2023-02-23 18:48:16 by ambuda-bot
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GENERAL INTRODUCTION
CONCERNING THE SANSKRIT POET MAYURA
FOREWORD
In the following pages I have sought to collect, as completely
as possible, the scattered references that throw light on the life
and history of the Sanskrit poet Mayūra. A part of the ground
has already been covered in a preliminary way by M. L. Etting-
hausen, who gives a fairly full account of our poet in his mon-
ograph on the reign of Harṣavardhana,¹ although I have been
able to supplement and correct his work in some details. In
addition to this, both Bühler and Peterson have recorded most
valuable and recondite data concerning Mayūra, so that it is but
fair to say that without the groundwork of their researches, even
the meager account here presented of this interesting author
would have been impossible.
THE DATE OF MAYURA
It may be regarded as fairly certain that Mayura flourished
in the first half of the seventh century. This conclusion rests
on a double basis. In the first place, there is a bit of con-
temporary evidence in the shape of a statement by Bāṇa, the
well-known writer of the seventh century, to the effect that
Mayūraka was his friend. It must be acknowledged, however,
that the identification of this Mayūraka with our poet has been
called in question. In the second place, persistent tradition,.
beginning in the ninth and tenth centuries, insists on making-
Mayūra a contemporary of Bāṇa, and a protégé of King Harsa,.
who reigned 606-647 A.D. In fact, in the case of written
records subsequent to 900 A.D., any verse or anecdote that men-
1 M. L. Ettinghausen, Harşa Vardhana, empereur et poète, p. 124-128,
Louvain, 1906.
3
CONCERNING THE SANSKRIT POET MAYURA
FOREWORD
In the following pages I have sought to collect, as completely
as possible, the scattered references that throw light on the life
and history of the Sanskrit poet Mayūra. A part of the ground
has already been covered in a preliminary way by M. L. Etting-
hausen, who gives a fairly full account of our poet in his mon-
ograph on the reign of Harṣavardhana,¹ although I have been
able to supplement and correct his work in some details. In
addition to this, both Bühler and Peterson have recorded most
valuable and recondite data concerning Mayūra, so that it is but
fair to say that without the groundwork of their researches, even
the meager account here presented of this interesting author
would have been impossible.
THE DATE OF MAYURA
It may be regarded as fairly certain that Mayura flourished
in the first half of the seventh century. This conclusion rests
on a double basis. In the first place, there is a bit of con-
temporary evidence in the shape of a statement by Bāṇa, the
well-known writer of the seventh century, to the effect that
Mayūraka was his friend. It must be acknowledged, however,
that the identification of this Mayūraka with our poet has been
called in question. In the second place, persistent tradition,.
beginning in the ninth and tenth centuries, insists on making-
Mayūra a contemporary of Bāṇa, and a protégé of King Harsa,.
who reigned 606-647 A.D. In fact, in the case of written
records subsequent to 900 A.D., any verse or anecdote that men-
1 M. L. Ettinghausen, Harşa Vardhana, empereur et poète, p. 124-128,
Louvain, 1906.
3