Essay name: Kadambari Studies (on the basis of Bhanuchandra)
Author:
Jayanti Tripathy
Affiliation: Pondicherry University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies in English the Kadambari of Bana (Banabhatta) on the basis of Bhanuchandra鈥檚 commentary. Kadambari is accepted as a model of an ideal example of Katha鈥攁 variety of Gadya literature. The central plot revolves around a a romantic attachment and union between the hero Chandrapida and the heroine Kadambari.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
4 (of 43)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Still one is surprised to notice that B岷祊a is much a neglected writer who has not yet drawn considerable attention of the modern critics in comparison to Kilid膩sa and others. This statement in no way implies that modern critics have not taken it seriously, or have not commented upon. We have the views of the great critics like De, Dasgupta, M.M. Kane, Keith, Peterson, etc., * to name some selected few. What we mean to propose is: a lot is to be done with regard to the study of Kadambari. No study is known to exist giving a closer analysis of the rich and varied references to the mythological allusions in the works of Bana, and Kadambari in particular. It will not be out of place to record here the fact that without a thorough grounding of Indian mythologies it is very difficult to grasp the sense in many a case throughout the work. That is precisely the reason why the Western critics have a poor view so far as the understanding of B膩峁嘺 is concerned, when he gives a rich wealth of mythological allusions with their brilliance, plenty and variety. 2
