Author: Anant Pai
Publisher: India Book House
Year: 2008
Language: Hindi
Pages: 320
ISBN/UPC (if available): N/A
Description
This Amar Chitra Katha set includes ten books titled as follows:
1.Kalidasa
2.Tansen
3.Jatak Kathayen - Banar Gathayen
4.Jataka kathayen - Murga Gathayen
5.Chatura Siromani Raman
6.Madatgar Birbal
7.Badu aur chutu ke Karnama
8.Jatak Kathyen - Gaj Gathaya
9.Jataka Kathayen - Siyar Ke Kathayen
10.Sona ke Guharobali Thali
1.KALIDASA
Kalidasa, the greatest poet of classical Sanskrit, is known only through his writings. His works tell us that he was probably a brahmin and a devotee of Shiva. Apart from this, there is no clue to his personal life. Even the names of his parents are not known, nor is the place of his birth. The mystery surrounding him has given rise to incredible legends about him which are current even today. Our script is based on one of these legends.
Kalidasa is the author of several great Sanskrit poetical works (or Mahakavyas) and plays for which he is justly famous-Raghuvamsha, Kumarasambhava, Meghaduta, Ritusmhara, Abhijnana Shakuntala, Vikramorvashiya and Malavika-Agnimitra.
These reveal that Kalidasa was a lover of nature and his descriptions suggest that he must have traveled widely. His poetry has the freshness and beauty of a mountain stream. He portrays women with tenderness. He exhibits a special love for Ujjayini in his writings and he probably knew it well.
Scholars are agreed that though all Kalidasa’s works have the stamp of genius, his play Abhijnana Shakuntala must be rated as his greatest work. Kalidasa today is regarded as one of the immortals of world literature taking his place beside Shakespeare and Goethe.
2. TANSEN
Tansen, who was a contemporary of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, is the symbol of the supreme achievements of Indian music. He was not only a great performer but he was also a great composer and musicologist.
The legends about Tansen's ability to start a fire with his singing of the Raga Deepak or bring down rains with the Raga Megh Malhar may not bear the scrutiny of science. But they certainly contain the seed of truth about the immense potentialities of music if evoked by one like Tansen.
3.JATAKA KATHAYEN - BANAR GATHAYEN
The Jatakas on which the present title is based is a collection of five hundred and fifty stories, included in the Pali canon. They are tales in which the life of Bodhisatva in his previous births is narrated. The Bodhisatva is one, who by performing virtuous, kind and intelligent acts, aspires to become a Buddha.
The present book is a collection of a few Jataka stories in which the bodhisattva is born as a monkey. We hope, in the words of Prof. Rhys Davids that we may still turn with appreciation to the ancient book of the Buddhist Jataka tales as a priceless record of the childhood of our race.
4.JATAKA KATHAYEN - MURGA GATHAYEN
5.CHATUR SHRIOMANI RAAMAN
The triumph of the little man over the mighty is a recurring theme in literature. Sometimes he does it with a sling and stone, but more often, like Tenali Raman, with nimble wit. He was a Telegu poet and the court jester of Vijayanagara. Tenali Raman was the Birbal of the South and many stories which have passed into folklore, are attributed to him. Some of these are obviously invented to show his ready wit.
6.MADADGAR BIRBAL
7. BADDU AUR CHHOTU KE KARNAME
Children love to hear stories –so do adults, if the story has relevance to their lives. It is this love which has kept alive for generations stories that have been handed down by an oral tradition.
Every time a story is retold it acquires a new colour and a new dimension. The grandmother who heard a story as a little girl from her grandmother will relish telling it to her grandchildren. A traveler from a distant land, who happens to hear a story during his journey, will later tell it to his own people, modifying it or adding to it little details to suit the change of place and context. This is how stories travel from one part of the world to another and why some stories of Aesop and Vishnu Sharma who wrote the Panchatantra, have much in common.
This Amar Chitra katha retells one of the most popular folk-takes of Bengal.
8.JATAKA KATHYEN - GAJ GATHAYEN
All living creatures die to be born again, so the Hindus believe. The Buddha was no exception. Legend has it that several lifetimes as a Bodhisattva went into the making of the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
The Bodhisattva came in many forms – man, monkey, deer, elephant, lion. Whatever his mortal body, he spread the message of justice and wisdom, tempered with compassion. This wisdom, the wisdom of right thinking and right living, is preserved in the Jataka tales.
Amar Chitra Katha has already brought to the reader Jataka monkey stories and Jataka deer stories. In this issue we bring you elephant tales that will teach some of the truths that the bodhisattva experienced in his numerous lives on earth.
9.JATAKA KATHAYEN - SIYAR KE KATHAYEN
All living creatures die to be born again, so the Hindus believe. The Buddha was no exception. Legend hs it that several lifetimes as a Bodhisattva went into the making of the Buddha, the Enlightened one.
The Bodhisvattva came in many forms -- man, monkey, deer, elephant, lion. Whatever his mortal body, he spread the message of justice and wisdom, tempered with compassion. This wisdom, the wisdom of right thinking and right living, is preserved in the Jataka tales.
10.SONA KE GUHAROBALI THALI
Contents
1.Kalidasa
2.Tansen
3.Jatak Kathayen - Banar Gathayen
4.Jataka kathayen - Murga Gathayen
5.Chatura Siromani Raman
6.Madatgar Birbal
7.Badu aur chutu ke Karnama
8.Jatak Kathyen - Gaj Gathaya
9.Jataka Kathayen - Siyar Ke Kathayen
10.Sona ke Guharobali Thali