The Problem of the Mahanataka

Summary

This extensive study delves into the enigmatic Sanskrit dramatic work known as the Mahānāṭaka or Mahānāṭaka. The author surveys the scattered references to this title in literary histories and catalogues, noting that while some scholars have described it as a grand play in two acts, others have suggested it may have been a shadow‑play or narrative recitation rather than a conventional drama. By examining surviving fragments and commentaries, the article argues that the Mahānāṭaka represents a transitional genre combining narrative description with occasional dialogue, perhaps performed with puppets or silhouettes. It discusses the themes portrayed—episodes from Hindu mythology and heroic lore—and compares them with later vernacular dramas. The paper also analyses related texts labelled Mahānāṭakam in various manuscripts and points out that some are collections of verses from different plays rather than a single coherent drama. An appendix provides parallel extracts from different recensions, illustrating variations and scribal interpolations. The author concludes that the Mahānāṭaka tradition influenced the development of narrative theatre and shadow‑plays in South Asia.