Books / Theory of Rasa in Sanskrit Drama A Comparative Study of General Dramatic Literature Hari Ram Mishra

3. PREFACE

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PREFACE

Dr. Hari Ram Mishra has produced an interesting work on the problem of Rasa with special reference to its relation with Sanskrit Drama. He has studied the subject in its different aspects and has tried to present it, as far as possible, in a comprehensive form. He has written on the origin and evolution of Sanskrit Drama and on its constituents and types. Having accepted the traditional viewpoint on the essence of Rasa he has made a sustained and commendable attempt to follow the course of the development of the conception through successive stages in different centuries. Ultimately he has sought to find out and reveal the relation which subsists between Rasa and Drama as a work of Art. It seems to me, as the Siva Sūtras appear to suggest, that the ancient Indian conception of Drama consists in the realisation that Atma endowed with its inherent Power and playing all possible parts is the Nata, the senses are the spectators (Preksakāņi) and the Antarātmā is Prekșāgrha or stage. The object of Abhinaya is evidently taken to be the manifestation of Rasa. This sums up the entire philosophy of Rasa and Drama. | It is a valuable work and I commend it with great pleasure to the attention of scholars interested in the subject.

Gopinath Kaviraj, M. A., D. LITT., 2 (A) Sigra, Mahamahopadhyaya, Varanasi. Padma Vibhushana. 11.11.1964

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CONTENTS Page

i. Introduction .. 3

ii. Bibliography 15

iii. Transliteration of the Devanāgarī alphabet into the Roman alphabet (with diacritical marks) 29

PART ONE-SANSKRIT DRAMA Chapter 1. Sanskrit Drama as an Art 1

  1. Evolution of Drama (Sanskrit) with an appendix on 'Origin of Drama (Sanskrit)' 46

  2. Sanskrit Drama-Its constituents

and types 99

PART TwO-RASA 4. Concept of Rasa-Its evolution and development 197

  1. Some Considerations of the Con- cept of Rasa 309

  2. Rasa-Its constituents and relation with Nātya 404

PART THREE-RASA IN SANSKRIT DRAMA

  1. Rasa-The predominant factor in Sanskrit Drama 481

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2

  1. Different Rasas predominant in different types of Sanskrit Drama .. 549

  2. Sanskrit Dramaturgy and English Dramaturgy-A brief Comparative Study from the Standpoint of Rasa .. 583