Orissa Review * April - 2006 Sanskrit Scholars of Orissa Jayanti Rath The contribution of Orissan scholars in the domain The famous drama 'Anargha Raghava' of Sanskrit literature is inormous. They have has been written by Murari Mishra. The drama shown their excellence in different branches of deals with the story of Ramayana. The earliest knowledge, i.e. Grammar, Politics, Dharma reference to car festival of Orissa is found in this Sastras, Kavyas, Poetics, Astrology, Astronomy, work. He describes about the assemblage of a Tantra, Dance, Music, Architecture, Arithmetic, large number of people near Tamila-Studde Geography, Trade Routes, Occult Practices, War Purusottama Kshetra, which is situated at the and War Preparation, Temple Rituals and so on. sea-sore. Murari Misra approximately belonged They have enriched it immensely. to 8th century A.D, because he was referred to Vishnu Sharma, the famous another of by Raja Sekhar of 9th century A.D. in his Kavya Pancha Tantra, is the earliest known Sanskrit Mimamsa. scholars of Orissa. He was the court poet and Satananda, a great astronomer of Orissa priest of Ananda Sakti Varman, the ruler of has left indelible mark in the field of Sanskrit study. Mathara dynasty. The Matharas were ruling over His work Bhasvati was once accepted as an Orissa in 4th and 5th Century A.D. Pancha authority on Astronomy and several Tantra is considered to be one of the most commentaries were written on this work by outstanding work of India of early period. But scholars of different parts of India which bear prior to this Upanishadas in Altharva Veda and testimony to its popularity. His time is clearly Paippalada Samhita were written in plenty in mentioned in the last verse of 'Bhasvati'. It stakes Orissa. that Satananda of Purusttama (Puri), the son of Bhatta Narayana, the author of Veni Sankara and Sarasvati finished this work in the Samhara drama flourished during the rule of king Yugabda (kha= O), (kha= O), Asvi-2, Veda-4 Madhavaraja of Sailodbhava dynasty. He refers or 4200 year e.g. Yugavda 4200 which is equal to the deity of Parusottama in his work. There is to 1099 A.D. This fact is corroborated by the a clear reference to the Rasalila of Sri Krishna first verse of this work, which states that, with Sri Radha on the bank of Yamuna in this Satananda, a devotes of Murari or Vishnu wrote work. Very nicely he has depicted Radha's flight Bhasvati for the benefits of the students. When from the Rasakunja, Krushna's pursity of Radha the year Sasi (1), Paksha (2) Kha (0) and Eka following her foot prints and Radha enjoying the (1) 1021 of the Saka era had already expired. fun of it. Saka year 1021 can be taken as 1099 A.D. 27 Orissa Review * April - 2006 Besides 'Bhasvati' he was author of two other According to Orissan tradition Udayana was an works namely "Satananda Ratnamala" and intimate friend and admirer of Jayadev and both 'Satananda Sanigraha'. 'Satananda Sanigraha' hailed from same area in the Prachi valley of Puri was a work on Smrti as it is quoted only in the district. Udayana has also written a Commentary later Smrti works of Orissa. on Naishadha of Sriharsha. It would not be out of place to mention here that Kaviraj Narayana Sri Gita Govinda, a love lyric by poet Sri Das, another prominent poet of Orissa has Jayadev is one of the most important work in composed a commentary on Sri Gita Govinda Sanskrit Literature. It has got the larger number called Sarvanga Sundari Tika. It was written in of imitation and commentaries written by scholars Oriya alphabets of 18th century and its language of different parts of India. The all-pervading is Sanskrit. influence or Sri Gita Govinda over-shadowed the religion, literature, art, iconography and music Bhopadeva, the famous Grammarian of of Orissa in the pre-Chaitanya age. Written in 13th century, flourished during the rule of Ganga simple Sanskrit with the immense musical appeal dynasty. He was an ardent devotee of Siva and it attracted the common mass. Towards middle Visnu. So in his work Mugdhabodha, he has of the 12th century, Jayadev, appeared as a great taken several names of Visnu and Siva in the luminary in the literary horizon of Orissa. It was subject (Karta). he who more than any body else emphasized the Vidyadhar, the famous author of 'Ekavali', worship of Radha along with Krishna in the claims a distinct place in the stream of Sanskrit Vaisnava pantheon. His name is mentioned as literature.'Ekavali' is a work on Alankara, where Sadhu Pradhan Jayadev in the Lingaraj Temple he has sang the eulogy of his patron king inscription of Raghava, the imperial Ganga Narasimhadev I (1236-1264 A.D.), the superb monarch. In the tradition recorded in the literature, builder of Sun Temple of Konark. Consisting of Jayadev was born in the village of Kenduvilva, 1314 verses,'Ekavali', vividly describes king's present Kenduli in Puri district, Consisting of 12 decisive victory of the muslim army of Raadha cantos, Sri Gita Govinda has a strong dramatic and Varendra in a prolonged warfare. It also structure. Even as pure poetry, it has few parallel describes the King as "Silpajaa" Vidyadhar is for its richness of metaphors, similies and sileant about his parents and gotras. In the alliterations. Apart from its musical aspect, the colophon at the end of each chapter, he has called plain reading of the words of this magnificent work himself 'Mahamahesvara' or a great devotee of is a sensuous experience. Lord Siva 'Ekavali' of Vidyadhara served as a model for 'Prataparudra Yasobhusanam' of Govaradhana Acharya, who is well-known Vidyanath, who like Vidyadhara wrote all the for his work "Arya Saptasati" is also a poet of verses in praise of his patron Prataparudradev, Orissa. 'Arya Saptasati was widely circulated in the Kakatiya King of Warangal, who ruled up to India and has got commentaries written by 1328 A.D. Other work like 'Nandaraja scholars of different provinces. Yasobhusanam," "Raghunath Bhupaliyam" and Udayana Acharya, the younger brother of "Alankara Manjusala" resemble the 'Ekavali' Govardhan Acharya has earned reputation by of Vidyadhara. The only known Commentary on writing first Commentary on Sri Gita Govinda 'Ekavali' is "Tarala" by famous commentator of Sri Jayadev which is called 'Bhava Bibhabini'. Mallinath. Besides Ekavali, Vidyadhara is said 28 Orissa Review * April - 2006 to have written 'Keli Rahasya' and "Rati Vaidesvara. The authership of this work is Rahasya". Krishananda, a court poet of credited to Gajapati Purusottoma Dev, which is Narasimhadeva IV is the author of not correct. The other work written by this author 'Satrudayananda'. Consisting of 15 cantos, this is "Bharatamata Mahakavya". From the work depicts the story of Nala. The poet has description of this Mahakavya, it is known that narrated the human characters and natural the poet was honoured as a court poet of sceneries in an elegant style. Krisnananda Raya (1409-1530 A.D.) king of the Among the Sanskrit poets of medieval Vijaya Nagar kingdom. Dibakara Mishra comes Orissa, the name of Sridhara Swami is taken with of a family of poets. His father, uncle and brother much reverence. He was the Mahanta of were all poets with Sanskrit works to their credit. Govardhan Math of Puri. Probably at A.D.1400, Kavidindima Jivadevacharya (1478-1550 he wrote a commentary on the Bhagavata Gita - A.D.)wrote Bhakti Bhagavata Mahakavya. He the "Bhagavata Bhavartha Dipika", which is by belonged to Vatsa gotra. In the introduction of far the most famous exposition of the work. In the epic he has given a brief account of Orissa's this work he has attempted to combine the monarchs from Chodagangadeva upto Advaita teaching of Sankara with the Purusottama deva. His " Bhaktivaivan" is an emotionalism of the Bhagavata. He was living allegorical drama like "Prabodha Chandrodaya" either during the time of Narasimhadeva III of Krishna Misra . He has also written a play (1327-1353 A.D.) or Narasimhadeva IV (1378- entitled 'Ushavati' named after the heroine who 1414 A.D.) obstructed Arjuna in the protection of the Visvanath Kaviraj is another most eminent sacrificial horse of Yudhisthira and who ultimately Sanskrit poet of Orissa. He is generally placed in married Arjuna in the presence of Narada and the reign of Bhanudev IV (1414-1434 A.D). His Sri Krisna. Jivadeva was the son of Rajaguru most outstanding work "Sahitya - Darpana" is a Trilochanacharya and Ratnavali. well-Known Sanskrit work in India. He wrote These two great poets adorned the court the following other works:- 1. Raghava Vilasa of Gajapati Parusottamadeva and Gajapati (Mahakavya), 2. Kuvalaya Charita Kavya, Prataparudradeva. This was a period of flowering 3. Prabhavati Parinaya Natika, of Sanskrit literature in Orissa. A good number 4. Chandrakala Natika, 5. Prasasti Ratnavali, 6. Kavya Prakasha Darpana, 7. Narasimha of Sanskrit works of high standard emerged Vijaya, 8. Malati Madhukara. during this period. He is a master of elegant style and adept in Jayadev Acharya, the son of Jivadev delineating various sentimental moodes. For his Acharya composed two plays viz, Piyusa Lahari brilliant contribution to Sanskrit Literature he was and Vaisnavamata. His style of depiction is given the honourable title 'Alankarika melodies. Chakravarti', "Vividha Vidyadhar Two great works on Dharma Sastras Kamarnav". namely 'Sarasvati Vilasa' and "Pratipa Kavichandra Ray Dibakara Mishra, and his alantam" were compiled by Lala Lakshmidhar wife Mukta Devi composed "Abhinav Gita Bhatta and Rama Krisna Bhatta respectively Govinda". The name of his father was during the reign of Prataparudra dev. 29 Orissa Review * April - 2006 Raya Ramananda, a high dignitary of poet of Orissa.