A FILM ON THE ELEVENTH-CENTURY SANSKRIT POET BILHANA OF KASHMIR

 

 

                                                                    

 

A FILM ON THE ELEVENTH-CENTURY SANSKRIT POET BILHANA OF KASHMIR

 I am beholden to many Sanskrit scholars and translators from South India who made it possible for me to know my own poets , scholars, critics, historians, aestheticians, logicians, chemists, musicians, rhetoricians, philosophers, grammarians,translators, playwrights and artists right up to the rule of Lohara Kings. Some of these great men from Kashmir who rose to eminence the world over for their original contributions are, Rishi Vasugupta , Abhinavgupta , Khemraja , Kshemendra , Bilhana, Kalhana,  Somadeva ,Sharangadeva,Bhatta Narayana  , Jayanta Bhatta,Rajanka Bhatta ,Ratnakara ,Sivaswamin,Srivara ,Bhallaṭa,Vamana,Jonaraja,Anandavardhana, Udbhata, Kuntala , Mahima Bhatta,Silhana,Abhinanda Bhatta, Panini, Charaka, Bhamaha, Gopendra, Namisadhu, Rudrata, Kuntaka, Mammaṭa, Vallavadeva,Dandin, Varahamihira, Utpala, Visakhila, Vamanagupta, Manoratha, Padmagupta, Ratnakara, Mukula Bhatta, Kumarila Bhatta, Poetess Vijjika, Sabaraswami, Bhatta Nayaka, Bhatta Tauta, Hemachandra, Vidyadhara,Rajashekhara,Narendra, Ruyyaka, Sri Shankuka, Sambhunatha , Sumatinatha  , Lollata ,Somendra, Cakrapala, Muktakana, Bhogendra, Prakasendra and many more .  In the rich history of Sanskrit literature, Kashmir stands out for its remarkable contribution. I am also beholden to ‘The Adyar Library and Research Centre’, Chennai for preserving these translations for posterity and also for the scholars the world over. My gratitude goes to ‘The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute’, Pune for preserving some rare books and Sharada and Sanskrit manuscripts from Kashmir.

 The contribution of the Kashmiris to the Sanskrit literature of India remains unparalleled. Even the Chitrasutra part of Vishnudharmotrapuran is believed to have been written by a Kashmiri Pandit. The best commentators on Rasa and Dhvani theory of Natyashastra have been Kashmiris. And Bilhana remains a distinguished poet from Kashmir in this contribution. Bilhana’s life and works are subject of considerable interest for scholars the world over. And Bilhana tells me that household women in Kashmir spoke the Sanskrit language during the 11th century AD. Bilhana’s work offers many insights into the cultural and historical context of his time. Some facts related to Bilhana are as under:-

 (1)…Bihana was a nomadic Pandit who had wandered through Mathura, Kanuj, Prayaga, Varanasi, Somnath, Kalyan and Rameswaram.

(2)…Bilhana was an 11th-century Kashmiri poet known for his poem “Chaura-panchasika” or “The Love Thief”.

(3)…Chaura-panchasika or ‘The Love Thief ‘ is a 50-stanza poem written by Bihana .Bilhana was in love with Princess Yaminipurnatilaka, daughter of King Madanabhirama. When the king discovered his love affair, he threw Bihana into prison.

(4)…Bilhana’s other notable work is an epic “Vikramankadevacharita” based on his patron King Vikramaditya VI of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani.

 Bilhana left his homeland in search of fame and fortune. He wandered through Mathura, Kanuj, Prayaga, Varanasi, Somnath, Kalyan and Rameswaram but luck eluded him. But while trekking back through Kalyan, Western Chalukya Empire King Vikramaditya VI appointed him as Vidyapathi or the master of sciences. His role was not just to entertain but to immortalize the reign and achievements of his patron king through his poetry. This relationship between poet and patron is a key aspect of understanding the cultural dynamics of the time.

 In 1948, two producers made movies in Tamil based on the life story of Bilhana, the celebrated Kashmiri poet. One was by the famed TKS Brothers who first produced it as a stage play, then as a movie in April 1948 under the title Bilhanan. In November 1948, the next version was made with stage and singing star K.R. Ramasami as Bilhana, and the well-known dancer-actor of that day A R Sakunthala as the lovely princess Yamini. Not many are aware that during the same period, the South Indian movie mogul T.R. Sundaram of Modern Theatres released advertisements announcing his version of Bilhana with M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar as the poet. Sadly, the project was given up as MKT was arrested for his alleged involvement in the sensational Lakshmikanthan murder case.

 Bilhana’s life has some tragic element that was filmed beautifully in the 1948 movie. During his travels, King Madanabhirama father of Princess Yamini (Sakunthala in the movie ) engaged the poet Bilhana (Ramasami in the movie ) to educate his daughter. And to prevent any romance from blossoming between the two, he had told the princess that her Guru is visually challenged apart from telling Bilhana ( her teacher ) that his student had many physical deformities. Besides, the King ordered that a curtain be hung between the two so that the student and the teacher couldn’t see each other. As per the story, one day while lessons were in progress, Bilhana peeped through the curtain and was thrilled by the look of his student. He composed a poem there and then and sang it to his student. The 50-stanza poem came to be known as Chaura-panchasika or ‘The Love Thief ‘. The Chaurapanchasika is a well-known work of love poetry that is considered to be one of Bilhana's masterpieces. Bilhana in this poem writes that Yamini looked like a full moon on a cloudless sky. And Yamini wondered how a blind man could write about the moon with such brilliance. Excited, she pulls down the curtain and finds that Bilhana is a handsome young man while he finds Yamini the personification of female beauty. The two fall in love at once and decide to marry, but the enraged king sentences them to death. However, his friends and people rise in revolt against his decision, and finally, he yields, and the two marry to live happily thereafter. The story in the movie shows this version where some aspects of Bilhana’s life have been altered for commercial reasons.

 What is unusual about Chaurapanchasika’ or 'The Love Thief' is its continuing popularity and survival into the 21st century. Its appeal was not only in the universally popular subject of love, but apparently in the accessible illustrative way in which it was written. The French translated the poem in 1848, opening it up to Western European audiences. In turn, poet and journalist Sir Edwin Arnold wrote and illustrated an English version in 1896. The imagery, metaphors, and ideals of romantic love abound throughout the verses and are enhanced in Arnold's version by his accompanying illustrations.

 Whatever version of Bilhana ‘s life is shown in the movie it is a fact that poem ‘ Chaurapanchasika’ is a well-known work of love poetry that is considered to be one of Bilhana's masterpieces. Some scholars are of the view that Bilhana wrote the poem in prison after being arrested by King Madanabhirama who came to know about his secret love affair with his daughter Yamini.

 ( Avtar Mota )

PS

As per Rajatarangini , Bilhana left Kashmir in the 11^th century  during the rule of King Kalasa of Lohara dynasty .Kalasa was a weak  king given to  immoral activities. He also involved himself in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. Kalasa forced his father King Ananta to go  into exile to Vijyeshwara Tirtha and sat on the throne of Kashmir . He also set the Vijyeshwara  shrine on fire where the sad King Ananta was living like an ordinary person. When Vijyeshwara caught fire and flames rose to sky ,Kalasa danced  in happiness like a mad man . Unable to bear the humiliation from his own son,  King Ananta committed suicide. Kalasa spent little time on matters of government until his later years. Almost anarchy prevailed in his kingdom .  Due to almost civil war like situation, many loyal courtiers and men of learning from  Kashmir  also left the kingdom. Bilhana was one amongst many fugitives from  Kashmir .Kalhana also confirms this in his  Rajatarangini  as under :- .

“ During the reign of King Kalasa, Bilhana who had gone away from Kashmir and whom King Parmandii of Karnataka had made Vidyapati …..( Taranga VII Sloka 935 translation R S Pandit  ) 

Many scholars  believe that   musicologist  Sharangdeva's grandfather Bhaskara ( Ayurvedic physician ,) also left  Kashmir during this period.

 

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