The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music Dr. Vinod Vidwans Professor and Chair School of Fine and Performing Arts FLAME University Pune, India ©Dr. Vinod Vidwans, 2016 Monograph No.: FUM-2016-002 Title: The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music First Edition: January 26, 2016 ISBN: 978-81-929251-4-1 Published by: FLAME University, Pune Campus Address: Gat No. 1270, Lavale Off Pune-Bangalore Highway Pune- 412115, India Mailing address: 401, Phoenix Complex Bund Garden Road Opp. Residency Club Pune 411001, India E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.flame.edu.in All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Author: Dr. Vinod Vidwans, FLAME University, Pune E-mail - [email protected] [email protected] Website: http://www.computationalmusic.com/ Dedicated to Bharatmuni -The proponent of Shruti-Nidarshanam or Sarana-Chatushtaya experiment which is the first ever systematic exposition of 22 shrutis (microtones) in Indian Music. Acknowledgements I am grateful to FLAME University for publishing this monograph. Especially, I would like to thank Vice Chancellor, Dr. Devi Singh and the members of the Deans’ Committee, Prof. D. S. Rao, Prof. Rajneesh Krishna, and Prof. Santosh Kudtarkar for encouraging the research. I feel fortunate to get such encouragement and support from my colleagues as the concept of shrutis in Indian Classical Music is highly complex. I would like to thank Dr. Kiran Thakur for constantly discussing the progress of the research. It kept me on track and helped me complete it. Finally, my family needs to be mentioned although they are beyond formality. Any research that I have done so far has not escaped the critical eye of my wife Archana. She not only edited the final draft, but also discussed some of the critical research issues and provided some valuable suggestions. I also appreciate my son Vihang’s curiosity about highly technical research topic such as Shruti (microtones) in Indian Music. Dr. Vinod Vidwans Contents From the Vice Chancellor’s Desk ................................................................. i About the Monograph .................................................................................... iii 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 A Brief Overview of the Rhetoric on Shruti ....................................... 2 1.2 The Modern Debate ..................................................................................... 5 2. ANCIENT LITERATURE ON SHRUTI ..................................................... 9 3. VEDIC CONCEPT OF SHRUTI/ SWARA .............................................. 13 4. SHRUTI IN NARADIYA SHIKSHA ........................................................... 23 4.1 Definition of Shruti .................................................................................... 26 4.2 Characterizing Shruti ............................................................................... 28 5. SHRUTI IN NATYASHASTRA OF BHARATA ...................................... 43 5.1 Swara Sthapana (Establishing Musical notes) .............................. 46 5.2 Grama Sthapana (Establishing Scales) ............................................. 56 5.3 Pramana Shruti (Establishing Standard Shruti) ........................... 59 5.4 Shruti-Nidarshanam (Demonstrating Microtones) ..................... 62 5.5 Shruti-Nidarshanam on Veena: Demonstrating Shrutis on Veena ....................................................................................................................... 68 6. SHRUTI ACCORDING TO SANGITA RATNAKARA ........................... 71 6.1 Shruti and Swara-Sthapana (Establishing microtones and musical notes on Veena)................................................................................. 72 6.2 Shruti-Nidarshanam According to Sangita Ratnakara .............. 74 6.3 Integrating Shrutis of Naradiya Shiksha into Bharata’s Paradigm ............................................................................................................... 76 7. COMPUTING AND RECONSTRUCTING SHRUTIS .......................... 85 7.1 Music as a Psycho-acoustic phenomenon ....................................... 85 7.2 Simulating Shrutis ...................................................................................... 90 7.3 Comparative Facts: Bharata’s Shrutis and Contemporary Practices ................................................................................................................ 93 8. A COMPREHENSIVE FRAME-WORK .................................................. 99 8.1 `Shruti Punja’ or `Shruti Megha’ Model (A cluster or cloud of microtones) .................................................................................................... 99 8.2 Analysis and Discussion ....................................................................... 114 9. CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 123 Appendix ......................................................................................................... 125 Shruti Harmonium Key-Board ................................................................... 125 References ...................................................................................................... 129 From the Vice Chancellor’s Desk I am glad that FLAME University embarked on the second phase of its research publications program with the release of a series of monographs. It is noteworthy that this monograph and few other books are being released for publication within six months after FLAME University came into being. The mission of FLAME University includes offering a platform for research in all fields of learning. We encourage faculty and students to undertake original, theoretical, and applied research that is relevant to society. Our teachers participate in national and international conferences to present their research papers. Our endeavor is to take their research into the public domain so that researchers, scholars and laypersons can benefit from the findings of their studies. This publication is the logical extension of this mission. The present monograph titled `The Doctrine of Shruti in Indian Music’, authored by Dr. Vinod Vidwans demonstrates that FLAME University researchers are keen to take up research on Indian themes and concerns. This monograph tries to throw light on the doctrine of microtones in Indian classical music and their relevance today. My compliments to Dr. Vinod Vidwans for writing this monograph. Dr. Devi Singh January 26, 2016 I II About the Monograph Monograph is an extended essay dedicated to a single topic. It gives comprehensive information about the topic in terms of the significance of the topic in the context of particular field, historical or evolutionary development of the topic, technical and updated information and finally the future prospects. This monograph is dedicated to the single topic of `shruti’ (microtone) in Indian music. Although it does not discuss the concept of shruti from evolutionary point of view and historical perspective in strict sense, it does not shy away from it either. Focus is more on conceptual understanding of all the relevant issues related to shruti and their significance and relevance in today’s context while historicity is secondary. The doctrine of shruti in Indian music has been discussed and debated for at least two thousand years. The debate has become livelier during last two centuries after Western musicologists such as William Jones started taking keen interest in it. For almost last two decades the topic is being studied using scientific and technological tools. It is interesting to see that the topic of shruti in Indian music is highly revered and respected but still remained an enigma for practicing musicians, scholars and musicologists. This monograph is written for Indian musicologists, researchers, scholars of Indian music, and Information Technology (IT) professionals who have strong inclination towards Indian music. The implied readership is highly diverse and well-informed about Indian music. It is certain that this monograph is not for a beginner in Indian music. The theoretical concepts discussed in this monograph are highly complex and require deeper level understanding of Indian music. The discussion involves conceptual analysis and at times rigorous technical analysis. The author of this monograph does not distinguish between Hindustani music or Carnatic music. At certain fundamental level all Indian music is one: Samavedic, Dhrupad, Hindustani, Carnatic, Rabindra Sangita, Spiritual music, popular and folk music. The doctrine of shruti is valid for all categories and varieties of Indian music. For centuries shrutis are considered as an enigma in Indian music. Researchers attempted to demystify the enigma by interpreting three seminal texts on Indian music, namely: Naradiya Shiksha, Bharata’s Natyashastra and Sangita Ratnakara of Sharangadeva. However, none of these attempts led to conclusive and convincing understanding of shruti. With thorough scrutiny of the original text from the above-mentioned III three treatises, this monograph comes up with a conclusive proof for equal temperament twenty two shruti paradigm of Bharata.
Recommended publications
  • Towards Automatic Audio Segmentation of Indian Carnatic Music
    Friedrich-Alexander-Universit¨at Erlangen-Nurnberg¨ Master Thesis Towards Automatic Audio Segmentation of Indian Carnatic Music submitted by Venkatesh Kulkarni submitted July 29, 2014 Supervisor / Advisor Dr. Balaji Thoshkahna Prof. Dr. Meinard Muller¨ Reviewers Prof. Dr. Meinard Muller¨ International Audio Laboratories Erlangen A Joint Institution of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universit¨at Erlangen-N¨urnberg (FAU) and Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS ERKLARUNG¨ Erkl¨arung Hiermit versichere ich an Eides statt, dass ich die vorliegende Arbeit selbstst¨andig und ohne Benutzung anderer als der angegebenen Hilfsmittel angefertigt habe. Die aus anderen Quellen oder indirekt ubernommenen¨ Daten und Konzepte sind unter Angabe der Quelle gekennzeichnet. Die Arbeit wurde bisher weder im In- noch im Ausland in gleicher oder ¨ahnlicher Form in einem Verfahren zur Erlangung eines akademischen Grades vorgelegt. Erlangen, July 29, 2014 Venkatesh Kulkarni i Master Thesis, Venkatesh Kulkarni ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Balaji Thoshkahna, whose expertise, understanding and patience added considerably to my learning experience. I appreciate his vast knowledge and skill in many areas (e.g., signal processing, Carnatic music, ethics and interaction with participants).He provided me with direction, technical support and became more of a friend, than a supervisor. A very special thanks goes out to my Prof. Dr. Meinard M¨uller,without whose motivation and encouragement, I would not have considered a graduate career in music signal analysis research. Prof. Dr. Meinard M¨ulleris the one professor/teacher who truly made a difference in my life. He was always there to give his valuable and inspiring ideas during my thesis which motivated me to think like a researcher.
    [Show full text]
  • Note Staff Symbol Carnatic Name Hindustani Name Chakra Sa C
    The Indian Scale & Comparison with Western Staff Notations: The vowel 'a' is pronounced as 'a' in 'father', the vowel 'i' as 'ee' in 'feet', in the Sa-Ri-Ga Scale In this scale, a high note (swara) will be indicated by a dot over it and a note in the lower octave will be indicated by a dot under it. Hindustani Chakra Note Staff Symbol Carnatic Name Name MulAadhar Sa C - Natural Shadaj Shadaj (Base of spine) Shuddha Swadhishthan ri D - flat Komal ri Rishabh (Genitals) Chatushruti Ri D - Natural Shudhh Ri Rishabh Sadharana Manipur ga E - Flat Komal ga Gandhara (Navel & Solar Antara Plexus) Ga E - Natural Shudhh Ga Gandhara Shudhh Shudhh Anahat Ma F - Natural Madhyam Madhyam (Heart) Tivra ma F - Sharp Prati Madhyam Madhyam Vishudhh Pa G - Natural Panchama Panchama (Throat) Shuddha Ajna dha A - Flat Komal Dhaivat Dhaivata (Third eye) Chatushruti Shudhh Dha A - Natural Dhaivata Dhaivat ni B - Flat Kaisiki Nishada Komal Nishad Sahsaar Ni B - Natural Kakali Nishada Shudhh Nishad (Crown of head) Så C - Natural Shadaja Shadaj Property of www.SarodSitar.com Copyright © 2010 Not to be copied or shared without permission. Short description of Few Popular Raags :: Sanskrut (Sanskrit) pronunciation is Raag and NOT Raga (Alphabetical) Aroha Timing Name of Raag (Karnataki Details Avroha Resemblance) Mood Vadi, Samvadi (Main Swaras) It is a old raag obtained by the combination of two raags, Ahiri Sa ri Ga Ma Pa Ga Ma Dha ni Så Ahir Bhairav Morning & Bhairav. It belongs to the Bhairav Thaat. Its first part (poorvang) has the Bhairav ang and the second part has kafi or Så ni Dha Pa Ma Ga ri Sa (Chakravaka) serious, devotional harpriya ang.
    [Show full text]
  • Destroying Krishna Imagery. What Are the Limits of Academic and Artistic Freedom? Maruška Svašek
    Destroying Krishna Imagery. What are the Limits of Academic and Artistic Freedom? Maruška Svašek [ f i g . 1 ] Pramod Pathak: Wendy’s Unhistory making History, screenshot A photograph published in by Organiser, a weekly magazine based in New Delhi, shows a group of Indian demonstrators holding up various placards. »Don’t insult Hindu Lords« is printed on one of them; »Stop Prejudice Hate Talk Discriminating against Hindus« and »Abuse is not intelligent discourse« are written on others. Another placard addresses the target of the demonstra- tion: »Wendy Doniger Please don’t insult our Hindu Lords.« (Fig. ). An Internet search for »Wendy Doniger« leads to the other side of the globe, to the prestigious University of Chicago Divinity School. The Uni- versity website states that Professor Doniger specializes in Hinduism and Maruška Svašek - 9783846763452 Downloaded from Brill.com10/04/2021 01:19:58AM via free access [ f i g . 2 ] Wendy Doniger’s home page on the University of Chicago’s website, screenshot mythology, has published over forty books on related topics in these fields, and received her postgraduate degrees from Harvard University and the Uni- versity of Oxford. In Chicago, Doniger holds the position of Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions and is associated with the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations and to the Committee on Social Thought (Fig. ). Clearly, she is a highly successful, inter- nationally renowned scholar who is considered an expert in her field. So why the accusations of blasphemy and prejudice? What compelled a group of Hindus to gather and protest against her? Maruška Svašek - 9783846763452 Downloaded from Brill.com10/04/2021 01:19:58AM via free access In Organiser, this photograph was used to illustrate an article by Pramod Pathak, a Vedic scholar based in Goa, entitled »Wendy’s unhistory making history.« The piece was highly critical of Doniger’s latest book, The Hindus.
    [Show full text]
  • Siksha Requirements
    SIKSHA REQUIREMENTS Shraddhavan Downloadable version of questionnaire and reading material Chanting- min Rounds 1 Panch tatva mantra. Reading Prabhupada pranam mantra Hearing Recommended- SP's BG classes Rules and Regulation Visit the IBC/temple as often as possible Writing Shiksha Paper No Training- Attend Seminar No Interview No Service at IBC/Temple Recommended Mentor/Guide Recommended Attending Bv Recommended Krishna Sevaka Downloadable version of questionnaire Chanting- min 4 Rounds Beyond Birth & Death Reading Science of Self Realization chapter 1 Bhagavat Gita As It Is Introduction & Chapter 1 Bhoga Offering mantra Prasadam honoring mantra. Recommended- SP's BG classes Hearing (BG 1 chapter - click here) Rules and Previous+ refrain from eating non-vegetarian food Regulation (meat, fish and eggs ) and try to lead a moral life. Writing Shiksha A closed book at respective home Paper Training- Attend Seminar Interview No Service at Recommended IBC/Temple Mentor/Guide Recommended Attending Bv Recommended Krishna Sadhaka Downloadable version of questionnaire Chanting- min 8 to 12 Rounds Raja vidya Matchless Gift Reading Science of Self Realization chapter 2 &3 Bhagavad Gita As It Is chapter 2 – 6 Recommended- Krishna book Must- SP's BG classes Hearing (BG 2-6 chapters - click here) Previous + avoid intoxication (alcoholic drinks ), gambling and extramarital sex. worship Lord Krishna as far as practical at Rules and home, by setting up an altar, offering arati and foodstuffs (water, Regulation milk & fruits) worship the sacred tulasi
    [Show full text]
  • Headmost Accent Wins Headmost Accent Wins
    Headmost Accent Wins Headmost Accent Wins Head Dominance and Ideal Prosodic Form in Lexical Accent Systems Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van de Rector Magnificus Dr. W. A. Wagenaar, hoogleraar in de faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen, volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties te verdedigen op woensdag 13 januari 1999 te klokke 16.15 uur door ANTHOULA REVITHIADOU geboren te Katerini (Griekenland) in 1971 Promotiecommissie promotor: Prof. dr. J. G. Kooij co-promotor: Dr. H. G. van der Hulst referent: Prof. dr. J. ItA, University of California, Santa Cruz overige leden: Prof. dr. G. E. Booij, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Prof. G. Drachman, Universit#t Salzburg Prof. dr. M. van Oostendorp, Universiteit van Amsterdam Dr. R. W. J. Kager, Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht ISBN 90-5569-059-7 © 1999 by Anthi Revithiadou. All rights reserved. Printed in The Netherlands *- ## ;J9 #/ )-# Martin Acknowledgments I am afraid that it is impossible to include in a few lines the names of all of those who have contributed in some way or other to the production of this thesis. Ironically, the rules concerning the public defense at Leiden University prevent me from mentioning the names of those who helped me most. Therefore I want to thank collectively all members at HIL for creating a friendly and stimulating environment. I would like, however, to mention a few who contributed to my development as a linguist and as a person during the last four years. I consider myself extremely fortunate for being surrounded by a great group of people in Leiden.
    [Show full text]
  • UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    UCLA UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Performative Geographies: Trans-Local Mobilities and Spatial Politics of Dance Across & Beyond the Early Modern Coromandel Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/90b9h1rs Author Sriram, Pallavi Publication Date 2017 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Performative Geographies: Trans-Local Mobilities and Spatial Politics of Dance Across & Beyond the Early Modern Coromandel A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Culture and Performance by Pallavi Sriram 2017 Copyright by Pallavi Sriram 2017 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Performative Geographies: Trans-Local Mobilities and Spatial Politics of Dance Across & Beyond the Early Modern Coromandel by Pallavi Sriram Doctor of Philosophy in Culture and Performance University of California, Los Angeles, 2017 Professor Janet M. O’Shea, Chair This dissertation presents a critical examination of dance and multiple movements across the Coromandel in a pivotal period: the long eighteenth century. On the eve of British colonialism, this period was one of profound political and economic shifts; new princely states and ruling elite defined themselves in the wake of Mughal expansion and decline, weakening Nayak states in the south, the emergence of several European trading companies as political stakeholders and a series of fiscal crises. In the midst of this rapidly changing landscape, new performance paradigms emerged defined by hybrid repertoires, focus on structure and contingent relationships to space and place – giving rise to what we understand today as classical south Indian dance. Far from stable or isolated tradition fixed in space and place, I argue that dance as choreographic ii practice, theorization and representation were central to the negotiation of changing geopolitics, urban milieus and individual mobility.
    [Show full text]
  • 2 the Theory of Lexical Accents
    2 The Theory of Lexical Accents 2.1. Introduction This chapter develops a theory for the lexical specification of morphemes. Underlying metrical information is given the name ‘lexical accent’ or just ‘mark’.1 In this thesis I argue that a lexical accent is an autosegmental feature that does not provide any clues about its phonetic manifestation. A lexical accent is liable to the demands of the phonological constraints of the grammar and, if qualified, it will be phonetically assigned duration, pitch and intensity. This chapter starts with an outline of the theory of marking. Based on empirical evidence, I establish that it is better to view lexical accents as autosegmental features and not as prosodic roles (McCarthy and Prince 1995, McCarthy 1995, 1997). I further propose that the mapping between lexical accents and the vocalic peaks that sponsor them is established in terms of universal constraints and, more specifically, in terms of faithfulness constraints. The chapter continues with a brief review of other approaches on marking. There is little consensus in the literature on the nature of lexical stress. Three mainstream theories of lexical specification are examined. First, there are theories that argue that the mark is a prosodic constituent that is assigned to a morpheme in the lexicon. Two approaches are examined, Inkelas’s (1994) theory of exceptional stress in Turkish and Alderete’s (1997) theory of lexical 1 The terms ‘mark’, ‘marking’ and ‘markedness’ in this thesis refer to the lexical accent and the property of some morphemes to have accents in their lexical representation. This use of the terminology should not be confused with the role that markedness theory plays in OT.
    [Show full text]
  • Sreenivasarao's Blogs HOME ABOUT THIS WORDPRESS.COM SITE IS the BEE's KNEES
    sreenivasarao's blogs HOME ABOUT THIS WORDPRESS.COM SITE IS THE BEE'S KNEES ← Music of India – a brief outline – Part fifteen Music of India – a brief outline – Part Seventeen → Music of India – a brief outline – Part sixteen Continued from Part Fifteen – Lakshana Granthas– Continued Part Sixteen (of 22 ) – Lakshana Granthas – Continued Pages 8. Sangita-ratnakara by Sarangadeva About Archives January 2016 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2014 December 2013 Sarangadeva’s Sangita-ratnakara (first half of 13th century) is of particular importance, because it was written November 2013 just before influence of the Muslim conquest began to assert itself on Indian culture. The Music discussed in Sangita-ratnakara is free from Persian influence. Sangita-ratnakara therefore marks the stage at which the October 2013 ‘integrated’ Music of India was before it branched into North-South Music traditions. October 2012 It is clear that by the time of Sarangadeva, the Music of India had moved far away from Marga or Gandharva, as September 2012 also from the system based on Jatis (class of melodies) and two parent scales. By his time, many new August 2012 conventions had entered into the main stream; and the concept of Ragas that had taken firm roots was wielding considerable authority. Sarangadeva brought together various strands of the past music traditions, defined almost 267 Ragas, established a sound theoretical basis for music and provided a model for the later Categories musicology (Samgita Shastra). Abhinavagupta (3) Sarangadeva’s emphasis was on the ever changing nature of music, the expanding role of regional (Desi) Agama (6) influences on it, and the increasing complexity of musical material that needed to be systemised time and again.
    [Show full text]
  • Secondary Indian Culture and Heritage
    Culture: An Introduction MODULE - I Understanding Culture Notes 1 CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION he English word ‘Culture’ is derived from the Latin term ‘cult or cultus’ meaning tilling, or cultivating or refining and worship. In sum it means cultivating and refining Ta thing to such an extent that its end product evokes our admiration and respect. This is practically the same as ‘Sanskriti’ of the Sanskrit language. The term ‘Sanskriti’ has been derived from the root ‘Kri (to do) of Sanskrit language. Three words came from this root ‘Kri; prakriti’ (basic matter or condition), ‘Sanskriti’ (refined matter or condition) and ‘vikriti’ (modified or decayed matter or condition) when ‘prakriti’ or a raw material is refined it becomes ‘Sanskriti’ and when broken or damaged it becomes ‘vikriti’. OBJECTIVES After studying this lesson you will be able to: understand the concept and meaning of culture; establish the relationship between culture and civilization; Establish the link between culture and heritage; discuss the role and impact of culture in human life. 1.1 CONCEPT OF CULTURE Culture is a way of life. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the language you speak in and the God you worship all are aspects of culture. In very simple terms, we can say that culture is the embodiment of the way in which we think and do things. It is also the things Indian Culture and Heritage Secondary Course 1 MODULE - I Culture: An Introduction Understanding Culture that we have inherited as members of society. All the achievements of human beings as members of social groups can be called culture.
    [Show full text]
  • Outer and Inner Indo-Aryan, and Northern India As an Ancient Linguistic Area
    Acta Orientalia 2016: 77, 71–132. Copyright © 2016 Printed in India – all rights reserved ACTA ORIENTALIA ISSN 0001-6483 Outer and Inner Indo-Aryan, and northern India as an ancient linguistic area Claus Peter Zoller University of Oslo Abstract The article presents a new approach to the old controversy concerning the veracity of a distinction between Outer and Inner Languages in Indo-Aryan. A number of arguments and data are presented which substantiate the reality of this distinction. This new approach combines this issue with a new interpretation of the history of Indo- Iranian and with the linguistic prehistory of northern India. Data are presented to show that prehistorical northern India was dominated by Munda/Austro-Asiatic languages. Keywords: Indo-Aryan, Indo-Iranian, Nuristani, Munda/Austro- Asiatic history and prehistory. Introduction This article gives a summary of the most important arguments contained in my forthcoming book on Outer and Inner languages before and after the arrival of Indo-Aryan in South Asia. The 72 Claus Peter Zoller traditional version of the hypothesis of Outer and Inner Indo-Aryan purports the idea that the Indo-Aryan Language immigration1 was not a singular event. Yet, even though it is known that the actual historical movements and processes in connection with this immigration were remarkably complex, the concerns of the hypothesis are not to reconstruct the details of these events but merely to show that the original non-singular immigrations have left revealing linguistic traces in the modern Indo-Aryan languages. Actually, this task is challenging enough, as the long-lasting controversy shows.2 Previous and present proponents of the hypothesis have tried to fix the difference between Outer and Inner Languages in terms of language geography (one graphical attempt as an example is shown below p.
    [Show full text]
  • Vedic Accent and Lexicography
    Vedic Accent and Lexicography Felix Rau University of Cologne – Lazarus Project Vedic Accent and Lexicography Lazarus Project: Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon, Project Documentation 2 Felix Rau orcid.org/0000-0003-4167-0601 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 In- ternational License. cite as: Rau, Felix 2017. Vedic Accent and Lexicography. Lazarus Project: Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon, Project Documentation 2. Cologne: Lazarus Project. doi:10.5281/10.5281/zenodo.837826 Lazarus Project (Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon) University of Cologne http://www.cceh.uni-koeln.de/lazarus http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/ 1 Introduction This paper is a preliminary investigation into the problems the representation of the ac- cents of Vedic Sanskrit poses to Sanskrit lexicography. The purpose is to assess the prin- ciples applied in various lexicographic works in the representation of Vedic accents and its relation to the underlying linguistic category as well as traditions of accent marking in different texts. Since the focus is on Sanskrit lexicography, we ignore the complexity of accent marking in manuscripts and the diversity of accent marking across different Indic scripts that were used to write Sanskrit over the ages. We will restrict ourselves to accent marking in Devanagari and Latin script in print, as these two are the relevant systems for virtually all of modern philological Sanskrit lexicography. The complex nature of accent marking in Vedic Sanskrit derives from several facts. Besides the intricacies of the linguistic phenomenon itself (see Kiparsky, 1973, among others), the complexity arises from the fact that different textual or editorial traditions employ structurally different systems for marking Vedic accent.
    [Show full text]
  • Decoding the Elements of Human Rights from the Verses of Ancient Vedic Literature and Dhar- Maśāstras: an Exegetical Study
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 29 July 2021 doi:10.20944/preprints202107.0648.v1 Article Decoding the elements of human rights from the verses of Ancient Vedic literature and Dhar- maśāstras: An Exegetical Study Authors: Shailendra Kumara Sanghamitra Choudhurybcdef a Department of Management, Sikkim University, India b Department of Asian Studies, St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK c Department of History and Anthropology, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK d Hague Academy of International Law, Hague, the Netherlands e Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India f Department of Peace and Conflict Studies and Management, Sikkim University, Gangtok, India Abstract: This manuscript aims to provide a nuanced study of the idea of rights and duties prevalent in ancient Vedic society through Vedic literature and Dharmaśāstras . This manuscript delves into the exegesis of the Védas and Dhar- maśāstras to accomplish this. The archaic Vedic literature and Dharmaśāstra texts are the origin and backbone of Sanskrit literature. They have a plethora of ideas that, if accepted, could be quite useful for the protection of any person's human rights. In Védas and Dharmaśāstras, rights and duties complement each other, and rights are integrated by duties. According to these texts, rights and duties are correlated and the relationship between rights and duties leads to the core concept of dharma (constitutional laws). Dharma is a systematic Sanskrit con- cept that includes traditions, obligation, morals, laws, order, and justice. It was a unique concept of dharma that kept checks and balances on sovereign officials and prevented them from becoming autocratic and anarchist.
    [Show full text]