Vidushaka

Glossary

Within Sanskrit drama, it describes the good-natured jester or clown who often provides comic relief, usually through explicitly humorous action and gestures. It could also refer to a character that ridicules social norms. He is an essential part of the narrative and a close ally of the hero. According to Bharata, there are four kinds of vidushakas — Lingi or Tapasa, linked to the celestial hero; Dvija or Brahmin, the companion of a royal hero; Rajajivi, an employee connected with a minister (or merchant); and Shishya, a pupil who accompanies a Brahmin teacher.

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Chicago	MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. “Vidushaka”. Accessed April 27, 2024. https://mapacademy.io/glossary/vidushaka/
MLA	“Vidushaka.” MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. https://mapacademy.io/glossary/vidushaka/. Accessed 27, April, 2024.
Harvard	MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. (2022) Vidushaka. [Online]. Available at: https://mapacademy.io/glossary/vidushaka/. (Accessed: 27, April, 2024)