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3-Sanskrit Literature-2

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3-Famous Literature-2 - By Authors
See also   Miscellaneous Authors

Many great poets have been men of humble origin and limited means of education. Plautus was a miller and an actor's servant. Shakespear held horses. Kaalidaas was a simple woodcutter. Tulasee Daas was a simple fellow.

Many of these names are given in Sketches page along with their brief description. One may look them there for more details. Here are given the names of the authors and their works. Some of them are not the Sanskrit language scholars, they have written in their local languages, but they are very famous old scholars, Bhakt, poets or literary people.

A short description for some of these literature is given on  Famous Literature of India-1

There are four poets who have written Shatak -
Baan Bhatt - Chandee Shatak
Bhartrihari - Neet Shatak, Shringaar Shatak, Vairaagya Shatak
Mayoor Bhatt - Soorya Shatak
Shankaraachaarya  -  Nirvaan Shatak

There is some literature available at www.wilbourhall.org  from
Aaryabhatt  (Aaryabhateeyam),
Bhaaskaraachaarya (Siddhaant Shiromani)
Brahmgupt (Brahm Sphut Siddhaant)
Jagannaath Samraat (Rekhaa Ganitam)
Meenraajaa (Vriddh Yavan Jaatakam)
Paanini (Mahaa Bhaashyam Ashtaadhyaayee)
Soorya Siddhaant
Varaahmihir (Panch Saiddhaantikaa, Brihat Sanhitaa, Brihat Jaatak)


Aanand Vardhan

Aaryabhat
Aaryabhateeyam (on mathematics)

Ashwaghosh (Buddhist Scholar)
(1) Buddha Charit
(2) Saundaryaanand

Ashwalaayan
(1) Grihya Sootra - read it here 
Ashwalaayan Grihya Sootra
(2) Shraut Sootra

Baadaraayan (690-610 BC) -
(1) Vedaant Sootra (Brahm Sootra)

Baan Bhatt (570-650 AD) -
(1) Harshcharit
(2) Kaadambaree (novel)
(3) Chandikaa Shatak  (see also Mayoor Bhatt)
(4) Paarvatee Parinaya (drama)

Ballaal (16th century)
Bhoj Prabandhak (about Raajaa Bhoj)

Bhaas (220-140 BC) -
(1) Swapn Vaasavdattaa (drama)
(2) Pratigyaa Yaugandharaayan (drama)
(3) Baalcharit (drama)

Bhaaravi (a 6th century poet) -
(1) Kiraataarjuneeya,

Bhaaskaraachaarya (1060-1140 AD) - see also Bhaaskarachaarya
(1) Siddhaant Shiromani (on astronomy)

Bharat Muni
(1) Naatya Shaastra (on dance)

Bhartrihari  (660-740 AD) -
(1) Shringaar Shatak
(2) Vairaagya Shatak
(3) Neeti Shatak
All containing 100 verses each.

Bhatt Naaraayan (710-790 AD) -
(1) Venee Sanhaar (play)

Bhattee (570-630 AD) -
(1) Bhattee Kaavya

Bhavabhooti (660-740 AD) Sanskrit Drama Writer -
(1) Mahaaveer Charit (drama)
(2) Uttar Raam Charit (drama)
(3) Maalatee Maadhav (romantic drama)

Bheemsen
(1) Sudhaa Saagar

Bhojdev (800-1055 AD) -
Wrote 20 books -
(1) Saraswatee Kaantaabharan
(2) Shringaar Manjaree (novel)

Bhoj Raaj
(1) Shringaar Manjaree (novel, describing different types of love)

Bihaaree Laal - see also Bihaaree Laal -
(1) Bihaaree Satasaee (700 Dohaa)

Bilhan
(1) Chaur Panch Shikhaa

Chaanakya - see also Chaanakya -
(1) Arth Shaastra (Economics and politics)
(2) Chaanakya Neeti

Chandee Daas - (Bangalaa devotional poet)

Charak (1050-960 BC) -
(1) Charak Sanhitaa (book on Aayur Ved)

Chatursen Shaastree, Aachaarya
Vaishaalee Kee Nagar Vadhoo

Dandin (6th-7th century AD) -
(1) Dash Kumaar Charitam
(2) Avantee Sundaree Parinayam (650-700 AD)
(3) Kaavyaadarsh

Dayaanand Saraswatee (1824-1883 AD)
Translated the four Ved in Hindi, wrote Satyaarth Prakaash

Dhananjaya
(1) Dash Roop

Gadaadhar
(1) Rasik Jeevan

Goddal
(1) Udaya Sundaree (love stories, also called Champoo Kaavya)

Gunaakar (Son of Vaachaspati)
(1) Smar Pradeepikaa

Guru Naanak (1469-1539 AD)
He wrote Kabeer like poems in early form of Hindi.

Gyaaneshwar or Gyaan Dev (1260-1320 AD) - (Sant)
(1) Bhaavaarth Deepikaa (Gyaneshwaree) - (a commentary on Geetaa)

Harishchandra -
(1) Dharmaashram Abhyudaya (a Sanskrit poem in 21 cantos)

Haritaayan
(1) Tripur Rahasya (or Haritaayan Sanhitaa)
Read full Tripur Rahasya Here

Harsh Vardhan (the King, 606-647 AD)
(1) Rataavalee (Play)
(2) Priyadarshikaa (Play)
(3) Naagnand (Play)

Jaayasee, Malik Muhammad (1550-1610 AD) - (Soofee poet)
(1) Padmaavat

Jagannaath
(1) Amrit Laharee
(2) Praan Bharanam

Jayadev (16th Century)  -
(1) Geet Govind - Geet Govind poem is divided in 12 chapters and each chapter is further divided into 24 divisions called Prabandh. The Prabandh contain couplets are grouped into eights, called Ashtapadee. Chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, and 12 contain two Ashtapadee each; and chapters 3, 6, 8, 9, and 10 contain only one Ashtapadee each. Thus there are 24 Ashtapadee in each chapter. More than hundred commentaries have been written in Sanskrit and about 50 commentaries are written in Indian regional languages. Some are in foreign languages also. Its first English translation was published by Sir William Jones in 1792. It is considered the finest example of Sanskrit poetry. It is about the relationship of Krishn and Gopee, and in particular one Gopee named Raadhaa. It is said about Raadhaa that Raadhaa name does not appear anywhere, neither in Bhaagvat Puraan, nor in Vishnu Puraan, nor in Mahaabhaarat's Appendix Harivansh which are the main sources of Krishn's life. It is only Jayadev's "Geet Govind" which made Raadhaa name famous."
(2) Dash Kritikrite  -  on Dashaavataar
(3) Prasann Raaghav

Kaalidaas -
(1) Abhigyaan Shaakuntalam (of Shakuntalaa recognized by a token)
(2) Kumaarsambhav - An epic poem. It is about Kaarttikeya, the son of Shiv and Paarvatee. Kumaargupt was the son of Chandragupt II Vikramaaditya. This play could be the tribute to any of these two.
(3) Maalavikaagnimitra - This is the story of Maalavikaa and Agnimitra of Shung Dynasty who sat on the throne in c 152 BC, this proves that he did not live before 152 BC. Besides the dialect of Praakrit language used by some of his minor characters show that he could not have lived before the 3rd century AD. One scientist conducted a thorough research on Kaalidaas and after analyzing 627 archaeological evidences which included 104 sculptures, 30 pictures and 493 scriptural words determined that Kaalidaas lived in the period 370-450 AD.
(4) Meghdoot - Megh means Baadal or clouds, and Doot means messenger, Meghdoot means clouds as a messenger. Story of a Yaksh trying to send a message to his beloved through clouds. The poem is set into the "Mandaa Kraantaa" meter (Chhand) known for its lyrical sweetness. It is one of Kaalidaas' most popular poems and numerous commentaries have been written on the work.
(5) Raghuvansh - An epic poem. The mention of Hoon in Raghuvansh could be a veiled reference to the victory of Hoon over Skandgupt. Alternatively the campaign of Raghu may have been modeled on Chandragupt Vikramaadity's father Samudragupt.
(6) Ritu Sanhaar - describes the six seasons by narrating the experiences of two lovers in each of the seasons.
(7) Vikramorvasheeyam - A play about Pururavaa and Urvashee
(8) Jyotirvidaabharan - It is the only true history exposing Roman falsification of history. Only this book of Kali year 3064 states that Kaalidaas had written 3 epics before that. Those epics themselves do not contain name of author. Since last 2000 years people have been reading Raghuvansh, Kumaarsambhav, and Meghdoot. This book also indicates the correct period of start of Kali Yug, Vikram Samvat 57 BC

Kaatyaayayan - (Sanskrit Grammarian)
(1) Vaartik - Contributed to Sanskrit grammar after Paanini
(2)  One of the later Sulabhaa Sootra - a series of nine texts on the geometry of altar constructions, dealing with rectangles, right-sided triangles, rhombuses, etc.
(3) Yajur Ved Kalp Sootra
(4) Saam Ved Upa Granth

Kabeer Daas -
(1) Dohaa

Kalhan - (1150 AD)
(1) Raaj Taranginee - read some notes on Raaj Taranginee. It is about history of Kashmeer.

Kautilya   see   Chaanakya

Keshav Daas -

Kshemendra -
(1) Darp Dalan (satire)
(2) Deshopadesh (satire)
(3) Kalaa Vilaas (satire)
(4) Kavi Kanthaabharan

Kuntak
(1) Vakrokti Jeevitam (read it here in Sanskrit)

Maagh - 8th century
(1) Shishupaal Vadh,

Madhwaachaarya -
(1) Commentary on Geetaa,
(2) Translation of Baadaraayan's Vedaant Sootra
(3) Pramaan Lakshan

Maheedaas Aitareya (940-860 BC)
(1) Aitareya Braahman

Mahendra Vikram
(1) Matta Vilaas

Malook Daas (1574-1642) - (Sant)
He has written many Dohaa like Kabeer Daas Jee.

Mammat
(1) Kaavya Prakaash

Mayoor Bhatt (7th century Poet)
(1) Soorya Shatak or Mayoor Shatak
(2) Mayooraashtak (caused leprosy to him)
(3) 7 stanzas - Vakrokti (perhaps formed the introduction of some work which is now lost)

Meeraa Baaee (1505-1575 or 1498-1547 AD) - (Bhakti poetess)
She was from Raajasthaan and has written many Pad (short poems) which are meant to sing in praise of Krishn.

Munj (8th century)

Naagaarjun

Paanini -
(1) Ashtaadhyaayee (literally meaning "8 chapters") - on Sanskrit grammar, contains 3,996 Sootra

Patanjali -
(1) Mahaabhaashya - contribution to Paanini's Ashtaadhyaayee, not only commentary but some modifications too.

Raajshekhar (900 AD) - (Dramatist)

Raajshekhar (1349 AD)
(1) Karpoor Manjaree
(2) Sookti Muktaavali

Raamaanujaachaarya -
(1) Shree Bhaashya or Brahm Sootra Bhaashya - his most famous work. It is a commentary on the Brahm Sootra, known also as the Vedaant Sootra of Baadaraayan.
(2-3-4) Gadya Trayam (three prose hymns). All three are important works in Shree Vaishnav philosophy:
(a) Vaikunth Gadyam describing in great detail Vaikunth, the realm of Vishnu and recommending meditating on it.
(b) Shree Rang Gadyam, a prayer of surrender to the feet of Ranganaath, and
(c) Sharanaagati Gadyam, an imagined dialogue between Raamaanuj and Shree (Lakshmi) and Naaraayan where he petitions Lakshmee to recommend Naaraayan to give him grace. Naaraayan and Lakshmee accept his surrender.
(5) Vedaarth Sangraha (a resume of Vedaant). It sets out Raamaanuj’s philosophy, which is theistic (it affirms a morally perfect, omniscient and omnipotent God) and realistic (it affirms the existence and reality of a plurality of qualities, persons and objects).
(6) Vedaant Saar (essence of Vedaant) an appendix to Shree Bhaashya
(7) Vedaant Deep (the light of Vedaant), another appendix/commentary to Shree Bhaashya.
(8) Geetaa Bhaashya ( his commentary on the Bhagavad Geetaa)
(9) Nitya Grantham (About the day to day activities to be performed by all Shree Vaishnav)

Raheem (Abdur-raheem Khaanakhaanaa) -
(1) Dohaa

Ratnaakar -
(1) Haravijaya (an epic in 50 cantos)

Ravindranath Tagore (1861-1941) - (poet)
(1) Geetaanjali - for this he received Noble Prize.
(2) Some short stories

Saayan (1320-1410 AD)
Brother of Vidyaaranya. Commentator of all four Ved.
(1) Vedaarth Prakaash - commentary on Rig Ved

Samudragupt
(1) Krishn Charit

Shaakalya - (grammarian before Paanini)

Shaankhaayan
(1) Shraut Sootra

Shankaraachaarya -
(1) Saundarya Laharee,
(2) Kanakdhaaraa Stotra,
(3) Bhaja Govindam,
(4) Nirvaan Shatak

Shoodrak (140-60 BC)
(1) Mrichchhkatikam - (drama)

Shreeharsh (1150-1240 AD) -
(1) Naishadheeya Charitam - (long poetry, about Nal and Damayantee)
(2) Ratnaavalee

Somdev Bhatt (11th century)
(1) Kathaa Sarit Saagar (treasure of stories)

Soordaas -
Many short Pad (poems) about Krishn

Subandhu (A Gupt period Courtier 414-467 AD)
(1) Vaasavdattaa (a Gupt period story)
Was this Subandhu the same Subandhu who killed Chaanakya?

Sushrut (30-110 AD) - (surgeon)
(1) Sushrut Sanhitaa - first ever book on surgery

Tikkann - (Telugu poet)
(1) Last 15 chapters of Mahaabhaarat in Telugu

Tukaaraam - (Sant from Mahaaraashtra)
Wrote beautiful poetry for Krishn in Maraathee. See also  Tukaaraam.

Tulasee Daas -
(1) Raam Charit Maanas (in Avadhee),
(2) Vinaya Patrikaa - Book of petitions, a series of hymns and prayers of which the first 43 are addressed to the lower gods, forming Raam's court and attendants, and the remainder, Nos. 44 to 279, to Raam Himself.
(3) Geetaavalee - also in seven Kaand, aiming at the illustration of the tender aspect of the Lord's life; the meters are adapted for singing,
(4) Kavitaavalee - history of Raam in the Kavitta, Ghanaaksharee, Chaupaaee and Savaiyaa meters; like the Raam Charit Maanas, it is divided into seven Kaand or cantos, and is devoted to setting forth the majestic side of Raam's character,
(5) Dohaavalee - 573 miscellaneous Dohaa and Sorathaa verses

Besides the above, he has written Hanumaan Chaleesaa, Hanumaan Baahuk, Bajarang Baan, Hanumaanaashtak also.

Udbhut

Vaachaspati

Vaagbhatt
Ashtaang Hridayam - A classical book on Aayur Ved

Vaaman
(1) Kaavyaalankaar Sootraani

Vaamdev (Aangiras Rishi)
Composed 4th Mandal of Rig Ved

Vaatsyaayan
(1) Kaam Sootra (first book on sexual relations)
(2) Nyaaya Sootra Bhaashya - based on the book "Nyaaya Sootra" written by Gautam Buddha in 2nd century BC.

Varaahmihir
(1) Brihat Jaatak
(2) Brihat Sanhitaa
(3) Panch Saiddhaantikaa
(4) Yog Yaatraa

Vararuchi
(1) Sinhaasan Dwatrinshikaa (32 stories of the throne - Sinhaasan Batteesee)
(2) Kanth Bharan (necklace)
(3) Chaarumatee
(4) Neeti Ratn
(5) Nirukt Samuchchaya a commentary on the Nirukt of Yaska;
(6) Pushp Sootra, a Prati-shaakhya of the Saam Ved;
(7) A Lexicon
(8) An Alankaar work.

Vashishth
Yog Vashishth

Vigyaaneshwar -
(1) Mitaakshar - commentary on Yaagyavalkya Smriti

Vishaakhdatt (800 AD)
(1) Mudraa Raakshas (drama about Chandragupt)
(2) Devee Chandragupt

Vishnu Sharmaa
(1) Panchtantra - many stories. one entwined in another.

Yagyeshwar
(1) Prabandh Chintaamani

Yashodharaa
Commentary on Kaam Sootra


Tidbit
There was a Sanskrit poet whose first two poetry collections were rejected by the court poets of King Vikramaaditya. Ultimately he had to reduce his own IQ level by eating cakes made of black grams flour (Udad kee daal in Hindi) before writing the 3rd poetic collection at the level of comprehension of the Court Poets of the King who nevertheless had to eat Til Ke Laddoo to increase their IQ level to comprehend it.

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 06/10/13