MISCELLANY - Date of Rasakadambakallolini, a Commentary by Bhagavadd?sa on the Gitagovinda of Jayadeva-Between A.D. 1550 and 1600

Summary

The article determines the probable date of composition of Rasakadambakallolin?, a Sanskrit commentary by Bhagavadd?sa on Jayadeva�s G?tagovinda, and narrows it to between A.D. 1550 and 1600 (possibly extending to 1628). 1. Background Jayadeva, author of G?tagovinda, flourished between A.D. 1200�1300 and was a prot�g� of Lak?ma?a Sena (whose Gaya inscription is dated A.D. 1116). Numerous commentaries on G?tagovinda exist; this study focuses exclusively on Rasakadambakallolin? by Bhagavadd?sa. 2. Manuscripts and Catalogues The commentary is listed in Aufrecht�s Catalogus Catalogorum (CC I, 154; II, 31; III, 33) and described by Dr. Eggeling in the India Office Catalogue (No. 3871, 1904). Additional manuscripts are recorded by: H. Poleman (Census of Indic MSS. in U.S.A. and Canada, 1938). Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (B.O.R.I.), Poona (Nos. 345, 343, 344, and 45 across 1871�95). Adyar Library Catalogue, 1928. 3. Description of the Commentary Eggeling notes that Bhagavadd?sa�s commentary emphasizes poetic composition and rhetoric, drawing examples from the Bh?gavata Pur??a, ???g?ratilaka, K???akarn?m?ta, and similar works. 4. Influence and Geographical Spread G?tagovinda influenced: Deccan literature, notably ?i?up?lavadha by Bh?skarabha??a Borikar (ca. 1275�1320). Gujarati tradition, evidenced by ??r?gadeva�s stone inscription (A.D. 1291) borrowing verses from G?tagovinda. Kannada literature, through Aprameya ??stri�s ???g?raprak??ik? (c. 1750) and Cikka-Devar?ja�s G?ta-Gop?la (A.D. 1672�1704). 5. References within Rasakadambakallolin? The commentary cites numerous earlier works and authors, such as: Bh?gavata, Bharata, Amara, Vi?vaprak??a, Har?val?, K?vya-prak??a, Rasaratn?kara, Ras?r?ava-sudh?kara, Pa�cas?yaka (by Jyotiri?vara, A.D. 1324), Manoram?k?ra, and K???akar??m?ta. A notable reference to Rana Kumbhakar?a of Mewar (A.D. 1433�1469) in a B.O.R.I. manuscript dated A.D. 1628 confirms the commentary�s post-15th-century origin. 6. Chronological Analysis References to: Ras?r?ava-sudh?kara (A.D. 1330�1350, by Si?ghabh?p?la), Pa�cas?yaka (A.D. 1324, by Jyotiri?vara), Bhagavadd?sa�s citation of San?tana Gosv?min�s Bh?gavatabh?vanit?t?, dated A.D. 1542, ? establish A.D. 1400 as the lower bound and A.D. 1600�1628 as the upper bound. A mention of �Manoram?k?ra�, likely referring to Bha??oji D?k?ita, author of Prayoga-Manoram? and ?abdakaustubha (fl. A.D. 1560�1620), further supports this range. Gode concludes that Bhagavadd?sa probably composed Rasakadambakallolin? between A.D. 1575 and 1620, likely around A.D. 1600�1628, based on manuscript evidence and internal references. 7. Authorship and Identity The colophon of the commentary mentions: �Composed by ?r?mad Bhagavadd?sa, devoted to pleasing the devotees of God, at ?r? V?nd?vana.� No biographical details beyond his name and this location are known. Aufrecht records another author named Bhagavad?sa, who wrote Hindi commentaries (?r?bhagavad?s, pupil of D?modara, active around A.D. 1701*), but Gode does not establish their identity as the same person.