संगीतराजः- Sangita Raja By Maharana Kumbha (An Old and Rare Book)

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Foreword Some years ago the Banaras Hindu University received from the Nepal Rajya a generous donation of Rs. One Lakh to be devoted to a pious purpose. It was gratefully accepted by the University and Pandit Govind Malaviya, who was then the Vice-Chancellor, ear-marked this sum for the publication of Sanskrit texts, their commentaries and translations, in a properly edited form. The Hindu Vishvavidyalaya Sanskrit Publications Board, appointed for this purpose, has decided that the series be named Hindu Vishvavidyalaya Nepal Rajya Sanskrit Granthamala.

The work of preparing critical editions of selected ancient texts has been taken up in right earnest and is in several stages of progress. Already about half-a-dozen volumes have been printed, and it is expected that in the coming years the work of the series will gain increased momentum. It is proposed to publish important Sanskrit texts which are either so far unpublished, or have become out of print since long, or deserve to be critically edited again on the basis of fresh manuscript material, or which should be reprinted with a new interpretative approach. Basic scriptural texts of Hinduism like the Vedas, Brahmanas, Srauta Sutras, Dharma Sutras, Grhya Sutras, Carana literature, Puranas, Upa-puranas, Epics, Dharma Sastras, philosophical and scientific literature with commentaries, as well as expositional works bearing on them, will be specially taken up for new editions in this series.

Samgita Raja: The Samgita Raja of Rajya Kumbha (1433- 1468 A.D.) is an encyclopedic work on the science of Music, Dance, Musical Instruments and Theory of Rasa, altogether comprised of five Kolas of about 16,000 sloka measure. Al- though quite ample manuscript material is preserved for this text, its magnitude and real importance were only faintly known and the text remained unpublished for its major part.

Fortunately Dr. Premlata Sharma of the College of Music and Fine Arts, placed in charge of the Research Section, realized the value of this text and worked for several years in preparing a critical edition of the Samgita Raja on the basis of the available manuscript material. The text being ready, she was naturally anxious for its publication. Realizing the exceptional value of the Sarmgita Raja in the field of ancient Indian sources on Music, I at once offered to publish it in the above Series and the Board accepted this suggestion. Accor- dingily in this first Volume two Kosas are being printed, of which the first is just an introductory book, but the second in about 6,000 verses, deals with the theory of Indian Music in all its aspects. Raja Kumbha was a great patron of Literature and Art. He himself wrote a commentary, called Rasika-Priya on the Gitagovinda of Jayadeva. He also built the Kiruistambha at Chittor, which is a monumental tower in nine storeys of stately form, beautifully carved and loaded with sculpture. Raja Kumbha accomplished cultural programmes in the true tradition of Vikramaditya and Bhoja. He entered into far-flung relationship with the contemporary rulers of Gujarat, Malwa, Kashmir, etc.

Preface Samgita Raja was heretofore available only in its manuscript form (but foot two small printed portions) and its complete M8. was to be found only in the Anup Sanskrit Library, Bikaner and as such was not readily available to readers. Very inaccurate and incomplete impressions prevailed generally regarding its nature, scope or contents, as will be seen from the following summary of published reviews which have come to the Editor's notice. It will be seen that except for M. Krishnamachariar's 'History of Classical Sanskrit literature' no published review gave a correct description of the work or appreciated its importance. References to the work generally described it in bald terms as one on Music or Poetics or both but seldom appreciated its comprehensiveness, bulk, originality, erudition, or catholicity in respect whereof it eclipses works on its subject written during many preceding centuries.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages