Essay name: Arts in the Puranas (study)
Author:
Meena Devadatta Jeste
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute Pune
This essay studies the Arts in the Puranas by reconstructing the theory of six major fine arts鈥擬usic, Dance, Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and Literature鈥攆rom the Major and Minor Puranas. This thesis shows how ancient sages studied these arts within the context of cultural traditions of ancient India.
Chapter 1 - Music in the Puranas
52 (of 72)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 52 -
MUSIC IN THE HARIVARSA
Harivansa is said to be the 'khila' (appendix) of the
Mahabharata. However after a detailed study Harivansa appears
like a complete Vaisnava
-
Pur膩na. It gives some valuable
material about Music, Dance and Drama. We come across in the
Harivansa, certain theories about the fine arts which are
absent even in the other puranas and the theoretical treatises.
The 'Chalikyageya' is presented in IInd Khanda
Chapter 89 through Srikrsna. The 'Chalikya
The 'Chalikya
- Gandharva'
song along with the instrumental music
in the Krsnacarita of the Harivansa.
-
-
the
is an important thing
But surprisingly the
'Chalikya Gandharva' does not appear even in the Natyasastra.
-
In the Harivansa we come across the description of the recital
of instrumental music played by the Apsarasas with Arsna,
Satyabhama, Narada etc.
It is said that this music is very auspicious. The
Chalikya song, conducive to the well-being, nourishment, and
prosperity and which was great, auspicious and productive of
fame and piety of mankind, was sung in chorus by Krsna, Rama,
Pradyumna etc. This Chalikya which was sung there, was capable
of bearing the axle of virtue and destructive of sorrow and sin.
It is also said in the Harivansa that Gandharvas and great
Asis might attain to a devotional spirit on account of the
virtues of Chalikya.131
From this it is obvious that this
type of music was prevalent in India for some time. Afterwards
it went out of vogue.
This 'Chalikya-Gandharva' presents many progressive
