The Goṇḍalī Dance by Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri

In the interesting note on the Goṇḍalī Nṛtya (B.I.S.M.Q. June, 1939) it is pointed out that the dance originated in Karnāṭaka and was connected with the Rēṇukā cult. This is supported by some references in the works on Karnāṭaka Music. Jāyaṇa or Jāya Sēnāpati, the commander of the elephants under the King Gaṇapati of Warangal wrote two works Saṅgīta ratnāvaḷi and Nṛtya – ratnāvaḷī in 1240 A. D. In the latter work he says – 

कल्याणकटके पूर्वे भूतमात्रमहोत्सवे |

सोमेश: कोतुकी काञ्चित भिल्लवेषमुपेयुषीम् |

नृत्यंतीमथ गायन्ती स्वयं प्रेक्ष्य मनोहरम् |

प्रीतो निर्मितवाश्वित्रगोण्डली बिधिमिन्यम् |

यतो भिल्ली महाराष्ट्रे गोण्डलीत्यभिधीयते ||

From this it is clear that the Bhillī dance used to be held at Kalyāṇa, the capital of the Western Cālukyas, and that Somēśvara III, Bhūlokamalla (who was a recognised authority on Music and is the author of Abhilaṣitārthacintamaṇi or Rāja – mānasollāsa) made an improvement and called it Citra Goṇḍalī, since in Mahārāṣtra it was called Goṇḍalī. 

The Saṅgita – samaya – sāra of Pārśvadēva (C. 1200 A. D.) also defines Goṇḍalī dance thus – 

सामान्यं नर्थनं यत्र सम्यमगीतम् प्रवर्तते |

मध्यमा कथिता तेषा गुण्ड्लीति मनीषिभि: ||

(Tr. S. S. Ch. 8. V. 183.)

A manuscript in the Mysore Oriental Library (No. 4798) mentions the following authorities: 

आदिनन्दिउमाप्रोक्तं मोहनं नाट्यदर्पणम् |

संगीतकल्पवृक्षं च संगीतमणिदर्पणं |

कुण्डलीदर्पणं चोच कुण्डलीमणिदर्पणम् ||

It is probable that Kuṇḍalī – darpaṇa and Kuṇḍalī – maṇidarpaṇa also deal with this Goṇḍalī dance. 

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'The Two Bhagavatas' by Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri (1933)

It is well known that of the two Puranas – Devi Bhãgavata and Sri Bhagavata, the Saktas and Vaisnavas claim that their own sectarian work is the real Mahapurana composed by Vyasa and the other is a mere Upapurana. In his introduction to the Devi – Bhagavata, Nilakantha asserts that the authority of the Matsya and Saiva Puranas is in favour of the priority of Devi Bhagavata. He quotes the following verses in support.

Bhagavatyas ca Durgayas caritam yatra vidyate
Tattu Bhagavatam proktam na tu Devipuranakam
(Saiva – Madhyesyara mahatmye)

Here Devipuranaka means the Upapurana Kalika Purana
yadidam Kalikakhyam tanmulam Bhagavatam smrtam
(Hemadrsu)

The chief characteristics of Bhagavata are these enumerated in the Matsya: -

यत्राधिकृत्य गयात्रीम् वर्णयते धर्मविस्तर |
वृत्रासुरवधोपेतं तभ्दागवतमिष्यते ||
सारस्वतस्य कल्पस्य मद्ये ये स्युर्नरामरा: |
तद्वत्तान्तोभ्दबं लोके तभ्दागवतमिष्यते ||

Puranantare: -
हयग्रीवब्रह्मविध्या यत्र वृत्रवधस्तथा |
गायत्र्या च स्मारम्भस्तद्वै भागवतं विदु: ||

Thus, the Bhagavata is that work which commences with Gayatri and deals extensively with Dharma, and the story of the killing of Vrtra, in the Sarasvata kalpa, and Hayagriva Brahmavidya. All these are only applicable to the Devi Bhagavata which begins with this mantra.

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