Sanskrit dramas by Kerala authors (Study)
by S. Subramania Iyer | 1971 | 172,221 words
This essay represents and English study of the Sanskrit dramas by Kerala authors. The influence that Sanskrit has exerted on the people of Kerala in their cultural, social and literary fields is of great significance to them. Their language and literature, religion and philosophy, art and architecture, all have their roots deep in Sanskrit. In this...
3. Plays enacted on the Kerala Stage
The Sanskrit dramas that generally used to be enacted on the Kerala Stage were the following: 1. Subhadr@dhananjaya, 2. Tapat 1 somvarann, 3. Nagananda, 4. Mahinotake, 5. BhagavataJjulelyn, 6. Mottavilasa, 7. Kalyana Sougandhika, 8. Madhyamavyayoga, 9. Dutavaikya (srikrishna Duta), 10. Karanbhora (Karna Kavnce), 11. Dutaghatotkacn, 12. Urubhange, 13. Panicnratra, 14. Avlmnraicn, 15. Ahenryncudamani, 16. Abhi shaira motake, 17. Pratima Netake, 18. Prati jnnyougendharayana, 19. svapnavagava 52 Ibid., p.58-59. 53 Ibid., p.54.
75 54 datta, 20. Balacerita, 21. Carudattae, 22. Srikrishnacarita, 23. Unmadavasavadatta, 24. Sakuntala. Only a single act from them was enacted at a time end each set was known by a separate name. The different acts of the first four dramas have no special names. The next eight dramas are all one act plays. The names of the two acts of Pancaratra are available namely, Vettanka and Bhishmadutanka. The titles of the five sets of Avimaraka are: 1. mettanka, 2. Dutinka, 3. Abhi saryanka, 4. Parvanka, 5, Madamettanks. The six acts of scarya cudamani are known as 1. Parnasalanka, 2. Surpanakhanka, 3. Mayasitanka, 4. Jatayuvadhanka, 5. Asokavanikanka, 6. Anguliyanka. The three sets of Abhisheka Nataka are known as 1. Balivadhanka, 2. Toranavadhenka, 3. Mayasitanka. The seven acts of Pratima Nataka are entitled 1. Viccinnabhishekanke, 2. Vilapanka, 3. Pratimanka, 4. Atavyanka, 5. Ravananka, 6. Bharatanka, 7. Abhishekanka. In the Pretinayougandharayana, the name of only one act is known namely, Mentranka. According to Professor K. R. Pisharoty, the most popular of the twenty four dramas mentioned above are the first four, the sixth, seventh, 55 eighth, nineth, fifteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth. Tradition has it that 'sakuntala was put on the boards only 54 K. R. Pisharoty, Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. I, p.246-251, 1925. 55 Ibid.
once. 56 The Balacarita is usually selected for the debut or 'Arangettam' of the Cakkiyar boys. Mattavilasa is staged in certain temples as a religious offering. 27 til