The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c12.94

c12.94

Of the more important of the Sanskrit treatises that are at present known to exist, some slight notice may be useful. The oldest of any is the Bhârata Nâtya S’astra by Bhârata Muni. This work is being translated by M. Grosset, of Lyons, who has procured and carefully compared several copies of the MSS., one of which is the property of the Royal Asiatic Society of London. The whole work is large, and consists of a great number of ādhyayas. The theory of music, of dancing, of the connection between music and the drama are treated of fully, as are also the various kinds of instruments. The antiquity of the lyric drama in India is most interesting. M. Grosset has published already the twenty-eighth ādhyaya of this work, containing the part relating to the theory of music, with a prefatory essay and copious explanations and notes, the results of his researches—a most valuable contribution to the study of ancient Eastern musical literature. The date of the Bhârata Nâtya S’astra is placed at some intermediate period from B.C. 200 to A.D. 100. An edition of this work has been printed, or partially so, at Poona recently. There is also a copy of the MSS. in the library of H.H. the Maharajah of Bikanîr.