Kumārasambhava

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Kumārasambhava (Sanskrit: कुमारसम्भव, IAST: Kumāra-sambhava) is an Sanskrit epic poem written by the illustrious poet Kālidāsa. It is one of the most important examples of Kāvya poetry.

[edit] Contents

Kumārasambhava literally means "Birth of Kumara", i.e. Kartikeya. This epic of seventeen cantos entails Shringara Rasa, the rasa of love, romance, and eroticism, more than Vira rasa (the rasa of heroism). Tarakasur, a rakshasha (or demon) was blessed that he could be killed by none other than Lord Shiva's son, however, Shiva had won over Kama-deva (the god of love). Parvati performed great tapasya (or spiritual penance) to win the love of Lord Shiva. Consequently, Shiva and Parvati's son Kartikeya is born and kills Tarakasur to restore the glory of Indra, the king of Gods.

Kālidāsa had left his home in pursuit of knowledge and to become worthy of his intellectual wife Vidyottama (lit. "epitome of erudition"). When he returned from this conquest, his wife asked, "Asti Kashchit Wagvisheshah" ("Have you attained any evident erudition which should prompt me to extend a special welcome to you?") Kālidāsa impressed his wife with the answer she expected and over the next few years created three great epics based on the three letters uttered by his wife: 'Asti' - Kumarasambhava, 'Kashchit' - Meghaduta, and 'Wagvisheshah' - Raghuvamsha. It is said that Kālidāsa was cursed with leprosy when he completed the eighth canto describing the act of love between Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some also believe that the rest of the epic was completed by an eponymous writer.

[edit] See also

• Sanskrit literature
• Sanskrit drama

[edit] External links

• FreeIndia.org article on Kumarasambhava, retrieved October 11, 2006
• Kumarasambhavam - Transliterated text at GRETIL
• The Birth of the War-God, selected translation by Arthur W. Ryder

v • d • e Works by Kālidāsa Plays Mālavikāgnimitram  · Abhijñānaśākuntalam  · Vikramōrvaśīyam Poetry Raghuvaṃśa  · Kumārasambhava  · Ṛtusaṃhāra  · Meghadūta

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