Raghuvilasa Natakoddharah

Author(s): Ramchandra Mahakavi,
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 12

ix
When Hemachandra was first introduced to Siddharaja, at that time Ramachandra was his pupil. Ramachandra was a swift composer of verses (Sighra Kavi). It is said that Siddharaja once asked him as to why the days are longer in Summer. Ramachandra replied: "The dust raised by your victorious horses has reached heavenly Ganges, mud is created there, green grass grows thereon, Sun's horses while travelling during the day stop to eat that grass. That is why days are longer in Summer." Siddharaja was pleased with this reply. Ramachandra's description of Anahilla Patan was also picturesque. His reply to Poet Visveswara is also frequently quoted: He was famous for Samasya-Purti. Siddharaja had asked Hemachandra as to who would be his successor and Hemachandra had mentioned Ramachandra.
Ramachandra is described as author of Prabhandha Sataka. Some people think that he had composed 100 works. But Muni Jinavijayaji has pointed out in Puratatva Volume II Page 421 that at one place there is a reference to one single work of Ramachandra called Prabandha Sata describing the 12 kinds of Rupakas and that work is of the length of 5,000
verses.
In his introduction to two dramas Ramachandra refers to Prabhandha Sataka. It appears that Prabhandha Sataka is the name of a single work. Ramachandra has in co-authorship with his co-student Gunachandra written two works, (1) Natyadarpana on the Science of Dramaturgy and (2) Dravyalankara on Nyaya. On both these works they have written their own Vritti. In Natyadarpana Ramachandra refers to 11 dramas which he has written. The number of times in which they are referred to in Natyadarpana is mentioned here in the bracket. (I) Kaumudi Mitrananda Prakaran (1) (II) Nalavilasa Nataka (13), (III) Nirbhaya Bhima Vyayoga (I), (IV) Mallika Makaranda Prakarana (I), (V) Yadavabhyudaya Nataka (8), (VI) Raghuvilasa Nataka (14), (VII) Raghavabhyudaya Nataka (7), (VIII) Rohini Mriganka Prakarana (2) (IX) Vanamala Nataka (1), (X) Satya Harischandra Nataka (7) and (XI) Yaduvilasa (mentioned in the introduction of Raghu Vilasa).
Out of the 11 dramas Nalavilasa is published by the Gaekwad Oriental Series. Kaumudi Mitrananda was published by Muni Punyavijayaji on the basis of a single manuscript in 1917 A.D. through Atmaram Sabha, Bhavnagar. Nirbhaya Bhima Vyayoga was published by Yaso Jain Granthamala and Satya Harischandra Nataka was published by the Nirnaya Sagar press, Bombay. Ramachandra describes himself as Vidya Trayichana, that is, expert in grammar, logic and poetics. He does not imitate others or plagiarise. He has frequently stated that he loves freedom and independence. It seems he had lost his right eye. It is stated that Hemachandra had asked him to become Ek Drishti that is to follow with single-mindedness Jainism and therefore he became oneeyed man. Another version says that he found mistakes in the poem of Sripala and thereafter he lost his eye-sight.