Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study)
by R. Laxmi | 1998 | 94,004 words
This is an English study of the Sankalpa Suryodaya鈥攁n allegorical Sanskrit drama by Venkatanatha, a distinguished philosopher-poet and dramatist of the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta tradition. This work of Venkata-natha (or, Vedanta Deshika). stands out for integrating allegory to convey moral and philosophical truths. The thesis examines its place in Sa...
The character of Tarka (Viveka鈥檚 charioteer)
[Full title: Minor characters of the play Sankalpa-Surodaya, in support of the main hero Viveka (4) Tarka (Viveka鈥檚 charioteer)]
Tarka's role in the drama is characterised as Viveka's charioteer. As the very name indicates, Tarka is indispensible to the activities of Viveka. He represents a power of reasoning or logic. He plays his role along with viveka in selecting a suitable place for Purusa's meditation. He is seen on the stage in the Sixth Act. Viveka moves in his chariot, run by Tarka. The extent of his travel is from the northern parts of Bharatavarsa to the extreme south. The holy places, Tarka shows are-the mountain Meru, Kailasa, Gandhamadana Himalaya, the Ganga, Region of Vindhya mountains, Ayodhya, Mathura, Salagrama, Varanasi, region of Sahyadri mountains, Yadavacala, Parasuramaksetra, Malaya mountain, Pandya country, Vrsacial, Chola country, Srirangam, Tundiramandala and Venkatacala. Tarka points to important places and suggests their holy features too. But Viveka finds them not suitable to the purpose for one or the other reason. Finally he
169 decides that no other place is better suited for meditation than Hrdaya pundarika as it is free from any blemish.