Ebook: Dohā-gīti-Kośa

Publisher: DD Malvania
Publication date: 1997
Number of pages: 77
ISBN: 979-462-883-2In the Siddha-Na'ha tradition (c. 8th cent. - 12 th cent.) connected with the latest phase of Indian Buddhism, Sarahapada (also known as Saroruhvajra and Rahulabhadra) was the leading figure among its pioneers, of his several works (most of them now available in Tibetan translation), the one generally called Doha-Kosa (the Treasury of Dohas) in Apabhrarhsa is well-known. As mentioned previously Haraprasad Shastri was the first to bring it to light in his 'Bauddha Gan О Doha' (1917) based on a single Manuscript. It contained some 40 Dohas of Saraha. Thereafter P.C. Bagchi published in 1942 the 'Dohakosa' on the basis of a new and better Manuscript. It has 112 Dohas of Saraha. In 1957 Rahul Sankrityayan published the 'Dohakosa' on the basis of a Manuscript which he acquired from the sa-Skya monestary of Tibet. According to him its kutila script can be dated in the 10th or 11th century. It contains 164 Dohas of Saraha (which is the same work which was titled as 'Dohakosa' earlier). Besides the 'Doha-kosa-giti' he has also given its old Tibetan translation (134 Dohas) and the Tibetan text of that translation and the translation of 14 other works of Saraha, besides some stray verses and songs of the latter. Sankrityayana has also given close Hindi renderings of most of these texts. His Introduction deals with the times, life and works of Saraha, his language, poetic merits and philosophy. Seven appendices that include Apabhramsa-Tibetan and Tibetan-Apabhramsa glossaries add to the value of this scholarly work that is of unusual excellence and a rich mine of otherwise inaccessible information.