Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 61  

Historical Aspects of Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-3   

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature- part -1

(This History chapter up is dedicated to great historian Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, Garhwali poet Sada Nand Jakhmola, Editor of Satyapath Lalita Prasad Naithani, Dr. Shiva Nand Nautiyal who did sound research on works of Kalidasa)

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

                                   Life of Kalidasa

      Kalidasa was a great Sanskrit playwright and poet of Classical Age.  There is no precise knowledge about timing of Kalidasa but it is certain that Kalidasa created his literature between 4^th and 6^th century.  There is also speculation about birth place of Kalidasa.

  Kalidasa created following immutable literary works

                                            Plays by Kalidasa

Malavikagnimitram- The play is about the King Agnimitra fell in love with picture of exiled servant Malavika.

Abhigyanshakuntalam- The dram is based on the story of Mahabharata about the love between King Dushyanta and Shakuntala and denying by Dushyanta. Bharat was their son.

Vikramorvasiyam- The play is about the love story between King Pururavas and celestial nymph Urvasi.  

                                       Epics by Kalidasa

 Kalidasa wrote two epics.

Raghuvansham- Raghuvansham is about story of King Raghu dynasty

Kumarsambhava- The story pertains the wedding of Parvati –Shiva and about their son Kartikey.

                       Khandkavya (Long Poetries) by Kalidasa

 Kalidasa wrote two Khandkavya too.

Meghadoot- The story is about a Yaksha sending message to his lover through cloud.

Ritusamhara – The poet describes six seasons and the experiences of two lovers in each season.

  The style of Kalidasa is remarkable.

                     Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

             After Mahabharata, the detailed descriptions about Uttarakhand are found in Kalidasa literature.

             Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Raghuvansham by Kalidasa

                In first part 9sarg0 of Raghuvansham, the Raghuvansh King Dilip reached to his family priest Vashistha‘s Ashram for getting blessing for son birth. The Ashram is at Gaurigaru (Parvati’s father place). The mountain place is at the bank of Ganga. Dilip looks after grazing Nandini. There are cedar trees.

            Kalidasa describes Ashram of Vashistha in the last 48 Shlokas of first ‘Sarg’ of Raghuvansham Kalidasa describes Ashram of Vashistha in first 71 Shlokas of second Sarg of Raghuvansham.     

              Raghu King campaigns to attack on kings of Gaurigaru Mountain after winning Kamboj kings (Cambodian chieftains) in fourth Sarg of Raghuvansham. There is description of struggle of Raghu army against the armies of Mountain chieftains in this chapter of Raghuvansham.  The Mountain soldiers fight/resist with Raghu’s soldiers by slipping stones and by other arms.

  Neither Mountain chieftains win nor Raghu. Both understood each other’s power and weakness. The Mountain chieftains offered gifts to Raghu at his returning back from Himalaya (Uttarakhand) [Raghuvansham, 4/71-79].  

                   

***Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued…part -2

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 2/06/2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -62

Historical Aspects of -Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas to be continued…4 

Brief notes on Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Uttarkashi Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Rudraprayag Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Dehradun Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Chamoli Garhwal (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Pithoragarh Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Bageshwar Kumaon (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Champawat Kumaon (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Nainital Kumaon (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Almora Kumaon (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham; Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature-Raghuvansham.