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User:Krayon95/sandbox/Charan/Ancient Era

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In mythological texts including Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Puranas. Charanas refer to a class of celestial poets. Aside from these, their earliest historical references are found in Harṣacarita by Bāṇabhaṭṭa (7th century), Anargharāghava by Murari Kavi (9th century) and Prabandhacintāmaṇi by Merutungacharya (1304).[1]

Epic literature

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Ancient Sanskrit epics depict Charanas as celestial poets reciting hymns eulogising the gods (devās) along with Siddhas and Gandharvas.

Harṣacarita

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The 7th-century text authored by Bāṇabhaṭṭa, court poet of Harshavardhana, gives a detailed and vivid descriptions of North India during Harsha's rule. It provides a biographical account of Harsha's ancestry and his early years of rule divided in eight chapters (ucchvāsas).[2] In the third ucchvāsa, Harṣacarita describes the Charanas walking in groups surrounding the emperor while reciting verses. In another instance, it mentions Charanas of various branches from arriving from far off places on the occasion of marriage of Harsha's sister. It also shows them assembling to worship in the temple of the goddess Indrāṇī.[3][4]

Anargharāghava

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The text subhāṣitahārāvali cites a shloka (verse) of the 9th-century text Anargharāghava, authored by the poet Murāri, reproaching the rulers for giving preference to the Charanas. The verse not only underlines the friction between the brāhmaṇa and chāraṇa litterati but also reports the prevalence of gīta and khyāta, the two prominent genres of medieval chāraṇa literature.[5][6][3]

Prabandhacintāmaṇi

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Compiled in 1304 CE by Merutungacharya, a Jain scholar from Gujarat, it is composed of prabandhas (semi-historical biographical narratives) and divided into five prakashas (parts). It narrates earlier historical incidents ranging from 940 CE to 1250 CE.[7] One such narrative from the 12th century involves two Charanas who arrive at Anhilavad-Patan at the court of Kumarapala of Chalukya dynasty. Competing with each other over their knowledge in dūhā-vidyā (Apabhraṃśa poetry), they decide to resolve their dispute with Acharya Hemachandra as the judge. The text also includes some of the verses composed during this competion and highlights Charanas as proficient poets.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  2. ^ Keay, John (2000). India: A History. New York: Grove Press. pp. 161–162. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
  3. ^ a b Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  4. ^ Sārasvata, Rāvata (1986). Dingal Geet: Anthology of Rajasthani songs (in Hindi). Sāhitya Akādemī. pp. 7–9.
  5. ^ The Sources of Social and Economic History of Rajasthan. Centre for Rajasthan Studies, University of Rajasthan. 1978. p. 132.
  6. ^ Kiśora, Śyāmanandana (1963). Ādhunika Hindī Mahājāvyoṃ kā śilpa-vidhāna (in Hindi). Sarasvatī Pustaka Sadana. अनर्घराघव नाटक के प्रसिद्ध कवि मुरारि ने चारणों की ऐसी बढ़ती हुई ख्याति के विरोध में ही वाग्वाण छोड़े थे।
  7. ^ Talbot, Cynthia (2016). The Last Hindu Emperor: Prithviraj Cauhan and the Indian Past, 1200–2000. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-11856-0.
  8. ^ Maheshwari, Hiralal (1980). History of Rajasthani Literature. Sahitya Akademi.
  9. ^ Manohara, Rāghavendrasiṃha (1991). Rājasthāna ke rājagharānoṃ kā saṃskr̥tika adhyayana (in Hindi). Pañcaśīla Prakāśana. ISBN 978-81-7056-075-3. उदाहरणार्थ जैनाचार्य मेरुतुग - विरचित प्रबन्ध चिन्तामणि को लीजिए, जिसमें लिखा है कि शक्रावतार तीर्थ में श्वेताम्बर सम्प्रदाय के आचार्य चारण जाति के मुनि वज्रसेन ने एक नाभेय की स्थापना की थी। प्रासंगिक रूप से इसी प्रबन्ध चिन्तामणि में सोरठ के दो चारणों की ' दूहाविद्या ' विषयक प्रतिस्पर्धा का भी वर्णन मिलता है , जिससे पता चलता है कि प्राचीनकाल से ही ये काव्य - कला में भी बहुत प्रवीण हुआ करते थे । चारण जाति की प्राचीनता पर संक्षेप में प्रकाश डालने के अनन्तर अब हम अपने मूल विषय चारणक्षत्रियों के सम्बन्ध पर आते हैं।