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The Impact of Buddha's Philosophy in Sanskrit Drama

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The Impact of Buddha's Philosophy in Sanskrit Drama Jahnavi Sanskrit E-Journal (The First Unpaid Sanskrit E-Journal byसारस्िि-वनकेिनम्) published by Dr. Bipin Kumar Jha Since 2009 Avilable atjahnavisanskritejournal.in Issue42-43 Vol- II Year 11. Date 20 Sep, 2020 JSEJ/42/III/10/2020 ISSN- 0976-8645 traveler ‘Hu-Yen-Sung’ then, he started to follow The Impact of Buddha’s UGC RN-41039 ‘Mhayansampradaya’. The Change of Religion Philosophy in Sanskrit Drama was because of his Family Problems. When his sister ‘Rajashri’ was going to end her life by falling 19 Bhagyashree S. Bhalwatkar in the ‘Chita’ that time the Buddhist Philosopher SID-316723315 ‘DivakarMitra’ preached to ‘Harshavardhan’ So, from that time he started following Buddhism. In Key Words- Terrorism, Buddhist, Drama, the honor of Chinese traveler ‘Hu-Yen-Sung’ he Gautama organized the Buddhist Council in 643 AD at ‘Kanyakubj’. Duration of the Council was 23 Days Abstract and in that Council 20 Kings, 1000 Scholars of Nalanda University, 3000 Buddhist Monks, In Today’s World Terrorism is increasing 3000 Brahmins and Jain Philosophers were present. drastically to control that, Philosopy of Buddha can When Harshvardhan called upon the Five-year be practiced. Indian Knowledge tradition flows Seminar in Prayag at that time, he donated all his beyond geographical, cultural, political & religious Wealth and completely became the follower of boundaries. The paper deals with the background Buddhism. ‘Harshwardhan’ was a Sanskrit study of Buddhist Philosophy in the Development Scholar as he wrote three Plays ‘Priyadarshika’& of Sanskrit Literature. In the ancient Indian history, ‘Ratnavali’ and one Drama named ‘Nagananda’. the King Harshwardhan was known as the last In Drama ‘Nagananda’ the Principle of Buddhism “Samrat”. His Empires capital was ‘Sthanishwar’. is reflected. The Buddha’s Principles like He was the only last King of Vardhan Family. Kindness, Non-Violence, Sacrifice of Soul, etc. Basically, he was a Hindu King and a worshiper This Paper is intended to present a descriptive of Shiva and Sun but later he turned into Buddhist analysis of the concept of Buddhist Philosophy as Followers. After the Introduction of the Chinese depicted in Buddhist Literature. KEY WORDS: Buddhas, Philosophy, Sanskrit religion is one and the same. Recently Bhadant Literature, Kings, Non Violence. Dalai Lama said “The teachings of Gautam Indian Knowledge tradition flows beyond Buddha conveying the message of peace and non – geographical, cultural, political & religious violence is popular, similarly the teachings of other boundaries. The paper deals with the background religions are also the same and hence we should 2 study of the development of Buddhist Philosophy respect all of them.” . As the teachings of Gautam in Sanskrit Drama. Buddha are easy and simple to understand the impact is seen not only in India but also in Nepal, India is rich in its diversity as Hindu, China, Bhutan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Buddhists, Jain, Sikh, Christian, Muslim, etc. live Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), Laos.3 Literature is here with unity and therefore Indian Culture is the mirror of society and hence the reflection of great. India has a rich History and literature and Buddhism can be seen in Sanskrit dramas. In this therefore the relations between India and Sri Lanka research paper, the reflection of Buddhism in are old and good. The Lanka in Valmiki Ramayana Sanskrit dramas is presented. is known as Sri Lanka in modern times. Sri Lanka is also known as Sinhaldeshin the drama Ratnavali Objectives: written by Shri Harsha and the Language spoken • To enlighten the relations between India and Sri 1 here is Sinhail. Every religion in the world conveys Lanka by literary view. the message of peace and liberation. As different • Presenting the importance of Philosophy in people follow various ways to reach a common Buddhism. destination, similarly the ultimate goal of each 19 HOD, Sanskrit, MJ College, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India पृसङ्ख्या-13कु लपृसङ्ख्या-86 Jahnavi Sanskrit E-Journal (The First Unpaid Sanskrit E-Journal byसारस्िि-वनकेिनम्) published by Dr. Bipin Kumar Jha Since 2009 Avilable atjahnavisanskritejournal.in Issue42-43 Vol- II Year 11. Date 20 Sep, 2020 JSEJ/42/III/10/2020 ISSN- 0976-8645 • To study the foundation of ancient relations consists of nine acts but only the last two acts are UGC RN-41039 between India and Sri Lanka in the terms of available to read, therefore we cannot criticize this Religion, Literature and Culture. drama. • To study the impact of Buddhism on Sanskrit In this drama ShaariputraandMudgalayan Literature. accepted Buddhism which is the main theme of this The rise and growth of Buddhism: drama. The Vidushakin this drama uses Prakrit Language. Buddhism, of which the origin can be traced back to 6th century, laid its determined The story of Shaariputrahas been taken from foundations in India as well as in other Asian Mahavagga of Vinaypitaka. Shaariputra was a wise Countries. The founder of Buddhism is Lord Brahmin. In a certain happening of this drama, it is Gautam Buddha.In the honor of Chinese traveler asked that “what is the right of Lord Buddha ‘Hu-Yen-Sung’ he organized the Buddhist Council preaching people” then Vidushakanswers that in 643 AD at ‘Kanyakubj’. Duration of the Council “Medicines, though being taken from a lower caste was 23 Days and in that Council 20 Kings, 1000 person proves to be useful” after this Scholars of Nalanda University, 3000 Buddhist ShaariputraandMudgalayango to lord Buddha and Monks, 3000 Brahmins and Jain Philosophers were a philosophical conversation takes place between present. Shaariputraand Buddha about the mortality of soul and Buddha declare that Shaariputrawill be a wise When Harshvardhan called upon the Five-year sage. Seminar in Prayag at that time, he donated all his Wealth and completely became the follower of All the texts of Ashwaghosha are based on Buddhism. Form the same time Buddhism was Buddhist philosophy but in the context of the greatly propogated in India. present drama it is not available totally but from the available two acts, Buddhist philosophy is Ashwaghosha: Ashwaghoshawas a poet in the reflected. Ashwaghosha composed dramas with a court of king Kanishka. He wrote Sanskrit texts purpose to preach Buddhism. related to Mahayanpantha.Originally he was a Brahmin and Sanskrit scholar but later accepted Mrucchakatikam:This is the only social drama Buddhism. A Chinese traveler Yuan Suang titled written by Shudraka. It contains all kinds of him as the ‘Sun of Wisdom’.4 Once a Buddhist characters and is the love story of merchant named monk named Parshwa defeated him in a debate and charudattaand a harlot named Vasantasena. As this later he was considered as ‘AacharyaBhadant’. is a social drama, the narration of characters like Literature of Ashwaghosha is as follows thieves, harlots, gamblers, merchants, etc. can be seen. The period of this drama is considered to be 1. Buddhacharitam – Epic (28 6th century A.D.5 In this drama there is a character Sargas/Chapters). This is the story of Lord Buddha of a bhikshu named sanvahak. He is firm, truthful, right from his birth till his Nirvana. hard working and courageous and does not fear in 2. Saundarnandana – Epic (18 any situation. His dialogue with Vasantasena is in Sargas/Chapters). This is related to Buddhist the 2nd act of the drama. He used to live in philosophy Patliputra and later unfortunately learnt the works 3. Gandistotragatha – Religious short poetry. of sanvahak at Ujjainiand became the servant of 4. Sutralankar –Jatak and Avadan Stories. charudatta. Later due to the poor condition of 5. Shaariputraprakaran – A scholar named charudattahe loses his job and becomes a gambler. Luders found this drama on a pallet in Turfan. It Once he loses 10 mohars(Coins) and fails to repay पृसङ्ख्या-14कु लपृसङ्ख्या-86 Jahnavi Sanskrit E-Journal (The First Unpaid Sanskrit E-Journal byसारस्िि-वनकेिनम्) published by Dr. Bipin Kumar Jha Since 2009 Avilable atjahnavisanskritejournal.in Issue42-43 Vol- II Year 11. Date 20 Sep, 2020 JSEJ/42/III/10/2020 ISSN- 0976-8645 them to Mathur. Due to it Mathur does not leave masterpiece of Indian dramatics.” (Vincent Smith UGC RN-41039 the chaseof him. Thereforesanvahakfeels inferior – Early History of India).“ श्रीहषो वनपुणो कविः|”9is and asks vasantasenafor the help of 10 coins and cited in the starting of drama. vasantasenahelps him. ‘अहिं एिेन ुिकारापमनेन शाक्य श्रमणको भविष्ट्यावम’”6.Laterhe becomes a Originally this story is found in Brihatsanhitaand is repeated in Buddha bhikshu KathasaritsagarandVetalpanchvimshati. This In the 8th act, to repay the debtofVasantasena, he drama being written in 7th century is a single drama serves her in the deadly condition but never touches based on Buddha’s JatakKathas. In the her ‘“एषा ि셁णी स्त्री,एष वभक्षुररवि शुद्धो मम एषो Introduction of the drama Bodhisattva charitra is माः|’”7 In Buddhism, to touch women is mentioned. Bodhisatva,The hero of the story, is prohibited, hence he does not break the rule even in known as Jimutvahan who was the son of the deadly conditions8. From this, his pure devotion Vidyadhar. Malayavati,The daughter of the king for Buddhism can be seen. Due to the impact of Siddhartha is the heroine of the drama. The main Buddhism during the tenure of shudraka, Sanskrit sentiment of this drama is Vira-ras. as well as Prakrit language can be seen in the By the title of drama Naganand, it is clearly drama. known that it is the story giving happiness to Hasrshvardhanand Buddhism: snakes. But the cause for happiness of snakes is Jimutvahan. The Nandi of this drama is devoted to In the ancient Indian history, the King Buddha. Harshavardhan was known as the last “Samrat”. His Empire’s capital was ‘Sthanishwar’. He was the only last King of Vardhan Family.
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