Description
Book Specification
| Item Code: | NAJ314 |
| Author: | Dr. N.P. Unni |
| Publisher: | Nag Publisher |
| Language: | Sanskrit Text with English Translation |
| Edition: | 1998 |
| Pages: | 110 |
| Cover: | Hardcover |
| Other Details | 8.5 inch X 5.5 inch |
| Weight | 250 gm |
Book Description
About the Book
The earliest farcical sketch in one Act, the Mattavilasa or Diversion of the Drunk of King Mahendrvikramavarman of Kanchi, depicts the drunken revelry of a Saiva mendicant bearing a human skull in lieu of an alms- bowl and accordingly calling himself a Kapalin: his wanderings with his wench through the purlieus of Kanchi on his way to a tavern; his scuffle with a hypocritical Buddhist monk whom he accuses of the theft of the precious bowl; his appeal to degenerate Pasupata to settle the dispute and the final recovery of the bowl from a lunatic who has retrieved it from a stray dog.
The Prahasana is a remarkably smart production of the genre, replete with mirth and satire and the characters are vigorously drawn throwing a flood of light on the life of the time. The royal author who calls himself Vicitracitta holds to ridicule the sham priests and mendicants of various religious sects.
The work is here critically edited with an English translation and detailed introduction giving an account how the farce is staged in the reformed temple theatres of Kerala by Cakyars during the last several centuries. A rare and hitherto unknown metrical commentary is also appended to the edition.
About the Author
Dr. N.P. UNNI (b. 1936) has the unique distinction of being the first candidate to be awarded a Ph.D degree in Sanskrit by the University of Kerala.
After a long teaching career in the Govt. Sanskrit College, Trivandrum, he joined the University of Kerala as Curator in the reputed Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library. Later he became Reader in Sanskrit (1972) in the Dept. of Sanskrit and from 1979 onwards he served as Professor and Head of the Dept. till 1996. Now he is the Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala.
Dr. Unni has written edited/commented/published/more than 25 books in the different fields of study like Classical literature, Dramas, Kavyas, Dramaturgy, Commentatorial literature, Literary criticism etc; etc. His magnum opusan English translation with Sanskrit text and notes of the Natyasastra of Bharata is in the press.
Preface
What a great calamity! Sky brings forth a flower! Sands produce oil! A dramatic composition comes from the South!-exclaimed an Actress in the course of introducing the Ascaryacudamanii of Saktibhadra, a great drama by the greatest among the dramatists of Kerala. We are further told that the poet had to send his composition outside his region in order to win acclaim. Even if the above statement is not the whole truth, it is an eloquent essay on the state of literary affairs prevailing at that time in Kerala. But then, the Kerala dramatist, perhaps, did not know that South India had already produced two great plays which could stand the test of time.
The Bhagavadajjuka-the farce of the Saint and the Courtezan ascribed to Bodhayana by a commentator and the Mattavilasathe Diversion of the Drunk by Mahendravikrama are referred to in inscriptions which date back to 610A.D. Both these plays belong to the Prahasana type and exhibit some common features such as the exposition of the hypocrisy practised by mendicants, the decline of Buddhism in the South, the laxity in moral principles and the ignorance of religious bigots.
Kerala had the privilege of preserving these interesting plays to posterity-thanks to the flourishing stage tradition. Following the bold example of Saktibhadra, dramatists like Kulasekharavarman, Ravivarman and others brought out tolerably good dramas on a wide variety of topics. A survey conducted by the present writer reveals that there are not less than a hundred plays produced in Kerala by her sons. Many of these dramas were staged in the temple theatres of Kerala by professional actors.
As a result of these hectic activities, dramatic compositions both indigenous and coming from outside Kerala were assiduously copied and preserved. The spade work of great savants like Mahamahopadhyaya T. Ganapati Sastri brought to light a number of plays including the thirteen dramas ascribed to Bhasa and the Mattavilasa through the celebrated Trivandrum Sanskrit Series.
It is with great pleasure that I bring out this important contribution of South India together with an English translation. This is a reprint of the 1974 edition (College Book House, Trivandrum) with some revisions and additional notes. A note from my friend Dr. K.G. Paulose is also appended. I am thankful to Nag Publishers for bringing out this edition.
Introduction
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