Rivers of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Himalaya, Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 67  

Historical Aspects of Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-9   

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature- part -7

(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 mentions three great rivers of North India as-

1-Sindhu

2-Brahmputra

3-Ganga

                            Ganga and associate Rivers in Kalidasa Literature

Ganga River in Kalidasa Literature- Kalidasa states that Ganga comes from Prabhavanchal a Mountain where Deodar tress, musk deer, Yaks, are found. In some texts, Kalidasa writes that Ganga emerges from Alkapuri (Might be today’s source of Alaknanda as in real sense Alaknanda is called Dhauli Ganga (white Ganges)). Kalidasa describes that Ganga falls in plain from Kankhal (Haridwar).

Mandakini River in Kalidas Literature- Kalidasa used Mandakini as Exclusive River and as Ganga too. Mandakini is described as the River of air or heaven.

Mahakoshi River in Kalidasa Literature- Mahakoshi falls near the capital Aushdhiprashtha in Kumarasambhava.

Malini River in Kalidasa literature- In Meghdootam, Kalidasa illustrates that Malini River bank is birth place of Shakuntala. Kanvashram of age Kanva is situated at the bank of Malini River. Dushyant meets Shakuntala at Malini River bank. Bharat the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala is born in Kanvashram that is bank of Malini River. Kalidasa describes Sand dune at Mandakini River bank.

Yamuna River in Kalidasa literature- Kalidasa illustrates Yamuna as black river

Ponds and lakes of Himalaya in Kalidasa literature- Kalidasa describe various types of lakes and ponds in Himalaya in his literature. Kalidasa illustrates Mansarovar where lotuses are found.

***Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued…part -8

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 8/06/2013

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

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -68

Historical Aspects of -Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas to be continued…10