THE NATURE IN KĀLIDĀSA’S KĀVYA

Abstract

This research has three main objectives: 1. to study the historical background and general inform ation in the K āvya of K ālidāsa, 2. to analyze the nature in Kālidāsa's Kāvya, and 3. to examine the cultural knowledge embedded in Kālidāsa's Kāvya. The manuscripts used in the study are from three of Kālidāsa’s Kāvya, namely: (1) The Nāṭaka (play): "The Abhijñānaśākuntalam," (2) The Khaṇḍakāvya (lyrics): "The Ṛtusaṃhāra" and "The Meghadūta." The findings of the study reveal that Kālidāsa is believed to have lived during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta II. From Kālidāsa’s numerous works, it cannot be stated with certainty that he was born in Ujjayinī, but it can be reasonably concluded that he resided there. However, some of his writings have led to the speculation that Kālidāsa may have been born in Kashmir or near the Himalayas. It is assumed that Kālidāsa ended his life in Ceylon. Kālidāsa is a literary genius, as evidenced by the variety of Ālaṃkāra in his Kāvya. These include (1) Śabdālaṃkāra, which focuses on the beauty of the composition in terms of sound, such as Yamaka, a play on words or syllables that sound the same in every syllable or in some syllables but convey different meanings, and Anuprāsa, a play on sounds, achieved by repeating consonants in the same line of verse, mostly with different vowel sounds; and (2) Arthālaṃkāra, which emphasizes the beauty of meaning in literary composition, captures both concrete and abstract dimensions of nature, and gives rise to literary artistry. E x am p les in clu d e U p am ā, R ū p ak a, Vy atirek a, U tp rek ṣā, D īp ak a , Svabhāvokti, Samuccaya, and Kārṇamālā, among others. Kālidāsa has a deep appreciation for nature and believes that humans are an integral part of it. He holds the view that nature and the human world are equal and interconnected. Through his literary compositions, Kālidāsa conveys the significance of nature, which can be categorized into (1) the nature of animate beings, which includes non-sentient life forms such as plants, trees, flowers, etc., as well as sentient beings such as humans and a diverse range of animal species; and (2) the nature of inanimate entities, including elements such as earth, water, wind, fire, mountains, rivers, etc. Kālidāsa demonstrates a profound awareness of all aspects of the natural world around him. Furthermore, his works are enriched with cultural knowledge, such as people’s way of life, including insights into the caste system, religious rituals, and the deities they worship.