Kalidasa

1.1 Who was Kalidasa?

Kalidasa is widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in Sanskrit. He is often named the Shakespeare of India.

1.2 What does his name mean?

The name means servant of Kali. It suggests he was a Shaivite. He was a Brahmana and a devout worshipper of Shiva, though not a sectarian.

1.3 Do we know his life story?

No. No truly biographical data survive. Later legends fill the gap. One story makes him an orphan raised by an ox-driver. That story has no grain of historic truth.

2.1 When did he live?

Kalidasa probably lived in the fifth century CE. Even this date is uncertain. Some place him at the end of the fourth century. Others place him as late as the sixth.

2.2 What range do historians accept?

One history limits his age to about 350 to 472 CE. It puts Chandragupta II at about 375 to 413 CE.

2.3 What proves the upper limit?

An inscription dated 473 CE by Vatsabhatti imitates his style and copies many of his verses. By the first half of the 7th century his fame was well established.

2.4 Is there a rival view?

Yes. Some scholars place him under Kumaragupta near the end of the 5th century.

3.1 How many works are his?

Twenty-seven works are ascribed to Kalidasa. Only the first seven are accepted by all. They are three plays, two epics and two lyrics.

3.2 What are the three plays?

The surviving plays are Sakuntala, Vikramorvasi and Malavikagnimitra.

3.3 What are the epics?

The Raghuvamsha narrates the family of Raghu, of which Rama was one. The Kumarasambhava tells of the growing love of Shiva and Parvati. Only its first eight cantos survive.

3.4 What are the lyrics?

The Meghaduta has an exiled yaksha asking a cloud to carry his message to his lover. The Ritusamhara has six cantos for the six seasons. It is likely authentic, but doubted.

4.1 Where did he work?

Ujjain is generally accepted as the place where he worked.

4.2 What clue points to Malava?

His warm description of the Mahakala temple and the Shipra river in the Meghaduta suggests this. Scholars believe he lived in Malava. Some argue that Dashapura in western Malava was his native place.

5.1 Who was Vikramaditya?

Vikramaditya means Sun of Valour. It is probably a title, like Pharaoh or Tsar. The legendary king cannot be matched with a known ruler. Coins show Chandragupta II and Skandagupta bearing the title.

5.2 What are the Navaratnas?

Nine jewels, learned men and poets, are said to have lived at the court of King Vikrama. But that claim is from a very late and little trusted verse. Use it with care.

5.3 Was Varahamihira at that court?

Varahamihira lived in the first half of the 6th century CE. Kalidasa was older than Varahamihira, judged by style and astronomical ideas. So the two cannot be shown to be court colleagues.

6.1 Who came before him?

Kalidasa named the famous poet Saumilla beside Bhasa among his predecessors. So he knew an older tradition of Sanskrit drama.

6.2 What did he know?

His works show wide learning. They show that he knew the Vedas well.