The Sandeśarāsaka, also known by its Apabhraṃśa name Saṃneharāsaya, (
Sanskrit: सन्देशरासक,
Apabhraṃśa: संनेहरासय) is an
epic poem written around 1000–1100 by Addahamāṇa (thought be the Apabhraṃśa form of the name Abdur Rahman) in
Apabhramsha.[1][2][3] 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.[4]
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.[5] The manuscripts include Sanskrit explanations by a Jain scholar in Sam. 1465.
Theme
This epic poem is inspired by
Meghaduta of Kalidasa.[6]
The author invoked God using an expression that combines Hindu and Muslim perspectives:[7]
माणुस्सदुव्वविज्जाहरेहिं णहमग्गि सूर ससि बिंबे।
आएहिं जो णमिज्जइ तं णयरे णमह कत्तारं।
māṇussaduvvavijjāharehiṃ ṇahamaggi sūra sasi biṃbe.
āehiṃ jo ṇamijjai taṃ ṇayare ṇamaha kattāraṃ.
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,[8] 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.[9]
Two of the verses were quoted by Acharya
Hemachandra (1088-1173).[10]