Sandeśarāsaka

The Sandeśarāsaka, also known by its Apabhraṃśa name Saṃneharāsaya, (, Apabhraṃśa: संनेहरासय) is an epic poem written around 1000–1100 by Addahamāṇa (the Apabhraṃśa form of the name Abdur Rahman), a Multani poet, in Apabhramsha. Its language is considered to be a version of Apabhramsha, the language that gave rise to modern Northwestern Indo-Aryan languages like Punjabi and Sindhi.

The manuscripts of the book were discovered in Jain libraries by Muni Jinavijaya. According to Muni Jinavijaya, the work was written before the conquest by Ghori in 1192, when Multan was still a major Hindu pilgrimage center. The manuscripts include Sanskrit explanations by a Jain scholar in Sammat 1465 (circa 1408–09 C.E.).

Theme

This epic poem is inspired by Meghaduta of Kalidasa.

The author invoked God using an expression that combines Hindu and Muslim perspectives:

In Shahmukhi,

In Gurmukhi,

Translation, O citizens, salute the creator who is saluted by men, gods, vidyadharas, the sun and the moon.

Cultural influence

It is the only work by a Muslim in Apabhramsha, and it is a precursor of Baba Farid and books like Padmavat of Jayasi.

It is the first book that refers to a vernacular work based on Ramayana.

Two of the verses were quoted by Acharya Hemachandra (1088-1173).

See also

• Padmavat

References