Essay name: Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study)
Author:
Shri N. M. Kansara
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
This is an English study of the Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala, a Sanskrit poem written in the 11th century. Technically, the Tilaka-manjari is classified as a Gadyakavya (鈥減rose-romance鈥�). The author, Dhanapala was a court poet to the Paramara king Munja, who ruled the Kingdom of Malwa in ancient west-central India.
Chapter 13 - Religious and Philosophical data
40 (of 52)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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631 169
experienced; it is an activity of its own kind, to be ra-
nked with poetry, music, the plastic arts, philosophy and
the sciences. In the Opinion of E.A.Gardner, A most
myths, if not all, are aetiological; that is to say, they
grew up or were invented to explain certain phenomena,
beliefs or customs; thus the relation of mythology to re-
ligion and theology becomes clear. Again, it is not easy
to draw a definite line between mythology and folklore,
since much folklore is mythology in the making; much may
be a survival of broken down myths. In primitive ages my-
thology and history are often inextricably mingled, and
many of the early speculations of natural science have
been embodied in mythical form. The study of mythology
when rightly and cautiously persued, abounds with evidence
as to the various stages of moral and intellectual develop-
170.
ment. Oblique references to incidents of mythological
stories by Sanskrit literary artists adduces to their po-
pularity with people in general, for whom they served as
an easy medium of religious instruction. The enquiry into
the sources of these legends may also give an idea about
the popularity of particular works which might have been
recited publicly and listened to by people of the times.
169. ERE, Vol.IX,p.118.
170. ibid.,p.121.
