Brhaddesi of Sri Matanga Muni (Vol.I)

Brhaddesi is a landmark in Sangitasastra for more than one reason. It is

the solitary text that forges a link between Natyasastra and Dattilam on

the one hand and Abhinava Bharati on the other, the gap extending over more

than five hundred years. Its direct influence on later texts like Sangita

Ratnakara and its commentaries is obvious in various ways, be it nada from

the Tantric stream or the etymology of various terms or the description of

ragas. The fact that it is co-eval with the emergence of the special style

of bhasya in various systems of philosophy has lent it a unique halo in the

form of its scholastic style, indirect reference to quite a few systems of

philosophy and incorporation of the Tantric tradition.

The present publication presents the first critical edition of this

well known, but almost inaccessible text, with variant readings, an English

translation facing the original, textual notes and annotations. Although

the text is still incomplete, for want of the discovery of a manuscript,

this edition will serve the purpose of study and research so far as it goes

and the field covered is not small by any means.

Review(s)

“… a major attempt in providing much valuable data on the contemporary

performance practicea and linkage one could search for, between one period

of the history of Indian Music with that followed. A most valuable

publication for music historians a

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