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Kalidasa’s 'Meghaduta': An Ode to Love, Nature, and Hope
The ever-mystical wonders of nature have always fascinated humankind. Our affinity to it has best been reflected through works of art and one such piece is “Meghaduta”, a poem written by Kalidasa, one of the greatest Sanskrit poets.
An Illustration of Megha Duta; Image Source: Pinterest
Tales from Indian Literature
Having lived between the fourth and fifth centuries, the details of Kalidasa’s life are mostly unknown and it is through his work that historians and art appreciators have strived to discover his origins and inspirations. Meghaduta, a piece globally fancied for its lyrical sweetness, convinced most that Kalidasa was a romantic who found inspiration in the miracles of nature.
Meghaduta, which translates to 'The Cloud Messenger', is a poem that premises around Yaksa, a nature spirit smitten in love with his wife. Dazed in passion, he fails his duties towards his master Kubera and is banished into the wild for a year. The twelve months of separation are more brutal than any pain Yaksa has ever experienced as he yearns for the love and companionship of his wife. Wandering through the Ramagiri mountains of Central India, Yaksa seeks respite in the elements of nature around him and bides his time before he can be reunited with the love of his life. This encompasses Purva Megha, the first part of the poem.
Succeeding this, is Uttara Megha, the latter half of the piece that observes the transcendence of Yaksa’s emotions into pining desperation. Having pulled through eight of the stipulated twelve months, Yaksa is seen on the verges of his sanity and seeks out a cloud to take a message of his love and pain to his beloved in the city of Alaka, nestled on Mount Kailasa. The pain of separation makes him sick, and he believes that the permeability of nature will help him send his message of love. He describes to the cloud all the things that behold on its journey north to the Himalayan ranges, where his wife eagerly awaits his return.
Having seen Yaksa express his love with all his might and consciousness, the cloud agrees to intervene and accepts the role of a messenger gracefully. Carried by the strong winds blowing north, the cloud makes its journey to Alaka, bearing witness to all the sights Yaksa described to it. Having heard of all the wonderful qualities of his wife, the cloud spots her easily on the palace grounds and communicates to her the love and passion Yaksa feels for her.
Meghaduta is a poem that pierces through the emptiest of hearts and the hardest of struggles. By leaning on the divine energy of nature to communicate expressions of love, Yaksa is a testament to our affinity for nature and our belief in the supernatural world that only reveals itself when pined for with effervescence and faith. A bearer of Kalidasa’s legacy, Meghaduta has inspired people from all walks of life to believe in love and to have faith in the universe that surrounds and lives within us. Its romanticism found a way into the works of Rabindranath Tagore and many artists who wished to portray the surreal quality of the wind, water, air and earth that form a base for our existence.
This poetic artwork of Kalidasa that deals with nature, humans and imagination teaches us to never lose hope and to stay strong in our love. Wired for survival and procreation, poems like Meghaduta are why we will forever remain romantic hopefuls, looking towards the skies in awe and wonder.
Alvin Thomas Author
Fascinated by stories of human evolution and our growth as a mindful species. An explorer by heart, I enjoy historical tales that indulge in grit, determination and hope.
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