Sringara Rasa in Sudraka's Mrichchhakatikam PDF

Sringara Rasa In Sudraka's "Mrichchhakatikam" Introduction: The play "Mrichchhakatika" also known as "The Little Clay Cart" is a renowned Sanskrit play was written by the king Sudraka, holds a significant place in the classical Indian literature. "Mrichchhakatika" is one o...

Sringara Rasa In Sudraka's "Mrichchhakatikam" Introduction: The play "Mrichchhakatika" also known as "The Little Clay Cart" is a renowned Sanskrit play was written by the king Sudraka, holds a significant place in the classical Indian literature. "Mrichchhakatika" is one of the most famous 'Prakarana' whose plot is derived from the history "Charudattam Poverty" written by Bhasa and partly is a creation of Sudraka's fancy of the ancient India that is not based on the epic material and is full of rascals. Of all Sudraka's famous 'Prakarana' plays "The Little Clay Cart" offers a panaromic view of the different layers of the Indian society. It is based on the love relationship between Charudatta a poor but prominent Brahmana of Ujjayini and a Courtesan named Vasantasena. Rasa is a sanskrit word that referred to 'juice','essence' and to 'extract'. The famous writer of Natyashastra, Bharat Muni says,"Vibhanubhava Vyabhichariya Sanyogat Rasa Nispattiah" which means how rasa released in the mind. The play "Mrichchhakatika" is a ten acts play based chiefly on the concept of 'Sringara Rasa'. Bharat himself says,"Whatever is sacred, pure, placid and worth seeing" can be compared to Srinagara Rasa. Sringara Rasa represents love, beauty, attractiveness, romance and devotion. Two elements of the play often perplexes western audience. First, the profession of Vasantasena (courtesan) and second, Charudatta is married and also had a son named Rohasena. Through Vasantasena and Charudatta, king Sudraka has excellently delineated the course of virtuous life based on the pleasures of true love. Vasantasena is a Courtesan, lovely like the beauty of Vasanta. The position of Courtesan in the ancient Indian society was a problematic phenomenon. She entertains people with her beauty, singing and dancing in a professional manner and earns money, but never gives herself to anyone. Indeed Charudatta is a man of noble, honest, generosity and steadfastness. But his wife (Dhuta) is only identified as 'wife'hardly appears in the play and then outsides the confines of her home. The play gives not a single word to concerns over Charudatta's marriage. Like Dushyanta in "Abhigyanashakuntalam" Charudatta is free to pursue whatever paramous attract his attention. The world of "Mrichchhakatika" is a man's world. Only educated courtesan's like Vasantasena has a place in it. The love story between Charudatta and Vasantasena was started before the play begins. The love story begins with Vasantasena, the courtesan falling in love with Charudatta, a Brahmin by birth and a merchant by profession, formerly very wealthy and having donated to many charities and civic amenities, has now fallen on bad days, due to his excessive generous manner when she meets in a spring festival and got attracted to each other from a distance. The love relationship between Charudatta and Vasantasena was growing when Vasantasena meets Charudatta in a cottage was being chased by Sakara, brother-in-law of king Palaka of Ujjayini. Vasantasena enjoys far more admiration and importance in Charudatta's heart than his own wife Dhuta while Charudatta's wife is granted just domestic and marital rights, Vasantasena receives Charudatta's passion, his poetry and his ardent love. In the storm scene Charudatta is seen to express his desire in spontaneous poetic outbreak; "The untimely storm afflicts the blackened sky And the wistful lovers heart " As the story progresses, Charudatta growing relationship with Vasantasena is tested by external forces, including Samsthanaka (Sakara) persistent pursuit of Courtesan Vasantasena. Infact, there is a point in the play when Maitreya, friend of Charudatta tried to make him understand the dangers of being with a courtesan who is wanted by the king's brother-in-law,but Charudatta's yearning for his love only increased. The romantic relationship between Charudatta and Vasantasena serves as a driving force of the narrative. Their connection transcends social barriers, challanging societal norms and portraying the power of love to bridge gaps between individuals from different backgrounds. Sudraka's 'Mrichchhakatika' is a masterpiece in its own regard and unlike Kalidasa's"Abhigyanashakuntalam" has a universal appeal to it.It is one of the only Indian literary works of Sanskrit which has been adopted and researched upon in the West than in India.