Sabha Bhushanam: An Imaginary Styled, Scholarly Sanskrit Drama from Garhwal

(History and Study of Sanskrit Literature Development in Garhwal-3)

                          By: Bhishma Kukreti

               The Sanskrit Drama Sabha Bhushanam is four acts drama with Nandi and Sutradhar (Narrator) for moving the drama.  The drama Sabha Bhushanam has five male actors and nine female actors.

 The King Sudarshan Shah (1815-1859) Court Astrologers duo Vishnu Datt and Haridatt Nautiyal created the drama- Sabha Bhushanam.

             First Act of Sanskrit Drama Sabha Bhushanam

 After Nandi’s introduction there are dialogues between Sutradhara (Narrator) and Dancer. Both inform about a stage play being played in the Court of King Sudarshan Shah (Tehri Maharaj) the bother of Preetam Shah Dev. The first act is only for introduction and informing about Main female character (heroine) Rasal-Manjari and Main Male Character (hero) Chanchrik. The last poem sates- ‘Sadrasalsarsalmanjari …’. There is Spring Description too.

             Second Act of Sanskrit Drama Sabha Bhushanam

 Main female Character Rasal Manjari enters on the stage after seeing Chanchrik in her dream. Rasal Manjari is sad and she is with her seven friends including Chandana. Rasal Manjari is sad due to separation and then sage Pranidhanen blessed her and offered a friend for her named- Sarika. Sarika took her letter to Chanchrik.

                Third Act of Sanskrit Drama Sabha Bhushanam

                            

  While taking letter of princess Rasal Manjari to Chanchrik through sky, Sarika describes geographical beauty of Ganga, Vindhyavati, Karnatakpur etc. Now, Prince Chanchrik enters in agarden with his bodyguard, maid servant, and clown. Chanchrik is having a parrot in his hand. Chanchrik is also attracted to  Rasal Manjari by seeing her in dream. The learned parrot tells the Prince about whereabouts of Rasal Manjari that Rasal Manjari is daughter of Ramnagar King. Sarika hands over the letter.

               Fourth Act of Sanskrit Drama Sabha Bhushanam

 In fift act, there are many scenes. The King Chanchrik marched to Ramnagar with his army. There Rasal Manjari meets king Chanchrik. Father of Rasal arranges marriage of both and drama ends with happy notes.

  The language and style of Sabha Bhushanam is totally scholarly. The drama has limitation of staging at all. The dialogues are long and the audience can not enjoy the raptures and emotions of such long dialogues. The real performers are the parrot and Sarika. They have maximum dialogues and action.

       The story is totally imagery and do not relate with reality.  

 The interference by other stories in one scene is very terrific from drama point view. The dialogues are not only long but with scholarly figure of speeches and do not fit for Stage Play.

      The rapture of love is marvelous in the drama Sabha Bhushanam.

 The play is just written either for discussion among scholars. The play is also written for showing the principles of drama in classical pattern and not for stage playing.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 10/5/15, Mumbai, India

History of Sanskrit Literature Development in Garhwal to be continued in next part

                         Main Sources

1-Dr Prem Datt Chamoli, Garhwal Ki Sanskrit Sahitya ko Den, Dehradun, India

2- Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas (12 Khand), Dogadda, Garhwal, India

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Notes on History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Chamoli Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Rudraprayag Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Uttarkashi Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Dehradun, Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Haridwar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, Himalaya; History and Study Sanskrit Literature Development in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, North India;

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Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Uttarkashi Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Dehradun, Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Haridwar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Chamoli Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Sanskrit Dramas, Stage Plays, from Rudraprayag Garhwal, Uttarakhand;