Mangalavijayam

Mangalavijayam is a Sanskrit play attributed to the playwright Bhavabhuti, who is known for his works like Mahaviracharita and Malatimadhava. The title, Mangalavijayam, translates to "Triumph of Auspiciousness" or "Victorious Auspiciousness." It is considered one of Bhavabhuti's lesser-known plays, with limited surviving manuscript evidence and scholarly attention compared to his more famous works.

Details about the plot and characters of Mangalavijayam are scarce due to the fragmentary nature of its surviving texts. However, it is generally understood to be a romantic drama, possibly depicting a story where auspicious events lead to a happy resolution or victory. Like other Sanskrit dramas of the period, it likely follows conventions of structure, language, and dramatic devices typical of classical Indian theatre. The play would have been performed in a traditional theatrical setting, with actors, music, and elaborate costumes.

The attribution to Bhavabhuti is based on stylistic similarities in language and thematic concerns found in the surviving fragments. Scholars who have studied these fragments attempt to reconstruct the narrative and understand its place within Bhavabhuti's dramatic oeuvre and the broader tradition of Sanskrit drama. The study of Mangalavijayam, though challenging, offers insights into the thematic range and literary craftsmanship of one of ancient India's most celebrated playwrights. Its limited survival underscores the fragility of textual preservation and the ongoing efforts of scholars to uncover and interpret lost or fragmented literary works.