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 co-eval 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.
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.
Review(s)
"... a major attempt in providing much valuable data on the contemporary
performance practicea and linkage one could search for, between one period
of the history of Indian Music with that followed. A most valuable
publication for music historians a
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