Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 208

190 STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE Sarasvatikanthabharana, srngaraprakasa, Bhamahavivarana, etc., which have been judiciously used in its preparation. We may take up for consideration one of these source-books, utilised by Hemacandra, namely Abhinavabharati. The text of the Abhinavabharati, has been badly preserved in its manuscripts. The first editor of the text (The Natyasastra of Bharatamuni with the commentary Abhinavabharati, Chs. I-VII ed, by M. Ramakrishna Kavi, second edn., Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1956, p. 63) remarked : "...even if Abhinavagupta descended from Heaven and saw the MSS, he, would not easily restore his original readings." Hemacandra has preserved intact the ideas and the language of some of the long sections from Abhinavabharati on the key chapters of the Natyasastra, Rasadhyaya, the Bhavadhyaya, the Dasrupakavidhana and the Sandhyadhyaya by incorporating them in their original form without abridging them. Thus, for instance, the pretty long section of Abhinavabharati extending over fourteen pages of the Kavyanusasana (Ch. II, pp. 89-103) is preserved in toto by Hemacandra. At the end of the section he acknowledges his source in these words : इति श्रीमानभिनवगुप्ताचार्यः / एतन्मतमेव चास्माभिरुपजीवितम् / For all this we all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to him. Hemacandra's Kavyanusasana, Ramacandra and Gunacandra's Natydarpana and Ambaprasada's Kalpalataviveka that have freely drawn on Abhinavabharati and Dhvanyalokalocana are of immense help in correcting the corrupt text as printed in the editions of Natyasastra with Abhinavabharati and Dhvanyalokalocana. I have published a series of articles all entitled "Abhinavabharati : Text Restored". I have also published two papers : "Abhinavabharati : Ch. VII Recovered" ? and "Kalpalataviveka on Abhinavabharati". Even a cursory glance at these papers will convince scholars of poetics of the invaluable help rendered by these Jain authors to our better understanding and appreciation of the greatest and the most valuable commentaries of Abhinavabharati and Dhvanyalokalocana, of the master-critic and aesthete, second only to Anandavardhana, the author of the epoch-making work Dhvanyaloka. Hemacandra does not claim any originality as regards discovering any new theory of poetics. He however claims originality in his method, manner, and treatment of the subjectmatter. And this claim is just and legitimate. I have done. I thank the authorities of the Institute once again for their kind invitation and I thank you all for patient hearing.