Lilavai

SR No.: 002796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 500
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 15 MB

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LILĀVAI
the Kavyamālā. Puspadanta in his Mahāpurāņu mentions Kohala thus: भावाहि भारवि भासु वासु कोहलु कोमलगिरु कालियासु. The annotator takes Kohalu Kūsmāṇḍaḥ. Further the poet Nayanandi (11th century Vikrama Era) refers to one Kouhala in his Apabhramsa work, Vihivihāņa, in this manner; a. (See Anekanta, X, ix, p. 316). So following the commentator we may accept, for the present, that Kutuhala is the name of the author of Lilavati. He composed this poem at the explicit request of his beloved; she appears to have been a sensible and cultured lady, and her name, according to the commentary, was Sāvitrī ( nija-priyatamayā Savitri-nāmnya, p.7 ).
Presuming that Kohala and Kouhala are convertible terms in Prakrit,' we have not got sufficient evidence to propose that our author is the same as the famous theorist of dramaturgy2 or the poet mentioned by Somadeva in his Yasastilaka-campu."
5. THE LILAVATI: A CRITICAL STUDY a) Story of the Poem
Long long ago there flourished many illustrious kings who were all contemporaries: the Vidyadhara king Hamsa at Sulasă on the southern range of mount Meru, the Yaksa king Nalakūbara (the son of Kubera) at Alakāpuri, king Śilāmegha on the island of Simhala, the Siddha king Malayanila at Kerala on the Malaya mountain, and the illustrious monarch Satavahana at Pratiṣṭhāna on the river Godavari in the Asmaka country.
The mighty king Vipulāśaya' once felt displeased with his royal fortunes, gave his kingdom to chosen priests and started practising a severe penance in the Himalayas. Indra feared his progress and sent the celestial nymph Rambha to frustrate his austerities. By her charming beauty she could incite his cupidity; and he fell in passionate love with her, begetting a lovely female child, Kuvalayavali by name. On the very day of delivery, Rambha left for heaven leaving the child under the care of its father. Nourished by sylvan deities with fruit juice day to day, the child grew into a charming girl in the midst of domestic animals of the forest. Kuvala
1 Hemacandra's Prakrit Grammar i. 171; see also the Glossary of Lilavati. 2 M. Krishnamachariar: Classical Sanskrit Literature, § 958, Madras 1937. 3 Kavyamālā 70, III, 239, कोहलस्यार्थ हानिः । Com. कोहलस्य कोहलकवेरर्थहानिर्निर्धनत्वं संजातम् । Elsewhere कोहलो - कूष्माण्डः कश्चित्कविः.
4 It is not mentioned where he ruled.