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Nagananda
Besides being a patron of art and literature, King Harshavardhana of Kannauj, who reigned from about 606 A. D. to 647 A. D., was himself a dramatist of high repute. Although he may have been influenced by Kalidasa, Harsha was a drama- tist with original ideas, imagination and techniques.
Nagananda is the dramatisation of a Buddhist legend that occurs in the Brihat Katha. It is the story of Jimutavahana, a Vidyadhara prince, who finds contentment in sacrificing his own life so that others might live. He invites death and likes it. "Even on my mother's lap, as a child, I had not experienced the joy that I am experiencing now on the seat of sacrifice" - Thus he faces death with a smile which ultimately brings about a transformation in Garuda, the mythical bird.
In "Nagananda", Harsha has tried to blend Buddhism and Hinduism. The ideal of sacrificing one's life, if need be, for the sake of another is essentially Buddhist. The parts played by Garuda and Goddess Gauri and the reference to Indra and the other Hindu gods give the story a Puranic touch.
I-tsing, the Chinese traveller, records that Harsha versified the story of Bodhisatva Jimutavahana and acted it on the stage.
Nagananda is the dramatisation of a Buddhist legend that occurs in the Brihat Katha. It is the story of Jimutavahana, a Vidyadhara prince, who finds contentment in sacrificing his own life so that others might live. He invites death and likes it. "Even on my mother's lap, as a child, I had not experienced the joy that I am experiencing now on the seat of sacrifice" - Thus he faces death with a smile which ultimately brings about a transformation in Garuda, the mythical bird.
In "Nagananda", Harsha has tried to blend Buddhism and Hinduism. The ideal of sacrificing one's life, if need be, for the sake of another is essentially Buddhist. The parts played by Garuda and Goddess Gauri and the reference to Indra and the other Hindu gods give the story a Puranic touch.
I-tsing, the Chinese traveller, records that Harsha versified the story of Bodhisatva Jimutavahana and acted it on the stage.
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34 pages, Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 7, 2025
Nagananda is a Sanskrit play that depicts the sacrifice of the Bodhisattva Jīmūtavāhavana, a Vidyadhara prince who forsakes material pleasure in favor of selfless action. In five acts, Jīmūtavāhavana saves the Nagas from Garuda, the divine eagle mount of Lord Vishnu. Now considered a Buddhist legend, the re-telling of Nagananda serves as an invocation to the Buddha. The legend has familiarity to that of Prometheus, but with several clear distinctions.
This is a compressed and moderated version of the story, so don't expect much with respect to depth. It's well executed for its rather short length, and the illustrations are nice. This serves as a concise distillation of a great Hindu and Buddhist epic.
This is a compressed and moderated version of the story, so don't expect much with respect to depth. It's well executed for its rather short length, and the illustrations are nice. This serves as a concise distillation of a great Hindu and Buddhist epic.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews