Discovery of a Rare Manuscript
By Chatur Bhuj Das Chaturvedi
Summary
Discovery of a Rare Manuscript reports the finding of Sahaj Sanehī, a Braj Bhāṣā manuscript attributed to Mohan Kavi and dated to Vikram Samvat 1667 during Emperor Jahangir’s reign. The 43-page work, written in five different hands, suggests multiple copying or revisions. Mohan Kavi, identified as a court poet and resident of Mathura, composed devotional verses praising an omnipresent beloved and blending nirguṇa and saguṇa concepts. Opening lines invoke Sahaj Sanehī (innate love) as a manifestation of the divine and allude to contemporaries like Jahangir and Akbar, indicating a fusion of spiritual and historical themes. The discovery is significant because Braj Bhāṣā, though widely used in Krishnaite poetry, rarely appears in court contexts; this manuscript hints at vernacular literary patronage in Mughal courts. Its language, metre and imagery may reveal intersections between Bhakti devotion and imperial culture. The article urges scholars to study the manuscript to better understand early modern Hindi literature, the life of Mohan Kavi, and the cultural milieu of Jahangir’s court."
Conclusion
The note concludes that the Sahaj Sanehī manuscript, a Braj Bhāṣā work by Mohan Kavi associated with Jahangir’s court, enriches our understanding of Mughal-era vernacular literature. Further analysis of its themes and historical references could illuminate the interplay between courtly patronage and devotional expression in early modern India.