2024-06-16 18:20:10 by DVudathala
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I. AUTHORSHIP AND HISTORICAL VALUE
1. THE POET
The peculiar interest of this biographical poem is
that its author Gangā Dēvi was the wife of the hero
whom it celebrates, and that in all probability she ac-
companied her husband in his sojourns in the South.¹
[^1]
She was the chief queen of Kampaņṇa II, and though
nothing is known about her lineage, must have sprung
from a noble family as the Dēvi suffix would imply.
She was very highly accomplished and was endowed
with all charms and grace. Kampaņa lavished all his
love and attention on her though he had other wives.²
love and attention on her though he had other wives.[^2]
Gangaā Dēvi was a poet of a very high order. She
was a great student of the classics.³
was a great student of the classics.[^3] She was well
versed in the Vedic lore also.[^4] That she chose Kalidasa
ālidāsa
Bhaṭṭa Bāṇa, Bhāravi, Danḍin and Bhavabūti along
with Vālmīki and Vyasa out of a thousand names in
Samskrit is sufficient proof of her discerning ability.[^5
]
[^1.] This is only a guess. But there is, however, an interesting
point which need not mean much by way of substantiating the state-
ment, but which is not wholly unimportant. At the end of canto 1
there is a salutation to goddess Minakshi immediately after the colophon.
In all probability this must have been written by Ganga Dēvi herself,
because if the original copyist of the manuscript had written the words
because if the original copyist of the manuscript had written the words
Minaākshiai namah he would have written them at the end of every
canto. Possibly Gangaā Dēvi had omitted the salutation in the other
cantos and in the verbatim copy of the original that omission was
perpetuated.
cantos and in the verbatim copy of the original that omission was
perpetuated.
Moreover Kampana lived in Kanciāncīpuram after taking it from the
Sambuvarayas and cantos 6 and 7 describe his happy life with his
queens.
[^2.] Madhurāvijayam, canto 3, slokas 18 and 19; also cantos 6 and 7.
[^3.] Ibid., canto 1.
[^4.] Ibid., canto 1.
[^5.
]Ibid., canto 1, slokas 5 to 11.
1. THE POET
The peculiar interest of this biographical poem is
that its author Gangā Dēvi was the wife of the hero
whom it celebrates, and that in all probability she ac-
companied her husband in his sojourns in the South.
She was the chief queen of Kampa
nothing is known about her lineage, must have sprung
from a noble family as the Dēvi suffix would imply.
She was very highly accomplished and was endowed
with all charms and grace. Kampaņa lavished all his
love and attention on her though he had other wives.²
love and attention on her though he had other wives.[^2]
Gang
was a great student of the classics.³
was a great student of the classics.[^3] She was well
versed in the Vedic lore also.[^4] That she chose K
Bhaṭṭa Bāṇa, Bhāravi, Danḍin and Bhavabūti along
with Vālmīki and Vyasa out of a thousand names in
Samskrit is sufficient proof of her discerning ability.[^5
[^1
point which need not mean much by way of substantiating the state-
ment, but which is not wholly unimportant. At the end of canto 1
there is a salutation to goddess Minakshi immediately after the colophon.
In all probability this must have been written by Ganga Dēvi herself,
because if the original copyist of the manuscript had written the words
because if the original copyist of the manuscript had written the words
Min
canto. Possibly Gang
cantos and in the verbatim copy of the original that omission was
perpetuated.
cantos and in the verbatim copy of the original that omission was
perpetuated.
Moreover Kampana lived in K
Sambuvarayas and cantos 6 and 7 describe his happy life with his
queens.
[^2
[^3
[^4
[^5