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Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)

by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words

This page relates ‘Festivals (Mahotsava)� of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

12. Festivals (Mahotsava)

In the Ჹṣaٲ, we are informed about so many festivals celebrated at that time. For example the people celebrated putrajanmotsava[1] i.e., birth of prince for one month as mahotsava. The writer mentions about ṣyṣe첹[2] (i.e., in that day the king takes ceremonial bath). The king takes ceremonial bath in that day, the Moon being in the Pushya asterism. The writer mentions that this festival was very charming for the banner-cloths, sharp drums, conches, chowries and unguents.[3]

P. V. Kane has explained about it thus�

“On these days the king is accompanied by 󱹲 etc. which are the insignia of royalty. The elephants also had these on their body.�[4]

The writer also noted about Բī,[5] in this festival buffaloes were sacrificed to Dūrgā, which, however, implies that Բī had also been celebrated in his time. The marriage ceremony of princess was also regarded as great festival of the country.[6] In that occasion all the city, palace, streets, buildings etc. were decorated with various things.[7] It is found people enjoyed the prince’s marriage with very happy mood.[8]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

[a].�.pranṛttasakalakaṭakaloka� putrajanmotsavo , Ibid.,IV.p.62 [b] �..ūٲ 𱹲� rājyavardhanam�.jātpramodā nṛtamaya�.…māsameka� divasamiva mahotsavamakaronnarapati�, Ibid.,IV.p.60

[2]:

Ibid.,II.p.26

[3]:

�.ekīkṛtairdhvajapaṭapaṭupaṭahasaṅkhacāmaraṅgarāgaramaṇīyai� ṣyṣe첹divasairiva kalpitairvāraṇendrai� śyāmāyamānam, Ibid.,II.p.26

[4]:

Ibid., p.258

[5]:

Բīmaha� mahiṣamaṇḍālanām, Ibid.,VIII.p.126

[6]:

ڲ�.dzٲ ekaki ܻ�, Ibid.,IV.p.70 [b].�.vijṛmbhamāṇe mahotsave ……vivāhadivasa�, Ibid.

[7]:

Ibid.,IV.p.68-70

[8]:

Ibid.

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