Indological Studies

SR No.: 022756
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

Page 44

4. SOME SPECIMENS OF THE CARCARI SONG
A type of verse composition in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa and Old Gujarati
1. Onwards from about the seventh century, we find in Sanskrit and Prakrit works numerous references to Carcari or Carcarikā (Prakrit forms caccari, caccaria; Early New Indo-Aryan forms camcari, căcari etc.) as a type of dance associated with the Spring Festival. The dancing parties which, on these occasions, were taken out in procession, or which performed in the public park, were also called Carcari. The dance was accompanied by music and song. We find numerous references to Carcari in abovenoted senses in classical works e.g. Kalidasa's Vikramorvasiya, Harṣa's Ratnavali, Haribhadra's Samaräiccakahā, Uddyotana's Kuvalayamālā, Rajasekhara's Karpūramañjari and other works including several Apabhramsa and Early New Indo-Aryan poems.
2. Further, we find the terms Carcari. Carcarikā, Cācari etc. used also in one of the following meanings:
(1) A type of musical composition (used in the Carcari
dance).
(2) Different types of metres (mostly Apabhramśa). (3) A type of Laya or Tala
(4) Different types of literary compositions
Obviously these meanings are interconnected. In fact the history of the character, form and structure of Carcari over the long period stretching from about the sixth to the sixteenth century has multifarious aspects, and it requires to be worked out from very widely scattered bits of information that are mostly to be gleaned from vague descriptions and casual references.
3. The present paper, however, has quite a limited aim. It seeks to give some idea of the form and character of Carcari songs on the basis of a few actual specimens traced in Prakrit,