Bhavabhuti

Bhavabhūti (born Śrīkaṇṭha Nīlakaṇṭha; Devanagari: भवभूति; -) was a classical Sanskrit scholar, poet, and playwright of eighth-century India. He is considered a key successor to Kalidasa and is often regarded as matching his literary stature. His best known work '' Uttararamacarita'' (translated as ''The Later Deeds of Rama''), earned him the title "Poet of the Karunā Rasa".

Background

Bhavabhuti was born in Padmapura, Aamgaon, at Gondia district,in Maharashtra. He was born in a Audumbar/Udumbar Brahmin family of scholars. He is described as a scion of the Yāyāvara family, bearing the surname Udumbara. His Kāshyapa brahmin ancestors adhered to the Black Yajurveda and kept the five sacred fire.

His real name was Srikantha Nilakantha, and he was the son of Nilakantha and Jatukarni. He received his education at 'Padmapawaya', a place some 42 km South-West of Gwalior.
Dayananidhi Paramahansa is known to be his guru. He composed his historical plays at ' Kalpi', a place on banks of river Yamuna.

He is believed to have been the court poet of king Yashovarman of Kannauj. Kalhana, the 12th-century historian, places him in the entourage of the king, who was defeated by Lalitaditya Muktapida, king of Kashmir, in 736 AD.

Malatimadhava

The play is set in the city of Padmavati. The king desires that his minister's daughter Malati marry a youth called Nandana. Malati is in love with Madhava ever since she saw him and drew his portrait. Madhava reciprocates, and draws a portrait of her in turn. Malati suspects her father's motives in falling in with the King's plans for her. A side plot involves the lovers' friends Makaranda and Madayantika. The latter is attacked by a tiger, and Makaranda rescues her, getting wounded in the process.

After numerous travails, all ends well, with the two couples uniting. According to the renowned Sanskritist Daniel H.H. Ingalls, the Malatimadhava is a work that combines love and horror with a felicity never again equaled in Sanskrit literature.

Indebtedness to Kautilya and Arthashastra

According to Dasharatha Sharma, the dramatists Kalidasa and Bhavabhuti utilized the ''Arthashastra'' of Kautilya while composing their famous works. Kalidasa is indebted to Kautilya's ''Arthashastra'' for material in the ''Raghuvamsa''. Similarly, Bhavabhuti utilizes words and ideas from the ''Arthashastra'' in the ''Malatimadhava'' and the ''Mahaviracharita''. There is indeed a striking resemblance between the methods advocated by ''Ravana's'' minister, ''Malayavana'' and the policies suggested by Kautilya in the ''Arthashastra''.'Bhavabhuti's Indebtedness to Kautilya' Journal of the Ganganath Jha Research Institute Vol VIII, part 3, May 1951

Bhavabhuti's native place

On the basis of Bhavbhuti's literature, it is said that he was born at Padmapura Village in Amgaon Tahsil of Gondia District of Maharashtra.

In this present era, local people around Padampura are trying to keep memories of Bhavbhuti's ancient existence alive with them. Late shri Laxmanrao Mankar Guruji named his education society as "Bhavbhuti Education Society" in 1950. Yashodabai Rahile founded "Bhavbhuti Mandal" (community) in 1996.

Historian & Principal Mr O. C. Patle has published a book, "भवभूति अब गीतों में" (Bhavabhuti, now in his songs), he also has published some audio CDs and cassettes to keep the legend's memories alive.

"Bhavabhuti Ranga Mandir" has also been constructed at Gondia Town in the Honour of Poet Bhavabhuti.

State's local TV channel, Sahyadri and E TV Marathi telecasts some documentaries on the life of this great poet. People and some non-profit groups have erected a few statues in the region where the poet was there once.

Literary works

* '' Mahaviracharita'' (The story of the highly courageous one), depicting the early life of Rama
* ''Malatimadhava'', a play based on the romance of Malati and Madhava
* '' Uttararamacarita'' (The story of Rama's later life), depicts Rama's coronation, the abandonment of Sita, and their reunion

References

*

External links

''Malati and Madhava''
translated by Horace Hayman Wilson
*The ''Uttara Rama Charita'' of Bhavabhuti. With Sanskrit commentary by Pandit Bhatji Shastri Ghate of Nagpur and a close English translation by Vinayak Sadashiv Patvardhan. The Nyaya Sudha Press, Nagpur 189

*Rama's later history or ''Uttara-Ram-Charita'' of Bhavabhuti. Critically edited with notes and an English transltation by Shripad Krishna Belvalkar. Harvard University Press 191

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhavabhuti
Hindu poets
8th-century Indian poets
Ancient Indian dramatists and playwrights
Kalidas
Kalidas
Date of birth unknown
Date of death unknown
Indian male poets
Indian male dramatists and playwrights