Nothing is known about him for certain. The name is probably a pen name. Based on what may be inferred from his writing, he was a very well-educated courtier whose audience consisted of young men in the lower nobility with plenty of leisure time and a fondness for amusing stories involving warriors and courtesans. He may also have been an orator/actor who developed his stories through performance and only later wrote them down. He is believed to have lived somewhere between the twelfth to fourteenth centuries AD.
The talesedit
Though often attributed to Bhavabhuti, the true origin of these tales is lost in antiquity. They appear to have been part of a large corpus of Kathā (narrative tales) about Vikramāditya that were first written down in Kashmir during the eleventh century. Several versions exist, the best-known being those by Śivadāsa and Jambhaladatta.[2]
In Śivadāsa's version, King Vikramāditya's kingdom is endangered by the machinations of a powerful necromancer. While planning what to do, he encounters a Vetala (a form of genie that inhabits and animates corpses). He asks for the Vetala's help. He is then told twenty-five stories, each of which end with a riddle he must solve to prove his wisdom and knowledge. After solving all the riddles, the genie helps him to vanquish his enemy.
The story is told in the Champu literary style, (a mixture of prose and verse), which suggests the possibility of Jain influence.
Referencesedit
^Published as The Five-and-Twenty Tales of the Genie, translated and with an introduction by Chandra Rajan, Penguin Classics, 2007. ISBN0-14-045519-1
^Jambhaladatta’s Version of the Vetālapañcavinśati; a critical Sanskrit text in transliteration, with an introduction, and English translation, by Murray Barnson Emeneau. New Haven, Conn. American Oriental Society, 1934.
February 11, 2024
Śivadāsa, author, best, known, versions, stories, from, vetālapañćavinśati, vetāla, tales, series, nīti, śāstras, tales, political, ethics, involving, semi, legendary, indian, king, vikramāditya, author, editnothing, known, about, certain, name, probably, name. Sivadasa was the author of one of the best known versions of stories from the Vetalapancavinsati or Vetala Tales a series of niti sastras tales of political ethics involving the semi legendary Indian king Vikramaditya 1 The author editNothing is known about him for certain The name is probably a pen name Based on what may be inferred from his writing he was a very well educated courtier whose audience consisted of young men in the lower nobility with plenty of leisure time and a fondness for amusing stories involving warriors and courtesans He may also have been an orator actor who developed his stories through performance and only later wrote them down He is believed to have lived somewhere between the twelfth to fourteenth centuries AD The tales editThough often attributed to Bhavabhuti the true origin of these tales is lost in antiquity They appear to have been part of a large corpus of Katha narrative tales about Vikramaditya that were first written down in Kashmir during the eleventh century Several versions exist the best known being those by Sivadasa and Jambhaladatta 2 In Sivadasa s version King Vikramaditya s kingdom is endangered by the machinations of a powerful necromancer While planning what to do he encounters a Vetala a form of genie that inhabits and animates corpses He asks for the Vetala s help He is then told twenty five stories each of which end with a riddle he must solve to prove his wisdom and knowledge After solving all the riddles the genie helps him to vanquish his enemy The story is told in the Champu literary style a mixture of prose and verse which suggests the possibility of Jain influence References edit Published as The Five and Twenty Tales of the Genie translated and with an introduction by Chandra Rajan Penguin Classics 2007 ISBN 0 14 045519 1 Jambhaladatta s Version of the Vetalapancavinsati a critical Sanskrit text in transliteration with an introduction and English translation by Murray Barnson Emeneau New Haven Conn American Oriental Society 1934 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sivadasa amp oldid 1150682702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
