Foreword
It gives me great pleasure to place before the elite
audience, the book on Ramayana: in classical Sanskrit and Prakrt Mahakavya
Literature by Dr. V. Raghavan. This topic was a series
of lectures delivered by the eminent professor under Prof. P.D. Gune’s Endowment at the University of Poona in 1977.
These lectures are based on an analysis of the
contents of the classical Sanskrit Poems : the Rahguvamsa of Kalidasa,
Janakiharana of Kumaradasa,
Ramacarita of Abhinanda,
Ravanavadha of Bhatti,
Ramayanacampu of Bhoja,
Ramayanamanjari of Bhoja
and the Prakrt kavya, Setubandha of Pravarasena.
The epic Remayana has had a strong influence
on the minds of poeple of India and especially the
classical Sanskrit poets. Dr. V. Raghavan, former Professor and Head of the Dept. of Sanskrit and renowned for
his research abilities, has to his credit several studies on the Ramayana.
To mention a
few ‘Some old lost Rama plays; Tattvasangraha Ramayana, Ramayana other than Valmiki’s Ananda, Adbhuta etc.), The
greater Ramayana and The Ramayana in
greater India are
some of his noteworthy studies.
Ramayana in Greater India
(1975), a
series of lectures delivered under an Endowment (Rao Bahadur
Kamala Shankar Pranshankar Trivedi
Memorial lectures at the South Gujarat University was published in 1975. These
lectures covered the different versions prevalent in Ceylon, Far-east, Burma
and other Middle Eastern Countries.
Ramayana Triveni is a comparative study of the characters in the Ramayana of Valmiki, Kamban and Tulsidas.
This book presented here, is a study on the Poems in
Classical Sanskrit and Prakrt which points out the
different versions of these poets in the story of Rama. The influence of the Valmiki Ramayana on the kavyas of
these poets is well known. These poets have made some changes in the story to
suit their poems. Dr. Raghavan has made a thorough
study of the Kavyas mentioned above and pointed out
meticulously, the differences in the story from the original. Some of these
poets have introduced even new elements to make their works quite appealing.
A perusal of the book will place before the minds of
scholars not only the ability of these poets but also the depth of the study
and analysis made by Dr. V. Raghavan who thus brought
to light the special features found in these poems which make them
individualistic.
My association with Dr. V. Raghavan
started with my joining the Sanskrit Dept, University of Madras in 1951 to
assist him in the New Catalogus Catalogarum
project. After becoming the Secretary of the Samskrta
Ranga founded by him in 1958, this association became
more closer. Under his able guidance, work on the New Catalogus Catalogorum and the
activities of the Samskrita Ranga
were continued with sincere, committed efforts. This bondage between the
preceptor and the disciple is being thus furthered even after his demise.
The Dr.V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts and in particular the
efforts of Smt. Nandini Ramani,
daughter of Dr. V. Raghavan is to be appreciated for
bringing out this publication.
Publisher’s
Note
On the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami this year,
I have great pleasure in bringing out yet another unpublished work of my
revered father, Dr.V.Raghavan who reached Lord Rama’s
feet twenty five years ago on the same day. I deem it an extremely pleasant task
to go ahead with the printing of his remaining works one by one, and make them
available for the benefit of the future generation of students, researchers and
scholars.
The present work, a series of lectures delivered at
the University of Po on a (Prof. P.D. Gune Lectures,
1977), throws light in an interesting analysis of the Epic, with reference to
certain well-known and lesser known Maha Kavyas in Sanskrit & Prakrt.
It reveals once again, the in-depth scholarship and
the deep interest of the author in the study of Ramayana, himself being an ardent Rama
Bhakta.
With the ever vibrant spirit
and encouragement from my mother Smt. Sarada Raghavan, and moral support from my elder brothers Sri. R. Kalidas
and Dr. R. Charudattan and elder sister Smt. Priyamvada, I feel courageous to undertake the publishing
of the works of the scholar-savant who is regarded as the by word in the field
of Sanskrit, and all allied areas of study. I am sure this work will provide a
deep in sight and create further interest for all those involved in the study
of Ramayana. I
wish to acknowledge Dr.C.S. Sundaram, Reader(Retd.), Dept of Sanskrit,
Madras University and a close associate of Dr.V. Raghavan for nearly four decades, for his foreword and his
invaluable guidance for completing this endeavour successfully.
Sri. Ravi of Sri Vignesha Printers is to be given credit for getting the
work printed in a fitting manner.
Let the noble ventures of this center
be blessed by Lord Rama, the very embodiment of Dharma.
Contents
|
Forward |
|
|
Publisher’s
note |
|
|
The
Ramayana in Classical Sanskrit and Prakrt Mahakavya Literature |
|
(a) |
Kalidasa-General |
|
(b) |
Raghuvamsa |
|
|
The Setubandha or Ravanavadha of Pravarasena |
31 |
|
The Janakiharana (JH) of Kumaradasa |
43 |
|
The Bhatti-Kavya |
60 |
|
The Ramacarita of Abhinanda |
78 |
|
The
Ramayana Campu of Bhoja Ksemendra |
118 |
(a) |
Ramayana
Manjari |
|
(b) |
Ramopakhyana in his Bharatamanjari |
|
(c) |
Ramavatara in his Dasavataracarita |
|
(d) |
The
short account in Brahatkathamanjari and the same
compared with that in Somadeva’s Kathasaritsagara. |
151 |
Foreword
It gives me great pleasure to place before the elite
audience, the book on Ramayana: in classical Sanskrit and Prakrt Mahakavya
Literature by Dr. V. Raghavan. This topic was a series
of lectures delivered by the eminent professor under Prof. P.D. Gune’s Endowment at the University of Poona in 1977.
These lectures are based on an analysis of the
contents of the classical Sanskrit Poems : the Rahguvamsa of Kalidasa,
Janakiharana of Kumaradasa,
Ramacarita of Abhinanda,
Ravanavadha of Bhatti,
Ramayanacampu of Bhoja,
Ramayanamanjari of Bhoja
and the Prakrt kavya, Setubandha of Pravarasena.
The epic Remayana has had a strong influence
on the minds of poeple of India and especially the
classical Sanskrit poets. Dr. V. Raghavan, former Professor and Head of the Dept. of Sanskrit and renowned for
his research abilities, has to his credit several studies on the Ramayana.
To mention a
few ‘Some old lost Rama plays; Tattvasangraha Ramayana, Ramayana other than Valmiki’s Ananda, Adbhuta etc.), The
greater Ramayana and The Ramayana in
greater India are
some of his noteworthy studies.
Ramayana in Greater India
(1975), a
series of lectures delivered under an Endowment (Rao Bahadur
Kamala Shankar Pranshankar Trivedi
Memorial lectures at the South Gujarat University was published in 1975. These
lectures covered the different versions prevalent in Ceylon, Far-east, Burma
and other Middle Eastern Countries.
Ramayana Triveni is a comparative study of the characters in the Ramayana of Valmiki, Kamban and Tulsidas.
This book presented here, is a study on the Poems in
Classical Sanskrit and Prakrt which points out the
different versions of these poets in the story of Rama. The influence of the Valmiki Ramayana on the kavyas of
these poets is well known. These poets have made some changes in the story to
suit their poems. Dr. Raghavan has made a thorough
study of the Kavyas mentioned above and pointed out
meticulously, the differences in the story from the original. Some of these
poets have introduced even new elements to make their works quite appealing.
A perusal of the book will place before the minds of
scholars not only the ability of these poets but also the depth of the study
and analysis made by Dr. V. Raghavan who thus brought
to light the special features found in these poems which make them
individualistic.
My association with Dr. V. Raghavan
started with my joining the Sanskrit Dept, University of Madras in 1951 to
assist him in the New Catalogus Catalogarum
project. After becoming the Secretary of the Samskrta
Ranga founded by him in 1958, this association became
more closer. Under his able guidance, work on the New Catalogus Catalogorum and the
activities of the Samskrita Ranga
were continued with sincere, committed efforts. This bondage between the
preceptor and the disciple is being thus furthered even after his demise.
The Dr.V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts and in particular the
efforts of Smt. Nandini Ramani,
daughter of Dr. V. Raghavan is to be appreciated for
bringing out this publication.
Publisher’s
Note
On the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami this year,
I have great pleasure in bringing out yet another unpublished work of my
revered father, Dr.V.Raghavan who reached Lord Rama’s
feet twenty five years ago on the same day. I deem it an extremely pleasant task
to go ahead with the printing of his remaining works one by one, and make them
available for the benefit of the future generation of students, researchers and
scholars.
The present work, a series of lectures delivered at
the University of Po on a (Prof. P.D. Gune Lectures,
1977), throws light in an interesting analysis of the Epic, with reference to
certain well-known and lesser known Maha Kavyas in Sanskrit & Prakrt.
It reveals once again, the in-depth scholarship and
the deep interest of the author in the study of Ramayana, himself being an ardent Rama
Bhakta.
With the ever vibrant spirit
and encouragement from my mother Smt. Sarada Raghavan, and moral support from my elder brothers Sri. R. Kalidas
and Dr. R. Charudattan and elder sister Smt. Priyamvada, I feel courageous to undertake the publishing
of the works of the scholar-savant who is regarded as the by word in the field
of Sanskrit, and all allied areas of study. I am sure this work will provide a
deep in sight and create further interest for all those involved in the study
of Ramayana. I
wish to acknowledge Dr.C.S. Sundaram, Reader(Retd.), Dept of Sanskrit,
Madras University and a close associate of Dr.V. Raghavan for nearly four decades, for his foreword and his
invaluable guidance for completing this endeavour successfully.
Sri. Ravi of Sri Vignesha Printers is to be given credit for getting the
work printed in a fitting manner.
Let the noble ventures of this center
be blessed by Lord Rama, the very embodiment of Dharma.
Contents
|
Forward |
|
|
Publisher’s
note |
|
|
The
Ramayana in Classical Sanskrit and Prakrt Mahakavya Literature |
|
(a) |
Kalidasa-General |
|
(b) |
Raghuvamsa |
|
|
The Setubandha or Ravanavadha of Pravarasena |
31 |
|
The Janakiharana (JH) of Kumaradasa |
43 |
|
The Bhatti-Kavya |
60 |
|
The Ramacarita of Abhinanda |
78 |
|
The
Ramayana Campu of Bhoja Ksemendra |
118 |
(a) |
Ramayana
Manjari |
|
(b) |
Ramopakhyana in his Bharatamanjari |
|
(c) |
Ramavatara in his Dasavataracarita |
|
(d) |
The
short account in Brahatkathamanjari and the same
compared with that in Somadeva’s Kathasaritsagara. |
151 |