Natyacudamani of Somanarya (with a Telugu Commentary): A Critical edition and Translation

The Natyacudamani of Somanarya is an unpublished musicological work written in Sanskrit and is accompanied by a Telugu commentary. The author of this work is Astavadana Somanarya who is said to have lived during the reign of King Acyutar¡ya of the Vijayanagar Empire (1540 A.D.). The Telugu commentary seems to belong to a later period. The present edition is brought out with the help of fifteen manuscripts. Though the title reads Natyacudamani, the available text mainly consists of chapters on Gita and Vidya and only a few verses relate to Natya. Somanarya ‘s work presents some of the traditional musicological views in a tangential manner and it has made a strong influence on many later works of South India.