Logo

Brhaddesi is a landmark in Sangitasastra for more than one reason. It is the solitary text that forges a link between Natyasastra and Dattilam on the one hand and Abhinava Bharati on the other, the gap extending over more than five hundred years. Its direct influence on later texts like Sangita Ratnakara and its commentaries is obvious in various ways, be it nada from the Tantric stream or the etymology of various terms or the description of ragas. The fact that it is coeval with the emergence of the special style of Bhasya in various systems of philosophy has lent it a unique halo in the form of its scholastic style, indirect reference to quite a few systems of philosophy and incorporation of the Tantric tradition.

Speaking of Sangita, Brhaddesi is the first extant text to describe raga, to introduce Sarigama notation, to usher in a fresh approach towards Sruti, Svara, Grama, Murchana etc. and to establish the concept of Desi and its counterpart Marga.

The present publication presents the first critical edition of this well known, but almost inaccessible text, with variant readings, an English translation facing the original, textual notes and annotations.

Although the text is still incomplete, for want of the discovery of a manuscript, this edition will serve the purpose of study and research so far as it goes and the field covered is not small by any means.