About the Book Among the works on literary criticism from Kerala, the Kavyollāsa an independent paraphrase of the Kavya prakāśa of Mammața stands foremost. Earlier treatises of Sanskrit rhetoricians were argumentative Nilakantha; the author has attempted to epitomize the principles of poetics in simple verses with suitable illustrations. Though mainly conceived as redaction of the Kavya prakāśa for the benefit of the youngsters, the author has made it a critical and comparative evaluation of the whole field of poetics. This important work, produced in the first half of the sixteenth century A.D., remains unpublished and almost went out of vogue for the paucity of the manuscripts. The present attempt is to bring a critical edition with a study based on available material.
About the Author Dr. C. Sukumaran (11, October, 1946) obtained his Masters Degree in Sanskrit Sahitya from the University of Kerala in 1969 and Ph.D. in Sanskrit from University in 1992.
The same He began his teaching career at St. Peter's College, Kolenchery in the year 1969. In 1970 he joined Sri Kerala. Varma College, Trichur.
Soon he joined the collegiate service of the Government of Kerala in 1971 and served in the Sanskrit College at Pattambi and Trippunithura. He was elevated as Professor in 1996. After a long and distinguished teaching career he retired from service in March 2002.
He has to his credit several research papers published in journals like Pūrṇatrayi. At present he is settled in Cochin.
Foreword The Kavyollasa of Nilakantha (first half of 16th century) published now for the first time is an independent paraphrase or rather a redaction of the Kavyaprakasa of Mammata is composed with a view to introducing the important principles of poetics to youngsters. Written in simple Sanskrit verse and provided with example the work gives a comprehensive idea of the field of Alankara sastra before the advent of Jagannatha Pandita and Appayya Diksita. The work is divided into five sections called Unmesas, Historians of Kerala Sanskrit Literature have praised the attempt of the author in presenting the topics is a clear cut manner. For this the author has added his own illustrative verses.
Preface The Kavollasa of Tirumangalattu Nilakantha, who flourished in Kerala in the first half of the sixteenth century A.D., is one of the foremost treatises on poetics composed by an author from this region. Though conceived mainly as a redaction of the Kavyaprakāśa of Mammața, for the benefit of the youngsters, the author has made it a critical and comparative evaluation of the whole field of poetics before the advent of stalwarts like Jagannatha Pandita and Appayyadikṣita. This important work remained unpublished and almost went out of vogue since manuscripts were not at all available. The present attempt is to bring a critical edition of the work with a critical study.
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