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7. THE CHILDHOOD EXPLOITS OF KRŞNA ACCORDING TO SOME PRE-ELEVENTH CENTURY
PRAKRIT AND APABHRAMSA TEXTS
Originally this paper was planned to contain two sections : the first section to give information about a few little known Prakrit and Apabhraíśa texts relating to the early life of Krsna in Gokula, Vịndāvana and Mathurā and especially those dealing with the love-sports of Krşņa with Rādhā and the other cowherd girls. The second section was to touch upon the regional aspect of the Krsna-literature and Krşņa-bhakti prior to the eleventh century. As it was however felt that in that case the paper would be unreasonably lengthy, the present attempt is confined to the first of the two above-mentioned themes.
The tradition of presenting and representing Krşņa's childhood in literature and art extends over more than two thousand years. So it is bound to have numerous variations of episodes, individual details and motifs. These variations tie up with chronology, religious sect and region. The importance of the Krsna literature of different periods for interpreting some of the aspects of the art of those periods depicting Krşna's life is self-evident. So far mostly the Sanskrit and Hindu sources have been explored for this purpose. The Prakrit, Apabhramsa and Jaina sources remain neglected for the most part. No doubt some specialized work on the Jain Krsna-kathā has been done by a few scholars. But this, as. also some relevant Prakrit and Apabhramsa works remain more or less inaccessible to the students of the history of Indian Art.
The great impact of Jayadeva's Gitagavinda (12th Cent. A.D.) on the subsequent art and literature is well-known. Lilāśuka Bilvamangala' (possibly 11th Cent. in one view) preceded Jayadeva in the characteristic type of Krşņa-bhakti which had the Bhagavalapurära c. 850 A.D.)' as its fountain-head.
| SR No. | 022756 |
| Book Title | Indological Studies |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | H C Bhayani |
| Publisher | Parshva Prakashan |
| Publication Year | 1993 |
| Total Pages | 376 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 25 MB |