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Kunala or Kunāl (3rd Century B.C) was the son of Emperor Ashoka and Queen Padmavati, and presumptive heir to Ashoka and thus the heir to the Mauryan Empire which once ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent. While he was supposed to be the future heir to the empire, he was blinded by another of Ashoka's wives, Tishyaraksha, at a young age in jealousy. While he was not able to take the throne, his son, Samprati, became his heir.

Significance of name[link]

Kunal is the name of one of the Himalayan birds, (painted snipes). The meaning of Kunal in Sanskrit is "Lotus". Kunal also means "bird with beautiful eyes", "someone who sees beauty in everything" or "one with beautiful eyes".^[1]

Early life[link]

Ashoka sent his son to Ujjain, there to be brought up and carry out his princely education, to become the heir to the throne of the Mauryan Empire.

Blinding[link]

When the prince was eight years old, the king wrote (in Prakrit) to the tutors that Kunala should begin his studies.^[1] One of Ashoka's wives who wanted to secure the succession to her own son, being then present took up the letter to read it. She secretly put a dot over the letter 'a', changed Adheeyu into Andheeyu—another word, meaning he must be blinded. Without rereading the letter, the king sealed and dispatched it. The clerk in Ujjayini was so shocked by the contents of this letter that he was unable to read it aloud to the prince. Kunala, therefore, seized the letter and read the cruel sentence of his father. Considering that as yet no Maurya prince had disobeyed the chief of the house, and unwilling to set a bad example, he stoutly put out his eyesight with a hot iron".^[1]

Alternatively, some stories explain that Kunala had been sent to Taxila to put down a rebellion, which he managed to do peacefully. But he was similarly blinded through the treacherousness of Ashoka's wife Tishyaraksha.^[1]

Attempts to claim throne[link]

Years later Kunala came to Ashoka's court dressed as a minstrel accompanied by his favourite wife Kanchanmala. When he greatly pleased the king by his music, the king wanted to reward him. At this, the minstrel revealed himself as prince Kunala and demanded his inheritance. Ashoka sadly objected that being blind, Kunala never could ascend the throne. Thereupon the latter said that he claimed the kingdom not for himself but for his son. "When," cried the king, "has a son been born to you?" "Samprati" (meaning "Just now") was the answer. Samprati accordingly was the name given to Kunala's son, and though a baby in arms, he was anointed Ashoka's successor. However, when Ashoka died, Sampriti was as yet too young to rule. Therefore, Ashoka was succeeded by another, older grandson, Dasaratha. After the demise of Dasaratha, Samprati did indeed become Emperor.^[1]

It is said that Prince Kunala established a kingdom in the Mithila region on the Indo-Nepal Border. It might be the same place where the present village, Kunauli (earlier known as Kunal Gram) at the bank of Kosi river at Indo-Nepal Border is situated. There are some historical and archaeological evidences to support this claim.

Portrayal in popular media[link]

A semi-fictionalized portrayal of Kunal's life was produced as a motion picture under the title Veer Kunal (1925). Ashok Kumar, a Tamil film was produced in 1941 based on the life of Kunal.

Kunal Pathri Temple[link]

Another reference of Kunal comes from place called Kunal Pathri Temple (located in the Dhauladhar Ranges in Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh) which is rock pilgrimage near dharamsala. Its said that there used to live a great devotee of lord Vishnu named Kunal. This temple is dedicated to goddess Kapaleshwari. It has beautiful carvings of gods and goddesses. It is believed that the skull of Devi Sati (Dakshayani), the wife of Lord Shiva, fell here after being cut off by the Chakra of Lord Vishnu into fifty-one pieces, to stop the ferocious dance, Tandava Nritya, of Shiva carrying the corpse of Sati(Dakshayani).

See also[link]

• History of India
• Mauryan Empire

References[link]

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Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki (Devanagari: पंडित जितेंद्र अभिषेकी; 21 September 1929 – 7 November 1998) was an Indian vocalist, composer and scholar of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. While he distinguished himself in Hindustani music, he was singlehandedly responsible for the revival of the Marathi musical theatre in the 1960s with his beautiful compositions.

Early life and background[link]

Abhisheki was born in a priestly Padhye Brahmin family in Mangeshi, Goa. His family was traditionally attached to the Mangueshi Temple of Lord Shiva in Goa. His father, Balawantrao aka Bikambhat, was a nephew and a disciple of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, and the temple priest and a Kirtankar. Balawantrao taught Jitendra the basic principles of Hindustani classical music.

Abhisheki then went to Mumbai and sought advanced training in vocal music from Pandit Jagannathbua Purohit and Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan of Agra Gharana, and Gulubhai Jasdanwala of Jaipur Gharana.

He developed a distinct style of rendering khayal, and was also well-known for his renditions of Marathi Natyasangeet and devotional songs.

Career[link]

After receiving a degree in Sanskrit literature, Abhisheki joined All India Radio (AIR) at Mumbai for a brief period, when he came in contact with several musicians and also got an opportunity to display his musical talents by composing several pieces for some radio programs.

Around this time, Abhisheki received a scholarship from the Indian Government for advanced training in Hindustani classical music under Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan.

He composed vocal as well as background scores for 25 Marathi plays. After receiving a Homi Bhabha fellowship in the late sixties, he taught at a music school run in the USA by sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Abhisheki maintained his ties to his homeland of Goa through his association with the Kala Academy, counseling and guiding students from that state.

Legacy[link]

Besides son Shounak Abhisheki, the following are Pandit Abhisheki's well-known musical disciples:

• Asha Khadilkar
• Devaki Pandit
• Shubha Mudgal
• Ajit Kadkade
• Hemant Pendse
• Mahesh Kale
• Dr Mohankumar Darekar
• Prabhakar Karekar
• Rājā Kālè
• Ramdas Kamat
• Sameer Dublay
• Vasant Marathe
• Vijay Koparkar
• Chandrakant Naik
• Sumedha Desai
• Makarand Hingne
• Shekhar Kumbhojkar
• Sudhakar Deoley

Discography[link]

• Hymns from the Vedas and Upanishads, Vedic Chants (1996)

Awards and recognitions[link]

• Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1969)
• Natyadarpan Award (1978)
• Padma Shri (1988)
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1989)
• Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar (1990)
• Gomantak Marathi Academy Award (1992)
• Balgandharva Puraskar (1995)
• Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Award (1996)
• Master Deenanath Smriti Puraskar (1996)
• Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar (1996)
• Balgandharva Puraskar (Natyaparishad, (1997)
• Puraskar(Kailas Math Nasik, 1997)

External links[link]

• Official site
• Songs by Jitendra Abhisheki-Free To Listen

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Shrimati Asha Khadilkar (Born: 1955) is a Mumbai, India based vocalist renowned for her specialization in Indian(Hindustani) Classical, Semi-Classical and Devotional Music including Natya Sangeet.

Background[link]

Born in the mecca of Marathi Drama movement, Sangli, Maharashtra, India in 1955 , Asha took her initial steps in music under the guidance of Late Shri. Balkrishnabuva Mohite . Along with her live performances in several Marathi Musical stage plays(Sangeet Nataks) , she rendered her first live Indian Classical Music Vocal concert at the tender age of thirteen. After moving to Mumbai in 1975 after marriage, Asha honed her unique talent and skills under the guidance of the legendary Marathi singer Late Padmashree Manik Varma before contiuning her tutelage in Indian Classical Music from Pt. Yashwantbuwa Joshi, a stalwart of Gwalior Gharana.

Work[link]

With exemplary command over a plethora of different forms in Indian music, Asha has won millions of hearts across India and abroad alike. She has consciously adapted to the best flavours of Gwalior, Kirana and Agra Gharanas,under the guidance of several music maestros such as Pandit Yashwantbuva Joshi, Pandit Shankar Abhyankar, Pandita Padmavati Shaligram, Late Padmashree Jitendra Abhisheki, Late Vasantrao Deshpande. Along with her penchant for Indian Classical Music and its derivatives, she is well-known for her command over Traditional Marathi form "Natya Sangeet", Bhavgeet and Bhajans.

Asha has also demonstrated her creative flair for music direction and classical bandish compositions. She has provided her unique direction to new generation Marathi Musical Plays like "Sangeet Aradhana", "Sangeet Kaviraj Jaydev" conceived by Nehru Center, Mumbai to name a few.

Asha has been at her innovative best by conceptualizing various thematic programmes such as “Hori Rang Rangilee”, “Sawan – Rang”, “Ritu – Rang” and “Rachanakar-ko-pranam” in Hindi as well as participating in programmes like "Swarabhishek", "Manik-Moti" in Marathi. She has always been active in spreading the soul of Indian Classical Music through organizations such as "Spic Macay". Asha continues to tutor and mentor young Indian Classical Vocalists.

Since 1994, Asha along with her husband Shri Madhav Khadilkar are spearheading 'Uttung Sanskrutik Pariwar Trust', a socio-cultural organization in Mumbai. This organization works to provide a platform to upcoming talent in the field of Music, Dance, Theatre and Literature as well as to honour deserving people with Annual 'Uttung Puraskar' to recognize their significant contribution to any of these creative fields.

Discography[link]

Several renowned Indian recording companies such as HMV, Tips, Polydor have released Asha's audiocassettes and CDs in Indian classical as well as light and devotional music.

Prominent Appearances[link]

• Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, Pune
• Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Festival, Pune
• Swar-Bhaskar Music Festival, Pune
• Spirit of Unity Concerts for National Integration, Hyderabad
• BMM Convention, US 1993, 2007
• Lecture & Demonstration workshops to college students on the topics related to Indian Classical Music
• Playback singing in Marathi Movies like Balgandharva(2011)
• Several solo performances on All India Radio, Doordarshan, DD Sahyadree, ETV Marathi, Zee Marathi, SAM TV
• Celebrity Judge on popular Marathi Musical Contents on ETV Marathi, Sahyadree and Zee Marathi
• Several memorable concerts in the US, UK, Canada and Singapore

Awards and recognition[link]

• Awarded for contribution to Semi-Classical Music by Government of Maharashtra Cultural Wing
• 'Swar-Ratna' Award by Marathi TV channel 'Sahyadree'
• Padmashree Manik Verma Award
• Pandit Kumar Gandharva Award
• Natasamrat Bal Gandharva Award at the hands of the legendary singer Late Smt Hirabai Badodekar
• 'Best Music Composer in Marathi Theatre' award by Government of Maharashtra
• Felicitation by Government of Maharashtra on International Women's Day
• Sangeet Shiromani Award at Banaras

[edit] Affiliation with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

In 2008, Asha Khadilkar was invited as one of the celebrity judges for the Marathi vocal singing competition show, Idea Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, alongside music director Shri.Salil Kulkarni. This season featured adults in their mid-30s and 40s who pursued music as a hobby .^[1] The show was aptly named Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Swapna Swaranche, Navatarunyache (स्वप्न स्वरांचे, नवतारुण्याचे), which roughly translates to Dreams of Music and New Youth.

See also[link]

• Natya Sangeet
• Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki
• Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande
• Manik Varma

References[link]

1. ^ "Idea Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Season 4". myPopkorn. 15 May 2008. http://www.mypopkorn.com/tv/idea-sa-re-ga-ma-pa-season-4-15th-may-2008-thu.html. Retrieved 8 August 2010. 

External links[link]

• Sudeepaudio.com - Asha Khadilkar

Dr Kalyani Bondre (born 1981) is an academic and Indian classical vocalist.

Early life[link]

Kalyani Bondre was born in Pune, India, into a musical family. She received initial guidance in music from her parents, both musicians in their own right. As a child, Kalyani was more interested in classical dance and hence took lessons in Kathak dance from Guru Maneesha Sathe, disciple of the famous Pandit Gopi Krishna.

Kalyani trained in vocal classical music earlier under Ranjana Bhide, disciple of Pandit Gangadharbuwa Pimpalkhare. Later, she learned from Guru Manisha Shrikhande, who is a disciple of Leelatai and Vilasrao Khandekar of the Kirana Gharana; and Pandit Krishnakant Parikh of the Mewati Gharana(both disciples of Padmavibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj). Kalyani has also received guidance in music from Ustad Faiyaaz Hussain Khan of the Gwalior Gharana and Ustad Usman Khan of the Beenkar Gharana of instrumental music.

Education[link]

Bondre holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pune.and member of management department from jaipur

Repertoire[link]

Kalyani specializes in Hindustani Classical Music and Marathi Natyasangeet. She also presents other forms like Bhaavgeet, ghazals, devotional music like bhajans and abhangas.

References[link]

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• Official site
• Academic profile

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There are many people in history who are commonly appended with the phrase "the Great", or who were called that or an equivalent phrase in their own language. Other languages have their own suffixes such as e Bozorg and e azam in Persian and Urdu respectively.

In Persia, the title "the Great" at first seems to be a colloquial version of the Old Persian title "Great King". This title was first used by the conqueror Cyrus II of Persia.^[1]

The Persian title was inherited by Alexander III of Macedon (336–323 BC) when he conquered the Persian Empire, and the epithet "Great" eventually became personally associated with him. The first reference (in a comedy by Plautus)^[2] assumes that everyone knew who "Alexander the Great" was; however, there is no earlier evidence that Alexander III of Macedon was called "the Great".

The early Seleucid kings, who succeeded Alexander in Persia, used "Great King" in local documents, but the title was most notably used for Antiochus the Great (223–187 BC).

Later rulers and commanders began to use the epithet "the Great" as a personal name, like the Roman general Pompey. Others received the surname retrospectively, like the Carthaginian Hanno and the Indian emperor Ashoka the Great. Once the surname gained currency, it was also used as an honorific surname for people without political careers, like the philosopher Albert the Great.

As there are no objective criteria for "greatness", the persistence of later generations in using the designation greatly varies. For example, Louis XIV of France was often referred to as "The Great" in his lifetime but is rarely called such nowadays, while Frederick II of Prussia is still called "The Great". A later Hohenzollern - Wilhelm I - was often called "The Great" in the time of his grandson Wilhelm II, but rarely later.

Rulers[link]

• Abbas I of Persia (1571–1629), Shah of Iran
• Akbar (1542–1605), ruler of the Mughal Empire of South Asia, mainly India
• Alain I of Albret (1440–1522), French aristocrat
• Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), King of Macedonia, Persia, Greece, Egypt, and all of Mesopotamia
• Alexander I of Georgia (1386–1446), King of Georgia
• Alfonso III of León (c. 848-910), King of León, Galicia and Asturias
• Alfred the Great (848/849-899), King of Wessex
• Antiochus III the Great (c. 241–187 BC), ruler of the Seleucid Empire
• Ashoka the Great (c. 304–232 BC), Indian emperor of the Maurya dynasty
• Ashot I of Iberia “the Great”(died 826/830), presiding prince of Iberia (modern Georgia),
• Askia Mohammad I (c. 1442–1538), ruler of the Songhai Empire
• Bhumibol Adulyadej (born 1927), King of Thailand
• Bolesław I Chrobry (967-1025), sometimes called "the Great", first King of Poland
• Bruno the Great (925–965), Archbishop of Cologne and Duke of Lotharingia (also listed in the following section)
• Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (1736–1809), founder and ruler of the Rattanakosin Kingdom (in what is now Thailand)
• Cnut the Great (c. 985 or 995-1035), King of Denmark, England, Norway and parts of Sweden
• Casimir III the Great (1310–1370), King of Poland
• Catherine the Great (1729–1796), Empress of Russia
• Chandragupta II (reigned 375-413/415), also known as Vikramaditya, ruler of the Gupta empire in India
• Charlemagne (died 814), King of the Franks and Emperor of the Romans
• Chulalongkorn (1853–1910), King of Siam (now Thailand)
• Chlothar II (584-629), King of Neustria and King of the Franks
• Conrad, Margrave of Meissen (c. 1097-1157), Margrave of Meissen
• Constantine I (c. 272-337), Roman emperor
• Cyaxares the Great (c. 625-585 BC), third king of Media
• Cyrus the Great (c. 600 BC or 576 BC–530 BC), founder and ruler of the Persian or Achaemenid Empire
• Darius the Great (550 – 486 BC), third ruler of the Persian Empire
• Devapala (died 850), ruler of the Pala Empire in the Indian subcontinent
• Dionysius I, Greek tyrant of Syracuse^[3]
• Ferdinand I of León and Castile (c. 1015–1065), King of León and Count of Castile
• Frederick the Great (1712–1786), King of Prussia
• Genghis Khan (1162?-1227), founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire
• Gero (c. 900–965), ruler of Marca Geronis, a very large march in Europe
• Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (1594–1632), King of Sweden, founder of the Swedish Empire, and noted military leader
• Gwanggaeto the Great, King of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea^[4][5]
• Hanno the Great, the name of three leaders of Carthage, in the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd centuries BC
• Henry I, Duke of Burgundy (946–1002)
• Henry IV of France (1553–1610), King of France and King of Navarre
• Herod the Great (73/74 BC-4 BC), King of Judea
• Hugh the Great (898-956), Duke of the Franks and Count of Paris
• Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France
• Hugh I, Count of Vermandois (1057–1101)
• Humphrey I de Bohun (died c. 1123), Anglo-Norman aristocrat
• Ivan III of Russia (1440–1505), Tsar of Russia
• John I of Portugal (1358–1433), King of Portugal and the Algarve
• John II of Aragon (1398–1479), King of Aragon and, through his wife, King of Navarre
• Justinian I (483-565), Byzantine Emperor
• Kamehameha I (c. 1758-1819), first King of Hawai'i
• Kanishka (died c. 127), ruler of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia and parts of India
• Kvirike III of Kakheti (1010–1029), King of Kakheti in eastern Georgia
• Kublai Khan (1215–1294), Mongol ruler in the 13th century and Emperor of China; founder of the Yuan Dynasty
• Llywelyn the Great (c. 1172–1240), Prince of Gwynedd and de facto ruler of most of Wales
• Louis I of Hungary (1326–1382), King of Hungary, Croatia and Poland
• Mangrai the Great (1238–1317), Lanna, northern Thailand
• Emperor Meiji (1852–1912), Emperor of Japan
• Mircea I of Wallachia (1355–1418)
• Mithridates II of Parthia (died 88 BC), ruler of the Parthian Empire (in present day Iran)
• Mithridates VI of Pontus (134 BC–63 BC), ruler of Pontus and the Bosporan Kingdom
• Mstislav I of Kiev (1076–1132), Grand Prince of Kievan Rus
• Naresuan (1555–1605), King of Ayutthaya
• Narai (1633–1688), King of Ayutthaya (in what is now modern Thailand)
• Odo the Great (died c. 735), Duke of Aquitaine
• Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor (912-973)
• K'inich Janaab' Pakal (603-683), ruler of the Mayan city-state of Palenque
• Parakramabahu I of Polonnaruwa (1123–1186), King of Sri Lanka
• Peter Krešimir IV of Croatia (died 1075), King of Croatia
• Peter the Great (1672–1725), Tsar of Russia
• Peter III of Aragon (1239–1285), King of Aragon and King of Sicily
• Pompey (106 BC-48 BC), military and political leader of the late Roman Republic, rival of Julius Caesar
• Radama I (1793–1828), first king of greater Madagascar
• Raja Raja Chola I (c. 947-1014), Indian emperor of the Cholas.^[6][7][8]
• Rajendra Chola I (reigned 1014–1044), Tamil King of India
• Ramesses II (reigned 1279 BC – 1213 BC), considered the greatest pharaoh of Ancient Egypt
• Ram Khamhaeng (around 1237 to 1247-1298), King of Sukhothai (in present day Thailand)
• Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona (1082–1131), also Count of Provence and various other counties
• Rhodri the Great (c. 820–878), King of Gwynedd (in present day Wales)
• Roman the Great (after 1160-1205), Grand Prince of Kiev
• Saladin (c. 1138-1193), Kurdish Sultan of Egypt and Syria, founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, and victor over the Crusaders
• Samudragupta (c. 335–375), ruler of the Gupta empire in the Indian subcontinent
• Sancho III of Navarre (c. 992-1035), King of Kingdom of Navarre
• Sargon of Akkad (died c. 2215 BC), ruler of the Akkadian Empire
• Sejong the Great (1397–1450), Korean king^[9]
• Shapur II (309-379), king of the Sassanid Empire, Persia
• Simeon I of Bulgaria (864/865-927), ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire
• Stephen III of Moldavia (1433–1504), Prince of Moldavia (Romania)
• Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia (c. 1308-1355), King of Serbia and Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks
• Taksin (1734–1782), King of the Thonburi Kingdom (Thailand)
• Tamar (1160-1123), Queen of the Georgian Empire
• Timur (1336–1405), better known as Tamerlane, founder of the Timurid Dynasty
• Theobald II, Count of Champagne (1090–1151), Count of Blois and of Chartres as Theobald IV, Count of Champagne and of Brie
• Theodoric the Great (454-526), King of the Ostrogoths, regent of the Visigoths and a viceroy of the Byzantine Empire
• Theodosius I (347-395), Roman emperor
• Tigranes the Great (140-55 BC), Emperor of Armenia
• Tiridates III of Armenia (285-339), King of Armenia
• Umar (c. 586 to 590–644), second caliph of the Muslim Empire
• Valdemar I of Denmark (1131–1182), King of Denmark
• Valentinian I (364-375), Roman Emperor
• Vladimir I of Kiev (c. 958-1015), ruler of Kievan Rus
• Vytautas (c. 1350-1430), archduke of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy
• William I, Count of Burgundy (1020–1087), Count of Burgandy and Mâcon
• William V, Duke of Aquitaine (969-1030), also Count of Poitou
• Xerxes I (519-465 BC), King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire (Persia)
• Yu the Great (c. 2200-2100 BC), legendary ruler in ancient China

Religious figures[link]

• Abraham the Great of Kashkar (ca. 492-586), monk and saint of the Assyrian Church of the East
• Abraham Kidunaia (died c. 366, hermit, priest, and Christian saint of Mesopotamia
• Albertus Magnus (1193/1206–1280), medieval German philosopher and theologian
• Anthony the Great (c. 251–356), early Christian saint of Egypt
• Babai the Great (c. 551–628), Assyrian church leader
• Basil of Caesarea (330-379), Greek bishop and theologian
• Bruno the Great (925–965), Archbishop of Cologne and Duke of Lotharingia (also listed in the previous section)
• Euthymius the Great (377-473), abbot and Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saint
• Gertrude the Great (1256-c. 1302), German Benedictine, mystic, theologian and Roman Catholic saint
• Pope Gregory I (c. 540-604)
• Hiyya the Great, 3rd-century rabbi, Palestine
• Pope John Paul II (1920–2005)
• Pope Leo I (c. 391 or 400-461)
• Macarius of Egypt (c. 300-391), Egyptian hermit
• Pope Nicholas I (c. 800-867)
• Photius I of Constantinople (c. 810–c. 893), Eastern Orthodox saint and Patriarch of Constantinople
• William of Maleval (died 1157), founder of the Catholic congregation of Williamites

Other[link]

• Beli Mawr, a figure in medieval Welsh literature and genealogies
• Emmy the Great, folk singer
• Matteo Rosso the Great, Roman politician and father of Pope Nicholas III
• Prokop the Great, Hussite general in Bohemia

See also[link]

• Epithet
• List of monarchs by nickname
• List of nicknames of European Royalty and Nobility: G-I
• James, son of Zebedee, also known as James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus
• Ajax (mythology), called Ajax the Greater
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, whose common honorific "Mahatma" means "Great Soul"

Notes[link]