Kṣemendra’s Advice to Budding Poets

A student of Sanskrit often finds himself overawed by two emotional crosscurrents: gratitude and frustration. Gratitude because he is heir to a carefully preserved five-thousand-year-old treasure. And frustration because his mortal means does not allow him to add to it qualitatively. It is the feeling one gets when in a multi-course buffet—the stomach is on fire and the dishes are unlimited, but the platter is small and appetite, limited.

            If such is the state of a student who intends to just learn, need we say anything at all about one who wishes to create? He is so flustered that he is furious at himself.

            Most of Sanskrit literature is in the form of verses. Composing verses is a frustrating experience. We spend endless hours poring over grammatical treatises and attuning our tools of speech and sound to the exact and subtle structures of a variety of metres. Even so, when we put pen to paper, expression hides cleverly while we limp and hop and huff and puff seeking it, feeling foolish the whole time. But the poets of the past make it seem so effortless! They are never lost for words. They know metre and grammar and literary subtleties like the back of their hand. No wonder we feel small and stupid. It is like a boy who has seen his father drive the car every day but feels absolutely stumped holding the steering wheel.

            How wonderful would it be if there were someone to guide us! Fortunately, there is Kṣemendra. An accomplished poet himself, he holds our hands and walks us through the highways and byways of the sprawling city that is Sanskrit poetry. 

*                       *                       *

            In eleventh century CE, Kashmir was abuzz with the sound of Sanskrit. Walking around the valley, one would hear delicate verses and vociferous debates at every turn and corner. Poets got each other’s creative juices flowing and wrote in a variety of styles ranging from the laboured and elaborate to one so gentle as to be described as “the birthplace of Sarasvatī’s grace,” in Bilhaṇa’s memorable phrase.[1] Literary theory, in a way, overtook poetic creation. It was the cynosure of all eyes. By then, masters such as Ānandavardhana, Abhinavagupta, and Kuntaka had developed it to a degree of insurmountable precision. The time was ripe for a person to make the most of this milieu. Kṣemendra did exactly that.

            He learnt the best of the subjects from the best of the teachers and liked to introduce himself as “the student of all great intellectuals.”[2] Imbued with infinite curiosity, he took an active interest in the goings-on of his time. Exploring new themes and genres of poetry and abridging time-honoured works with aptness and charm, his extensive oeuvre effortlessly straddled biting satire and profound meditations on life. Around sixteen works of this prolific author are now available. Sadly, however, an equal number—if not more—of his works have not withstood the ravages of time. [3]

*                       *                       *

            In this article, I have picked the best of his advices for budding poets from Kavikaṭhābharaṇa, a manual of literary theory that represents the Kaviśikṣā genre and provides a delightful set of dos and don’ts from which poets can greatly benefit. The work has five sections (sandhis) and enumerates several topics such as embracing poetry, gaining mastery over language, comprehending clever turns of expression, understanding virtues and blemishes of speech, and grasping various arts and sciences.  

            Kṣemendra categorises aspiring poets into three types: 1. those who inculcate poetic talent with minimum effort (alpa-prayatna-sādhya), 2. those who inculcate it with much effort (bahu-prayatna-sādhya), and 3. those who are incapable of assimilating the art (asādhya). He then goes on to outline a few guiding steps for the first two categories:

An aspiring poet must learn from a master of literature. Mere logicians and grammarians do not allow poetic talent to bloom; one should never intern with them. A neophyte should initially learn the first principles of grammar, lexicon, thesaurus, and prosody, and then unremittingly lend his ears to charming and captivating poetry. He should develop an abiding interest in music, folk literature and works of regional languages, and participate in discussions about deft turns of phrase. Studying history and the complete works of master poets like Kālidāsa, he should keep away from dry logic that deters the inaugural flow of poetic fragrance. To explore new literary genres, he should devotedly serve great poets. And as practice, he must take up the completion of unfinished words and stanzas, constantly compose verses employing meaningless phrases, and modify popular verses by substituting their words with synonyms.[4]  

Although Kṣemendra did not have an insouciant disregard for logicians, he guards against the ill-effects they are likely to cause in the early stages of a poet’s life. His endorsement of regional languages and their literature is astonishingly significant today as it was during his own time.      

            As an illustration of composing verses using meaningless phrases, he gives the following verse that is rife with ‘nonsense rhymes.’ Taken as a whole, the verse has no meaning; but it certainly helps the neophyte to get a hang of the Indravajrā metre and develop a feel for figures of sound:

आनन्दसन्दोहपदारविन्द-

      कुन्देन्दुकन्दोदितबिन्दुवृन्दम्।

इन्दिन्दिरान्दोलितमन्दमन्द-

      निष्यन्दनन्दन्मकरन्दवृन्दम्॥[5]

At the next stage, he advises students to take a popular verse and substitute its words with synonyms, without corroding the original meaning and metrical rhythm. As an example, he chooses the invocatory verse of Kālidāsa’s Raghuvamśa:

वागर्थाविव सम्पृक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये।

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ॥

Upon replacing the words of this verse with synonyms, it reads:

वाण्यर्थाविव संयुक्तौ वाण्यर्थप्रतिपत्तये।

जगतो जनकौ वन्दे शर्वाणीशशिशेखरौ॥[6]

Capital suggestions, indeed! At this juncture, we can gainfully recall his guidelines about metres. Grasping metrical rhythm is central to the poetic process. If one goes about this by reading at random, he is more likely to be frustrated than fulfilled. Realising this, Kṣemendra identifies poets who had a certain fondness for specific metres, and urges us to read their verses set to those measures: Abhinanda (Anuṣṭup), Pāṇini (Upajāti), Bhāravi (Vaṃśastha), Ratnākara (Vasantatilakā), Bhavabhūti (Śikhariṇī), Kālidāsa (Mandākrāntā), and Rājaśekhara (Śārdūlavikrīḍita).[7]

            He discusses erudition in the next section of Kavikaṭhābharaṇa. Creative imagination, erudition, and practice—pratibhā, vyutpatti, and abhyāsa—are the requisites of poetry. Creative imagination is a gem and wide-ranging erudition and constant, dedicated practice polish it to magnify the intrinsic lustre. Kṣemendra lists a hundred methods by which aspiring poets can gain or further strengthen erudition:          

       Completing unfilled stanzas of verses; constantly involving in literary pursuits (striving to understand grammar, lexica, prosody, figures of speech etc.); studying the compositions of other poets; learning about the various accessories of poetry (such as poetic conventions); solving literary challenges;

       Fraternizing with accomplished littérateurs; contemplating on the import of literary classics; inculcating virtuous conduct; befriending the wise; maintaining an agitation-free mind-set; donning pleasant apparel;

       Watching theatrical presentations; delighting in untainted śṛṅgāra (love); contributing to the welfare of the poetic community; refining one’s interiors by listening to music;

       Knowing the ways of the world; treading uncharted paths; understanding the facts of history; looking at beautiful paintings;

       Studying sculptures and architecture; witnessing feats of heroism; hearing cries of sorrow; visiting terror-inducing spots like forests and cemeteries;

       Attending to people who lead a life of austerities; observing the nests of birds and residing places of animals; eating tasty and healthy food; maintaining health in a manner appropriate to balance the three bodily humours; cultivating an attitude of cheerfulness;

       Waking at the last phase of the night; invoking imagination constantly; keeping memory active; respecting everyone and everything without prejudice; sitting in a comfortable posture; resting for a short period during the day; changing lifestyle according to the changes in season;

       Gaining mastery in writing letters and drawing; delighting assemblies of scholars and connoisseurs with engaging banter; discerning the nature of animals; observing marvels of Nature such as seas and mountains;

       Keeping track of the movements of sun, moon, and other celestial bodies; following the changes in season ardently; being a part of social gatherings; learning various regional languages;

       Contemplating on the commission and omission of words; polishing compositions time and again; living independently; participating in Vedic rituals and literary conclaves;

       Not being lost in thinking about one’s (potential) rise to fame; not being jealous of the prosperity of colleagues; desisting self-glorification; praising others’ virtues;

       Explicating and / or clarifying one’s position; rising above hatred and jealousy; thirsting to trounce the opponent’s intellect; learning from one and all;

       Knowing the opportune time to learn; inculcating skills that impress listeners; understanding unstated intents; assimilating literary techniques;

       Elucidating one’s own kernels of thought and sharing those gleaned from others; keeping the presentation of a topic or rasa crisp so as to not prompt boredom; sending out one’s works to littérateurs; receiving the works of fellow writers;

       Exhibiting erudition at favourable moments; invoking the power of intellect swiftly; having an impressive flow of speech and agreeable body language; coming out of congregations to experience solitude in seclusion; freeing oneself from the stranglehold of basal desires; maintaining happiness; inculcating strength of character;

       Desisting from supplication; not slipping into vulgarity while chatting freely; persevering in poetic creation; resting adequately in the course of composition;

       Desiring to adopt new themes and genres; maintaining equanimity in the veneration of various deities; receiving criticism positively; possessing a serious and profound outlook; having self-composure;

       Abstaining from self-praise; rising above grovelling self-abnegation; completing unfinished compositions of others; acknowledging the opinions of colleagues; imitating the mannerisms of others jocularly;

       Knowing the art of lucid writing; echoing the past in the present; blending moods and emotions seamlessly; having the correct knowledge of brevity and prolixity;

       Persevering to complete undertaken works; possessing charming eloquence.[8]         

Poetry is a composite art and Kṣemendra consciously endeavours to preserve its all-encompassing nature. Consequently, this list has several elements far-removed from poetry but are essential to supply a well-rounded worldview to a poet. Literary theorists in India never thought of poets as feeble-minded people without an intellectual backbone. Far from it. They counted them on par with the best of intellectuals. Kṣemendra’s emphasis on erudition, therefore, is not out of place. Further, his list makes an express mention of purely human virtues such as charity and compassion. It warns against self-aggrandisement and encourages equanimity. Kṣemendra knows full well that poets indefinitely oscillate between the crests and troughs of surging waves of emotion. He calls out conformity and encourages individualism. Nonetheless, realising the ramifications of extremism, he urges poets to tread the path of the golden mean.

            Further, he exhorts us to understand unstated intents. Proceeding on those lines, we surmise the following: In authoring Rāmāyaṇamañjarī, Bhāratamañjarī, Bṛhatkathāmañjarī, Bauddhā-vadānakalpalatā and such works, his intent was to set a model for retelling popular works or themes. According to him, abridged transcreations should strive to achieve non-prosaic narration and tasteful description without ever transgressing the spirit of the original. Aspiring poets can take up this exercise. Since the story and characters are all established, the aspirant has a great opportunity to master his craft. 

            Kṣemendra does not denounce people who believe in divine intervention. Before elucidating erudition in great detail, he caters to the needs of those poets who wish to invoke the Supreme to grant them poetic talent, by recording a sārasvata-mantra.[9] Further, he traces the development of a poet from the stage when he was utterly uninformed to a stage when he becomes the gold standard. His interesting assessment includes poets who co-opt shades of others’ works, adopt words and stanzas composed by other poets, plagiarise entire compositions, develop poetic talent and stand on their own feet, and become a veritable model by the sheer force of creative genius.[10] The terms he coined to represent these classes of poets are delightful: chāyopajīvī, padakopajīvī, pādopajīvī, sakalopajīvī, prāptakavitvajīvī, and bhuvanopajīvya. Kṣemendra mentions Bhagavān Vyāsa as emblematic of the final ideal. He could not have chosen a better example. Such a keen sense of propriety is unsurprising in the author of Aucityavicāracarcā, in one who proudly called himself Vyāsadāsa.

             *                       *                       *

            Kṣemendra’s thoughts on literary theory are not ground-breaking. He does not rub shoulders with Bharata, Ānandavardhana, Abhinavagupta et al. Nevertheless, budding poets will do well to pay heed to his observations in Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa.   

      


[1] सरस्वतीविभ्रमजन्मभूमिः॥ (Vikramāṅkadevacarita, 1.9)

[2] सर्वमनीषिशिष्यः॥ (Aucityavicāracarcā, concluding verse #3)

[3] Kṣemendra’s body of work currently available includes the following titles: Bhāratamañjarī, Rāmāyaṇamañjarī, Bṛhatkathāmañjarī, Bauddhāvadānakalpalatā, Daśāvatāracarita, Nītikalpataru, Aucityavicāracarcā, Kavikaṇṭhā-bharaṇa, Suvṛttatilaka, Caturvargasaṅgraha, Cārucaryā, Sevyasevakopadeśa, Kalāvilāsa, Deśopadeśa, Narmamālā, and Samayamātṛkā.

[4] कुर्वीत साहित्यविदः सकाशे श्रुतार्जनं काव्यसमुद्भवाय। न तार्किकं केवलशाब्दिकं वा कुर्याद्गुरुं सूक्तिविकासविघ्नम्॥

विज्ञातशब्दागमनामधातुश्छन्दोविधाने विहितश्रमश्च। काव्येषु माधुर्यमनोरमेषु कुर्यादखिन्नः श्रवणाभियोगम्॥

गीतेषु गाथास्वथ देशभाषाकाव्येषु दद्यात्सरसेषु कर्णम्। वाचां चमत्कारविधायिनीनां नवार्थचर्चासु रुचिं विदध्यात्॥ (Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 1.15–17)

पठेत्समस्तान्किल कालिदासकृतप्रबन्धानितिहासदर्शी। काव्याधिवासप्रथमोद्गमस्य रक्षेत्पुरस्तार्किकगन्धमुग्रम्॥

महाकवेः काव्यनयक्रियायै तदेकचित्तः परिचारकः स्यात्। पदे च पादे च पदावशेषसम्पूरणेच्छां मुहुराददीत॥

अभ्यासहेतोः पदसन्निवेशैर्वाक्यार्थशून्यैर्विदधीत वृत्तम्। श्लोकं परावृत्तिपदैः पुराणं यथास्थितार्थं परिपूरयेच्च॥ (Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 1.19–21)

[5] Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 1.22

[6] Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 1.23, 24

[7] Suvttatilaka, 3.29–35

[8] वृत्तपूरणमुद्योगः पाठः परकृतस्य च। काव्याङ्गविद्याधिगमः समस्यापरिपूरणम्॥ सहवासः कविवरैर्महाकाव्यार्थचर्वणम्। आर्यत्वं सुजनैर्मैत्री सौमनस्यं सुवेषता॥ नाटकाभिनयप्रेक्षा शृङ्गारालिङ्गिता मतिः। कवीनां सम्भवे दानं गीतेनात्माधिवासनम्॥ लोकाचारपरिज्ञानं विविक्ताख्यिकारसः। इतिहासानुसरणं चारुचित्रनिरीक्षणम्॥ शिल्पिनां कौशलप्रेक्षा वीरयुद्धावलोकनम्। शोकप्रलापश्रवणं श्मशानारण्यदर्शनम्॥ व्रतिनां पर्युपासा च नीडायतनसेवनम्। मधुरस्निग्धमशनं धातुसाम्यमशोकता॥ निशाशेषे प्रबोधश्च प्रतिभा स्मृतिरादरः। सुखासनं दिवा शय्या शिशिरोष्णप्रतिक्रिया॥ आलोकः पत्रलेख्यादौ गोष्ठीप्रहसनज्ञता। प्रेक्षा प्राणिस्वभावानां समुद्रादिस्थितीक्षणम्॥ रवीन्दुताराकलनं सर्वर्तुपरिभावनम्। जनसङ्घाभिगमनं देशभाषोपजीवनम्॥ आधानोद्धारणप्रज्ञा कृतसंशोधनं मुहुः। अपराधीनता यज्ञसभाविद्या गृहस्थितिः॥ अतृष्णता निजोत्कर्षे परोत्कर्षविमर्शनम्। आत्मश्लाघास्तुतौ लज्जा परश्लाघानुभाषणम्॥ सदा स्वकाव्यव्याख्यानं वैरमत्सरवर्जनम्। परोन्मेषजिगीषा च व्युत्पत्त्यै सर्वशिष्यता॥ पाठस्यावसरज्ञत्वं श्रोतृचित्तानुवर्तनम्। इङ्गिताकारवेदित्वमुपादेयनिबन्धनम्॥ उपदेशविशेषोक्तिरदीर्घतरसङ्गतिः। स्वसूक्तिप्रेषणं दिक्षु परसूक्तिपरिग्रहः॥ वैदग्ध्यं पटुता भङ्गिर्निःसङ्गैकान्त्यनिर्वृतिः। आशापाशपरित्यागः सन्तोषः सत्त्वशीलता॥ अयाचकत्वमग्राम्यपदालापः कथास्वपि। काव्यक्रियासु निर्बन्धो विश्रान्तिश्चान्तरान्तरा॥ नूतनोत्पादने यत्नः साम्यं सर्वसुरस्तुतौ। पराक्षेपसहिष्णुत्वं गाम्भीर्यं निर्विकारता॥ अविकत्थनतादैन्यं परेषां नष्टयोजनम्। पराभिप्रायकथनं परसादृश्यभाषणम्॥ सप्रसादपदन्यासः ससंवादार्थसङ्गतिः। निर्विरोधरसव्यक्तिर्युक्तिर्व्याससमासयोः॥ प्रारब्धकाव्यनिर्वाहः प्रवाहश्चतुरो गिराम्। शिक्षाणां शतमित्युक्तं युक्तं प्राप्तगिरः कवेः॥ (Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 2.3–22)

[9] Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 1.6

[10] Kavikaṇṭhābharaṇa, 2.1

 

Author(s)

About:

Shashi Kiran B N holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master's degree in Sanskrit. His interests include Indian aesthetics, Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit and Kannada literature and philosophy.

Prekshaa Publications

Indian Perspective of Truth and Beauty in Homer’s Epics is a unique work on the comparative study of the Greek Epics Iliad and Odyssey with the Indian Epics – Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata. Homer, who laid the foundations for the classical tradition of the West, occupies a stature similar to that occupied by the seer-poets Vālmīki and Vyāsa, who are synonymous with the Indian culture. The author...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the sixth volume of reminiscences character sketches of prominent public figures, liberals, and social workers. These remarkable personages hailing from different corners of South India are from a period that spans from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Written in Kannada in the 1970s, these memoirs go...

An Introduction to Hinduism based on Primary Sources

Authors: Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh, Hari Ravikumar

What is the philosophical basis for Sanātana-dharma, the ancient Indian way of life? What makes it the most inclusive and natural of all religio-philosophical systems in the world?

The Essential Sanātana-dharma serves as a handbook for anyone who wishes to grasp the...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fifth volume, episodes from the lives of traditional savants responsible for upholding the Vedic culture. These memorable characters lived a life of opulence amidst poverty— theirs  was the wealth of the soul, far beyond money and gold. These vidvāns hailed from different corners of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom and lived in...

Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam represents the quintessence of Sage Bharata’s art and Bhārata, the country that gave birth to the peerless seer of the Nāṭya-veda. Padma’s erudition in various streams of Indic knowledge, mastery over many classical arts, deep understanding of the nuances of Indian culture, creative genius, and sublime vision bolstered by the vedāntic and nationalistic...

Bhārata has been a land of plenty in many ways. We have had a timeless tradition of the twofold principle of Brāhma (spirit of wisdom) and Kṣāttra (spirit of valour) nourishing and protecting this sacred land. The Hindu civilisation, rooted in Sanātana-dharma, has constantly been enriched by brāhma and safeguarded by kṣāttra.
The renowned Sanskrit poet and scholar, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R...

ಛಂದೋವಿವೇಕವು ವರ್ಣವೃತ್ತ, ಮಾತ್ರಾಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ಷಣಜಾತಿ ಎಂದು ವಿಭಕ್ತವಾದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬಗೆಯ ಛಂದಸ್ಸುಗಳನ್ನೂ ವಿವೇಚಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಂಕಲನ. ಲೇಖಕರ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲಿಕ ಆಲೋಚನೆಯ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಗೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಛಂದಸ್ಸಿನ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ತೌಲನಿಕ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತಃಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಗಳ ತೆಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ಬರುವ ಬರೆಹಗಳೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಕಾರನಿಗಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಿದ್ಧಹಸ್ತನಾದ ಕವಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸ್ಫುರಿಸಬಲ್ಲ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಹೊಳಹುಗಳು ಕೃತಿಯ ಮೌಲಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿವೆ. ಈ...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fourth volume, some character sketches of the Dewans of Mysore preceded by an account of the political framework of the State before Independence and followed by a review of the political conditions of the State after 1940. These remarkable leaders of Mysore lived in a period that spans from the mid-nineteenth century to the...

Bharatiya Kavya-mimamseya Hinnele is a monograph on Indian Aesthetics by Mahamahopadhyaya N. Ranganatha Sharma. The book discusses the history and significance of concepts pivotal to Indian literary theory. It is equally useful to the learned and the laity.

Sahitya-samhite is a collection of literary essays in Kannada. The book discusses aestheticians such as Ananda-vardhana and Rajashekhara; Sanskrit scholars such as Mena Ramakrishna Bhat, Sridhar Bhaskar Varnekar and K S Arjunwadkar; and Kannada litterateurs such as DVG, S L Bhyrappa and S R Ramaswamy. It has a foreword by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.

The Mahābhārata is the greatest epic in the world both in magnitude and profundity. A veritable cultural compendium of Bhārata-varṣa, it is a product of the creative genius of Maharṣi Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa. The epic captures the experiential wisdom of our civilization and all subsequent literary, artistic, and philosophical creations are indebted to it. To read the Mahābhārata is to...

Shiva Rama Krishna

சிவன். ராமன். கிருஷ்ணன்.
இந்திய பாரம்பரியத்தின் முப்பெரும் கதாநாயகர்கள்.
உயர் இந்தியாவில் தலைமுறைகள் பல கடந்தும் கடவுளர்களாக போற்றப்பட்டு வழிகாட்டிகளாக விளங்குபவர்கள்.
மனித ஒற்றுமை நூற்றாண்டுகால பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியின் பரிமாணம்.
தனிநபர்களாகவும், குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்களாகவும், சமுதாய பிரஜைகளாகவும் நாம் அனைவரும் பரிமளிக்கிறோம்.
சிவன் தனிமனித அடையாளமாக அமைகிறான்....

ऋतुभिः सह कवयः सदैव सम्बद्धाः। विशिष्य संस्कृतकवयः। यथा हि ऋतवः प्रतिसंवत्सरं प्रतिनवतामावहन्ति मानवेषु तथैव ऋतुवर्णनान्यपि काव्यरसिकेषु कामपि विच्छित्तिमातन्वते। ऋतुकल्याणं हि सत्यमिदमेव हृदि कृत्वा प्रवृत्तम्। नगरजीवनस्य यान्त्रिकतां मान्त्रिकतां च ध्वनदिदं चम्पूकाव्यं गद्यपद्यमिश्रितमिति सुव्यक्तमेव। ऐदम्पूर्वतया प्रायः पुरीपरिसरप्रसृतानाम् ऋतूनां विलासोऽत्र प्रपञ्चितः। बेङ्गलूरुनामके...

The Art and Science of Avadhānam in Sanskrit is a definitive work on Sāhityāvadhānam, a form of Indian classical art based on multitasking, lateral thinking, and extempore versification. Dotted throughout with tasteful examples, it expounds in great detail on the theory and practice of this unique performing art. It is as much a handbook of performance as it is an anthology of well-turned...

This anthology is a revised edition of the author's 1978 classic. This series of essays, containing his original research in various fields, throws light on the socio-cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu spanning several centuries. These compelling episodes will appeal to scholars and laymen alike.
“When superstitious mediaevalists mislead the country about its judicial past, we have to...

The cultural history of a nation, unlike the customary mainstream history, has a larger time-frame and encompasses the timeless ethos of a society undergirding the course of events and vicissitudes. A major key to the understanding of a society’s unique character is an appreciation of the far-reaching contributions by outstanding personalities of certain periods – especially in the realms of...

Prekṣaṇīyam is an anthology of essays on Indian classical dance and theatre authored by multifaceted scholar and creative genius, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh. As a master of śāstra, a performing artiste (of the ancient art of Avadhānam), and a cultured rasika, he brings a unique, holistic perspective to every discussion. These essays deal with the philosophy, history, aesthetics, and practice of...

Yaugandharam

इदं किञ्चिद्यामलं काव्यं द्वयोः खण्डकाव्ययोः सङ्कलनरूपम्। रामानुरागानलं हि सीतापरित्यागाल्लक्ष्मणवियोगाच्च श्रीरामेणानुभूतं हृदयसङ्क्षोभं वर्णयति । वात्सल्यगोपालकं तु कदाचिद्भानूपरागसमये घटितं यशोदाश्रीकृष्णयोर्मेलनं वर्णयति । इदम्प्रथमतया संस्कृतसाहित्ये सम्पूर्णं काव्यं...

Vanitakavitotsavah

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Vaiphalyaphalam

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Nipunapraghunakam

इयं रचना दशसु रूपकेष्वन्यतमस्य भाणस्य निदर्शनतामुपैति। एकाङ्करूपकेऽस्मिन् शेखरकनामा चित्रोद्यमलेखकः केनापि हेतुना वियोगम् अनुभवतोश्चित्रलेखामिलिन्दकयोः समागमं सिसाधयिषुः कथामाकाशभाषणरूपेण निर्वहति।

Bharavatarastavah

अस्मिन् स्तोत्रकाव्ये भगवन्तं शिवं कविरभिष्टौति। वसन्ततिलकयोपनिबद्धस्य काव्यस्यास्य कविकृतम् उल्लाघनाभिधं व्याख्यानं च वर्तते।

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the third volume, some character sketches of great literary savants responsible for Kannada renaissance during the first half of the twentieth century. These remarkable...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the second volume, episodes from the lives of remarkable exponents of classical music and dance, traditional storytellers, thespians, and connoisseurs; as well as his...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the first volume, episodes from the lives of great writers, poets, literary aficionados, exemplars of public life, literary scholars, noble-hearted common folk, advocates...

Evolution of Mahabharata and Other Writings on the Epic is the English translation of S R Ramaswamy's 1972 Kannada classic 'Mahabharatada Belavanige' along with seven of his essays on the great epic. It tells the riveting...

Shiva-Rama-Krishna is an English adaptation of Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh's popular lecture series on the three great...

Bharatilochana

ಮಹಾಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರ ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ಹೆಸರು. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಶೈವದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯಮೀಮಾಂಸೆಗಳ ಪರಮಾಚಾರ್ಯನಾಗಿ  ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಇವನು ಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಭರತಮುನಿಯ ನಾಟ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇವನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಆಲಂಬನ. ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ರಸಧ್ವನಿಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವನ್ನು...

Vagarthavismayasvadah

“वागर्थविस्मयास्वादः” प्रमुखतया साहित्यशास्त्रतत्त्वानि विमृशति । अत्र सौन्दर्यर्यशास्त्रीयमूलतत्त्वानि यथा रस-ध्वनि-वक्रता-औचित्यादीनि सुनिपुणं परामृष्टानि प्रतिनवे चिकित्सकप्रज्ञाप्रकाशे। तदन्तर एव संस्कृतवाङ्मयस्य सामर्थ्यसमाविष्कारोऽपि विहितः। क्वचिदिव च्छन्दोमीमांसा च...

The Best of Hiriyanna

The Best of Hiriyanna is a collection of forty-eight essays by Prof. M. Hiriyanna that sheds new light on Sanskrit Literature, Indian...

Stories Behind Verses

Stories Behind Verses is a remarkable collection of over a hundred anecdotes, each of which captures a story behind the composition of a Sanskrit verse. Collected over several years from...