History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 69

Flora and Fauna of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 69  

Historical Aspects of Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-11   

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature- part -9

(This History chapter up is dedicated to great historian Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwali poet Sada Nand Jakhmola, Editor of Satyapath, Lalita Prasad Naithani, Dr. Shiva Nand Nautiyal, Kunvar Singh Negi, ‘Karmath’, Srimati Kamla Ratnam, Banarasi Das Chaturvedi , Dr. Mayaram Uniyal  who did sound research on Kalidasa literature and Life)

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

               Kalidasa describes detailed flora and fauna of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand)-Central Himalaya in his literature.

               Flora of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

Tendril and Bunch type flowering plants- Kalidasa describes the flora of Bawar (Plains of Uttarakhand), Gandhmadan shrines. He illustrates the tendril plants and bunch flowering plants of Garhwal-Kumaon. Kalidasa demonstrates  Jasmine type of plants, night fragrant flowering plants, the creeping flower- Gaertnera racemosa, lili types of water plants (Hiptage benghalensis), lotus, white water lily, China Rose, touch me not (Bichhu buti or Kandali) in Abhigyanshakuntala, Meghdootam, Vikramorvashiyam, Raghuvansham, Kumarsambhavam.

 The people used those flowers for native ornaments too.

Trees etc– Kalidasa portrays tress as Mango, Alstonia scholaris or devil tree,

              People used to perform auspicious ritual under Astonia scholaris tree.  People used to use Lebbeck  (Albizia lebbeck) flowers  as ear ornaments. Jujube berry, different berries, cut nut trees, Kadamba (Neolamarkia cadamba),Syzygium cumini (Jamun) or black plum, were found at lower altitude of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar.

  Kalidasa states that on higher altitude, there was heaven (Mandar), wish fulfilling tree, Deodar, Thuneru, etc trees.

 Kalidasa talked about Ashok, Maulshri and bamboo tress in snowy region.

             Fauna of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

 Dr Dabral in Uttarakhand ka Itihas (part-3, page 317) provides details of following fauna mentioned by Kalidasa in his various works –

Different peacocks

Krishnasar birds

Various species of Deer

Pigs/bores

Bear

Elephants

Lions

Tigers

Musk deer

Peacock

Cuckoo

Swans and other water birds

Bees etc

***Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued…part -10

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 11/06/2013

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

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -70

Historical Aspects of -Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas to be continued…12 

Notes on Flora and Fauna of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Uttarkashi, Garhwal, (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Chamoli, Garhwal, (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Rudraprayag Garhwal, (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Pauri Garhwal, (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Tehri Garhwal, (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Dehradun, Garhwal, (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Udham Singh Nagar, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Nainital, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Almora, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Champawat, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Bageshwar, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature; Flora and Fauna of Pithoragarh, Kumaon  (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature