13 Ten types of Sanskrit Drama
R. Thiagarajan
1. Types of Sanskrit Dramas
Dramas in Sanskrit are called Rupakas since the events and sentiments dealt with in the play are visibly represented in the person of the actors.Ten types of Rupakas are mentioned by Bharata They are Nataka, Prakarana, Bhana,Prahasana, Dima, Vyayoga, Samavakara, Veethi, Anka and Ihamrga.Each differing from the other in the nature of plot, the hero, the major sentiment depicted and also the number of acts they contain
The principal variety is nataka that consists of five to ten acts and deals with a well known story (prakyaata) depicting the sentiment sringara, vira or karuna.
1. 1 Nataka
The Nataka type or the principal lay, is to be based generally on a celebrated theme which is already available (such as the history of Rama) for its plot.. The hero is the king or the god like characters. It should be written in an elaborate style. It should be full of noble sentiments. It should contain all the five ‘sandhis’of the plot. The main sentiment is love as in the Shakuntala, heroism as in the Venisamhara or pathos as in the Uttararamacarita, ‘The number of acts varies from five to ten.
1.2 Prakarana
The Prakarana type of the plays has the theme invented by the dramatist. It should resemble the Nataka in the number of acts as well as in other respects.The plot must be founded on some mundane or human story. Love should be the principal sentiment. Anyone other than a prince is the hero. He may be a Brahmin as in the Mricchakatika, or a minister as in the Malatimadhava. He must be firm and mild( Dheera prashantha). Anyone including a courtesan is the heroine. The number of acts is ten The Mricchakatika and the Malatimadhava represent this type.
1.3 Bhana
The Bhana is an one act play with the life of a rogue for its theme. It should consist of variety of incidents and the plot must be invented by the poet. Heroism or love may be the dominant sentiment. Music dance and others feature this type of drama which is purely in the form of a monologue. It should contain only the opening and concluding Sansdhis (Juncture). The Shringarabhushana of Vamanabhattabana illustrates this type.
1.4 Prahasana
The Prahasana is also an one act play, a farce filled with comic scenes. It represents reprobate characters and the story is invented by the poet. The comic sentiment dominates. The Mattavilasaprhasana of Mahendravikraman,Bhagavadajjukiya of Bodhayana represent this type.
1.5 Dima
The Dima has four acts describing the magic feats of supernatural beings. It is founded on some celebrated story. The plot is well known. Gods, demons, semi-divine beings and serpents take part; The dominant sentiment is anyone other than love and comic. Primarily Roudra is appreciable. The Tripuravijaya of Vatsaraja belongs to this type.
1.6 Vyayoga
The Vyayoga is a one act with a traditional plot with a well known story and a boasting or a haughty hero (veeroddhata). It should contain few females. It is to contain battle scenes which do not rise on account of a woman. The sentiments other than love and comic may dominate; the Saugandhikaharana of Visvanatha illustrates this type.
1.7 Samavakara
The Samavakara has three or four acts having a traditional theme describing battles. The main sentiment is to be heroic. Gods and demons take part in it. The Samudramathana of Vatsaraja serves as an illustration of this type.
1.8 Anka
The Anka, or utsrishtanka is an one act play describing lamentations with pathos( Karuna) as its dominant sentiment. The Unmattaraghava of Bhaskara represents this type.
1.9 Ihamrga
Ihamrga has four acts with a god as the hero. It should be founded on a mixed story partly popular and partly invented. According to some it should have six heroes. It derives its name from this, that the hero seeks (ihate) a divine female, who is unattainable as a deer (Mrga). Forcible abduction is to be described avoiding actual fighting. The Rukminiharana of Vatsaraja belongs to this type.
1.10 Veethi
The Veethi is an one act play with two or three characters with love as the main sentiment. It is so called because it forms as a garland (Vithi) of various sentiments. It is supposed to contain thirteen angas or peculiar properties.. e. g., the Premabhirama of Ravipati.
2. Number of Uparupakas
The Sahityadarpana describes eighteen kinds of dramas which are designated as Uparupakas. The Agnipurana mentions seventeen minor kinds of dramas in addition to the ten Rupakas. The Uparupakas were bhavatmaka or dependent on emotions.
2.1 Uparupakas
Uparupakas are the minor types of Sanskrit dramas. It comprises music, dance drama and bodily gesticulation. The Bhavaprakasana gives an elaborate description of twenty minor kinds of dramas which are styled Uparupakas. While the Rupakas are considered to be major forms of drama (natya), the Uparupakas (dance compositions) are minor forms of drama. In Uparupakas Natika and Sattaka are prominent.
A Natika resembles a Nataka in many ways. It has more women characters. Love is the dominant sentiment. It has only four acts. The Ratnavali of Harshadeva belongs to this type.
The Sattaka is written in prakrit but for the language it is like Natika. Karpuramanjari of Rajasekhara represents this type.
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List of Uparupakas mentioned by Abhinava bharati, Sarasvatikanthabharana, Sringaraprakasa, Dasarupaka and Natyadarpana and are mostly known only by name.
Natika is of two kinds. Natika pure and Prakaranika differing little from the nataka and prakarana. E.g. Ratnavali
Trotaka – in five, seven, eight or nine acts ; the plot should be founded on the story of a demigod,and the Vidushaka or jester should be introduced into every act.
E.g. Vikramorvasi;
Goshti, Sattaka, Natyaraasaka, Prasthana, Ullaapya,Kaavya, Prenkana, Rasaka, Sallaapaka, Sragidita, shilpaka, Vilaasikaa, Durmallika, Prakaranee, Halleesa,Maanikaa, Parijatalata, Kalpavalli,Dombikaa,Maana
The following Chart shows the details of ten types of Drama
Web links
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viswanatha_Kaviraja
- https://archive.org/details/SahityaDarpana
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavabhuti
- www.wilbourhall.org/sansknet/Sahityam/sringaraprakasa/index.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni_Purana
- https://archive.org/details/Dasarupaka