasa; its colour is Yellow. Extraordinary object is Alambana-vibhava; and the glory of the qualities of that object is Uddipana-Vibhava; horripilation, swetting, standing, staying, unclear speech, anxiety, opening the eyes etc. are the Anubhavas, reasoning or imagination, hasty, happiness etc. are Vyabhikaribhavas. 29 Here is an example where Adbhuta-rasa is developed. ami punah sattvatam sastramadhiyanastrayyantavadibhiraikyamivapanna balbajapraya- bahuvidhavidyajalpavimukhikrtamanasa bahirantasca suddhah svetadvipavasina iva subhamyavah purusastamimamaupanisadim parisadamupajigamisanti | S.S. II - 82, p. 303 "And now, here are pure souls (pure in body and pure in mind) who have studied the scripture of the Satvatas (Pancaratra), and seem to be in no way different from the followers of Vedanta. They turn away their mind from the varied prate of the Vidyas which are as gross and coarse as grass. They long for the good (of all) like the resindents of Svetadvipa and are now approaching this assembly of the followers of the Upanisads." This example is from the context of discouse between the preceptor and desciple on different systems of philosophy. Improvement in the mental status of the individual souls causes Vismaya; and this Vismaya is Sthayibhava here. The desciple and preceptor may be considered here as extraordinary objects through the discourse of whom individual souls are taking much interest in Vedanta; the glory of these two unique personalities is Uddipana-vibhava; internal and external purity of the individual souls, the desire for participating in Vedanta discussions etc. are Anubhavas; brightness of individual souls resembling that of beings in the Svetadvipa is Vyabhicaribhava. Thus, this is an apt example delineating Adbhutarasa. 29. adbhuto vismayasthayibhavo gandharvadaivatah || 242 || pitavarno vastu lokatigamalambanam matam | gunanam tasya mahima bhaveduddipanam punah || 243 || stambhah svedo'tha romancagadgadasvarasambhramah | tatha netravikasadya anubhavah prakirtitah || 244 || vitarkavegasambhrantiharsadya vyabhicarinah || Visvanatha, Sahitya Darpana, III - p.269-70