Bharatpedia

Harivamsa: Difference between revisions

Article Talk

Harivamsa (edit)

Revision as of 13:22, 24 September 2022

4,287 bytes removed ,  24 September 2022
no edit summary
>The Witty Warrior
(Minor edit.)
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Important work of Sanskrit literature}}
{{Short description|Work of Sanskrit literature}}
{{Distinguish|Harivamsa Purana}}
{{Distinguish|Harivamsa Purana}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
Line 6: Line 6:
{{Hindu scriptures}}
{{Hindu scriptures}}
{{stack end}}
{{stack end}}
{{Italic title}}
[[File:Parashurama leads Krishna and Balarama toward Mount Gomanta.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|[[Parashurama]] leads [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]] toward Mount Gomanta. Miniature from a ''Harivamsha'' series ascribed to [[Purkhu of Kangra]]. [[Kangra State|Kangra]], c. 1800-1815. [[Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh]]]]
[[File:Harivamsa, Krishna's epic story, Mahabharata, Sanskrit, Devanagari.jpg|thumb|A manuscript of Harivamsha.]]
The '''''Harivamsa''''' ({{Lang-sa|हरिवंश}} {{IAST|''Harivamśa''}}, literally "the genealogy of [[Hari]]")<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Asian arts - Sanskrit: epic and didactic literature (400 bc–ad 1000) {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/South-Asian-arts/Sanskrit-epic-and-didactic-literature-400-bc-ad-1000 |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> is an important work of [[Sanskrit literature]], containing 16,374 [[shlokas]], mostly in the ''[[anustubh]]'' [[Metre (poetry)|metre]]. The text is also known as the ''Harivamsa Purana.'' This text is believed to be a ''khila'' (appendix or supplement) to the [[Mahabharata]]<ref name=mahabharata>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs01002.htm The Mahabharata in Sanskrit: Book I: Chapter 2] in sacred-texts.com website</ref> and is traditionally ascribed to [[Veda Vyasa|Vyasa]]. The most celebrated commentary of the ''Mahabharata'' by [[Neelakantha Chaturdhara]], the ''Bharata Bhava Deepa'' also covers the ''Harivamsa''. According to a traditional version of the [[Mahabharata]], the ''Harivamsa'' is divided into two ''parvas'' (books) and 12,000 verses.<ref>Mahabharata 1.2.377-378 (Bombay edition); M.N. Dutt (trans.) [https://archive.org/stream/aproseenglishtr00duttgoog#page/n36/mode/2up Adi Parva], p 21.</ref> These are included with the eighteen ''parvas'' of the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name=mahabharata/> The Critical Edition has three ''parvas'' and 5,965 verses.<ref>Debroy, B. (2016) ''Harivansha''. Gurgaon: Penguin Books India, "Introduction"</ref>


The '''''Harivamsa''''' ({{Lang-sa|हरिवंश}}; {{IAST3|Harivaṃśa}}, literally "the lineage of [[Hari]]") also known as '''''Harivamsa Purana'''''  is an important work of [[Sanskrit literature]], containing 16,374 [[shlokas]], mostly in the ''[[anustubh]]'' [[Metre (poetry)|metre]]. This text is believed to be a ''khila'' (appendix or supplement) to the [[Mahabharata]]<ref name=mahabharata>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs01002.htm The Mahabharata in Sanskrit: Book I: Chapter 2] in sacred-texts.com website</ref> and is traditionally ascribed to [[Veda Vyasa|Vyasa]]. The most celebrated commentary of the ''Mahabharata'' by [[Neelakantha Chaturdhara]], the ''Bharata Bhava Deepa'' also covers the ''Harivamsa''. According to a traditional version of the [[Mahabharata]], the ''Harivamsa'' is divided into two ''parvas'' (books) and 12,000 verses.<ref>Mahabharata 1.2.377-378 (Bombay edition); M.N. Dutt (trans.) [https://archive.org/stream/aproseenglishtr00duttgoog#page/n36/mode/2up Adi Parva], p 21.</ref> The Critical Edition has three ''parvas'' and 5,965 verses.<ref>Debroy, B. (2016) ''Harivamsa''. Gurgaon: Penguin Books India, "Introduction"</ref>
The Adi Parva of describes the creation of the cosmos and the legendary history of the kings of the Solar and Lunar dynasties leading up to the birth of [[Krishna]]. Vishnu Parva recounts the history of Krishna up to the events prior to the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name=mw426>Maurice Winternitz (1981), History of Indian Literature, Vol. 1, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-0836408010}}, pages 426-431</ref> Bhavishya Parva, the third book, includes two alternate creation theories, hymns to Shiva and Vishnu and provides a description of the [[Kaliyuga|Kali Yuga]].<ref>Maurice Winternitz (1981), History of Indian Literature, Vol. 1, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-0836408010}}, pages 432-435</ref> While the ''Harivamsa'' has been regarded as an important source of information on the origin of [[Vishnu]]'s incarnation Krishna, there has been speculation as to whether this text was derived from an earlier text and what its relationship is to the [[Brahma Purana]], another text that deals with the origins of Krishna.<ref>Ruben 115.</ref>


The Adi Parva describes the creation of the cosmos and the legendary history of the kings of the Solar and Lunar dynasties leading up to the birth of [[Krishna]]. Vishnu Parva recounts the history of Krishna up to the events prior to the ''Mahabharata''.<ref name=mw426>Maurice Winternitz (1981), History of Indian Literature, Vol. 1, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-0836408010}}, pages 426-431</ref> Bhavishya Parva, the third book, includes two alternate creation theories, hymns to Shiva and Vishnu and provides a description of the [[Kaliyuga|Kali Yuga]].<ref>Maurice Winternitz (1981), History of Indian Literature, Vol. 1, Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-0836408010}}, pages 432-435</ref> While the ''Harivamsa'' has been regarded as an important source of information on the origin of [[Vishnu]]'s incarnation Krishna, there has been speculation as to whether this text was derived from an earlier text and what its relationship is to the [[Brahma Purana]], another text that deals with the origins of Krishna.<ref>Ruben 115.</ref>
==Chronology==


Panchalakṣaṇa tradition, that is, the five marks of the [[Purana]] corpus one of which is the ''{{IAST|vaṃśa}}'' genealogy, and stories about the life of Krishna as a herdsman.
{{stack begin | float = left}}
{{Location map | India Gujarat
| alt  = Dwarka is on sea coast
| float = left
| caption =
| label = Dwarka
| lat_deg = 22.23
| lon_deg = 68.97
}}
[[File:Dwarka1.jpg|thumb|left|230px|[[Dwarka]] is the setting for many chapters in the ''Harivamsa''.<ref>Manmatha Nath Dutt, [https://archive.org/stream/Vishnupurana-English-MnDutt#page/n15/mode/2up Vishnu Purana], Harivamsa (1896), pages 283-286</ref> The city is described as near the sea, in modern era [[Gujarat]]; a painting of the city in the 19th century (lower).]]
{{stack end}}
 
The bulk of the text is derived from two traditions, the {{IAST|pañcalakṣaṇa}} tradition, that is, the five marks of the [[Purana]] corpus one of which is the ''{{IAST|vaṃśa}}'' genealogy, and stories about the life of Krishna as a herdsman.


The text is complex, containing layers that go back to the 1st or 2nd centuries BCE. The origin of this appendix is not precisely known but it is apparent that it was a part of the ''Mahabharata'' by the 1st century CE because "the poet [[Aśvaghoṣa|Ashvaghosha]] quotes a couple of verses, attributing them to the ''Mahabharata'', which are now only found in the ''Harivamsa''" (Datta 1858).
The text is complex, containing layers that go back to the 1st or 2nd centuries BCE. The origin of this appendix is not precisely known but it is apparent that it was a part of the ''Mahabharata'' by the 1st century CE because "the poet [[Aśvaghoṣa|Ashvaghosha]] quotes a couple of verses, attributing them to the ''Mahabharata'', which are now only found in the ''Harivamsa''" (Datta 1858).


[[Edward Washburn Hopkins]] considers the ''Harivamsa'' the latest parva of the ''Mahabharata''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} Hazra has dated the Purana to the 4th century CE on the basis of the description of the [[rasa lila]] in it. According to him, the ''[[Visnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' belong to the 5th century CE and 6th century CE respectively. According to Deekshit, the date of the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' is 3rd century CE.  When we compare the biography of Krishna, the account of Raji, and some other episodes as depicted in the {{IAST|Harivaṃśa}}, it appears to be anterior to the former. Therefore, the {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} and the {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}} can be dated to at least the 3rd century CE.
[[Edward Washburn Hopkins]] considers the ''Harivamsa'' the latest parva of the ''Mahabharata''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} Hazra has dated the Purana to the 4th century CE on the basis of the description of the [[rasa lila]] in it. According to him, the ''[[Visnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' belong to the 5th century CE and 6th century CE respectively. According to Dikshit, the date of the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' is 3rd century CE.  When we compare the biography of Krishna, the account of Raji, and some other episodes as depicted in the {{IAST|Harivaṃśa}}, it appears to be anterior to the former. Therefore, the {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} and the {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}} can be dated to at least the 3rd century CE.


By its style and contents, the {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} appears to be anterior to the {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} and {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}}. The verses quoted by [[Asvaghosa]] belong to this parva. On this basis, we can safely assume the {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} (except for the later interpolations) to be at least as old as the 1st century CE.
By its style and contents, the {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} appears to be anterior to the {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} and {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}}. The verses quoted by [[Asvaghosa]] belong to this parva. On this basis, we can safely assume the {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} (except for the later interpolations) to be at least as old as the 1st century CE.


==Editions==
==Editions==
The {{IAST|Harivamśa}} is available in two editions. The vulgate text of the {{IAST|Harivamśa}} has total 271 {{IAST|adhyāya}}s (chapters), divided into three ''parvas'', {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} (55 chapters), {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} (81 chapters) and {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}} (135 chapters). The Critical Edition or CE was edited by Parashuram Lakshman Vaidya, and published in 1969, with an additional large volume of Appendices in 1971 (Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute). It is around a third (118 chapters in 6073 slokas) of this vulgate edition. Like the vulgate, the chapters in the CE are divided into three parvas, {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} (chapters 1-45), {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} (chapters 46-113) and {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}} (chapters 114 -118). Vaidya suggests that even the CE represents an expanded text and proposes that the oldest form of {{IAST|Hariva śa}} probably began with chapter 20 (which is where ''[[Agni Purana]]'' 12 places its start) and must have ended with chapter 98 of his text.<ref>[{{IAST|Harivaṃśa}} 1969-71: 785, XXX and 795]</ref> The Kannada translation, based on the Gita Press Gorahkpur edition of Harivamsha, has 318 chapters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harivamsha |url=http://www.vyasaonline.com/harivamsha/#Structure_and_Summary |website=vyasaonline.com |access-date=2021-03-01}}</ref>


==Contents==
The {{IAST|Harivamśa}} is available in three editions. The vulgate text of the {{IAST|Harivamśa}} has total 271 {{IAST|adhyāya}}s (chapters), divided into three ''parvas'', {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} (55 chapters), {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} (81 chapters) and {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}} (135 chapters). The traditional edition contains 12000 shlokas (verses) 2 sub-parvas, the Harivamsa Parva (187 chapters) and the Bhavishya Parva (48 chapters) with a total of 235 chapters. The Critical Edition or CE (1969–71, Ed. P.L.Vaidya) is around a third (118 chapters in 6073 slokas) of this vulgate edition. Like the vulgate, the chapters in the CE are divided into three parvas, {{IAST|Harivaṃśa parva}} (chapters 1-45), {{IAST|Viṣṇu parva}} (chapters 46-113) and {{IAST|Bhaviṣya parva}} (chapters 114 -118). Vaidya suggests that even the CE represents an expanded text and proposes that the oldest form of {{IAST|Harivamśa}} probably began with chapter 20 (which is where ''[[Agni Purana]]'' 12 places its start) and must have ended with chapter 98 of his text.<ref>[{{IAST|Harivaṃśa}} 1969-71: 785, XXX and 795]</ref>
The last chapter of the text gives a brief description of the subjects narrated in it as follows:


===Harivaṃśa Parva===
==Translations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Chapter
! Content
|-
| 1-3
|[[Janamejaya]] asks [[Vaisampayana]] to narrate the genealogy of the [[Vrishni]] race from the beginning. Vaisampayana begins with the description of the origin of the creation.
|-
| 4-6
| The story of Prithu, the son of Vena
|-
| 7-8
| The description of the reigns of the [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manus]]
|-
| 9-10
| Origin of the dynasty of [[Shraddhadeva Manu|Vaivasvata]]
|-
| 11
| The history of Dhundumara
|-
| 12
| The story of Galava
|-
| 13-15
| The history of the family of [[Ikshvaku]] and [[King Sagara|Sagara]]
|-
| 16-24
|''Pitrkalpa'' (the beautification of the manes); includes the story of Brahmadatta and his seven sons
|-
| 25-27
| The story of Soma, Budha and Pururava
|-
| 27-28
| The dynasty of Amavasu and Raji
|-
| 29
| The race of Kshatravriddha and the legend of Divodasa
|-
| 30
| The legend of Yayati
|-
| 31-32
| The family of Puru
|-
| 33-39
| The history of the Yadavas; includes the tale of Syamantaka gem (chapters 38-39)
|-
| 40-41
| The history of the incarnations of Visnu
|-
| 42-48
| The Tarakamaya battle between the gods & the titans
|-
| 49-52
| The plea of Brahma and Goddess Earth
|-
| 53-55
| The partial incarnation of the gods
|}


===Viṣṇu Parva===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Chapter
! Content
|-
| 1
| Narada's warning to Kamsa
|-
| 2-3
| Kamsa gives orders to guard Devaki and kill all children born to her
|-
| 4-5
| The birth of Krishna and his exchange for the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda; description of the cowherds’ camp
|-
| 6-7
| The overturning of the cart; killing of Putana; uprooting of the two Arjuna trees
|-
| 8-10
| Migration to Vrindavana 
|-
| 11-12
| The victory over Kaliya
|-
| 13-14
| The slaying of Dhenuka the donkey and Pralamba
|-
| 15-19
| The lifting of Mount Govardhana in defiance of Indra
|-
| 20
| The Rasa dance
|-
| 21
| The slaying of Arishta, the bull
|-
| 22-23
| The Council of Kamsa
|-
| 24
| The slaying of Keshi, the steed
|-
| 25-28
| The journey of Krishna and Samkarsana to Kamsa’s court accompanied by Akrura
|-
| 29-30
| The death of the elephant Kuvalayapida; the slaying of Chanura and Andhra; the death of Kamsa
|-
| 31-32
| The lament of Kamsa’s wives; the funeral of Kamsa and the consecration of Ugrasena on the throne of Mathura
|-
| 33
| The education of Krishna and Balarama under Sandipani and the rescue of his children
|-
| 34-36
| The attack on Mathura by Jarasandha of Magadha and his defeat
|-
| 37-38
| The discourse of Vikadru
|-
| 39-42
| The meeting of Krishna and Balarama with Parasurama; the ascension on Mount Gomanta; the burning of Gomanta
|-
| 43-44
| The end of Srigala
|-
| 45
| The return to Mathura
|-
| 46
| Samkarsana dragging the Yamuna river with his ploughshare
|-
| 47-54
| The swayamvara of Rukmini and the conspiracy of Jarasandha and his allies
|-
| 55-56
| The migration from Mathura to Dwarka
|-
| 57
| Kalayavana’s attack on Krishna and his death
|-
| 58
| The foundation of Dwarka
|-
| 59-61
| Krishna’s abduction of and marriage with Rukmini and their progeny
|-
| 62
| The exploits of Balarama
|-
| 63-64
| The slaying of Naraka
|-
| 65-76
| The stealing of [[Parijata|Parijata tree]] from Indra’s heaven
|-
| 77-81
| On the observance of Punyakavidhi, i.e. ceremonies, celebrations and vows by means of which a wife can make her body pleasant to her husband and ensure his favour to herself
|-
| 82-85
| The slaying of the demons of Shatpura
|-
| 86-87
| The slaying of Andhaka by Mahadeva
|-
| 88-89
| The sports of the Yadavas in ocean
|-
| 90
| The abduction of Bhanumati
|-
| 91-97
| The marriage of Pradyumna and Prabhavati.
|-
| 98-100
| The rebuilding of Dwarka; the entry into Dwarka; the entry into the hall
|-
| 101-102
| The discourse of Narada
|-
| 101-102
| The tradition of the dynasty of Vrishnis
|-
| 104-109
| The legend of Pradyumna and the slaying of Sambara
|-
| 110
| The tale of Samba
|-
| 111-115
| Krishna recovers the four dead sons of a brahman
|-
| 111-115
| Krishna’s fight with Bana and the marriage of Bana’s daughter, Usa with Aniruddha, the grandson of Krishna
|}
<small>† These pieces definitely appear to be interpolations into the text.</small>
===Bhaviṣya Parva===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Chapter
! Content
|-
| 1-2
| The genealogy of Janamejaya and his performance of an aswamedha
|-
| 3-4
| The characteristics of Kaliyuga
|-
| 5
| The reconciliation between Janamejaya and his queen, following Indra’s intervention in the aswamedha
|-
| 6
| The formal benediction
|-
| 7-28
| The origin of creation from the lotus
|-
| 29-72
| The account of the boar, the man-lion and the dwarf incarnations of Visnu
|-
| 73-90
| Krishna’s journey to Kailasa
|-
| 91-102
| The slaying of Paundraka
|-
| 103-129
| The tale of Hamsa and Dimbhaka
|-
| 130-131
| Krishna meets the cowherds of Vrindavana on Mount Govardhana and returns to Dwaraka
|-
| 132
| The religious merit of reading the Mahabharata and the Harivaṃśa
|-
| 133
| The legend of the destruction of the three heavenly fortresses of the demons by Shiva
|-
| 134
| A short summary of the contents of Harivaṃśa
|-
| 135
| An enumeration of the religious merits that one acquires by hearing this Purana
|}
<small>† This suggests that at some point of time this chapter used to close the text (which is what the CE does, i.e. the narrative comes to an end at this chapter).</small>
==Translations==
[[File:Dwarka.jpg|thumb|250px|City of [[Dwarka]] in Harivamsa, as painted for the Mughal emperor [[Akbar]]]]
[[File:Dwarka.jpg|thumb|250px|City of [[Dwarka]] in Harivamsa, as painted for the Mughal emperor [[Akbar]]]]


The ''Harivamsa'' has been translated in many Indian vernacular languages; [[English language|English]] (Manmatha Nath Dutt, 1897); [[French language|French]] (M. A. Langlois, 1834–35); and other languages.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027095422/http://geocities.com/harindranath_a/maha/transm.html  Translations of the Harivamsa]</ref>
The ''Harivamsa'' has been translated in many Indian vernacular languages; The vulgate version containing 3 books and 271 chapters has not been translated into English yet. The only [[English language|English]] translation of the traditional version (2 sub-parvas (Harivamsa parva - 187 chapters and Bhavishya parva - 48 chapters, a total of 235 chapters) is by Manmatha Nath Dutt in 1897 and it is in the public domain. The critical edition has been translated into English twice so far. once in 2016 by [[Bibek Debroy]] and by Simon Brodbeck in 2019); [[French language|French]] (M. A. Langlois, 1834–35); and other languages.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027095422/http://geocities.com/harindranath_a/maha/transm.html  Translations of the Harivamsa]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 285: Line 48:


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==References==
==References==
Line 295: Line 58:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt The Harivasma] English translation by M. N. Dutt, 1897 (includes glossary)
*[http://www.mahabharata-resources.org/harivamsa/ Original Sanskrit text online with English translation]
*[http://www.mahabharata-resources.org/harivamsa/ Original Sanskrit text online with English translation]
*Manmatha Nath Dutt, [https://archive.org/stream/Vishnupurana-English-MnDutt#page/n15/mode/2up Vishnu Purana], English Translation of Book 2 of Harivamsa (1896)
*Manmatha Nath Dutt, [https://archive.org/stream/Vishnupurana-English-MnDutt#page/n15/mode/2up Vishnu Purana], English Translation of Book 2 of Harivamsa (1896)
*Alexandre Langlois, [https://archive.org/stream/harivansaouhist00langgoog#page/n6/mode/2up Harivansa: ou histoire de la famille de Hari], French Translation of Harivamsa (1834)
*Alexandre Langlois, [https://archive.org/stream/harivansaouhist00langgoog#page/n6/mode/2up Harivansa: ou histoire de la famille de Hari], French Translation of Harivamsa (1834)
*[http://www.vyasamadhwa.org/upanyasa/Harivamsha/ Discourse on Harvamsha] by Dr Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya
*[http://www.vyasamadhwa.org/upanyasa/Harivamsha/ Discourse on Harvamsha] by Dr Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya
{{Mahabharata}}
{{Mahabharata}}
{{Jainism Topics}}
{{Jainism Topics}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Hindu texts]]
[[Category:Hindu texts]]
Anonymous user
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/378617"