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

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 68  

Historical Aspects of Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-10   

Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature- part -8

(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 illustrated seasons of central India with details in Ritusamhar. However, there are illustrations of various seasons of Himalayas by Kalidasa in his various works.

                  Summer Season of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

           Kalidasa describes summer season of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Meghdootam and Abhigyanshakuntalam.

             In Abhigyanshakuntalam (act-2), Kalidasa states that there was leaf falls from trees in summer season in Bawar/Bhabhar regions of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand).

      It was difficult for people to find the breeze shadow in those warm places. In summer season the leaves used to rotten and the water of rivers, ponds was non potable. The water used to lose its softness in summer season in plains of Uttarakhand (Himalaya).

          In Meghdootam (57), Kalidasa portrays that was strong hot storm in the forest of Uttarakhand in summer season. The forest fire in Deodar forest was common in Garhwal and Kumaon. The Forest fire used to kill forest animals. The forest animals used to live in difficult days. Only rain was the resue points for forest animals at the time of forest fire.

               Rainy Season of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

         The great poet Kalidasa explains rainy season of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) with details in Abhigyanshakuntalam, Vikramorvashiyam, Meghdootam and Kumarasambhawam.  There was dense greenery in rainy season in Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand). In rainy season, the animals as deer, vegetarian animals used to take sharp needle of Kush and these grass leaves were painful for human when those leaves pierce the human bodies.  Kalidasa describes abundance of bull nettle plants in Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in rainy season.

              Winter Season of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature

          Kalidasa describes various aspects of winter season of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Abhigyanshakuntalam, Vikramorvashiyam, Meghdootam and Kumarasambhawam.

       Kalidasa describes dews and states that as soon as sun rises the dew is no more. Kalidasa describes snow falls in mountains of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in winter season.

    Kalidasa described foggy morning and evening of winter of Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar (Uttarakhand). Kalidasa states that in winter, due to clear sky there was bright moon shine in Himalayas.

***Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) in Kalidasa Literature to be continued…part -9

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 -69

Historical Aspects of -Classical Period of Haridwar -Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas to be continued…11 

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