Essay name: Manasollasa (study of Arts and Sciences)
Author:
Mahadev Narayanrao Joshi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay in English studies the Manasollasa authored by Someshvara III, representing an ancient encyclopedic work encompassing over 8,000 Sanskrit verses. The text addresses diverse topics like polity, political sciences, architecture, jurisprudence, iconography, idol-making, and various arts and sciences such as mathematics.
Chapter 4 - Fine arts in Manasollassa
10 (of 100)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
187
In enumerating Citragunas and Citra-dosas, i.e., merits
and demerits in paintings, an excess of any; was considered
15 a blemish. In Someśvara's Mānasollāsa Sukṣmarekhā is
more important in the picture. If we, however, take the
clue from Suksmarekha, the meaning might be that, merely
drawing a line in the form of a human figure is no art.
This is supported by the words Vidyunnirmanakuśalai�.
Varnapūrṇa might imply proficiency in harmonizing the
colour. Rasa is expressed in painting.
�
Incidental to
the treatment of Rasa, there are interesting references.
as to where particular Rasas should be depicted (and
where not to be.) These remarks seem to embody a tradi-
tion which must have a considerable basis in actual
practice.
The subject of classification of Citra is to be found
in other works dealing with Citra.
Someśvara, in his
Manasollasa divides Citra into three types, namely
Viddha, Aviddha and Bhavacitra.
16 The meaning of
15. प्रगल्भैर्भावकैस्तज्ज्ञै� सूक्ष्मरेख� विशारदैः �
विधुन्निर्माणकुशलै� पत्रलेखनकोविदै� �
वर्णपुरणदक्षैश्च वीरण� � कृतश्रमै� � �
चित्रकैर्लेख्येच्चित्र� नानारससमुद्भवम� ।। [pragalbhairbhāvakaistajjñai� sūkṣmarekhā viśāradai� |
vidhunnirmāṇakuśalai� patralekhanakovidai� ||
varṇapuraṇadakṣaiśca vīraṇai ca kṛtaśramai� | |
citrakairlekhyeccitra� nānārasasamudbhavam || ] 3.1.139-140.
16. सुप्रमाण� तथ� विद्वमवि भावचित्रकम� �
रसधूलिंगतं प्रोक्तं मानसोल्लासपुस्तक� � [supramāṇa� tathā vidvamavi bhāvacitrakam |
rasadhūliṃgata� prokta� mānasollāsapustakai || ] 3.1.943.
