Knutson, Jesse Ross. Into the Twilight of Sanskrit Court Poetry.
Journal name: Acta Orientalia
Original article title: Knutson, Jesse Ross. Into the twilight of Sanskrit Court Poetry. The Sena Salon of Bengal and Beyond.
ACTA ORIENTALIA is a journal focused on the study of Oriental languages, history, archaeology, and religions from ancient times to the present. The journal includes articles reviewed by a senior scholar in the relevant field.
This page presents a generated summary with additional references; See source (below) for actual content.
Original source:
This page is merely a summary which is automatically generated hence you should visit the source to read the original article which includes the author, publication date, notes and references.
Stella Sandahl
Acta Orientalia:
(Founded in 1922 and published annually)
Full text available for: Knutson, Jesse Ross. Into the twilight of Sanskrit Court Poetry. The Sena Salon of Bengal and Beyond.
Year: 2018 | Doi: 10.5617/ao.7687
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Summary of article contents:
Introduction
In this review of Jesse Ross Knutson's book Into the Twilight of Sanskrit Court Poetry: The Sena Salon of Bengal and Beyond, Stella Sandahl examines the strengths and weaknesses of the text, which is based on Knutson's Columbia thesis. The book provides a detailed analysis of three poets鈥�Govardhana, Jayadeva, and Ba岣島 Candid膩s鈥攚hile offering valuable appendices and texts of their work. However, the review points out issues related to the book's terminology, the author's engagement with existing scholarship, and his analytical framework.
The Concept of the "Sena Salon"
Sandahl argues that the term "salon" in the subtitle, 鈥淭he Sena Salon of Bengal and Beyond,鈥� is anachronistic as it suggests a literary gathering typical of 18th and 19th century Europe, which is inappropriate for medieval India. While it is acknowledged that contemporary poets, including Jayadeva, Govardhana, and others, were patronized by Lak峁a峁嘺sena and may have known each other, Sandahl questions the implications of labeling their interaction as a 鈥渟alon.鈥� This leads to concerns about the urban setting that Knutson attributes to their literary exchange, highlighting the need for clarity in historical context.
Influence of Existing Scholarship
Sandahl critiques Knutson for not adequately acknowledging existing scholarship on Jayadeva and the 骋颈虅迟补驳辞惫颈苍诲补. Notably, she mentions the omission of her own monograph in Knutson's discussion of the 骋颈虅迟补驳辞惫颈苍诲补 and highlights his tendency to rely heavily on Sheldon Pollock鈥檚 work without offering complete credit to other scholars. This raises questions about the originality of Knutson鈥檚 arguments, especially since numerous observations he makes have previously been articulated by Sandahl. This lack of proper attribution detracts from the depth and credibility of his analysis.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Knutson's book demonstrates commendable linguistic skill and thorough research, it suffers from issues concerning historical accuracy and engagement with prior scholarship. These shortcomings diminish the effectiveness of his arguments regarding the interplay of Sanskrit and vernacular poetry during the Sena period. Sandahl's review ultimately calls for a more thoughtful integration of historical context and proper citation practices in scholarly works, especially those aimed at complex literary traditions.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What is the main theme of Knutson's book?
Knutson's book focuses on the analysis of Sanskrit court poetry, particularly the contributions of three poets: Govardhana, Jayadeva, and Ba岣島 Candid膩s, exploring their works and cultural context in medieval Bengal.
What are some critiques of Knutson's terminology in the book?
Critics argue that referring to a 'salon' in the medieval Indian context is anachronistic and pretentious, as it evokes European literary gatherings instead of accurately representing the cultural practices of that time.
What are the appendices in Knutson's book about?
The appendices provide valuable texts and translations, including complete verses attributed to the Sena kings, Govardhana, and Jayadeva, showcasing Knutson's skills in transliterating and translating historical Sanskrit and Middle Bengali works.
How does Sandahl view Knutson's interpretation of Jayadeva's poetry?
Sandahl feels that Knutson's interpretations often overlook significant previous studies, lacking proper citations and sometimes presenting arguments that seem less original or reductionist regarding Jayadeva's contributions to Sanskrit literature.
What positive aspects does Sandahl acknowledge about Knutson's work?
Despite critiques, Sandahl acknowledges Knutson's excellent command of Sanskrit and recognizes his hard work in uncovering, transliterating, and translating various historical texts, which adds value to the field.
Glossary definitions and references:
Oriental and Historical glossary list for 鈥淜nutson, Jesse Ross. Into the Twilight of Sanskrit Court Poetry.鈥�. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of History, Linguistics, Religion, Philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc.
1) Sanskrit:
The dominant literary language used by the poets discussed in the reviewed book. For example, both Govardhana and Jayadeva, two key authors in the text, wrote their poetry in Sanskrit.
2) Jayadeva (Jaya-deva):
Jayadeva is a significant poet whose work, particularly the 'G墨t膩govinda', is discussed in detail in the reviewed book. The text also highlights Jayadeva's innovative use of Sanskrit and vernacular influences.
3) Book:
The source text contains reviews of works discussed in 'Acta Orientalia', with a detailed review of Knutson's book 'Into the Twilight of Sanskrit Court Poetry' emphasizing its discussion on relevant poets.
4) Sena (Shena):
Refers to the Sena dynasty under which the poets discussed in the reviewed book flourished. Many of the poets, including Jayadeva, were patronized by King Lak峁a峁嘺sena of the Sena dynasty.
5) Poetry (Poetic, Poetical):
The reviewed book focuses on court poetry in Sanskrit and Bengali, discussing the works and contributions of medieval poets such as Jayadeva, Govardhana, and Ba岣島 Candid膩s.
6) Bengal (Bemgal):
The region where the Sena Salon of poets, including Jayadeva and Govardhana, was located. The region's literary history is a central focus of the reviewed book.
7) Literature:
The book review discusses the intersection of high and vernacular literature, illustrating the rich literary culture of the Sena court, especially the contributions from poets of medieval Bengal.
8) Govardhana (Go-vardhana):
Govardhana is one of the poets discussed in Knutson's book. His works are examined for their contribution to the literary culture of the Sena court in Bengal.
9) Bengali:
The language in which Ba岣島 Candid膩s wrote, highlighting the bilingual literary scene of the Sena court as discussed in the reviewed book.
10) Kavya:
Refers to classical Sanskrit literature. Poets discussed in the book, such as Jayadeva, contributed to this genre with innovative works like the 'G墨t膩govinda'.
11) India:
The geographical and cultural context encompassing the literary traditions explored in Knutson's book, especially focusing on medieval Bengal under the Sena dynasty.
12) King:
Refers to Lak峁a峁嘺sena and other kings of the Sena dynasty who patronized poets like Jayadeva, supporting a vibrant literary scene discussed in the reviewed book.
13) Sanskrit literature:
A key subject of Knutson's book, discussing how poets like Jayadeva and Govardhana shaped and contributed to the tradition through works like the 'G墨t膩govinda'.
14) Court:
The environment in which the discussed poets worked, specifically the court of the Sena kings, which served as a patronage center for literary activities as outlined in the reviewed book.
15) Poem:
The medium of the works discussed, such as the 'G墨t膩govinda' by Jayadeva and other poetic compositions analyzed in Knutson's book.
16) yid bzhin nor bu:
[see source text or glossary: yid bzhin nor bu]
17) Eastern India:
The cultural and historical setting of the reviewed book, focusing on regions like Bengal where poets flourished under the Sena dynasty.
18) Urban center (Urban centre):
Refers to the urban centers in Bengal where the literary court of the Sena dynasty was likely located, a topic of discussion in the review of Knutson's book.
19) don grub:
[see source text or glossary: don grub]
20) Cosmopolitan:
A term used in Knutson's book to describe the nature of the literary scene at the Sena court, contrasting urban cosmopolitan ideals with more rustic elements.
21) Language:
Discusses the language of the literary works, primarily Sanskrit, and its interaction with vernacular languages like Bengali, as explored in Knutson's book.
22) Metrics (Metric):
Refers to the analysis of poetic meters, a significant aspect of the reviewed book, particularly in relation to Sanskrit poetry like the 'G墨t膩govinda' by Jayadeva.
23) Umapati (Umapathi, Uma-pati):
One of the contemporary poets mentioned by Jayadeva, indicating the literary milieu of the Sena court. His work is discussed in the context of court poetry.
24) Kalasha (Kalasa):
[see source text or glossary: Kalasha]
25) Hundred:
[see source text or glossary: Hundred]
26) Devotion (Devoted):
Describes the focus of different chapters in Knutson's book, each dedicated to examining specific poets and their contributions to Sanskrit and Bengali literature.
27) Sharana (Sarana, Sarane):
Another poet contemporary to Jayadeva, whose work is referenced in the discussion of the literary culture at the Sena court.
28) Winter:
[see source text or glossary: Winter]
29) Finger:
[see source text or glossary: Finger]
30) Praise:
[see source text or glossary: Praise]
31) Murti (Murtti):
[see source text or glossary: 惭奴谤迟颈]
32) Vishnu (Visnu):
[see source text or glossary: 痴颈峁ａ箛耻]
33) Depth:
Used to describe the complexity and subtlety of Pollock's contributions, which are heavily referenced in Knutson's book.
34) Pakan:
[see source text or glossary: Pagan]
35) Kama:
An example of precise translation challenges, as discussed in the review where Knutson is critiqued for his choice of translating 碍腻尘补 as Eros.
36) Grub:
[see source text or glossary: Grub]