Kumārasambhava
Kumārasaṃbhavam (Sanskrit: Kumārasaṃbhavam) is an epic poem by Kālidāsa. The Kumārasaṃbhavam is widely regarded as one of Kālidāsa's finest works, a paradigmatic example of kāvya poetry. The style of description of spring set the standard for nature metaphors pervading many centuries of Indian literary tradition.[1] Kumarasambhava basically talks about the birth of Kumara (Kārtikeya), the son of Shiva and Parvati.[2] The period of composition is uncertain, although Kālidāsa is thought to have lived in the 5th century.
Contents
Kumārasambhava literally means "Birth of Kumāra". This epic of seventeen cantos entails Sringara rasa, the rasa of love, romance, and eroticism, more than Vira rasa (the rasa of heroism). Tārakāsura, a rakshasa (demon) was blessed that he could be killed by none other than Shiva's son, however, Shiva had won over Kama, the god of love. Parvati performed great tapas (or spiritual penance) to win the love of Shiva. Consequently, Shiva and Parvati's son Kartikeya was born to restore the glory of Indra, king of the Gods.
References
- ^ "Book Excerptise: Kalidaser granthAbalI, v.2 by Kalidasa and Rajendranath Vidyabhushan (ed.)". iitk.ac.in. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Kumarasambhavam by Kalidasa - Synopsis & Story". ILoveIndia.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
Bibliography
- Hank Heifetz (1 January 1990). The Origin of the Young God: Kālidāsa's Kumārasaṃbhava. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0754-9.
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External links
- full text of the Kumārasambhava in Devanāgarī script (first eight sargas)
- full text of the Kumārasambhava in Roman script at GRETIL
- The Birth of the War-God, selected translation by Arthur W. Ryder
- single folio of a Kumārasambhava manuscript in the Cambridge University Library
- [1] Attempted English translation of text by RTH Griffith