Srngaramanjari Katha

Author(s): Bhojdev, Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 85

ŚRNGARAMAÑJARIKATHA
(iv)
There is no other work which treats of the subject of rāga in such detail. But it is evident from stray references that the concept of rāga with its different names was current long before Bhoja's time.
Vātsyāyana takes rāga as a synonymn of love. रसो रतिः प्रीतिर्भावो रागो वेगः समाप्तिरिति रतिपर्यायाः। 26 Jayamangalā explains it as अष्टगुणोऽपि रागः । 27 Vātsyāyana does not specifically mention the different kinds of rāgas, but in the sixth chapter we read बालो वा नैकत्रदष्टिरतिसंधानप्रधानो वा हरिद्रारागो वा यत्किचनकारी वेत्यवेत्य संदिध्यन्न वा । 28 on which Jayamaigalā says: हरिद्रारागो वेति। हरिद्राराग इव रागो यस्य न चिरस्थायी। मयि विरक्तो यत्र गतस्तत्रापि विरक्तः पूनरागन्तुकामः कि दास्यति । This shows that though Vātsyāyana does not define the varieties of rāgas yet he and the author of the Jayamangalā are familiar with the different names and natures of the rāgas.
Following Bhoja the Agnipurāna in the Alamkāra section mentions three kinds of rāgas as an Ubhayaguña of kāvya.
हारिद्रश्च कौसुम्भो नीलीरागश्च स विधा। वैशेषिक: परिज्ञेयो यः स्वलक्षणगोचरः ।29 This section is considered as borrowed by the compiler of the Purāņa from Bhoja, so we cannot vouch for its originality.30 The only work prior to Bhoja, which mentions the varieties of rāga, is Ksemendra's Samayamātrka. In it, as in our text, the bawd instructs the courtesan in the secrets of harlotry. The knowledge of the rāga is described as the essential equipment for pursuing har lotry as a profession successfully.
अथ मन्मथमत्तानां करिणामिव कामिनाम् । बन्धाय बन्धकी शिक्षामाचचक्षे जरच्छिखा ।। पूर्व भावपरीक्षैव कार्या यत्लेन कामिनाम ।
ज्ञातरागविभागानां कर्त्तव्यौ त्यागसंग्रहौ ॥1 The rāgas that he enumerates and classifies are numerous. He gives eight classes having eight kinds or rāgas each, besides 16 other mis. cellaneous rāgas. The eight classes are:
१ वर्णानुकारिन् २ धात्वनुकारिन् ३ गगनसंगिन् ४ इन्द्रियसंज्ञक ५ प्राणिभेदज ६ पक्षिजाति ७ अंगविभागिन ८ महाराग
९ प्रकीर्णक
26. KS, II, 1,64. 27. Can astaguna' refer to the eight gunas of colour ete. referred to by Ksernendra? 28. Op. cit, VI, 4, 17. 29. 346.25. 30. For the relation between SP, and the Agnipurana see BSP, pp. 505-509. 31. V, 1, 3.