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Some of the essays are centred
around Andhra Pradesh during the Satvahana and Chalukya rule.
The Nanaghat, Nashik and Talgunda inscriptions left behind by
the Satvahana dynasty show that Vedism, Saivism, Bhagvatism and
other Brahmanical cults and traditions flourished during this
period. The archaeological findings and literary sources like
Gathasaptasathi testifies this. The village folk of ancient
Andhra Pradesh was free from the domination of the priestly
class and complicated rituals. Their way of worship was very
simple. The path of bhakti occupied a higher place in the hearts
of people. Gathasaptsathi gives a detailed description of the
village life of the Satvahana dynasty.
In ancient
India dietics is a subject intimately connected with the welfare
of the kings. King Somadeva describes in his "Yasastilaka"
that king Yasogarh listens to an exposition of sound dietics by
his royal physician as a part of his daily activities. Somadeva
discusses the medicinal values of food with reference to the
nature of human body and changing environment. According to the
ayurvedic system of medicine, the human body consists of
panchamahabhutas or the five elements — namely, earth,
water, fire, wind and ether. These five elements are to be
substituted in the body by means of food and drinks. The
imbalance of these elements results in disease. This is the
reason why Somadeva like other ancient scholars and
philosophers, laid emphasis on sound dietics and exercise for
the welfare of the king; since the welfare of the whole country
is the summum bonum of his life.
The kings used
to enjoy their leisure time listening to different kathas.
King Somesvara of the Chalukya dynasty gives a detailed
description of kathavinoda in his treatise "Mansollasa."
Bharata’s
Natya Sastra is the earliest and systematic treatise on
aesthetics. The concept of eight rasas propounded by
Bharata influenced king Somesvara. It is stated that kathas are
of four types ekvartrika, divivarika, chaturmuka
and bahupurusa depending upon the number of singers.
The one whose voice is full of life, well versed in all ragas,
eloquent, capable of reading the passages clearly, possesses
knowledge of tala (beat), gita (lyric), and the katha
(story) should be invited by the king to sing kathas.
The Chalukyas
of Kalyani who ruled over the present Karnataka and Andhra
during the 11th and 12th centuries were great patrons of
painting besides architecture. The temples of Kolpaka,
Paccalasomeswara, Allahdurgh are some of silent witness of their
love for art. The technique of vajralepa is unique in the
history of Indian paintings. The vajralepa is used for the
preparation of the ground for the painting. King Somesvara gives
a method of preparation of the lepan. The skin of a
buffalo is cooked in milk till it becomes a soft paste like
butter. White clay and other dhatus called naga is
mixed with vajralepa and coated smoothly and evenly on the wall
three times before painting. The use of leather and milk in the
art of painting has been found in other countries like Egypt,
Rome, etc. even in modern period.
The author, as a Registering
Officer in the Archaeological Survey of India, discovered
several sites and temples of archaeological significance. The
book offers interesting reading for those who are into
ideological studies. The articles reflect the strength and
vitality of Indian culture.
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