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Essay name: Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study)

Author: R. Laxmi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit

This is an English study of the Sankalpa Suryodaya—an 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 Sanskrit literature.

Chapter 4a - Characterisation of the play

Page:

40 (of 134)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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168
Therefore, king Viveka expresses his joy and says that "This picture-gallery, through
limited in space, represents the boundless universe (in the form of artistic work) and
affords a good illustration of the Divine Persor called Daharā-akāśa who the
Upanisad says, lives in the lotus of the heart. Cr it reminds us of the child (the Lord)
at the end of the Kalpa, having all the objects of the Universe in His stomach."
Further he says,
"This painter has not painted the Universe here with external materials like
the brush and paints; surely under the pretext of painting, he has brought out of his
own varied imaginations painted with the brush of joy".
The other pictures which are painted by saṃskāra are Lord Visṇu's forms of
Matsyāvatāra, Kurmāvatāra, Varāhāvatāra, Narasimhāvatāra, Vāmanāvatāra,
Paraṣurāmāvatāra, Rāmāvatāra, Kṛṣṇāvatāra and of Kalki Avatāra.
Though Samskāra is a character of a very high culture he shows humility and
declares that he is to serve his master Viveka with all dedication.
To conclude, Samskāra represents truth of experience.
TARKA
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 Puruṣa'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 Bharatavarṣa to the extreme south. The holy places, Tarka shows
are-the mountain Meru, Kailāsa, Gandhamādana Himalaya, the Ganga, Region of
Vindhyā mountains, Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Sālagrāma, Vāraṇāsi, region of Sahyadri
mountains, Yādavācala, Paraṣurāmakṣetra, Malaya mountain, Pandya country,
Vṛṣācial, Chola country, Śrirangam, Tunḍīramaṇḍala and Venkaṭācala.
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

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