Historical Development of Indian Music: A Critical Study c8.54

c8.54

During the times of Kohala, Yāṣṭika, and Mataṅga, the Gupta Rulers were in full power. It is said that the poet Kālidāsa flourished then, though there is a dispute among the historians regarding his date. Kālidāsa has given the *mūrcchanās* a very high place and during his time, the *mūrcchanās* of the *gāndhāra-grāma*, survived among the communities of Gandharva, Yakṣa and Kinnara. The *maṅgala-prābandha-gānas* were also in practice in his time, as they were in the pre-Christian era, but the special feature of the sacred *maṅgalagīti* of his time was that it was sung with one traditional *kaiśikī* and one regional *botta rāgas*. The tune or *rāga botta* evolved in the land of the Himālāyan Bhutiās i.e. the Bhotadeśas like Tibet, Bhutān, etc. From this it is understood that there was cultural and commercial link between India and Bhotadeśa. Many of the dramatic music and dances evolved during the time of Kālidāsa and they were *gītis* like *dvipadikā*, *jambhalikā*, *khaṇḍadhārā*, etc., and dances like *khuraka*, *khaṇḍaka*, *valantikā*, and *galitakā*, etc.