Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study)
by Padma Sugavanam | 2011 | 95,782 words
This page relates ‘Citations of Kohala in the Sangitacintamani� of the thesis dealing with Kohala’s contribution to the Sanskrit textual tradition of ancient Indian performing arts. The study focuses specifically on music (Gita), dance (Nritya), and drama (Natya). Although Kohala’s original works have not been found, numerous references to him across Lakshana-Granthas (treatises) and works by modern scholars indicate his significance.
Part 14 - Citations of Kohala in the ṅgīٲԳ峾ṇi
ṅgīٲԳ峾ṇi (14th century C.E.) of Vema ū貹 is an unpublished work written in the 14th century C.E. The manuscripts of this work available in ORI-SVU, Tirupati have been consulted for this study. Two readings relating to Kohala are found in the manuscript no. 7501 -one regarding 첹 (ref.para 2.2.5.2) where a list of fifty 첹 is given and the other regarding ṅg (ref.para 2.2.9). The list of 첹 matches the one seen in Kallinātha’s citation of ṅgīٲ and ṛtⲹ of Aśokamalla. From this, it seems possible that Vema also had access to the work ṅgīٲ which Kallinātha quotes from. But instead of quoting the entire material, Vema presents Kohala’s opinions on the 첹 in his own style.
In addition, M. R. Kavi gives an entry from Vema on Kohala in his ٲś under the head �Ḍombikādi Kāvyāni� where a list of śī varieties of ṛtⲹ-屹ⲹ are listed. This is one of the rare instances when the word śī is expressly used when Kohala and ܱ貹ū貹첹 are being spoken of. None of the earlier works (like Բī) that mention Kohala in connection with the ܱ貹ū貹첹 seems to use the term �śī�. And even here, Vema has used the term �śī ṛtⲹ-屹ⲹ� and not the term ܱ貹ū貹첹. Further, this particular excerpt is not seen in the Tirupati manuscripts of ṃgīٲ-Գ峾ṇi. They are available only in a secondary source—namely, the ٲś of M. R. Kavi, where the author has not given the source from which he has taken this material. Therefore though this entry has a significant reference to Kohala as �śī�, it is treated as secondary evidence. It is also interesting that the readings (regarding Kohala) in the manuscripts are not found in ٲś and vice versa.