Indian literature (Part II)

by Angel Lopez

Devotional Hindu drama, poetry and songs are present throughout the subcontinent.Among the best known are the works of Kalidasa (author of the famous Sanskrit play Recognition of Shakuntala) and Tulsidas (who wrote an epic Indian poem Ramayana based on, called Raamcharitmaanas). Moreover, the Buddhist literature in the past formed a significant part of Indian literature, with texts ranging from philosophical discourse to biographies, although today is only preserved especially in foreign languages like Chinese.

Tamil poetry of the Sangam poetry which dates from the first century C. is well known.Carano, the extinct Prabhrita and Chudamani ("Crest Jewel"), either of the seventh century or earlier, is significativos. Muslim literary traditions also dominate a large part of Indian culture.

Kālidāsa (Devanāgarī: कालिदास "servant of Kali") was a renowned classical Sanskrit writer, considered the greatest poet and playwright in Sanskrit language. Your floruit not be dated precisely, but probably most falls within the Gupta period, probably in the 4th 5th or 6th century Nothing, apart from his work is known with certainty about Kalidasa's life, such as its period or where lived. Little is known about the life of Kalidasa.Según legend, the poet was known for its beauty that he brought to the attention of a princess who married him. However, as legend, Kalidasa had grown up without much education, and the princess was ashamed of his ignorance and coarseness. A true devotee of Kali (goddess Saraswati by other accounts), Kalidasa is said to have asked his God for help when it was going to commit suicide in a pond after being humiliated by his wife, and was rewarded with a sudden and extraordinary gift of grace. Then he said to have become the brightest of the "nine jewels" in the court of King Vikramaditya of Ujjain. The legend also says that he was murdered by a courtesan in Sri Lanka during the reign of Kumaradasa .. Kalidasa wrote three plays Mālavikāgnimitram, Abhijñānaśākuntalam, Vikramōrvaśīyam and two epic poems, and Kumarasambhava Raghuvamsa and two poems that are lyrical and Ṛtusaṃhāra Meghaduta