Samskrita Sangha:Activities:Talks:Shri Ganesh

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Why Do We Need Sanskrit Poetry?

Art Experience In The Perspective Of Sanskrit Tradition
Shataavadhani R Ganesh
Venue: Choksi Hall at 6-00 pm Date: 21st January 2006

ABSTRACT

It is often thought that poetry is falsehood, for it is imaginative and describes things caring less for their reality. Hence, starting from the days of Plato, poetry is shunned. However, it is the truth of life that is of utmost importance in poetry. Therefore, it is said that it may not be the purpose of poetry to save our soul, but it makes us worth saving. Sanskrit poetry truly aims at this and becomes somewhat successful while doing so.

Though we have many languages in the world and quite a few being classical among them, it is Sanskrit and Sanskrit alone that has an unbroken and lengthiest history of literature, vibrant as a tongue for creative expression. Over 1000 poets in Sanskrit even in this 21st century are busy with their loved art of poesy.

The proposed talk aims to focus on the aspects of poetry in general and that of Sanskrit in particular. For, the realisation of one's own happiness, irrespective of his/her spatio-temporal constraint is possible to a very high order in classical Sanskrit poetry. Especially the four facets of Sanskrit aesthetic — Vakrokti (oblique expression), Ouchitya (propriety), Dhwani (suggestion) and Rasa (the aesthetic experience) understood through a unique poetic convention (Kavi Samaya) metamorphasising as a brilliant meta language, yields wonderful results. When the present world is becoming more and more materialistic, sublimation of desire is the only alternative for a higher way of living which is more and more meaningful. This happens through the enjoyment of classical Sanskrit poetry, if it is appreciated properly. Such an appreciation demands a very high order of poetic sensitivity, which is not a product of mere erudition or civilisational richness.

Sanskrit poetry, like any other art, is a value and a greater value than the other ethical or existential ones. However, while realising this, all other instrumental values will also be eventually realised and a pointer towards the highest value is also set forth. All these features will be explained with suitable examples.

About the Speaker

Shataavadhani R. Ganesh is a Mechanical Engineer, an alumnus of IISc. He also holds an M.A. in Sanskrit and a D. Litt from Hampi Kannada University. He worked as Director of Sanskrit Studies, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He worked at Jain International Residential School as Coordinator of Department of Values. He has published over 150 Research papers in the field of Science, Technology, Indian Science, Ancient Indian Technology, Sanskrit Literature, Prosody, Poetics, History, Philosophy, Veda, Dharmashastra, Music, Dance and Sculpture.

He has published 23 books in Kannada, English and Sanskrit containing original research work, creative writing, such as poems, plays and translations and is well informed in the field of classical Indian Arts, Music, Dance, Painting, Veda, Vedanta with performing skills.

He is the only Shataavadhani to perform in 8 different languages. He has performed over 400 Ashtaavadanams and 4 Shataavadanams. (Avadhaanam is one of the Ancient Indian Classical art of imaging memory and instantaneous spot versification, holds a world record or marathon versification for 24 hours in 8 different languages on the theme of Indian Contribution to World Heritage.)

He has composed over 500 Music and Dance compositions and have tuned them to Raga and Tala in various languages, composed 25 Ballets, directed and conducted over 120 Kaavyachitra presentations (A unique Jugalbandhi of spot versification and painting). He has also delivered over 5000 Lectures on Indian Culture and Heritage in National and International Forums.

He is well exposed to 17 Indian and foreign languages including Classical languages such as Vedic Sanskrit, Sanskrit, Pali, Ardhamagadhi, Ancient Tamil, Ancient Kannada, Greek and Latin.

Awards and Recognitions

• Award of Shataavadhani, the Best Thesis Award for the thesis on Avadhaana Kala
• Outstanding Young Indian Award — 1991
• Best Science Writer Award — 1993
• Best Sanskrit Poet Kavya Kovida Award — 1989
• Writer of the Year Award — 1992
• Youngest Awardee of the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava award (at the age of 29).