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Yoga / Hindu : Shakta (Goddess-oriented)

4th Century

India
(Indian Subcontinent)

Kalidasa

Timeline (350? - 430?)

Poems by Kalidasa
Books - Links

Kalidasa, Kalidasa poetry, Yoga / Hindu, Yoga / Hindu poetry, Shakta (Goddess-oriented) poetry, poetry, poetry

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Kalidasa is one of the most important classical poets and playwrights of ancient India. There is historical disagreement about when exactly Kalidasa lived, but many scholars now place him somewhere around 400CE.

Kalidasa was said to have been raised without much education, but his beauty caught the attention of a royal princess, who married him. Kalidasa was a devotee of the Mother Goddess Kali (his name means Kali's servant). It is said that, to erase the shame of his ignorance at court, Kalidasa prayed fervently to Kali, and was granted the gift of brilliant wit.

He wrote several plays, exploring the dramas and humor of court life, love, and spiritual aspiration. His works are often compared with the plays of Shakespeare.

Tradition says that Kalidasa was murdered by a courtesan on the island nation of Sri Lanka.

Poems by Kalidasa

	Exhortation of the Dawn
	Waking

Recommended Books

	Abhijnanasakuntalam of Kalidasa, by Kalidasa / Translated by Moreshwar Ramchandra Kale Amazon.com
	The Origin of the Young God: Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava, Translated by Hank Heifetz Amazon.com
	The Recognition of Sakuntala: A Play in Seven Acts, by Kalidasa / Translated by W. J. Johnson Amazon.com
	Sanskrit Love Poetry, Translated by W. S. Merwin / Translated by J. Moussaieff Masson Amazon.com
	Theatre of Memory: The Plays of Kalidasa, by Barbara Stroller Miller / Edwin Gerow Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Kalidasa: life and works http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/kalidas.html

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Kalidasa

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Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Support
the Poetry Chaikhana