Details

Standardized Title:

Saundaryalaharī

Subjects:

Devotional literature, Sanskrit.
Hindu hymns, Sanskrit.
Hinduism -- Prayers and devotions.
Indian philosophy.
Vedanta.
Tantrism.
Krishna (Hindu deity).
Siva (Hindu deity).
Śakti (Hindu deity).

Form/Genre:

Poems.
Prayers.
Hymns.
Manuscripts, Sanskrit.
Manuscripts.
Devotional literature.

Language:

In Sanskrit (Devanāgarī)

Biography/History:

8th-century Sanskrit philosopher known primarily for his work on Vedanta philosophy, is also known for and given attribution to a number of poetic hymns in celibration of various deities. Many of these works are believed to be appocryphal and written by later followers of Śaṅkara's Advaita Vedanta school.

Summary:

Manuscript would be used for private or public recitation, prayer, and contemplation in honor, praise, and worship of the Hindu deity Kṛṣṇa. Though constructed as a poetic hymn, the work discusses philosophical idea's from Śaṅkara's Advaita Vedanta school of Indian philosophy (darśan). Opens with a reference to Śiva/Śaktī union, suggesting the possible śaktization of the text and Tantric influence.

Notes:

Title from colophon (f. 26r).
Written in 5 lines per leaf.
26 leaves foliated 1-26, upper left and lower right verso.
Colophon: iti śrīmadgoviṃdabhagavatpādapūjyaśrīśaṃkarācāryaviracitaṃ sauṃdaryyalaharīstotraṃ saṃpūrṇam // śivam astu // saṃbat 1820 adhikajyeṣṭakṛṣṇā 13 guruvāsare taddine likhītaṃ lālajīśarmaṇe svārthaṃ parārthaṃ kāśīmadhye brahme ghāṭe brahmeśvaraśamīpaśivam astu // rāmacaṃdrāya namaḥ // (f. 26r).
Dated saṃvat 1820 adhikajyeṣṭakṛṣṇā 13 (Friday, July 8, 1763) (f. 16r).
Mistakes covered over in yellow or blacked out; some corrections and additions in margins; significant syllables, words, or phrases highlighted in red throughout; some folios treated with red wash.

Penn Provenance:

Formerly owned by Lālajī Śarmaṇ (f. 26r) who lived in Vārāṇasī near the Brahmeśvara liṅga temple at the Brahmā ghāṭa along the Ganges river.

Cited in:

Listed in H. I. Poleman, Census of Indic Manuscripts in the United States and Canada (New Haven, Conn.: American Oriental Society, 1938), Poleman 4105 (UP 434).

Cited as:

UPenn Ms. Coll. 390, Item 434

Contributor:

Lālajī Śarmaṇ, former owner.

OCLC:

841580312