SANSKRIT VERSES OF KERALA HISTORY KR IRS CONTD PART 15 10824 11824 6.5. Visakharaja-prasasti
- Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis This small panegyric Visakharaja prasasti of Kerala Varma which contains ten verses in praise of Visakham Tirunal is very significant in many respects. The poem eulogises the Visakham Tirunal Maharaja, the poets most intimate and effectionate patron, in high terms when he ascends the throne. Some verses are follows śrīvañcīśvaravaṃśavāridhisudhāsūte! yaśaścandrikā dda?[Ý]rotsārita durhṛdandhatamasaṃ rājan! budhānandanam | tvāmudyantamakhaṇḍamaṇḍalamamuṃ dṛṣvā kalānāṃ nidhiṃ santoṣābdhiramān mamāntaradhunā hantottaraṅgāyate | vīreṣu prathamaṃ viśākha! vibudhavrātavyathādāyakāvyāpārāsurayūthadarmadabharacchedaikavaijñānikam | bibhrāṇaṃ kṣitibhirdvibhedanacaṇāṃ śaktiṃ bhavantaṃ patiṃ prāpyeyaṃ pṛthivī suparvapṛtanevaitarhi jejīyate || syānandūrapureśvaraṃ sumanasāmānandasandohanaṃ saujanyotthayaśaḥ kadambakalaśāṃbhorāśimadhyeśayaṃ | viśvotkṛṣṭaguṇaṃ, viśākha! jagatīkāntaṃ bhavantaṃ bhuvi pratyakṣaṃ sarasīruhākṣamadhunā lakṣmīpatiṃ lakṣaye || The prasasti was printed in 1881. A dedicatory verse is also appended. [1]:The title is given as Visakhamaharaja mangala prasasti in the palm leaf No. 18369 C, Kerala University, Tvm.—About the author and work see, Kerala varma and his works -Dr. Poovattur Ramakrishna Pillai -Chapter 1 -1985, Tvm -P. -67-69 [2]:It was reprinted under the title ‘Keralavarma devante oru visista krithi’ in Matrbhumi Weekly date 20-05-1945 by E.V. Raman Nambutiri.—This poem is however not included in the list of the works given by Ullur either in Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur or in his article ‘Valiyakoyithampuranum aviduthe samskritakritikalum’ in the ‘Kerala smaranika’ Ed. by A.D. Harisarma in connection with Keralavarma’s centenary. Also see Keraleya Samskrita Sahitya Caritram V -112 -13; KSLB, Pp -416 -17------------------------------------ .1. Nakshatramala - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis The Nakshatramala, composed in 1866 by Kerala Varma at the age of twenty one is a short poem consisting of twenty seven verses in the Sardulavikridita metre in honour of Ayilyam Tirunal on the conferment of the title GCSI and necklace of jewels by Queen Victoria in the same year. First stanza in the poem proves to be the best illustration of the poets dexterity in diction. In the verse of dedication the poet recollects his uncle Rajarajavarma koil Tampuran, who was his first teacher and guide and who brought him to Trivandrum from Canganassery at the age of ten. In the begining of the poem the poet states with humility that he is only a blade of grass that has sprouted in the literary grace of his compassionate uncle and that he composes the Nakshatramala eulogising the merits of the necklace of jewels presented by Queen Victoria. In the 10th stanza Kerala Varma portrays the Maharaja with the epithet—ripukairavāmbaramaṇe—(One who destroys enemies as the sun destroys water-lilies) As observes by Ullur, one who has seen their friendship in those days, could never imagine that the poet himself would become the water-lily kairava and the Maharaja the sun. The text of the poem was published along with a full Malayalam rendering by Ullur For more details ----------------------------------- 7.2. Vancisastava - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis Asvati Tirunal Rama Varma too has expatiated on the glories of this sovereign in more than one place in his immortal works. Vancisastava [vancisastavam] also known as Vancimaharaja-stava, which was specially composed in praise of Kartika Tirunal Ramavarma Maharaja (1758 -98 AD) of Travancore, the author’s uncle. It contains 12 slokas and one long prose passage forming a panegyric on Maharaja. Some verses are given below: nānārājanyapūrṇā pyadhikasurabhiṇā kīrtikunduprasūnaiḥ śrīvāñcikṣoṇirākāhimakara bhavatā dyotate bhūtadhātrī | nissīmānaukahāpi trubhuvanajanatāślādhyasaurabhyasampannikṣepākṣīṇadhāmnā malayagiritaṭī bhāti bhadra śriyaiva || śrīvañcikṣoṇibhāgyodayaphala bhavataḥ kiñcana krodhaketau śoṇimni smerapaṅkeruhasadṛśadṛśoḥ koṇamālaṃbamāne muktvā rāṣṭraṃ pratīpakṣitipatipṛtanāśreṇayaḥ prāṇabhītya citraṃ santaptacittā vipadamapi padaṃ tulyakālaṃ bhajante || ------------------------------------ Other works dealing with the history and culture of Kerala - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis Citranaksatramala of A.R. Rajarajavarma contains 27 verses in praise of Visakam Tirunal. Citraslokavali of Keralavarma Valiyakoil Tampuran in praise of Ayilyam Tirunal Maharaja composed in 1869. Martandabhupastuti by an anonymous author, deals a short penegyric on king Marthandavarma presumably the famous king of that name in Travancore. Pancadasi of Paramesvara Iyyer of Ullur, is a work in 16 verses on Devan C.P. Rama swami Iyer of Travancore. Ravivarma stuti of Mrtynjasvami on Ravivarma, who is perhaps identical with the patron of Vasudeva. Sailadriswarasataka of Nilakantasarma of Punnasseri on the Zamorin of Calicut, Vidvan Manavikrama Ettan Tampuran. Sastipurtiprasamsa of Parameswara Sarma of Vattappalli is on the Sastipurti of Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Tampuran. Srimula kama harajapada padmasataka of Kerala varma valiya koil Tampuran writes 100 slokas in praise of Mulam Tirunal Maharaja. Srimulakapadanastava is a prasasti or Srimulam Tirunal Maharaja by Raja Raja Varma Tampuran of Ennakkatu. Tulabharasataka of Kerala varma Valiya koil Tampuran composed in 1870 in honour of the Tulapurusadana ceremoney of Ayilyam Tirunal Maharaja. Tulapurusadana of T. Ganapati Sastri, is on the royal Tulabhara ceremony at Trivandrum. The above mentioned all these works sheds abundant light into the history and culture of Kerala. --------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 - Historical Details from Mahakavyas 1. Introduction (accounts of early Indian History) Chapter 3 - Historical Details from Mahakavyas It has often been observed that India possessed no history. Yet the seeds of history can be seen even in the earliest Indian literature. The vedas, the puranas, the epics, the Buddhist works, the Prasastis, the inscriptions, coins, monuments, secular literature, astronomical works and the accounts of foreign travellers are the main sources of early Indian History. Besides, there are a large number of historical Kavyas in various forms in Sanskrit literature. A vast majority of them, on a close observation, do not supply sufficient or accurate historical material one comes across the same stereotyped conventional descriptions. Nevertheless, one must admit that some of them provide valuable historical information and research material. A general survey of much important historical and biographical works, with special reference to Kerala’s contribution to this branch of learning, is made in this chapter. What was said about the history of ancient India, is true of ancient Kerala as well. One rarely comes across any authentic historical account from the ancient writers of Kerala. Instead of historical narratives, one generally finds mythological accounts interspersed with historical gleanings. However, there are a few poems of some historical importance. But they were most probably written after the 10th C. AD. ------------------------------------------ 2. Mahodayapuresacaritam - Historical Details from Mahakavyas A historical poem entitled Mahodayapuresa-charitha [Mahodayapuresacaritam] is traditionally attributed to Tolan who was a court poet of the Kerala king Kulasekharavarman (900 AD), who distinguished himself as a dramatist. According to some scholars he was a protege of Bhaskara Ravivarman or Ceraman Perumal. Though the name Tolan seems to be a tadbhava of Atula, he is not to be identified with the author of the Musikavamsa, which must have been written in the beginning of the 12th C AD. According to another view his name was Nilakantha and that he was a native of Cochin and he belonged to the Airanikkulam Village. This Tolan is credited with the authorship of the poem called Mahodayapuracaritam. Kulasekhara is the hero of the Kavya. The work begins with a description of Mahodayapuresa, or Tiruvancikkulam, the modern cranganore. The poem is said to be a Mahakavya in simple style. The work is non-extent, only two verses have been handed down to us through tradition. Nothing else is known about this interesting work on the lord of the city of Mahodaya, the ancient capital of Kerala. The name suggests that it was a historical poem giving an account of ancient Kerala. It is believed that Tolan had no admiration for the Yamaka poets. He was also a great art critic. Also known as Tolakavya—Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur -I -P 158; Keraleya Samskrita Sahitya Caritram -I -P 159—See also Kerala Sanskrit Literature -P 19; KSLB -P -359; History of Classical Sanskrit Literature -P -258 [2]:This Tolan may be identified with the author of Vyangyavyakhya, commenteries on Tapati samvarana and Subhadradhananjaya, the dramas of Kulasekhara. See Kunjan Raja’s article on Tolan, Keralopaharam 1955. For further details about the possible identification also refer to Dr. N.P. Unni -“Tolan and the authorship of Vyangyavyakhya” -Kerala University -Vol. 12 -Nos. 1, 2, PP -99 -110 [3]:Dr. P.K. Narayanapillai, Sanskrit equivalents of some Malayalam proper, Tvm.—P -18 -‘Atulan Tolanum tatha’ [5]:Quoted in Kerala Sahitya Caritram, Ullur -Vol 1 -P 135— svarjālikānirjaranirjhariṇyāṃ yadīyasaudhāgrajuṣāṃ vadhūnām | āloladṛṣṭiprakāraṃ samīkṣya mīnabhramājjālaśataṃ kṣipanti || yatrāṅganāḥ prāvṛṣi śuṣkakaṇṭhān kelīcakorānatilaṅghitābhram | saudhāgramānīya samīpabhājā tārāsaraṇyā saha yojayanti || ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Mushakavamsa (or Mushika-vamsa) by Atula - Historical Details from Mahakavyas Poet Atula’s Mushika-vamsa [Mushikavamsa is an epic poem, Mahakavya, dealing with the history of the Musika dynasty that ruled over the kingdom of Ezhimala known by the alternative name of Kolathunadu in 15 cantos. Atula was a court poet of the Musaka king, Srikantha alias Rajadharma. No further informations as to who Atula was, either from this work as from other works as far as is known. Except perhaps from the identification that Ullur makes of king Srikantha with Kantan Karivarman who was defeated by Rajendra Chola I. In that case Srikantha must have lived during the time of Rajendra Chola I ie. 1012 AD-1043. Poet Atula also must have lived during this time. It may also be mentioned here that an Atula is mentioned in the list of kings which the works gives. This poem should be considered as the earliest among historical kavyas since the poet is a contemporary of the ruler with the name of the Srikantha who flourished in the early decades of the 11th A.D. The first part of the Mushakavamsa, the author fulfills the requirements of a Mhakavya like the descriptions of messengership, marches for victory, fights, seasons, morning, evenings, drinking of liquor etc. Thus the section forms more or less an epic dealing almost entirely with legendary stories, the details being supplied by the fancy of the poet. The second part deals with the narration of a long line of kings. Here the names of 97 kings who followed Nandana the son of the founder king are given. In the course of the description of this legendary king many such rulers are associated with the establishment of ancient temples located in the region. For instance, king satasoma is credited with the founding of the cellur temple dedicated to Siva. Some other temples thus connected with these rulers are Ahiranesvara, Kharavana, and Vatukesvara -all consecrated to the same deity. All this is described in the 11th canto of the poem. The third part which consists of four cantos from 12 to 15 deals with historical kings. Altogether 19 kings are said to have ruled the Musika country during a period of about 250 years from the second half of the 9th century up to the 12 C. AD. Modern researches have shown that many of these kings have some historical footing. Inscriptions recorded by them in some of the temples of the locality are available to posterity. Different arrangement made by them for the protection and preservation of the temple property are known from those records. Origin of the dynasty Atula the author of Musaka Vamsa traces the genealogy of the Musaka dynasty from the founder king Ramaghata Musika. He was the son of a queen of Mahismati who escaped slaughter at the hands of Parasurama, though her husband fell a victim to the calamity. Later when he came of age he was consecrated as the king of the region of Eli hill by Parasurama who performed the great Pattabhiseka ceremony pouring potfuls of consecrated water on his head it is on this account that the prince acquired the imposing name of Ramaghata-musaka. His successors also continued to affix this name as a title after their accession to the throne. Ramaghata-musaka Ramaghata was accepted as the king of the locality of by the people, especially became of his accession to it from Parasurama the legendary creator of Kerala. He appointed a minister named Mahanavika who was Sresthin (a member of the merchant community) belonging to Mahismati. The minister is once again referred to in the work pointing out his various qualities. The new king built his own capital which was called Kolam. It was considered as Kularajadhani the residence of the kings of the line. The city was properly built and fortified. Hence the rulers of the Musika line were referred to by the titles of Kolabharata, Ramaghatamusaka, Hehayesvara and Musikesvara. By the time Ramaghata established his kingdom in the south at Kolam near Eli hill, his patrimony at Mahismati (the capital of Hehage) had been seized by the king of Magadha called Suvarman. Ramaghata not only established a new kingdom in the south but also reigned his patrimonial inheritance at Mahismati is Hehayas. While his senior son ruled over the Northern establishment, he ruled the southern kingdom till he retired to the forest after consecrating Nandana in his place. This is all what we know about the founder king from the account given by Atula. He uses the term Ramaghata as the name of the king as well as a title of sovereignty of Musikas. Nandana Nandana who followed Ramaghata the founder of the dynasty based at Kolam is described as an indolent king. He entrusted the duties of the administration to the hands of his able ministers and gave himself upto Carnal pleasures. Since his father has already consolidated the new kingdom, it was easy for him to dissociate from the arduous duties of governmental administration. His father ruled for a long period before his retirement to the forest. Nandana himself had a long tenure. Mushaka-vamsa mentions the Hehay a origin of the kings and their marriage alliances with Cedi and Magadha royal houses during the early period the possibility of the Musakas being identical with the early ruler of Elimalai is almost ruled out. K RAJARAM IRS 10824 11824 TO BE CONTD -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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