Sanskrit Anthologies

Sanskrit Anthologies have preserved the works of both lyric and gnomic poets which has been lost. They are comparatively of later date. However there is no means to determine the period of the compositions of these authors and poets. Among these anthologies the oldest apparently is that edited by Dr. F. W. Thomas as the Kavindravacanasarnuccayal that belongs to the twelfth century.

The sections on Lord Buddha and Avaloketesvara remind one its origin. However it contains the same material as the other texts. The verses are on a variety of subjects like love and other passions, conduct of life, practical wisdom and moral and political maxims. The poets who composed the 525 stanzas are later than 1000 A.D.

To the next century (1205) belongs the Saduktikarndmrta or Sukti-karnamrta, of Sridharadasa, son of Vatudasa. Both were both servants of Lakshmanasena of Bengal. It is an anthology that includes excerpts from 446 poets mainly of Bengal. This includes Gangadhara and five others who can be placed in the period 1050-1150. Jalhana who was the son of Laksmideva wrote the Subhasitamuktavali. Its arrangement is skilfully done and is valuable in its section on poets and poetry which gives us definite information on a number of authors.

One of the most famous anthologies is Sarngadhara written in 1363 by the son of Damodara. It is arranged in 163 sections and contains 4689 stanzas. With the help of Sarhgadhara-paddhati Vallabhadeva perhaps in the fifteenth century put together the Subhasitavali in 101 sections, giving 3527 stanzas of over 350 poets. To the fifteenth century belongs Srivara`s Subhdsitavali who was the son of Jonaraja. Jonaraja was a commentator who cites from more than 380 poets. Rupago-svarnin`s Padyavali contains verses in honour of Lord Krishna from a wide range of authors.

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