K. Rama Pisharoti

The time of staging a Sanskrit Drama—A Note

By K. Rama Pisharoti

In this short note the author discusses the classical Indian rules about when a Sanskrit play should be staged. The main source for such rules is the Nāṭyaśāstra, a treatise on dramaturgy. The…

Extracts from the Ratnavali

By K. Rama Pisharoti

The Ratnavali is a Vaisnavite Tantric manual that combines ritual instructions with guidelines on temple architecture. In this article the author introduces the text, noting that it is a compendium…

Kalidasa's Treatment of Nature in Ritusamhara

By K. Rama Pisharoti

This literary study examines how Kālidāsa portrays nature in his poem Ṛtusaṃhāra. The poet personifies India’s six seasons and intertwines them with human emotions, using vivid imagery to show how…

Studies in Indian Architecture – Ayadiṣaḍvarga

By K. Rama Pisharoti

Studies in Indian Architecture: Ayadiṣaḍvarga by K.R. Pisharoti examines an important concept in traditional Indian architecture. The term Ayadiṣaḍvarga refers to six arithmetical parameters—Āya…

Meghasandesa—A Note

By K. Rama Pisharoti

The note focuses on identifying the hero and heroine of Kālidāsa’s celebrated lyric Meghasandeśa (also known as Meghadūta). Drawing on an obscure verse quoted in the Līlātilaka, a fourteenth‑century…

Quilon Inscription of Jayasimha Vira Kerala Varma

By K. Rama Pisharoti, A. Govinda Warrier

Cults and Cult-Acts in Kerala

By K. Rama Pisharoti

Glimpses into the Ancient History of Cochin

By K. Rama Pisharoti

This article reconstructs the early history of Cochin (Kochi) on the Malabar coast by examining traditional ballads, temple chronicles and Portuguese records. The author argues that the Perumal or…

Manasara on Nagaradivibheda

By K. Rama Pisharoti

This article critically examines the chapter on Nāgarādi‑vibheda in the Mānasāra, a medieval Sanskrit treatise on architecture. The author first introduces the three canonical temple styles—Nāgara,…

Cults and Cult-acts in Kerala

By K. Rama Pisharoti

This article explores the religious practices associated with the Bhagavati cult and related rituals in Kerala. The author observes that priests in Bhagavati shrines are usually drawn from the Sudra…

Cults and Cult‑acts of Kerala (Man‑Cult and Tree‑Cult)

By K. Rama Pisharoti

This anthropological article surveys the complex landscape of cults and ritual practices in Kerala, arguing that religious life among Malayalis cannot be understood without appreciating the…

Mepputtur Narayana Bhattatiri

By K. Rama Pisharoti

Mepputtir Narayana Bhattatiri (c. 1055–1160 CE) was a renowned Kerala Sanskrit scholar, poet, and devotee of Lord Krishna, celebrated as one of the greatest figures in Kerala’s 15th-century…

Kulasekhara of Kerala

By K. Rama Pisharoti

“Kulasekhara of Kerala” examines the contributions of Kerala to Sanskrit literature and theatre by focusing on the enigmatic figure of Kulasekhara. Kerala produced numerous Sanskrit dramas that…

The Three Great Philosophers of Kerala

By K. Rama Pisharoti

The Three Great Philosophers of Kerala discusses three key figures in Kerala's philosophical history: Prabhikara Bhatta, Adi Shankaracharya, and Madhvacharya. Prabhikara, born Sukumira, belonged to…

The Bhāsa Theory Again — A Reply to Prof. Keith

By K. Rama Pisharoti

Responding to Professor Arthur Berriedale Keith’s critical remarks about the authenticity of plays attributed to Bhāsa, this article by K. R. Pisharoti defends the legitimacy of the Bhāsa canon.…

Religion and Philosophy in Kerala

By K. Rama Pisharoti

This comprehensive essay surveys the religious and philosophical history of Kerala and argues that the region has been a meeting ground of diverse faiths and ideas. The author begins by noting the…

Pathakam

By K. Rama Pisharoti

Pathakam, a traditional Malayalam literary entertainment, involves dramatic exposition of Purana incidents in vernacular language without technical gestures, stage equipment, or curtains. The actor,…

Cranganore

By K. Rama Pisharoti

In this miscellaneous note, K. R. Pisharoti examines the historical significance of Cranganore (modern Kodungallur) on the Malabar Coast. He outlines its identification with the ancient port of…

Perumal's Apostacy

By K. Rama Pisharoti

Perumal's Apostacy

Sankaracarya Caritam

By K. Rama Pisharoti

A Sanskrit biography of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya has been discovered in Kerala. Written in simple anuṣṭubh metre and divided into nine chapters, the Śaṅkarācārya Caritam narrates the sage’s life from his…