Contribution of Ramapanivada to Musicology

Abstract

Musicology is the study of music encompassing all aspects of music, in all cultures and all historical periods. India has a great tradition of musicology. The works in musicology originated in different regions in different ages and in different languages are uncountable. There have hundreds of musicological works in Sanskrit. The Vedas are the oldest documents on Indian music. Vedic literature especially S¡mav®dic literature which includes ¿ikÀ¡, pr¡ti¿¡khy¡ shows bear testimony to the important place of music held in Vedic rituals. There has an ample evidence of the prevalence of music in the Vedic society. The epics, pur¡¸¡s and other literary forms are also testifying to the recognition and applause of music as fine art. Texts on different aspects of music like R¡ga, Svara and T¡½a are also flourished. In the New Catalogues Catalog rum the pages of r for r¡ga and s for Sa´g¢ta, gives a first-hand information about these works. newlineThe contribution of Kerala to Sanskrit tradition on musicology also has a notable place in the Sanskrit tradition of musicology. It can divide as Sanskrit works on music, works on musicology and the performance tradition. R¡map¡¸iv¡da is the first Kerala Sanskrit writer on musicology. R¡map¡¸iv¡da is a veteran scholar of both Sanskrit and prakrit language and have more than thirty works on his credit, which includes dramatic literature, mahakavyas, prose, prosody, commentaries etc. Kerala Sanskrit works on musicology newlineincludes four works of R¡map¡¸iv¡da. The present study, The Contribution of R¡map¡¸iv¡da to Musicology is an attempt to analysis the contributions of R¡map¡¸iv¡da to Indian musicology. The thesis is divided into five chapters newlineThe Introductory chapter, The Science of Music in Sanskrit- an Introduction deals with the science of music in Sanskrit as general, This study provides a general information about the nature of music reflected in Sanskrit works from Vedic literature to classical literature . newlineThe second chapter entitled Content Analysis of the Sanskrit works on Musicology includes the content of selected Sanskrit works on musicology. A general survey of thirty two important texts from N¡¶ya¿¡stra of Bharata (2nd B.C) to Sa´g¢takalpadruma of Muttayya Bhagavatar (19th C.E) were mainly included. The third chapter is Kerala Sanskrit Tradition of Music and Musicology. This chapter includes focusing on Kerala Sanskrit tradition of music and musicology. Study of Sop¡nasa´g¢taÆ, the music of K¤À¸an¡¶¶aÆ, and K£¶iy¡¶¶aÆ were come under for discussion. The textual study of B¡lar¡mabharata of Aswati Tiruna½, Sa´g¢tacandrika of Attur Krishnapisharoti, were also included. The fourth chapter, Life and works of R¡map¡¸iv¡da discuss the life history of R¡map¡¸iv¡da and his works. Thirty three works were included. The fifth chapter, Contribution of R¡map¡¸iv¡da to Music and Musicology deals with study of the musical compositions Paand#956;capadi, G¢tar¡ma and R¡sakr¢·¡ and the newlinemusicological work T¡½aprast¡ra. And last is the concluding remark of the study carried out in previous chapters. newlineAccording to Indian tradition, music and literature are the two faces of vidya. R¡map¡¸iv¡da had mastered in both music and literature. In Sanskrit there have plenty references about musicology. T¡½aprast¡ra of R¡map¡¸iv¡da is one among them. It has not studied yet. This study aims that to restore and reconstruct the knowledge of music in Sanskrit tradition for others. It will provide additional knowledge to the existing ones in the field of musicology. newline