Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 86

THE PURPOSE OF THE WORK
63
The first group of Rāgas contains many names similar to rāgas mentioned above. Thus:
कुसुम्भरागः सिन्दूररागः कुंकुमरागवान् । लाक्षारागोऽथ माञ्जिष्ठो रागः काषायरागभृत्।।
हारिद्रो नीलरागश्चेत्यष्टै वर्णानुकारिणः । सुवर्णरागस्ताम्राख्यो रीतिरागस्तथापरः ॥32 One rāga of the second class — the ritirāga --- is mentioned in our text. All others are different from those enumerated in the SMK.
Among the post-Bhoja authorities Visvanātha is the only one to notice some of the rāgas, and in this he does nothing more than follow Bhoja's SKA. He says:
आदौ वाच्यः स्त्रिया रागः पश्चात् पुंसस्तदिङिगतैः ।
नीलीकुसुम्भं मञ्जिष्ठा पूर्वरागोऽपि च त्रिधा ॥33 Among the lexicographers Yādavaprakāśa, 34 Halāyudha 35 and Hemacandra 36 mention and define the Nīlī and the Haridrā ragas,
(v)
Now we can examine critically the basis of the classification, natures and illustrations of the rāgas as given by the various texts.
The basis of classification in the SMK is according to vargas or classes. Four primary rāgas, namely the Nilh, the Manjisthā, the Kusumbha and the Haridrā form the classes. There are three in each of these vargas, but there is no specific reason given for the division.
The classification of the SP is more scientific. It is according to the three natures of the nāyakas. Thus there is a difference in the pattern of the division of rāgas in the SMK and the SP. Thus: SMK (4 vargas)
SP (3 natures)
नीली मंजिष्ठा कुसुम्भ हरिद्रा
हरिद्रा कुसुम्भ कर्दम रीति कषाय लाक्षा रोचन
रोचन लाक्षा कषाय अक्षीब सकल कर्दम काम्पिल्य
काम्पिल्य अक्षीब सकल
रीति मञ्जिष्ठा नीली Despite this difference in the basis of classification in the two texts, it is interesting, though not surprising, to note the very close verbal similarity in the description and divisions of rāgas in them. As both the works are from the pen of one author, they should 32, Ibid, vss. 4, 5. 33. Sahityadarpana, III, 195. The explanation and examples are similar to those
in SKA. 34. Vaijayanti, I, V, 4,26.. 35. Abhidhānaratnamälā, II, 219 b, 220 36. Abhidhānacintamani, III, 476.